Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 25:3
And this [is] the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
3. The metals. Gold, silver, and copper are specified, the gold being prescribed, in accordance with a significant gradation, for those vessels and parts of the sanctuary which were nearest to Jehovah, the silver and the copper for those which were further off and less important. Of gold there was a superior kind, called pure (lit. clean) gold, i.e. gold more carefully freed from silver or alloy than ordinary gold. ‘Pure gold’ is thus prescribed for the gilding of the ark, and for the mercy-seat ( vv. 11, 17); for the gilding of the table of Presence-bread, and for its vessels ( vv. 24, 29); for the candlestick and its utensils ( vv. 31, 36 ff.); for the gilding of the altar of incense (Exo 30:3); and for the chains for the sacred pouch, and the plate on the mitre, in the high priest’s dress (Exo 28:14; Exo 28:22; Exo 28:36). Ordinary gold is prescribed for the rim and rings, and for the gilding of the staves, of the Ark, table of Presence-bread, and incense altar (Exo 25:11-13; Exodus 24, 25, 26, 28; Exo 30:3-5); for the cherubim on the mercy-seat (Exo 25:18); for the clasps of the curtains (Exo 26:6); for the gilding of the frames and of the bars outside, and of the pillars for the veil and for the screen (Exo 26:29; Exo 26:32; Exo 26:37); for the rings outside the frames for the bars (Exo 26:29); for the hooks attaching the veil and the screen to their pillars (Exo 26:32; Exo 26:37); and for the gold thread, rosettes, rings for the sacred pouch, and bells, in the high priest’s dress (Exo 28:6; Exo 28:8; Exo 28:15; Exodus 11, 13, 20; Exodus 23, 26, 27; Exodus 33). Silver is prescribed for the sockets of the frames, and of the pillars for the veil (Exo 26:19; Exo 26:25; Exo 26:32); and for the hooks and fillets of the pillars of the court (Exo 27:10-11; Exo 27:17); and copper for the altar of burnt-offering (Exo 27:2-4; Exo 27:6); the sockets and pins of the court (Exo 27:10 f., 17 19); and the laver (Exo 30:18).
brass ] bronze, or copper (Gen 4:22 RVm.), which, indeed, was the meaning of ‘brass’ in old English: in Holland’s Pliny, for instance, mention is made of ‘ mines of brass’ (cf. Deu 8:9). The alloy of copper and zinc which we call ‘brass’ was not known to the ancients. ‘Bronze,’ i.e. copper hardened by tin, was much used anciently for weapons and other implements, before iron came into general use.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. This is the offering] There were three kinds of metals:
1. GOLD, zahab, which may properly signify wrought gold; what was bright and resplendent, as the word implies. In Job 28:15-17, Job 28:19, gold is mentioned five times, and four of the words are different in the original.
(1) SEGOR, from sagar, to shut up; gold in the mine, or shut up in its ore.
(2) KETHEM, from catham, to sign, seal, or stamp; gold made current by being coined; standard or sterling gold, exhibiting the stamp expressive of its value.
(3) ZAHAB, wrought gold, pure, highly polished gold; probably what was used for overlaying or gilding.
(4) PAZ, denoting solidity, compactness, and strength; probably gold formed into different kinds of plate, as it is joined in Ex 25:17 of the above chapter with keley, vessels. The zahab, or pure gold, is here mentioned, because it was in a state that rendered it capable of being variously manufactured for the service of the sanctuary.
2. SILVER, keseph, from casaph, to be pale, wan, or white; so called from its well-known colour.
3. BRASS, nechosheth, copper; unless we suppose that the factitious metal commonly called brass is intended: this is formed by a combination of the oxide or ore of zinc, called lapis calaminaris, with copper. Brass seems to have been very anciently in use, as we find it mentioned Ge 4:22; and the preparation of copper, to transform it into this factitious metal, seems to be very pointedly referred to Job 28:2: Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone; eben yatsuk nechushah, translated by the Vulgate, Lapis, solutus calore, in aes vertitur, “The stone, liquefied by heat, is turned into brass.” Is it going too far to say that the stone here may refer to the lapis calaminaris, which was used to turn the copper into brass? Because brass was capable of so fine a polish as to become exceedingly bright, and keep its lustre a considerable time, hence it was used for all weapons of war and defensive armour among ancient nations; and copper seems to have been in no repute, but for its use in making brass.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
3. this is the offering which yeshall take of themthe articles of which the offerings shouldconsist.
