Exodus 35

Sabbath Regulations

1 Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the LORD has commanded you to do:
2 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death.
3 Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

Materials for the Tabernacle

4 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the LORD has commanded:
5 From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze;
6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair;
7 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable 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 other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
10 “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded:
11 the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases;
12 the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it;
13 the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence;
14 the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light;
15 the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;
16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand;
17 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;
18 the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes;
19 the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”
20 Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence,
21 and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.
22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.
23 Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them.
24 Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work 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 women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.
27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.
29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—
32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,
33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.
34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, 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 weavers—all of them skilled workers and 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.

Cross References 31

  • 1. S Exodus 34:32
  • 2. S Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:9-10; Exodus 34:21; Leviticus 23:3; Deuteronomy 5:13-14
  • 3. S Exodus 31:14
  • 4. Exodus 16:23
  • 5. S Exodus 25:6
  • 6. Exodus 31:6; Exodus 39:43
  • 7. Exodus 26:1-37; Exodus 36:8-38
  • 8. Exodus 25:10-22; Exodus 37:1-9
  • 9. S Exodus 26:33
  • 10. Exodus 25:23-30; Exodus 37:10-16; Leviticus 24:5-6
  • 11. S Exodus 25:31
  • 12. Exodus 30:1-6; Exodus 37:25-28
  • 13. Exodus 30:25
  • 14. Exodus 30:34-38
  • 15. S Exodus 26:36
  • 16. Exodus 27:1-8; Exodus 38:1-7
  • 17. S Exodus 30:18
  • 18. S Exodus 27:9; Exodus 38:9-20
  • 19. Exodus 27:19; Exodus 38:20
  • 20. S Exodus 28:2; Exodus 31:10; Exodus 39:1
  • 21. Exodus 39:1; 1 Chronicles 29:8
  • 22. S Exodus 28:3
  • 23. S Exodus 25:2; 1 Chronicles 29:6; Ezra 2:68
  • 24. 1 Chronicles 29:8
  • 25. S Exodus 25:6
  • 26. S Exodus 25:2; ver 21; 1 Chronicles 29:9
  • 27. ver 4-9; Exodus 25:1-7; Exodus 36:3; 2 Kings 12:4
  • 28. ver 35; 2 Chronicles 2:7,14
  • 29. S Exodus 31:6
  • 30. 2 Chronicles 2:14
  • 31. ver 31; Exodus 31:3,6; 1 Kings 7:14

Footnotes 1

  • [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.

Exodus 35 Commentaries

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