Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 35:4
And Moses spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This [is] the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
4. This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded. See on Exo 16:16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
4 9. The people are invited to make voluntary offerings of the materials needed for the sanctuary. See Exo 25:2-7, from which the list of materials in vv. 6 9 is verbally repeated.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel,…. Continued his speech to them, being convened by him, after by way of preface he had repeated the law of the sabbath, with an additional circumstance to it, “pro tempore”:
saying, this is the thing which the Lord commanded; ordered Moses to inform them of as his will, when he was with him upon the mount the first time; but through their idolatry, and time spent in making up matters between God and them, he had not had till now an opportunity of acquainting them with it:
saying; as follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 4-19:
After warning against Sabbath violation, Moses instructed the people regarding the construction of the tabernacle. Plans for the tabernacle and its furnishings are found in chapters 25 through 28.
Verses 5-10: a list of materials to be used in the construction of the tabernacle, corresponding to Ex 25:2-7.
Verse 11: the tabernacle, Ex 26:1-6; the tent, Exo 26:7-13; the covering, Ex 26:14; the boards, Ex 26:15-25; the bars, Ex 26:26-29; the pillars, Ex 26:32-37; and the sockets, Ex 26:19-25, 32, 37. These are the main parts of the tabernacle.
Verse 12: The ark and its staves, Ex 25:10-15; the mercy seat, Ex 25:17-22; the veil, Ex 26:31.
Verse 13: the table of showbread, and its appurtenances, see Ex 25:23-30.
Verse 14: The candlestick and its components, see Ex 25:31-39.
Verse 15: the altar of incense, see Ex 30:1-10; the anointing oil, Ex 30:23-25; the sweet incense, Ex 30:34, 35; and the door hangings,
Verse 16: the altar of burnt offering, and its appurtenances, see Ex 27:1-8; the laver, see Ex 30:18-21.
Verse 17: the hangings, pillars, and sockets, see Ex 27:9-18.
Verse 18: the pins of the tabernacle; likely the tent-pegs, which were not previously mentioned. These were required to keep the ropes taut which held the tabernacle covering in place, and to keep the pillars upright on which the court hangings were attached.
Verse 19: the clothes of services refer to the holy garments which Aaron and the priests wore, see Ex 31:10.
These materials were to be obtained from the offerings of the people, given freely to the service of Jehovah. The work was to be done by those skilled in the various arts and crafts.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Exo. 35:4-19
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
The instructions for the building and furniture of the Tabernacle were detailed in Exodus 25, &c. In this recapitulation, notice
I. That the provision of the house of the Lord was obligatory. The command for worship, the time of worship, and the building for worship emanated from the same divine authority. Has, then, the obligation for the latter ceased? No! Christians should be cautious how they speak of the abolition of the Mosaic dispensation. Much of the terrible pest known as antinomianism is based on erroneous notions on this subject. True, as a dispensation it is abolished, inasmuch as we live under the dispensation of Christ. But many of the leading principles, provisions, and commands of the latter are based upon those of the former, and what has not, either by divine ordination or the necessities of the case been abrogated, is binding still. The law of our textprovision for public worshiphas never been abolished, was sanctioned by Christ, practised by the Apostles, and has been recognised by the Church universal ever since. The command of our text is based
1. Upon necessity.
(1.) The worship was a common worship, and therefore necessitated a place where people could meet together.
(2.) The worship was of perpetual obligation and frequent practice. Some provision must, therefore, be made against contingencies of weather, &c.
2. Upon utility. Private houses could not always be in a state of readiness, and must from their very nature lack those appliances without which order and decency would be impossible.
II. That the Lords house should be the result of the peoples free and generous will, Exo. 35:5. The principle held as good then as now, The Lord loveth a cheerful giver, &c. The people were not taxed for it. No Church rate was levied. No hand was laid on national property. To wrest contributions from unwilling and grudging hands for Gods service, is to overthrow the principles on which such service is founded, and to offer what God cannot accept. Here, as afterwards, such as had a mind to work were invited to work; such as were inclined to give were encouraged to give. No compulsion was used. God wanted a house. Moses told the people so. The voluntary principle was called into play, and was on this its first appearance successful, as it has been ever since, as it will be as long as the work is left to the faith and love of those to whom the appeal is made (Psa. 110:3).
