Exodus 38:21-31

An Inventory of Materials

21 This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. ¹

22 Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses.

23 With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

24 All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary totaled 29 talents and 730 shekels, ^[a] according to the sanctuary shekel.

25 The silver from those numbered among the congregation totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, ^[b] according to the sanctuary shekel—

26 a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, ^[c] according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

27 The hundred talents of silver ^[d] were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.

28 With the 1,775 shekels of silver ^[e] he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them.

29 The bronze from the wave offering totaled 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. ^[f]

30 He used it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar and its bronze grating, all the utensils for the altar,

31 the bases for the surrounding courtyard and its gate, and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and its surrounding courtyard.

Exodus 38:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 38

This chapter is a continuation of the account of the making of the things belonging to the tabernacle, particularly the altar of burnt offering, Ex 38:1-7 the laver of brass, and the things it was made of, Ex 38:8 the court and its hangings, pillars, sockets, hooks and pins, Ex 38:9-20 then follows an account of the quantities of gold, silver, and brass, expended in the making of the several things appertaining to the sanctuary, Ex 38:21-31.

Bezaleel made it, or it was made by his direction, he having the care and oversight of it, wherefore the making of it is ascribed to him, 2Ch 1:5 the account of this, its horns, vessels, rings, and staves, is carried on to Ex 38:2-7 of which \\see Gill on "Ex 27:1"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:2"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:3"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:4"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:5"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:6"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:7"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:8"\\. 10593-941108-1338-Ex38.2

Cross References

• 1. (Ezra 2:68–70; Nehemiah 7:70–73)

Footnotes

• [a] The total weight of the gold was approximately 1.1 tons or 1 metric ton.
• [b] The total weight of the silver was approximately 3.79 tons or 3.44 metric tons.
• [c] A beka is half a shekel, or approximately 0.2 ounces or 5.7 grams.
• [d] 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.
• [e] 1,775 shekels is approximately 44.6 pounds or 20.2 kilograms of silver.
• [f] The total weight of the bronze was approximately 2.67 tons or 2.42 metric tons.