Exodus 35

1 Then Moses called together the whole community of Israel and told them, “These are the instructions the LORD has commanded you to follow.

2 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD . Anyone who works on that day must be put to death.

3 You must not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath.”

4 Then Moses said to the whole community of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:

5 Take a sacred offering for the LORD . Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the LORD : gold, silver, and bronze;

6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth;

7 tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood;

8 olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;

9 onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece.

10 “Come, all of you who are gifted craftsmen. Construct everything that the LORD has commanded:

11 the Tabernacle and its sacred tent, its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases;

12 the Ark and its carrying poles; the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement; the inner curtain to shield the Ark;

13 the table, its carrying poles, and all its utensils; the Bread of the Presence;

14 for light, the lampstand, its accessories, the lamp cups, and the olive oil for lighting;

15 the incense altar and its carrying poles; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the entrance of the Tabernacle;

16 the altar of burnt offering; the bronze grating of the altar and its carrying poles and utensils; the washbasin with its stand;

17 the curtains for the walls of the courtyard; the posts and their bases; the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;

18 the tent pegs of the Tabernacle and courtyard and their ropes;

19 the beautifully stitched garments for the priests to wear while ministering in the Holy Place—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests.”

20 So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents.

21 All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the LORD . They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments.

22 Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the LORD their offerings of gold—brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the LORD .

23 All those who owned the following items willingly brought them: blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; and tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather.

24 And all who had silver and bronze objects gave them as a sacred offering to the LORD . And those who had acacia wood brought it for use in the project.

25 All the women who were skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen cloth.

26 All the women who were willing used their skills to spin the goat hair into yarn.

27 The leaders brought onyx stones and the special gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece.

28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense.

29 So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the LORD had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the LORD .

30 Then Moses told the people of Israel, “The LORD has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

31 The LORD has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.

32 He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze.

33 He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft.

34 And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others.

35 The LORD has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers. They excel as craftsmen and as designers.

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]. Hebrew Tent of Meeting.

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.