Exodus — Chapter 37

Bezaleel made the Ark of acacia wood, overlaid within and without with purest gold. Lapide returns to the Ark allegorically: the Ark was overlaid with gold inside and out, signifying that the soul must be beautiful both interiorly (in intention and charity) and exteriorly (in works and conduct). He cites Bernard (Serm. in Cant. XXVII): \"the Ark had gold within and without—so must the Christian; interior gold is not enough if the exterior is base wood.\"

Bezaleel made the menorah (golden candlestick) of beaten gold, all in one piece. Lapide notes that \"beaten\" (toreutum) gold signifies souls purified through suffering—the saints beaten by tribulation give the purest light. He cites Gregory (Moral. V, 27): \"As gold is proved by fire, so saints are proved by adversity; and as gold beaten becomes brighter, so souls afflicted with compunction shine more brightly before God.\"

Bezaleel made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense. The combination of anointing oil and incense—outpoured sacrifice and sweet ascent—is for Lapide the dual character of the Mass: sacrifice of propitiation (the oil poured out, as Christ poured out His blood) and sacrifice of praise (the incense ascending, as the Eucharistic prayer ascends to the Father through Christ). He cites Augustine (Conf. IV): \"Thy sacrifice is the contrite heart; and all earthly incense is only an image of the interior oblation of love.\"