III. That the Lords house was to be built and furnished intelligently, Exo. 35:10. The Jews built their Tabernacle with distinct reference to the purposes for which it was to be used. The wise hearted, therefore, and not merely the wealthy and the tasteful, were in special request. The necessity for wise heartedness, in building and furnishing Gods house, has not vanished with the shadowy dispensation. Let Christian architects and Church officers bear this in mind. If our tabernacles are specially for the teaching of Gods word, they should be so constructed that the preacher should be seen and heard by all.
IV. That the Lords house was to be complete.
1. The building was to be complete. His tent, covering, taches, boards, bars, pillars, sockets, &c., &c., were all to be finished and in their place. No man thinks of moving into a house until the house is complete. Is, then, that which is not good enough for man, good enough for mans Maker? Christian men! let not the infidel and the worldling say as they pass by our slovenly and unfinished buildings, These men began to build a tower for their God and were not able to finish. We can finish our temples of mammon, our temples of gaiety, our temples of learning: let us not leave unfinished the sanctuary of our God.
2. The accessories were to be complete. The inventory here is perfect, down to the very pins and sockets. It may be said that this belonged to the ceremonial law. Well, is the abolition of that law in its technical details a reason why beggarly elements should be introduced into the Christian Churches, and ministers hampered, congregations inconvenienced, and the work of God generally retarded for the want of needful arrangement. Let trustees of Churches see to it that everything in the pulpit, choir, pews, and vestry, that is requisite for the decent, edifying, comforting worship of God, is provided. And let vergers, chapel-keepers, pew-openers, see that everything is in its place before the minister and congregation arrive.
3. The funds were to be complete. When the Tabernacle was opened it was out of debt. Christians did not learn from Jews the habit of spending money for God which their children would have to provide. It is a scandal to men, who would under no circumstances allow men to call themselves their creditors, to make them Gods creditors. If a congregation is poor, let them be satisfied with a modest building till they are rich enough to provide a more magnificent structure.
V. That the Lords house should be beautiful (1Ch. 16:29). It was only a tent, but it was the best tent in the whole camp. It was reared for the best purpose, the people therefore constructed it of the best materials they had, and on the best plans. True, it may be said that God is everywhere and may be worshipped anywhere. But everywhere is the temple God has erected for Himself, and has He not lavished magnificence and beauty on that temple? Look at its roof, its floor, its aisles! Let nature, then, be the model upon which churches should be constructed for the higher worship of the great Creator. And if the Jews thought it worth their while to make Gods house as splendid as their means would allow, let not Christians fall below their standard. There may be exceptions. The people may be poor. Churches may have to adapt themselves to circumstances. But let them be of the very best that can be afforded; and let those beware whose objection against the beauty of the Lords house is merely the selfish one, cost.
Remember(i.) That Gods house is for His worship, not for lectures or theatrical displays. (ii.) That Gods house is for the preaching of His Word; (iii) and therefore, that Gods house demands our best efforts for its completion, and our reverent behaviour at its services.
J. W. Burn.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON
Moral Law! Exo. 35:1-35.
(1.) The ceremonial law was like a scaffolding around a building which is being slowly and gradually raised. When the building is completed, the scaffolding is taken away. But the moral law is like the rafters, deep sunk in the building itself. These cannot be taken away without the ruin of the whole structure of revelation.
(2.) The ceremonial law is like the bright petals of a blossom, which drop off to make room for the fruit. But the moral law is like the stem, which upholds both blossom and fruit. For God is holyGod is good; and therefore the law of holiness and goodness must, like God, endure for ever.
Thy God is good, His mercy nigh,
His love sustains thy tottering feet;
Trust Him, for His grace is sure,
Ever doth His Truth endure.
Zehn.
Natures-Tabernacle! Exo. 35:4. Rightly considered, all nature is the tabernacle of God, constructed for His worship. The tabernacle of the wilderness has been called by an eminent writer a miniature model of the whole earth, just as he calls the people of Israel a miniature pattern of all nations. Every man has a part assigned to him in the erection and adorning of this wonderful tabernacle, whose floor is the green fields, whose walls are the rocks and mountains, and whose roof is the ever-changing sky. Every man who does a days work is a fellow-worker with God, in carrying out His great design in creationin improving the face of naturechanging the wilderness into a garden, developing the latent resources and capabilities of the earth, converting its crude materials into shapes of beauty and forms of usefulness, in making the world fairer and richer, and better fitted to be the home of redeemed man, and the shrine of the Most High God. Therefore Excelsior.
