Exodus 36:2-12

2 Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful * person in whom the LORD had put skill, ¹everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it.

3 They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.

4 And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing,

5 and they said to Moses, "²The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded us to perform."

6 So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, "Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary." Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.

7 ³For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.

Construction Proceeds

8 ⁴All the skillful * men * among those who were performing the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material, with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman, Bezalel made them.

9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight * cubits and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains had the same measurements.

10 He joined five curtains to one another and the other five curtains he joined to one another.

11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set; he did likewise on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set.

12 He made ⁵fifty loops in the one curtain and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set; the loops were opposite each other.

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Exodus 36:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 36

Bezaleel and Aholiab, with the artificers under them, having a call as well as qualifications for the service of the sanctuary, and having received from Moses the materials for it, set about it, Ex 36:1-3 but the people bringing more than was necessary, they acquaint Moses with it, who by a proclamation restrained from it, Ex 36:4-7 and next an account is given of the several things that were wrought by them, as first the curtains for the tabernacle, both of linen and goats' hair, and the coverings of them, Ex 36:8-19 next the boards for the tabernacle, and the sockets they were set in, and the bars for the boards, Ex 36:20-34 and then the vail which parted the most holy place from the holy place, and the hanging which divided between the holy place and the court, Ex 36:35-38.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 5

1. Exodus 35:21, 26
2. 2 Chronicles 24:14; 2 Chronicles 31:6-10
3. 1 Kings 8:64
4. Exodus 26:1-14
5. Exodus 26:5

Footnotes 31

[a]. Lit "man wise of heart"
[b]. Lit "whose heart"
[c]. Lit "wisdom"
[d]. Lit "lifted offering"
[e]. Lit "to perform it for the work"
[f]. Lit "of the service of"
[g]. Lit "wise"
[h]. Lit "his"
[i]. Lit "they were"
[j]. Lit "Moses, saying,"
[k]. Lit "service for the work"
[l]. Lit "perform it"
[m]. Lit "voice"
[n]. Lit "heave offering"
[o]. Lit "work"
[p]. Lit "wise of heart"
[q]. Lit "dwelling place"
[r]. Or "violet"
[s]. Lit "he"
[t]. I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
[u]. I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
[v]. Lit "one measure"
[w]. Or "coupled"
[x]. Or "coupled"
[y]. Or "violet"
[z]. Lit "one curtain from the end in the coupling"
[aa]. Lit "coupling"
[ab]. Lit "one curtain from the end in the coupling"
[ac]. Lit "coupling"
[ad]. Lit "end"
[ae]. Lit "coupling"