No Expenses Barred

July 25, 2009, 8:38 am by dc-agape.

Exodus 25:23-40

This is a continuation of the non-stone-worked artifact that would be in the Temple to YHWH that did not have stairs.  Directions for how to make both a table and a lamp stand are described.  The table’s dimensions are 35 inches (89.4cm) long x 17.6 inches (44.7cm) wide x 26.4 inches (67cm) tall.  To but that in perspective, the desk I am using to type this post is 30in (76cm) high and the countertops in my kitchen are 35in (90cm) high.  Even my nightstand by my bed is 2 inches (3.14cm) taller than this table.  Does this not tell us something about the height of these people?  It would seem to be they were on average 2-4 inches shorter than me, and I am only 5’8” (104.7cm) tall.  More interestingly the place settings on the table are made of pure gold.  These include: plates, dishes, pitchers, and bowls.  Can you imagine the amount of gold required to make these?  And they would need to make back-ups; one set would not be enough.  The wood for this table would be acacia layered in gold.  Its value would not be nearly as much as the Ark, but it would still be in the 4 figure range (US dollars).  This table would also have rings for the gold layered acacia wood poles used for carrying it.

Another interesting thing about this Table was its purpose.  Other than to be used to hold the place settings, the bread of the Presence was to be placed on it.  This is not the manna that did not rot for that was inside the Ark.  The bread of the Presence would have to be replaced as it would grow moldy.  Did they replace every day or every week?  It certainly reminds me of Christmas.  Children all over the world place something for Santa Claus the night before Christmas, and this seem to be the same concept.  Of course, children grow out of this stage, where as the Israelites repeated this ceremony every day for centuries.  I wonder how they got out of obeying this one.  Or did YHWH change his mind?

The Lamp Stand is more intricate.  It would have 6 branches with 3 cup-like flowers on each branch.  Here is the first math error in the Word of God.  Then there are to be 4 buds at the base of the branches.  How do you get four cup shaped buds to evenly distribute between six branches, when each bud is at the base of two branches?  YHWH may have created geometry and math, but he sure does stink at the actual calculations. 

YHWH’s math gets even more bizarre when he orders that seven lamps be made for the lamp stand that holds 6 lamps.  But he does not end there the wick cutters are to be made of pure gold.  Now either our idea of “pure” gold and YHWH idea are different or something is fishy about this commandment.  Pure gold does not hold an edge!  It is a soft malleable metal that would never be able to cut a wick.  So not only is YHWH’s math horrible, he certainly is not a chemist or geologist!  You would think that he would know what pure gold means.  YHWH ends this description of the lamp stand by directing that it be made of a full talent of pure gold.  A talent weighs is 66.1 lbs (30kg).  At the price of $940 US this would amount to 964 troy ounces worth nearly 1 million US dollars.  YHWH was certainly not sparing anything on his own worship.  And we still have to discuss the cost of the Tabernacle, the Alter, the Courtyard, the Oil, the Priestly Garments, the Ephod, the Breastpiece and a number of other odds and ends that YHWH required for the Israelites to worship him.  However did manage before rescuing the Israelites?

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