Exodus 39

1 Vestments. Using the blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics, they made the woven vestments for ministering in the Sanctuary. Also they made the sacred vestments for Aaron, as God had commanded Moses.

2 Ephod. They made the Ephod using gold and blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics and finely twisted linen.

3 They hammered out gold leaf and sliced it into threads that were then worked into designs in the blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine linen.

4 They made shoulder pieces fastened at the two ends.

5 The decorated band was made of the same material - gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and of fine twisted linen - and of one piece with it, just as God had commanded Moses.

6 They mounted the onyx stones in a setting of filigreed gold and engraved the names of the sons of Israel on them,

7 then fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the Ephod as memorial stones for the Israelites, just as God had commanded Moses.

8 Breastpiece. They made a Breastpiece designed like the Ephod from gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen.

9 Doubled, the Breastpiece was nine inches square.

10 They mounted four rows of precious gemstones on it. First row: carnelian, topaz, emerald.

11 Second row: ruby, sapphire, crystal.

12 Third row: jacinth, agate, amethyst.

13 Fourth row: beryl, onyx, jasper.

14 The twelve stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve names engraved as on a seal, one for each of the twelve tribes.

15 They made braided chains of pure gold for the Breastpiece, like cords.

16 They made two settings of gold filigree and two rings of gold, put the two rings at the two ends of the Breastpiece,

17 and fastened the two ends of the cords to the two rings at the end of the Breastpiece.

18 Then they fastened the cords to the settings of filigree, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the Ephod in front.

19 Then they made two rings of gold and fastened them to the two ends of the Breastpiece on its inside edge facing the Ephod.

20 They made two more rings of gold and fastened them in the front of the Ephod to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces, near the seam above the decorated band of the Ephod.

21 The Breastpiece was fastened by running a cord of blue through its rings to the rings of the Ephod so that it rested secure on the decorated band of the Ephod and wouldn't come loose, just as God had commanded Moses.

22 Robe. They made the robe for the Ephod entirely of blue.

23 The opening of the robe at the center was like a collar, the edge hemmed so that it wouldn't tear.

24 On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen.

25 They also made bells of pure gold and alternated the bells and pomegranates

26 - a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate - all around the hem of the robe that was worn for ministering, just as God had commanded Moses.

27 They also made the tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver, for Aaron and his sons,

28 the turban of fine linen, the linen hats, the linen underwear made of fine twisted linen,

29 and sashes of fine twisted linen, blue, purple, and scarlet material and embroidered, just as God had commanded Moses.

30 They made the plate, the sacred crown, of pure gold and engraved on it as on a seal: "Holy to God."

31 They attached a blue cord to it and fastened it to the turban, just as God had commanded Moses.

32 That completed the work of The Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting. The People of Israel did what God had commanded Moses. They did it all.

33 They presented The Dwelling to Moses, the Tent and all its furnishings: fastening hooks frames crossbars posts bases

34 tenting of tanned ram skins tenting of dolphin skins veil of the screen

35 Chest of The Testimony with its poles and Atonement-Cover

36 Table with its utensils and the Bread of the Presence

37 Lampstand of pure gold and its lamps all fitted out and all its utensils and the oil for the light

38 Gold Altar anointing oil fragrant incense screen for the entrance to the Tent

39 Bronze Altar with its bronze grate its poles and all its utensils Washbasin and its base

40 hangings for the Courtyard its posts and bases screen for the gate of the Courtyard its cords and its pegs utensils for ministry in The Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting

41 woven vestments for ministering in the Sanctuary sacred vestments for Aaron the priest, and his sons when serving as priests

42 The Israelites completed all the work, just as God had commanded.

43 Moses saw that they had done all the work and done it exactly as God had commanded. Moses blessed them.

Exodus 39 Commentary

Chapter 39

The priests' garments. (1-31) The tabernacle completed. (32-43)

Verses 1-31 The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel. Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself with resolution to go through the undertaking, took charge of all God's spiritual Israel, laid them near his heart, engraved them on the palms of his hands, and presented them to his Father. And he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's holiness. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the righteousness of saints, ( Revelation 19:8 ) .

Verses 32-43 The tabernacle was a type or emblem of Jesus Christ. As the Most High dwelt visibly within the sanctuary, even on the ark, so did he reside in the human nature and tabernacle of his dear Son; in Christ dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, ( Colossians 2:9 ) . The tabernacle was a symbol of every real Christian. In the soul of every true follower of the Saviour the Father dwells, the object of his worship, and the author of his blessings. The tabernacle also typified the church of the Redeemer. The meanest and the mightiest are alike dear to the Father's love, freely exercised through faith in Christ. The tabernacle was a type and emblem of the heavenly temple, Re. 21:3 . What, then, will be the splendour of His appearance, when the cloud shall be withdrawn, and his faithful worshippers shall see him as he is!

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 39

In this chapter is continued the account of making the several things belonging to the sanctuary, particularly the clothes for the service of the tabernacle, and the garments of the priests, as the ephod and its curious girdle, Ex 39:1-7 the breastplate and the putting of the stones in it, and the fastening of it to the ephod, Ex 39:8-21 the robe of the ephod, with the bells and pomegranates to it, Ex 39:21-26 and the coats, mitre, bonnets, breeches, and girdle of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons, Ex 39:27-29 and the golden plate, Ex 39:30,31 and all being finished, the tabernacle and everything belonging to it were brought to Moses, and viewed by him; who seeing that all was done exactly according to the commandment of the Lord, blessed the people, and particularly the artificers, Ex 39:38-43.