Exodus 35:1-19

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."

Exodus 35:1-19 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes 4

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