4 And Moses speaketh unto all the company of the sons of Israel, saying, `This `is' the thing which Jehovah hath commanded, saying,
5 Take ye from among you a heave-offering to Jehovah; every one whose heart `is' willing doth bring it, -- the heave-offering of Jehovah, -- gold, and silver, and brass,
6 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and linen, and goats' `hair',
7 and rams' skins made red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
8 and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the spice perfume,
9 and shoham stones, and stones for settings, for an ephod, and for a breastplate.
10 `And all the wise-hearted among you come in, and make all that Jehovah hath commanded:
11 `The tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its hooks, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets,
12 `The ark and its staves, the mercy-seat, and the vail of the covering,
13 `The table and its staves, and all its vessels, and the bread of the presence,
14 `And the candlestick for the light, and its vessels, and its lamps, and the oil for the light,
15 `And the altar of perfume, and its staves, and the anointing oil, and the spice perfume, and the covering of the opening at the opening of the tabernacle,
16 `The altar of burnt-offering and the brazen grate which it hath, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base,
17 `The hangings of the court, its pillars, and their sockets, and the covering of the gate of the court,
18 `The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,
19 `The coloured garments, to do service in the sanctuary, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons to act as priest in.'
20 And all the company of the sons of Israel go out from the presence of Moses,
21 and they come in -- every man whom his heart hath lifted up, and every one whom his spirit hath made willing -- they have brought in the heave-offering of Jehovah for the work of the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.
22 And they come in -- the men with the women -- every willing-hearted one -- they have brought in nose-ring, and ear-ring, and seal-ring, and necklace, all golden goods, even every one who hath waved a wave-offering of gold to Jehovah.
23 And every man with whom hath been found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and linen, and goats' `hair', and rams' skins made red, and badgers' skins, have brought `them' in;
24 every one lifting up a heave-offering of silver and brass have brought in the heave-offering of Jehovah; and every one with whom hath been found shittim wood for any work of the service brought `it' in.
25 And every wise-hearted woman hath spun with her hands, and they bring in yarn, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the linen;
26 and all the women whose heart hath lifted them up in wisdom, have spun the goats' `hair'.
27 And the princes have brought in the shoham stones, and the stones for settings, for the ephod, and for the breastplate,
28 and the spices, and the oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the spice perfume;
29 every man and woman (whom their heart hath made willing to bring in for all the work which Jehovah commanded to be done by the hand of Moses) `of' the sons of Israel brought in a willing-offering to Jehovah.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 35
Commentary on Exodus 35 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 35
Ex 35:1-35. Contributions to the Tabernacle.
1. Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel, &c.—On the occasion referred to in the opening of this chapter, the Israelites were specially reminded of the design to erect a magnificent tabernacle for the regular worship of God, as well as of the leading articles that were required to furnish that sacred edifice [Ex 35:11-19]. (See on Ex 25:1-40; Ex 27:1-21; Ex 30:1-31:18).
20, 21. all the congregation of Israel departed from the presence of Moses—No exciting harangues were made, nor had the people Bibles at home in which they could compare the requirements of their leader and see if these things were so. But they had no doubt as to his bearing to them the will of God, and they were impressed with so strong a sense of its being their duty, that they made a spontaneous offer of the best and most valuable treasures they possessed.
21. they came, every one whose heart stirred him up—One powerful element doubtless of this extraordinary open-hearted liberality was the remembrance of their recent transgression, which made them "zealous of good works" (compare 2Co 7:11). But along with this motive, there were others of a higher and nobler kind—a principle of love to God and devotedness to His service, an anxious desire to secure the benefit of His presence, and gratitude for the tokens of His divine favor: it was under the combined influence of these considerations that the people were so willing and ready to pour their contributions into that exchequer of the sanctuary.
every one whom his spirit made willing—Human nature is always the same, and it is implied that while an extraordinary spirit of pious liberality reigned in the bosoms of the people at large, there were exceptions—some who were too fond of the world, who loved their possessions more than their God, and who could not part with these; no, not for the service of the tabernacle.
22. they came, both men and women, &c.—literally, "the men over and above the women"; a phraseology which implies that the women acted a prominent part, presented their offerings first, and then were followed by as many of their male companions as were similarly disposed.
brought bracelets, &c.—There was in that early age no money in the form of coins or bullion. What money passed current with the merchant consisted of rings which were weighed, and principally of ornaments for personal decoration. Astonishment at the abundance of their ornaments is at an end when we learn that costly and elegant ornaments abounded in proportion as clothing was simple and scarce among the Egyptians, and some, entirely divested of clothing, yet wore rich necklaces [Hengstenberg]. Among people with Oriental sentiments and tastes, scarcely any stronger proof could have been given of the power of religion than their willingness not only to lay aside, but to devote those much-valued trinkets to the house of God; and thus all, like the Eastern sages, laid the best they had at the service of God.
30. See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, &c.—Moses had made this communication before [see Ex 31:2-5; also see on Ex 31:2]. But now that the collection had been made, the materials were contributed, and the operations of building about to be commenced, it was with the greatest propriety he reminded the people that the individuals entrusted with the application of their gold and silver had been nominated to the work by authority to which all would bow.
35. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart—A statement which not only testifies that skill in art and science is a direct gift from God, but that weaving was especially the business of men in Egypt (see Ex 38:22; 39:22, 27). And in perfect harmony with the testimony of the monuments is the account given by Moses to the artists who were divinely taught the arts necessary for the embellishment of the tabernacle. Others, whose limited means did not admit of these expensive contributions, offered their gratuitous services in fabricating such articles of tapestry as were needed; arts which the Israelitish females learned as bondwomen, in the houses of Egyptian princes.