brassrather copper,brass being a composite metal.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And this is the offering which ye shall take of them,…. That is, some one or other of the following things were to be taken of each of them that had a heart, and it was in the power of their hands to give; it was not expected that something of each of these should be had of everyone, but every man was to give, and it was to be received of him, what of these would suit him best to bestow, some one thing, some another, as they were possessed of, and had a heart to give; and for which service many of them were abundantly supplied with what they had brought out of Egypt; and as it was the Lord that gave them favour in the eyes of the Egyptians to lend or give them the riches they had, they were under the greater obligation to part with somewhat of it freely for his service; and especially as it would be to the spiritual profit and advantage both of them and theirs:
gold and silver, and brass; “gold”, for those things that were to he made of gold; as the mercy seat and cherubim, the candlestick, c. or were covered with it, as the ark, the shewbread table, and other things and silver, for those that were made of that, as the silver sockets to the boards of the tabernacle, the silver trumpets, c. and “brass” for the altar of burnt offering, its pans, shovels, basins, rings, and staves, and other things: Aben Ezra rightly observes, that no mention is made of iron, there being no use of that for anything in the tabernacle to be made of it as also there was not in the temple of Solomon, and where there was not so much as a tool of iron heard in it while it was building, 1Ki 6:7 it may be, because instruments of war, slaughtering weapons, were made of iron; and to show that God is the God of peace in his sanctuary, and so in all the churches: gold and silver vessels the Israelites borrowed or begged of the Egyptians, and brought them with them when they came out of Egypt, Ex 11:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3 And this is the offering. Hence, what I have before said is more fully continued, viz., that what the poor offer of their little will not be eclipsed by the abundance of the rich, since God deigns to reckon goats’ hair among the sacred offerings not less than gold, purple, and precious stones. Again, by the varied and manifold contributions, He would shew, as in a glass, that a variety of gifts are necessary to the building of the spiritual temple, as Paul sets forth in Rom 12:0 and 1Co 12:0 The liberality of the rich was indeed more splendid; but, as they did not scruple to mix their gold and silver, blue, purple, and precious stones, with brass, iron, and other common materials, so also, now-a-days, those who aid the edification of the Church by their more excellent gifts, admit, without contempt or dislike, into fellowship poor brethren, to whom it is not given to equal them.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) Gold, and silver, and brass.The Israelites had brought out of Egypt (1) their ancestral wealththe possessions of Abraham and the accumulations of Joseph, and (2) the rich gifts received from the Egyptians at the moment of their departure. They had added to their wealth by the plunder of the Amalekites. Thus they possessed a considerable store of the precious metals; and there is no difficulty in supposing that they furnished the gold needed for the tabernacle without seriously impoverishing themselves. The silver, which was of small amount comparatively, appears ultimately to have been furnished in another way (Exo. 30:12-16; Exo. 38:25-28) The brass, or rather bronze, for brass seems to have been unknown at this time, was small in amount (Exo. 38:29), and of no great value. It would have constituted no serious drain on the resources of the people.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Gold, and silver, and brass Sceptics have been fond of asking whence the Hebrews in the wilderness could have obtained such quantifies of the precious metals as the tabernacle required . It is not difficult to answer: (1 . ) They probably possessed some of the treasures which belonged to their ancient fathers, and of which they had not been despoiled in Egypt. (2.) They obtained great quantities of gold and silver from the Egyptians on their departure from their land. See Exo 12:35-36, and notes on Exo 3:22, and Exo 11:2. (3 . ) Much spoil of the Egyptian army probably fell into their hands at the Red sea . See Exo 14:30, note . (4 . ) They doubtless obtained much spoil of the defeated Amalekites, (Exo 17:8-13. ) (5 . ) Finally, we are not to imagine that in the Sinaitic peninsula the Hebrews were cut off from all communication with other peoples . Great caravans frequently traversed these deserts, (comp . Gen 37:25; Gen 37:28,) and doubtless then, as in a later time merchantmen of “all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country,” (1Ki 10:14-17,) carried to and fro with them large quantities of precious metals; and these, as well as other material needed for any of their purposes, could have been obtained by the Israelites .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Perhaps the things here particularized, beside their first use, had a spiritual allusion. See Rev 3:18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 25:3 And this [is] the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
Ver. 3. Gold, and silver, and brass. ] No mention of iron. Compare 1Ki 6:7 ; 1Ki 8:51 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6) in verses: Exo 25:3-5. Fifteen objects (verses: Exo 25:3-7), 3 x 5. All numbers connected with the Tabernacle are multiples of 5. See App-10.
gold, &c. No iron in the tabernacle.
brass. A mixture of copper and zinc was unknown then. Probably copper, or bronze (a mixture of copper and tin).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
brass: Nechosheth, rather, copper; as brass is a factitious metal, composed of copper, and the oxide or ore of zinc, called lapis calaminaris. Deu 8:9, Job 28:2
Reciprocal: Gen 4:22 – brass Exo 28:5 – gold
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
25:3 And this [is] the offering which ye shall {b} take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
(b) For the building and use of the tabernacle.