Exodus 35

The Sabbath Command

1 Moses assembled the entire Israelite community and said to them, "These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do:

2 For six days work is to be done, but on the seventh day you are to have a holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. Anyone who does work on it must be executed.

3 Do not light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day."

Building the Tabernacle

4 Then Moses said to the entire Israelite community, "This is what the Lord has commanded:

5 Take up an offering for the Lord among you. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord's offering: gold, silver, and bronze;

6 blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;

7 ram skins dyed red and manatee skins;^[a] acacia wood;

8 oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

9 and onyx with gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece.

10 "Let all the skilled craftsmen^[b] among you come and make everything that the Lord has commanded:

11 the tabernacle-its tent and covering, its clasps and planks, its crossbars, its posts and bases;

12 the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil for the screen;

13 the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence;^[c]

14 the lampstand for light with its utensils and lamps as well as the oil for the light;

15 the altar of incense with its poles; the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the entryway screen for the entrance to the tabernacle;

16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand;

17 the hangings of the courtyard, its posts and bases, and the screen for the gate of the courtyard;

18 the tent pegs for the tabernacle and the tent pegs for the courtyard, along with their ropes;

19 and the specially woven^[d] garments for ministering in the sanctuary-the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests."

20 Then the entire Israelite community left Moses' presence.

21 Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord to construct the tent of meeting for every use, and [to make] the holy garments.

22 Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry-everyone who waved a presentation offering of gold to the Lord.

23 Everyone who had in his possession blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, fine linen or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or manatee skins,^[e] brought [them].

24 Everyone who offered a contribution of silver or bronze brought it to the Lord. Everyone who possessed acacia wood useful for any task in the work brought [it].

25 Every skilled^[f] woman spun [yarn] with her hands and brought it: blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

26 And all the women whose hearts were moved spun the goat hair by virtue of [their] skill.

27 The leaders brought onyx and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece,

28 as well as the spice and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

29 So the Israelites brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts prompted them to bring [something] for all the work that the Lord, through Moses, had commanded to be done.

Bezalel and Oholiab

30 Moses then said to the Israelites: "Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

31 He has filled him with God's Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft

32 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,

33 to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft.

34 He has also given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, [the ability] to teach [others].

35 He has filled them with skill to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs.

Exodus 35 Commentary

Chapter 35

The sabbath to be observed. (1-3) The free gifts for the tabernacle. (4-19) The readiness of the people in general. (20-29) Bezaleel and Aholiab called to the work. (30-35)

Verses 1-3 The mild and easy yoke of Christ has made our sabbath duties more delightful, and our sabbath restraints less irksome, than those of the Jews; but we are the more guilty by neglecting them. Surely God's wisdom in giving us the sabbath, with all the mercy of its purposes, are sinfully disregarded. Is it nothing to pour contempt upon the blessed day, which a bounteous God has given to us for our growth in grace with the church below, and to prepare us for happiness with the church above?

Verses 4-19 The tabernacle was to be dedicated to the honour of God, and used in his service; and therefore what was brought for it, was an offering to the Lord. The rule is, Whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring. All that were skilful must work. God dispenses his gifts; and as every man hath received, so he ( 1 Peter. 4:10 ) materials to work on; those that were skilful, must serve the tabernacle with their skill: as they needed one another, so the ( 1 Corinthians. 12:7-21 )

Verses 20-29 Without a willing mind, costly offerings would be abhorred; with it, the smallest will be accepted. Our hearts are willing, when we cheerfully assist in promoting the cause of God. Those who are diligent and contented in employments considered mean, are as much accepted of God as those engaged in splendid services. The women who spun the goats' hair were wise-hearted, because they did it heartily to the Lord. Thus the labourer, mechanic, or servant who attends to his work in the faith and fear of God, may be as wise, for his place, as the most useful minister, and he equally accepted of the Lord. Our wisdom and duty consist in giving God the glory and use of our talents, be they many or few.

Verses 30-35 Here is the Divine appointment of the master-workmen, that there might be no strife for the office, and that all who were employed in the work might take direction from, and give account to them. Those whom God called by name to his service, he filled with the Spirit of God. Skill, even in worldly employments, is God's gift, and comes from above. But many are ready enough in cutting out work for other people, and can tell what this man or that man should do; but the burdens they bind on others, they themselves will not touch with one of their fingers. Such will fall under the character of slothful servants. These men were not only to devise and to work themselves, but they were to teach others. Those that rule should teach; and those to whom God has given knowledge, should be willing to make it known for the benefit of others.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or and dolphin skins, or and fine leather; Hb obscure
• [b]. Lit the skilled of heart
• [c]. Or of presentation
• [d]. Hb obscure
• [e]. Or or dolphin skins, or or fine leather; Hb obscure
• [f]. Lit wise of heart

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 35

This chapter begins with a renewal of the command of the sabbath, Ex 35:1-3 and contains an order for a freewill offering to be brought for the service of the sanctuary, and specifies the things to be brought, and for what uses, Ex 35:4-19 to which there was a ready compliance, and men and women, princes and the common people, everyone according to what they had in possession, brought and offered it freely, Ex 35:20-29 and for their encouragement, that their offering would not be in vain, they were informed there were two persons divinely inspired, to do, and teach to be done, all manner of work for the tabernacle, towards which they had made such a liberal and plentiful contribution, Ex 35:30-35.