In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above the spectral glaciers shone,
And from his lips escaped a moan
Excelsior!
Longfellow.
Loves Service! Exo. 35:5-19.
(1.) He was busy preparing the home. All his thoughts day after day were on its beauty and decoration. And as the work advanced towards completion; as the rooms became richly yet chastely adorned in floor, and ceiling, and wall; as the garden parterres assumed an orderly and blooming appearance, he spent hours in wandering from room to room, and terrace to terrace, thinkingof what?of whom! Of her whom he lovedon whom he had lavished his fondest affections, and for whose residence in that house he had been so busily occupied in preparation. He regretted none of these costly offerings at Loves Shrine.
(2.) God bad condescended to be Israels God. He had promised to come and dwell with them. And they were building Him a house wherein to reside. Some there might be who grudged the costly beauties of the tabernacle, but most of the pious in Israel, who loved God with all their heart, would delight in making sacrifices for Him whom they loved. And as the home grew more and more ready for His Divine indwelling, how that love would fill their spirits with bright prospects of sweet fellowship and loving communion with Him when the house of God was ready. So the fabric of our souls holiness is being daily upreared and adorned for the Apocalyptic consummation.
The mansion of creations Architect;
The palace of the Everlasting King;
Its gates of pearl, its edifice of gold;
Its very streets of pure crystalline gold.
Bickersteth.
Midianite-Mines! Exo. 35:5. The Old Testament allusions to gold, silver, and other valuable metals, derive new interest from Captain Burtons researches in Midian during the last six months. He has returned from his first expedition with twenty-five tons of specimensincluding torquoise, alabaster, and sulphur. He also brought for the Egyptian Khedive, Midianite coins, inscriptions, fragments of glass and pottery; as well as a variety of relics from the thirty-two ruined cities which still exist in the land. He found evidences of ancient mining operations everywhere, traces of gold to an important amount, quartz threaded with veins of silver. Everywhere were evidences of great operations anciently conducted by practised minersprobably slavesunder skilled engineers. The stones
Of purest crystal are from gloomiest mines,
The tenderest pearls are won from roughest seas.
Religion-Sphere! Exo. 35:6-11. The Levitical economy teaches that the whole life is one, that true religion is the proper use of mans whole being, and that it is not a thing merely of the Sunday and the sanctuary. By our Lords life on earth He imparted to the whole earth a heavenly charactermade every spot of common ground an altar, every common mean a sacrament, every action of daily life a worship. Religion has its place in everything; even in our daily labours which we pursue. The inspiration of Aholiab in his trade shows the true design and meaning of work. Macmillan remarks, that natural, as well as spiritual talents, are the good gifts of God, that the right use of the powers of the artist, the musician, the poet, the artisan, the mechanic, the day labourer, is due to the inspiration of the Spirit.
O dreary life! we cry, O dreary life!
And still the generations of the birds
Sing through our sighing, and the flocks and herds
Serenely live, while we are keeping strife
With Heavens true purpose in us, as a knife
Against which we may struggle!
Stone-Stability! Exo. 35:9.
(1.) Gems are steadfast and enduring. They are not composed of perishable materialsnot even of rocks that wither and crumble away; but of that which endures. Jewels, as a class, are the most lasting of all earthly objects, the most beautiful, as well as the most imperishable, form in which matter appears. Gold will wear away, silver will tarnish, and wood will decay. The granite stone itself will disintegrate. But jewels will continue unchanged for thousands of years. They are, therefore, expressive types of stability and permanence.
(2.) Gospel truths have this virtue. They are no vague hopes, or shadowy dreams; but solid substantial realities, more enduring than the everlasting hills themselves. They are truths which will last when the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll and vanish away. They will come out of the last dread conflagration, when the earth and all therein shall be burnt up, all the purer, clearer, and more enduring for the fiery ordeal. Were Gospel truths destitute of this stability, they might retain their literary brilliancy, but they would lose their saving and consoling potency. It enabled Paul to say, I know in whom I have believed.
The earth shall pass away,
The stars shall fall,
The heavens roll together
Like a parchment scroll;
But TRUTH shall live for ever,
And through endless ages give
Her blessings to the sainted,
And fail them never, never.
