Who manufactured the Shulchan and the other Keilim?
Ramban #1 (citing the Ibn Ezra): Betzalel (mentioned in Pasuk #1). 1
Ramban #2 and R. Bachye (in Pasuk #1): The Chachmei Leiv, cited throughout the previous Perek, manufactured all the Keilim - apart from the Aron. 2
What is the significance of the order of the Keilim - the Aron, the Shulchan, the Menorah and the Mizbe'ach ha'Ketores?
R. Bachye: They are listed in the order that they were placed in the Mishkan: the Aron in the Kodesh Kodshim, the Shulchan outside in the Kodesh on the north side, the Menorah on the south and the Mizbe'ach ha'Ketores in between drawn slightly towards the east.
R. Bachye #2: They represent the four letters of the Name Havayah in the correct order: The Aron (which was ten Tefchim tall) - the 'Yud'; the Shulchan (which signifies Malchus) - the fifth Midah (Gevurah) which draws from the first 'Hey' (Binah); 1 the Menorah (with its six branches) - the 'Vav', and the Mizbe'ach ha'Ketores (which is overlaid with gold) - the second 'Hey' (which is synonymous with Midas ha'Din). 2 3
R. Bachye: Which in turn, explains why the Shulchan takes precedence over the Menorah.
R. Bachye: Since the Ketores too, is based on Midas ha'Din. See R. Chavel's footnotes.
R. Bachye: By the same token, the 'Yud' represents Chochmah, the first 'Hey' - Atzilus', the 'Vav' -Tevunah and the second 'Hey' - Da'as. Hence the Gemara states in B'rachos, 55a that Betzalel was able to combine the letters with which Hashem created heaven and earth.
