Exodus 36

1 Bezalel and Oholiab must do the work just as the LORD has commanded. So must every skilled worker to whom the LORD has given skill and ability. They must know how to do all of the work for every purpose connected with the sacred tent. And that includes setting it up."
2 Then Moses sent for Bezalel and Oholiab. He sent for every skilled worker to whom the LORD had given ability and who wanted to come and do the work.
3 They received from Moses all of the offerings the people of Israel had brought. They had brought the offerings for all of the work for every purpose connected with the holy tent. That included setting it up. The people kept bringing the offerings they chose to give. They brought them morning after morning.
4 So all of the skilled workers who were working on the holy tent stopped what they were doing.
5 They said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded us to do."
6 Then Moses gave an order. A message was sent through the whole camp. It said, "No man or woman should make anything else and offer it for the holy tent." And so the people were kept from bringing more offerings.
7 There was already more than enough to do all of the work.

The Holy Tent

8 All of the skilled workers made the holy tent. They made ten curtains out of finely twisted linen. They made them with blue, purple and bright red yarn. A skilled worker sewed cherubim into the pattern.
9 All of the curtains were the same size. They were 42 feet long and six feet wide.
10 The workers joined five of the curtains together. They did the same thing with the other five.
11 Then they made loops out of blue strips of cloth along the edge of the end curtain in one set. They did the same thing with the end curtain in the other set.
12 They also made 50 loops on the end curtain of the one set. They did the same thing on the end curtain of the other set. They put the loops across from each other.
13 Then they made 50 gold hooks. They used them to join curtains together so that the holy tent was all one piece.
14 The workers made a total of 11 curtains out of goat hair to put over the holy tent.
15 All 11 curtains were the same size. They were 45 feet long and six feet wide.
16 The workers joined five of the curtains together into one set. They did the same thing with the other six.
17 Then they made 50 loops along the edge of the end curtain in the one set. They did the same thing with the other set.
18 They made 50 bronze hooks. They used them to join the tent together all in one piece.
19 They made a covering for the tent. They made it out of ram skins that were dyed red. They put a covering of the hides of sea cows over that.
20 The workers made frames out of acacia wood for the holy tent.
21 Each frame was 15 feet long and two feet three inches wide.
22 The workers added two small wooden pins to each frame. The pins stuck out so that they were even with each other. The workers made all of the frames of the holy tent in the same way.
23 They made 20 frames for the south side of the holy tent.
24 And they made 40 silver bases to go under them. They made two bases for each frame. They put one under each pin that stuck out.
25 For the north side of the holy tent they made 20 frames
26 and 40 silver bases. They put two bases under each frame.
27 The workers made six frames for the west end of the holy tent.
28 They made two frames for the corners of the holy tent at the far end.
29 At those two corners the frames were double from top to bottom. They were fitted into a single ring. The workers made both of them the same.
30 So there were eight frames and 16 silver bases. There were two bases under each frame.
31 The workers also made crossbars out of acacia wood. They made five for the frames on one side of the holy tent.
32 They made five for the frames on the other side. And they made five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the holy tent.
33 The center crossbar reached from end to end at the middle of the frames.
34 They covered the frames with gold. They made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also covered the crossbars with gold.
35 They made the curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. A skilled worker sewed cherubim into the pattern.
36 The workers made four posts out of acacia wood for the curtain. They covered the posts with gold. They made gold hooks and four silver bases for the posts.
37 For the entrance to the tent the workers made a curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. A person who sewed skillfully made it.
38 The workers made five posts with hooks for the curtains. They covered the tops of the posts and their bands with gold. And they made five bronze bases for them.

Exodus 36 Commentary

Chapter 36

The making of the tabernacle The liberality of the people restrained.

- The readiness and zeal with which these builders set about their work, the exactness with which they performed it, and the faithfulness with which they objected to receive more contributions, are worthy of our imitation. Thus should we serve God, and our superiors also, in all things lawful. Thus should all who are in public trusts abhor filthy lucre, and avoid all occasions and temptations to covetousness. Where have we the representation of God's love towards us, that we by love dwell in him and he in us, save in Emmanuel? ( Matthew 1:23 ) . This is the ( 2 Corinthians. 5:18 2 Corinthians. 5:19 ) the design of the "tabernacle of witness," a visible testimony of the love of God to the race of men, however they were fallen from their first state. And this love was shown by Christ's taking up his abode on earth; by the Word being made flesh, Joh. 1:14 , wherein, as the original expresses it, he did tabernacle among us.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 36

Bezaleel and Aholiab, with the artificers under them, having a call as well as qualifications for the service of the sanctuary, and having received from Moses the materials for it, set about it, Ex 36:1-3 but the people bringing more than was necessary, they acquaint Moses with it, who by a proclamation restrained from it, Ex 36:4-7 and next an account is given of the several things that were wrought by them, as first the curtains for the tabernacle, both of linen and goats' hair, and the coverings of them, Ex 36:8-19 next the boards for the tabernacle, and the sockets they were set in, and the bars for the boards, Ex 36:20-34 and then the vail which parted the most holy place from the holy place, and the hanging which divided between the holy place and the court, Ex 36:35-38.

Exodus 36 Commentaries

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