Exodus 36:5

5 They said, "The people are bringing much more than we need for doing the work the LORD commanded us to do."

Exodus 36:5 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 36:5

And they spake unto Moses, saying
One in the name of the rest:

the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work,
which the Lord commanded to make;
they had taken an estimate of what was to be done, and of what was necessary for the doing of it, and of what the people brought for this service; and they found there was a great deal more brought than would be wanted, and therefore they thought proper to advise Moses of it, that no more might be brought: it is hard to say which is most to be wondered at, the great liberality of the people in contributing so freely and bountifully, and continuing to do so without being urged, or even asked; or the honesty of the workmen, one and all, who might have gone on to have received the gifts of the people by the hands of Moses, and what was superfluous might have converted to their own use; but instead of this, they agree as one man to let Moses know how the state of things was, and prevent the people from making any more contributions.

Exodus 36:5 In-Context

3 Moses turned over to them all the contributions the Israelites had brought for the work of constructing the holy place. But the people still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning.

4 Finally, all the skilled craftsmen who were working on the holy place stopped what they were doing. They all came to Moses.

5 They said, "The people are bringing much more than we need for doing the work the LORD commanded us to do."

6 So Moses gave instructions to have the following message announced all over camp: "No man or woman needs to make anything more to give as their special contribution to the holy place." Then the people stopped bringing gifts.

7 The material they had was more than enough to do the job.