Tabernacle-Furniture! Exo. 35:10-14. Amongst the existing memorials of ancient Rome is the triumphal Arch of Titus, reared to commemorate the capture of Jerusalem by that famous general. It represents in its basreliefs the golden candlestick, the table of shewbread, and other sacred articles which formed part of the spoils of the temple. These trophies were borne conspicuously in the triumphal procession with which Titus and his army were honoured on their return to Rome. The sculptures on the arch represent the procession, the figure of the candlestick being the most prominent of the sacred symbols.
Their glory faded, and their race dispersed,
The last of nations now, though once the first,
They warn and teach the proudest, would they learn,
Keep Wisdom, or meet vengeance in your turn.
Cowper.
Divine Delectation! Exo. 35:10, &c. In the Canticles of Solomon we are told that He feedeth among the lilies.
(1.) Material! The Creator, it has been well observed by Macmillan, receives enjoyment from the beauties of creation. We are told authoritatively that He takes pleasure in the works of His hands; that for His pleasure they are and were created. Those countless objects of wonderful loveliness, in situations where no eye but His own can behold them, are sources of Divine delectation. Such are the wild flowers in pathless deserts, and on inaccessible mountain peaks.
(2.) Moral!, As the artist delights in exercising his talent in depicting the landscapeas the architect finds pleasure in exerting his skill in uprearing the gorgeous minster: so God not only delights in the scenes and objects of nature, in the formation of which He has exercised His divine wisdom and power, but also in the beauties of holiness, designed and upreared by His grace. In this respect God desired and delighted to see the Wilderness Tabernacle beautiful and gloriousas the emblem of the Church and Christian comely with the come liness which He has put on them.
To-day I saw a dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie,
An inner impulse rent the vail
Of his old husk; from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings; like gauze they grew;
Through crofts and pastures wet with dew,
A living flash of life he flew.
Vernon.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
THE PEOPLE INVITED TO OFFER THE MATERIALS OF THE TABERNACLE, AND TO ASSIST IN THE WORK.
(4-9) And Moses spake.This passage is the sequence and counterpart of Exo. 25:1-7, and follows exactly the same order in the enumeration of the required offerings. Both passages equally declare the sine qu non of an acceptable offering to be a willing heart (Exo. 25:2; Exo. 35:5).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
The Request For The Freewill Offerings of the People ( Exo 35:4-29 ).
This passage can be analysed as:
a Yahweh has commanded that they make a willing offering to Yahweh (Exo 35:4-5 a)
b List of requirements: precious metals, cloth, wood, oil and spices, jewels, and especially oil and spices and the stones for the ephod and the breastpouch (Exo 35:5-9).
c Every skilled (‘wise-hearted’) man among then was to come and make all that Yahweh has commanded – tent, ark, veil, table, lampstand, oil, incense altar, anointing oil, incense, screen, brazen altar, laver, hangings of the court, pegs, priestly garments (Exo 35:10-19).
d All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh’s offering, for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, and earrings, and signet-rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man that offered an offering of gold to Yahweh. (Exo 35:20-22).
d Every man, with whom was found bluey-violet, and purpley-red, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and dolphin skins, brought them. Every one who offered an offering of silver and bonze brought Yahweh’s offering; and every man, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it (Exo 35:23-24).
c And all the women who were skilled (‘wise-hearted’) span with their hands, and brought what they had spun, the bluey-violet, and the purpley-red, the scarlet, and the fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in skilfulness spun the goats’ hair.’ (Exo 35:25-26).
b And the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastpouch; and the spice, and the oil; for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense (Exo 35:27-28).
a The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering to Yahweh; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring, for all the work which Yahweh had commanded to be made through Moses. (Exo 35:29).
Thus in ‘a’ the command came out for freewill offerings, and in the parallel freewill offerings are brought. In ‘b we are told what was required, and in the parallel what the rulers brought is listed. In ‘c’ the skilled men came and made what Yahweh commanded, while in the parallel it was the skilled women. In ‘d’ the details can be switched around as we like between the two. The point is that the people departed and then brought their gifts.
Exo 35:4-9
‘And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh commanded, saying, “Take from among you an offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Yahweh’s offering: gold, and silver, and bronze, and bluey violet, and purpley-red, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and dolphin skins, and acacia wood, and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastpouch.’
