Exodus 35

The Sabbath

1 Then Moses assembled the whole congregation of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do:

2 For six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death.

3 Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

Offerings for the Tabernacle

4 Moses also told the whole congregation of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ¹

5 Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;

6 blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;

7 ram skins dyed red and fine leather; ^[a] acacia wood;

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

9 and onyx stones and gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

The Skilled Craftsmen

10 Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the LORD has commanded:

11 the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;

12 the ark with its poles and mercy seat, and the veil to shield it;

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

14 the lampstand for light with its accessories and lamps and oil for the light;

15 the altar of incense with its poles; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at 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 curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard;

18 the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;

19 and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”

The People Offer Gifts

20 Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence of Moses.

21 And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.

22 So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

23 Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them.

24 And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.

25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen.

26 And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.

27 The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece,

28 as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

29 So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

Bezalel and Oholiab

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ²

31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,

32 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,

33 to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.

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

35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

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.

Cross References

• 1. (Exodus 25:1–9)
• 2. (Exodus 31:1–11)

Footnotes

• [a]. Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verse 23

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.