Exodus 35

1 And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said, These are the words which the Lord has spoken for to do them.

2 Six days shalt thou perform works, but on the seventh day rest—a holy sabbath—a rest for the Lord: every one that does work on it, let him die.

3 Ye shall not burn a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath-day; I the Lord.

4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This the thing which the Lord has appointed you, saying,

5 Take of yourselves an offering for the Lord: every one that engages in his heart shall bring the first-fruits to the Lord; gold, silver, brass,

6 blue, purple, double scarlet spun, and fine linen spun, and goats' hair,

7 and rams' skins dyed red, and skins blue, and incorruptible wood,

8 and sardine stones, and stones for engraving for the shoulder-piece and full-length robe.

9 And every man that is wise in heart among you, let him come and work all things whatsoever the Lord has commanded.

10 The tabernacle, and the cords, and the coverings, and the rings, and the bars, and the posts,

11 and the ark of the testimony, and its staves, and its propitiatory, and the veil,

12 and the curtains of the court, and its posts,

13 and the emerald stones,

14 and the incense, and the anointing oil,

15 and the table and all its furniture,

16 and the candle-stick for the light and all its furniture,

17 and the altar and all its furniture;

18 and the holy garments of Aaron the priest, and the garments in which they shall do service;

19 and the garments of priesthood for the sons of Aaron and the anointing oil, and the compound incense.

20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel went out from Moses. And they brought, they whose heart prompted them, and they to whomsoever it seemed good in their mind, each and offering:

21 and they brought an offering to the Lord for all the works of the tabernacle of witness, and all its services, and for all the robes of the sanctuary.

22 And the men, even every one to whom it seemed good in his heart, brought from the women, brought seals and ear-rings, and finger-rings, and necklaces, and bracelets, every article of gold.

23 And all as many as brought ornaments of gold to the Lord, and with whomsoever fine linen was found; and they brought skins blue, and rams' skins dyed red.

24 And every one that offered an offering brought silver and brass, the offerings to the Lord; and with whom was found incorruptible wood; and they brought for all the works of the preparation.

25 And every woman skilled in her heart to spin with her hands, brought spun , the blue, and purple, and scarlet and fine linen.

26 And all the women to whom it seemed good in their heart in their wisdom, spun the goats' hair.

27 And the rulers brought the emerald stones, and the stones for setting in the ephod, and the oracle,

28 and the compounds both for the anointing oil, and the composition of the incense.

29 And every man and woman whose mind inclined them to come in and do all the works as many as the Lord appointed them to do by Moses— the children of Israel brought an offering to the Lord.

30 And Moses said to the children of Israel, Behold, God has called by name Beseleel the of Urias the Or, of the tribe of Juda,

31 and has filled him with a divine spirit of wisdom and understanding, and knowledge of all things,

32 to labour skillfully in all works of cunning workmanship, to form the gold and the silver and the brass,

33 and to work in stone, and to fashion the wood, and to work in every work of wisdom.

34 And gave improvement in understanding both to him, and to Eliab the of Achisamach of the tribe of Dan.

35 And filled them with wisdom, understanding perception, to understand to work all the works of the sanctuary, and to weave the woven and embroidered work with scarlet and fine linen, to do all work of curious workmanship embroidery.

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]. they shall.
• [b]. ephod.
• [c]. chains.
• [d]. they brought.
• [e]. they brought.
• [f]. as a master workman.

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.