Exodus 35

1 Moses spoke to the entire congregation of Israel, saying, "These are the things that God has commanded you to do:

2 "Work six days, but the seventh day will be a holy rest day, God's holy rest day. Anyone who works on this day must be put to death.

3 Don't light any fires in your homes on the Sabbath day." The Offerings

4 Moses spoke to the entire congregation of Israel, saying, "This is what God has commanded:

5 "Gather from among you an offering for God. Receive on God's behalf what everyone is willing to give as an offering: gold, silver, bronze;

6 blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goats' hair;

7 tanned rams' skins; dolphin skins; acacia wood;

8 lamp oil; spices for anointing oils and for fragrant incense;

9 onyx stones and other stones for setting in the Ephod and the Breastpiece.

10 "Come - all of you who have skills - come and make everything that God has commanded:

11 The Dwelling with its tent and cover, its hooks, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases;

12 the Chest with its poles, the Atonement-Cover and veiling curtain;

13 the Table with its poles and implements and the Bread of the Presence;

14 the Lampstand for giving light with its furnishings and lamps and the oil for lighting;

15 the Altar of Incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense; the screen for the door at the entrance to The Dwelling;

16 the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering with its bronze grate and poles and all its implements; the Washbasin with its base;

17 the tapestry hangings for the Courtyard with the posts and bases, the screen for the Courtyard gate;

18 the pegs for The Dwelling, the pegs for the Courtyard with their cords;

19 the official vestments for ministering in the Holy Place, the sacred vestments for Aaron the priest and for his sons serving as priests."

20 So everyone in the community of Israel left the presence of Moses.

21 Then they came back, every one whose heart was roused, whose spirit was freely responsive, bringing offerings to God for building the Tent of Meeting, furnishing it for worship and making the holy vestments.

22 They came, both men and women, all the willing spirits among them, offering brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces - anything made of gold - offering up their gold jewelry to God.

23 And anyone who had blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics; fine linen; goats' hair; tanned leather; and dolphin skins brought them.

24 Everyone who wanted to offer up silver or bronze as a gift to God brought it. Everyone who had acacia wood that could be used in the work, brought it.

25 All the women skilled at weaving brought their weavings of blue and purple and scarlet fabrics and their fine linens.

26 And all the women who were gifted in spinning, spun the goats' hair.

27 The leaders brought onyx and other precious stones for setting in the Ephod and the Breastpiece.

28 They also brought spices and olive oil for lamp oil, anointing oil, and incense.

29 Every man and woman in Israel whose heart moved them freely to bring something for the work that God through Moses had commanded them to make, brought it, a voluntary offering for God. Bezalel and Oholiab

30 Moses told the Israelites, "See, God has selected Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

31 He's filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and know-how for making all sorts of things,

32 to design and work in gold, silver, and bronze;

33 to carve stones and set them; to carve wood, working in every kind of skilled craft.

34 And he's also made him a teacher, he and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

35 He's gifted them with the know-how needed for carving, designing, weaving, and embroidering in blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics, and in fine linen. They can make anything and design anything.

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.

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.