Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 37:25 - 38:20

Many ancient buildings that still survive today were symmetrical, or built to appear symmetrical. This includes the Parthenon in Athens and the pyramids in Egypt. The Egyptian pyramids were even built with cardinal alignment, meaning the four sides were aligned with north, south, east, and west. For centuries, symmetry has been considered beautiful and an important aspect of good design. The goal of architecture and art was to create something that was pleasing and soothing to the eye.

In recent centuries, there has been an effort within the art world to move away from symmetry toward art that is asymmetrical and not balanced. There has been a deliberate attempt to create and celebrate art that is somewhat jarring and disjointed. Pleasing the eye is not the goal. In fact, oftentimes the goal seems to be to disturb the person viewing the art.

When Yahweh gave the Israelites instructions regarding how to build the tabernacle, He gave them the specific dimensions, including the exact number of pillars that were to be used to support the curtains. These dimensions show clearly whether or not the tabernacle had symmetry. At some point we need to consider whether the lesson about symmetry that can be derived from the tabernacle should be applied to buildings and art that are created in the 21st century.

The 37th chapter of Exodus describes the construction of the tabernacle. It starts by detailing how Bezalel made the ark, mercy seat, table, and lampstand. In the following verses, the pronoun “he” refers to Bezalel.

Ex. 37:25 ¶ Then he made the altar of incense of acacia wood: a cubit long and a cubit wide, square, and two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it.

A cubit was around 18 inches. Note the incense altar was square, about 18 inches by 18 inches, and it was twice as tall as it was wide. It was symmetrical.

Ex. 37:26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made a gold molding for it all around.

Look at the words “all around” which appear twice. The gold overlay was applied to all sides. The molding was added to all sides. This added to the symmetry of the altar.

Ex. 37:27 He made two golden rings for it under its molding, on its two sides—on opposite sides—as holders for poles with which to carry it.

Notice the word “opposite”. There were two rings, and the rings were on opposite sides, which maintained the symmetry of the altar.

Ex. 37:28 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

Ex. 37:29 And he made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer.

Ex. 38:1 ¶ Then he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, square, and three cubits high.

Take note of the word “square”. The altar of burnt offering was symmetrical.

A cubit was around 18 inches, so the burnt offering altar was about 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) square. At three cubits in height, the altar would have been around 4.5 feet (1.5 meters) tall.

Ex. 38:2 He made its horns on its four corners, its horns being of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze.

Look at the words “four corners”. There was a horn on each of the four corners, which added to and maintained the symmetry.

Ex. 38:3 He made all the utensils of the altar, the pots and the shovels and the bowls, the flesh hooks and the firepans; he made all its utensils of bronze.

Ex. 38:4 He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze beneath, under its ledge, reaching halfway down.

Ex. 38:5 He cast four rings on the four ends of the bronze grating as holders for the poles.

Ex. 38:6 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.

Ex. 38:7 He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.

Ex. 38:8 ¶ Moreover, he made the laver of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

Ex. 38:9 ¶ Then he made the court: for the south side the hangings of the court were of fine twisted linen, one hundred cubits;

The hangings that formed the south side of the courtyard were one hundred cubits long.

Ex. 38:10 their twenty pillars, and their twenty bases, made of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver.

There were twenty pillars on the south side.

Ex. 38:11 For the north side there were one hundred cubits; their twenty pillars and their twenty bases were of bronze, the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver.

The north side also had twenty pillars stretching over one hundred cubits, meaning the north and south sides were identical.

Ex. 38:12 For the west side there were hangings of fifty cubits with their ten pillars and their ten bases; the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver.

The west side was exactly half the dimensions of the north and south sides. There were only ten pillars stretching over fifty cubits.

Ex. 38:13 For the east side toward the sunrise fifty cubits.

The length of the east side of the courtyard was fifty cubits, matching the length of the west side.

Ex. 38:14 The hangings for the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three bases,

Ex. 38:15 and so for the other side. On both sides of the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three bases.

There was a centered opening on the east side. There was an equal length of curtain on both sides of the opening hanging on an equal number of pillars. It was a very symmetrical design.

Ex. 38:16 All the hangings of the court all around were of fine twisted linen.

Ex. 38:17 The bases for the pillars were of bronze, the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver; and the overlaying of their tops were of silver, and all the pillars of the court were furnished with silver bands.

Ex. 38:18 The screen of the gate of the court was the work of the weaver, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen. And the length was twenty cubits and the height was five cubits, corresponding to the hangings of the court.

Ex. 38:19 Their four pillars and their four bases were of bronze; their hooks were of silver, and the overlaying of their tops and their bands were of silver.

Ex. 38:20 All the pegs of the tabernacle and of the court all around were of bronze.

Many ancient buildings that still survive today were symmetrical, or built to appear symmetrical. The goal of architecture and art was to create something that was pleasing and soothing to the eye.

In recent centuries, there has been an effort within the art world to move away from symmetry toward art that is asymmetrical and not balanced. There has been a deliberate attempt to create and celebrate art that is somewhat jarring and disjointed.

When Yahweh gave the Israelites instructions regarding how to build the tabernacle, He gave them the specific dimensions, including the exact number of pillars that were to be used to support the curtains. Those dimensions created a symmetrical tabernacle. Furthermore, the tabernacle was to have cardinal alignment. The opening had to always face east.

Since the tabernacle was symmetrical, perhaps we should conclude that symmetry is better. Perhaps we should desire to create art and architecture that is pleasing to the eye instead of art that is jarring and disturbing.

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”