Exodus 25:17-22·~1 min

The Mercy Seat

The mercy seat is made of pure gold, with cherubim formed from the same piece and facing inward over it. Their overshadowing wings make this covering the focus of the design.

A¹⁷nd you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. ¹⁸Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, ¹⁹one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. ²⁰And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

The mercy seat is set upon the ark above the Testimony. From there the LORD promises to meet with Moses and speak His commands for Israel.

²¹Set the mercy seat atop the ark and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark. ²²And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

Section summaryA pure gold mercy seat with cherubim of one piece is made to rest above the ark. There, above the Testimony and between the cherubim, the LORD says He will meet with Moses and speak His commands for Israel.

Role in the chapterThis section turns from the ark's construction to the place of divine meeting above it. It names the point where covenant presence and covenant speech come near to Israel.