Exodus 36:5

5 And one said to Moses, The people bring an abundance in proportion to all the works which the Lord has appointed 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 And they received from Moses all the offerings, which the children of Israel brought for all the works of the sanctuary to do them; and they continued to receive the gifts brought, from those who brought them in the morning.

4 And there came all the wise men who wrought the works of the sanctuary, each according to his own work, which they wrought.

5 And one said to Moses, The people bring an abundance in proportion to all the works which the Lord has appointed to do.

6 And Moses commanded, and proclaimed in the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman any longer labour for the offerings of the sanctuary; and the people were restrained from bringing any more.

7 And they had materials sufficient for making the furniture, and they left some besides.

Footnotes

• [a]. Another reading is e?pa?, but there is occasionally confusion of number in LXX.; the singular being several times used for the plural.