Compare here Exo 25:3-7 to which this is very similar. A list of requirements for constructing the Dwellingplace are given, and the people told to make their offering to Yahweh from a willing heart. God wants nothing that is not willingly given. But he who gives to God will not lose by it. It included the precious metals, the different dyed cloth and skins, the acacia wood, the oil and spices, and the jewels required for the ephod and breastpouch. For more detailed exposition see on Exo 25:1-7.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
EXPOSITION
THE PEOPLE INVITED TO BRING GIFTS, AND ASSIST IN THE WORK OF THE TABERNACLE. Having warned the Israelites against breaches of the sabbath, Moses proceeded to enumerate the offerings which God had said that they might bring (Exo 35:4-9), and the works which he had required to be constructed (Exo 35:10-19). In the former enumeration, he follows exactly the order and wording of the Divine command to himself, as recorded in Exo 25:3-7; in the latter, he changes the order, mentioning first the building, with its component parts (Exo 25:11), then the contents of the building (Exo 25:12-15), then the court with its contents (Exo 25:16, Exo 25:17) together with some details which had been omitted in the former account (Exo 25:18), and finally the holy garments (Exo 25:19). After hearing him, the people returned to their several tents (Exo 25:20).
Exo 35:5-10
Correspond to Exo 25:2-7, the correspondence in the list of offerings being exact.
Exo 35:11
On the tabernacle, see Exo 26:1-6; on the tent, Exo 26:7-13; on the covering, Exo 26:14; the boards, Exo 26:15-25; the bars, Exo 26:26-29; the pillars, Exo 26:32-37; and the sockets, Exo 26:19, Exo 26:21, Exo 26:25, Exo 26:32, and Exo 26:37. The enumeration comprises all the main parts of which the tabernacle consisted.
Exo 35:12
On the ark and the staves thereof, see Exo 25:10-15; on the mercy-seat, Exo 25:17-22; on the vail of the covering, see Exo 26:31.
Exo 35:13
On the table and its appurtenances, see Exo 25:23-30.
Exo 35:14
For the candlestick, its furniture, and its lamps, compare Exo 25:31-39.
Exo 35:15
The incense altar. See Exo 30:1-10. His staves. See Exo 30:5. The anointing oil is described in the same chapter, Exo 30:23-25; the sweet incense in Exo 30:34, Exo 30:35; the hangings for the door in Exo 26:36.
Exo 35:16
Is a reference to Exo 27:1-8, Exo 30:18-21.
Exo 35:17
Is a reference to Exo 27:9-18.
Exo 35:18
The pins of the tabernacle and the court had not been previously mentioned. They must be regarded as tent-pegs, whereto were attached the cords which kept taut the covering of the tent over the tabernacle, and which steadied the pillars whereto the hangings of the court were fastened.
Exo 35:19
The cloths of service. See the comment on Exo 31:10.
HOMILETICS
On the symbolism of the Tabernacle and its parts, see the Homiletics on Exo 25:10-39; Exo 26:1-37.; Exo 27:1-8; and Exo 30:1-10. On the symbolism of the anointing oil and the holy incense, see the Homiletics on Exo 30:23-28.
Exo 35:5-19
The duty and privilege of making offerings to God.
That God allows us to offer to him of his own, and accepts such offerings as free gifts, is one of his many gracious condescensions. It is the part of all ministers to give opportunity for such offeringsto encourage them, suggest them, elicit them. Moses now summoned “all the congregation of the children of Israel,” that he might give to all, without partiality or favouritism, the opportunity for a good action, which would obtain its due reward. Doubtless he pointed out that the object was one for the glory of God and the edification of his peopleno less an object than the substitution for that poor “tent of meeting,” which he had extemporised on the morrow of his first descent from Sinai (Exo 33:7), of a glorious structure, Of the richest materials, designed by God himself, worthy of him, and suited to intensify and spiritualise the devotions of all worshippers. It was fit that the structure should, if possible, be raised by means of the free gifts of the faithful. For this Moses now, like a faithful minister of Christ, made appeal to all. In doing so, he pointed out the two modes in which such offerings may be made.
