Exodus 35

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

2 You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a holy day of worship, a day when you don't work. It is dedicated to the LORD. Whoever does any work on this day should be put to death.

3 Never light a fire in any of your homes on this day of worship."

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

5 Choose something of your own to give as a special contribution to the LORD. Let everyone who is willing bring this kind of contribution to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze,

6 violet, purple, and bright red yarn, fine linen, goats' hair,

7 rams' skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood,

8 olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense,

9 onyx stones, and other precious stones to be set in the [chief priest's] ephod and breastplate.

10 "Have all the skilled craftsmen among you come and make everything the LORD has commanded:

11 the inner tent, the outer tent, and cover, along with the fasteners, frames, crossbars, posts, and sockets,

12 the ark with its poles, the throne of mercy and the canopy over it,

13 the table with its poles, all the dishes, the bread of the presence,

14 the lamp stand used for the light with its utensils, its lamps and the olive oil for the lamps,

15 the altar for incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet-smelling incense, the screen for the entrance to the tent,

16 the altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its accessories, the basin with its stand,

17 the curtains for the courtyard, the posts, bases, and the screen for the entrance to the courtyard,

18 the pegs for the tent and the courtyard with their ropes,

19 the special clothes worn for official duties in the holy place--both the holy clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests."

20 Then the whole Israelite community left Moses.

21 Those who were willing and whose hearts moved them came and brought their contributions to the LORD. The gifts were used to construct the tent of meeting, to pay other expenses, and to make the holy clothes.

22 All who were willing--men and women alike--came and brought all kinds of gold jewelry: pins, earrings, signet rings, and pendants. They took these gifts of gold and offered them to the LORD.

23 Those who had violet, purple, or bright red yarn, fine linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, or fine leather brought them.

24 Those who could give silver or bronze brought it as their contribution to the LORD. Those who had acacia wood that could be used in the construction brought it.

25 All the women who were skilled in spinning yarn brought violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine linen, which they had made by hand.

26 All the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goats' hair.

27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other precious stones to be set in the [chief priest's] ephod and breastplate.

28 They also brought the spices and the olive oil for the lamps, the anointing oil, and the sweet-smelling incense.

29 Every Israelite man and woman who was willing brought all these items to the LORD as a freewill offering. They brought these items to be used to make everything the LORD had commanded through Moses.

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, "The LORD has chosen Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah.

31 The LORD has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, making him highly skilled, resourceful, and knowledgeable in all trades.

32 He's a master artist familiar with gold, silver, and bronze.

33 He knows how to cut and set stones and how to work with wood. He's an expert in all trades.

34 Also, the LORD has given Bezalel and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan the ability to teach others.

35 The LORD has made these men highly skilled in all trades. They can do the work of jewelers, carpenters, and designers. They know how to embroider violet, purple and bright red yarn on fine linen. They know how to weave yarn on a loom. They can do all kinds of trades. They are master artists."

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.

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.