I. OFFERINGS MAY BE MADE BY THE ASSIGNMENT TO A SACRED USE OF A PORTION OF OUR SUBSTANCE. All who had gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goat’s hair, etc; were invited to contribute out of their abundance to the erection of the new sanctuary. It was especially urged that, if they did so, it should be with “a willing heart” (Exo 35:1)”not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2Co 9:7). Such a mode of offering is open to those only who have property of some kind or other, and is especially suited to the rich and well-to-do classes; and it was no doubt the wealthy who at this time chiefly contributed in this way. But, as God is “no respecter of persons,” and regards the poor and needy fully as much as those who are of high estate, some further mode of making him an offering is necessary. Note, in this connection, that
II. OFFERINGS MAY BE MADE BY THE DEVOTION TO A SACRED USE OF SOME PORTION OF OUR TIME AND LABOUR. “Every wise-hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded” (Exo 35:10). All who had sufficient skill were invited to join in the actual work of preparing and making the various fabrics. Carpenters, weavers, dyers, smiths, embroiderers, metallurgists, might contribute their time and work, and so make an offering to God as acceptable as that of the gold or jewels of the wealthy. Even poor women, whose only skill was to spin thread with their hands (Exo 35:25), might “bring that which they had spun,” and were accepted as offering worthily. In this way there were few families that might not have their part in the work, for spinning was a wide-spread accomplishment. And so, in our own day, whenever any good work is taken in hand, it will always be found that every one who wills can have some part in itcan he]p, by headwork or by handiwork, to effect the end desired. And the value of such participation is quite equal to that rendered by rich contributors, at any rate, in the sight of God. For observe, the women who spun goat’s hair are placed side by side with the “rulers” who “brought onyx stones,” and costly spices, and jewels to be set in the high-priest’s breastplate (Exo 35:26-28).
HOMILIES BY J. ORR
Verse 4-36:8
Gifts and workers.
Learn from this section that the Lord’s work requires
I. LIBERAL GIVERS. Almost everything needed for the sanctuary was provided by the free gifts of the people. What was required was readily forthcoming. The only exception to the voluntariness of the givings was the half-shekel of atonement money (Exo 30:11-17; Exo 38:25, Exo 38:26). These givings, which may well be made the model of our own, were:
1. Willing”Every one whose heart stirred him up, and whom his spirit made willing” (Exo 36:21). The Lord “loveth a cheerful giver” (2Co 9:7).
2. According to ability. Each gave as he was able (Exo 36:23-29). The princes gave costly gifts. Others brought silver and brass. Others gave wood. Those who could not give anything else gave work (Exo 36:25, Exo 36:26).
3. Universal. All classes gave. The princes, the people, young and old, men and women.
4. Overflowing. So zealous was the spirit of the people, and so abundant were their gifts, that they had in the end to be restrained (Exo 36:5-7). When will a like liberality be manifested in the cause of Christ? Liberal givings are needed. There is still much land to be possessed at home. Heathen lands are opening to the Gospel.
5. It sufficed for the work (Exo 36:7). Thus would God teach us that it is his will that his work should be supported by the voluntary contributions of his people.
6. The giving was made an act of worship” Every man that offered, offered an offering (lit. a wave-offering) of gold unto the Lord” (Exo 36:22). “Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord’s offering” (Exo 36:24). This is the true spirit of religious giving. The humblest offering, thus presented, will not fail of acceptance. Cf. the widow with her two mites (Mar 12:41-44).
II. WILLING WORKERS (Exo 36:1, Exo 36:2). The work, like the giving, was hearty. Those only were asked to engage in this work whose hearts stirred them up to do it. God desires no other kind of workers.
III. DIVERSE GIFTS. These were needed for the different parts of the work. The man who made the “pin” (Exo 36:18) was as truly a worker in God’s service, as Bezaleel, who drew the plans. He had his own gift and use.
IV. THE WISDOM OF THE SPIRIT. “He hath filled him with the spirit of God” (Exo 36:31). “Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart,” etc. (Exo 36:35).J.O.
Fuente: The Complete Pulpit Commentary
Psa 110:3 ; 2Co 9:72Co 9:7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 35:4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This [is] the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
Ver. 4-7, &c. Much of this chapter is to be read in the twenty-fifth, and elsewhere. See the notes there.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
commanded. See Exo 25:1, &c.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
This is: Exo 25:1, Exo 25:2
Reciprocal: Exo 35:29 – the Lord Num 7:5 – Take it