Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 35:25
And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, [both] of blue, and of purple, [and] of scarlet, and of fine linen.
25, 26. The special contributions of the women. The women spun yarn, both of linen ( v. 25) and coarser ( v. 26) materials. Spinning is still in the East the work of women: and both in the Sin. Peninsula and elsewhere women still spin camels’ and goats’ hair into the coarse yarn out of which tent-coverings are woven. ‘Wise hearted,’ and ‘wisdom,’ of technical skill; cf. v. 10, and on Exo 28:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 25. All the women that were wise-hearted did spin] They had before learned this art, they were wise-hearted; and now they practise it, and God condescends to require and accept their services. In building this house of God, all were ambitious to do something by which they might testify their piety to God, and their love for his worship. The spinning practised at this time was simple, and required little apparatus. It was the plain distaff or twirling pin, which might be easily made out of any wood they met with in the wilderness.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And all the women that were wise hearted,…. That were ingenious, and had a good hand at spinning particularly, these were of the common and lower sort; the more honourable and richer sort of women are before mentioned, as bringing jewels or ornaments of gold of different sorts: but these were such who
did spin [with] their hands; in which way they got their living: some were more dexterous at it than others:
and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen; that is, yarn of these several colours, and flaxen thread, of which fine linen was made, all ready for the weaver, whether in woollen or linen.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
All the women who understood it (were wise-hearted, as in Exo 28:3) spun with their hands, and presented what they spun, viz., the yarn required for the blue and red purple cloth, the crimson and the byssus; from which it is evident that the coloured cloths were dyed in the yarn or in the wool, as was the case in Egypt according to different specimens of old Egyptian cloths (see Hengstenberg, Egypt and the Books of Moses, p. 144). Other women spun goats’ hair for the upper or outer covering of the tent (Exo 26:7.). Spinning was done by the women in very early times ( Plin. hist. n. 8, 48), particularly in Egypt, where women are represented on the monuments as busily engaged with the spindle (see Wilkinson, Manners ii. p. 60; iii. p. 133, 136), and at a later period among the Hebrews (Pro 31:19). At the present day the women in the peninsula of Sinai spin the materials for their tents from camels’ and goats’ hair, and prepare sheep’s wool for their clothing ( Rppell, Nubien, p. 202); and at Neswa, in the province of Omn, the preparation of cotton yarn is the principal employment of the women ( Wellstedt, i. p. 90). Weaving also was, and still is to a great extent, a woman’s work (cf. 2Ki 23:7); it is so among the Arab tribes in the Wady Gharandel, for example ( Russegger, iii. 24), and in Nubia ( Burckhardt, Nub. p. 211); but at Neswa the weaving is done by the men ( Wellstedt). The woven cloths for the tabernacle were prepared by men, partly perhaps because the weaving in Egypt was mostly done by the men ( Herod. 2, 35; cf. Hengstenberg, p. 143), but chiefly for this reason, that the cloths for the hangings and curtains were artistic works, which the women did not understand, but which the men had learned in Egypt, where artistic weaving was carried out to a great extent (Wilkinson, iii. pp. 113ff.).
(Note: For drawings of the Egyptian weaving-stool, see Wilkinson, iii. p. 135; also Hartmann, die Hebrerinn am Putztisch i. Taf. 1.)
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(25) All the women that were wise-heartedi.e., all who had sufficient skill. Spinning was probably a very general accomplishment of the Hebrew women. It was effected in early times by means of a wheel and spindle, with or without a distaff. The only materials used for the fabrics of the sanctuary appear to have been flax and goats hair. The flax was dyed before it was spun into thread, as sometimes by the Greeks (Horn. Od. iv. 135).
Of fine linen.Rather, of white. Most of the Egyptian linen is of a yellowish white, being made from flax imperfectly blanched.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Women did spin This appears to have been the business of women among the Egyptians and other ancient nations . The fact that the wise hearted women did this work shows that it was a labour requiring skill .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 35:25. And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin Women of the first rank among the Hebrews used in former times to employ themselves in spinning: this too was usual, even with princesses, among the Greeks and Romans, as well as among the Egyptians: Homer and Herodotus supply us with sufficient proofs. (See also Braunius, de Vest. Sacerdot. lib. 1: cap. 17.)
REFLECTIONS.Their swift obedience to the command was a blessed proof of the sincerity of the repentance which they had professed. They no sooner hear than they obey: delays in duty are dangerous; what we do, we must do quickly: their hearts were willing, and therefore their hands were open; a genuine principle of love makes a cheerful giver. The richest jewels are brought in: they who have tasted of the grace of God, think they can never enough testify their gratitude to him. It was not, indeed, in every man’s power to bring gold or diamonds, but if it was a sheep skin, or goat’s hair, it was accepted: not the greatness of the gift, so much as the temper of the giver, is precious in God’s sight. The idol calf had robbed them of much: it is a shame to reflect how much we have spent upon our sins; yet the spoils of Egypt abundantly supplied them: they had indeed better have left the gold behind than made a god of it; but now they have an opportunity of employing even the unrighteous mammon in the service of the living God. While some are opening their stores, others are at work with their hands: every man has something that he can do for God and his neighbour; and we should remember, that a thread spun for the tabernacle, or two mites cast into the treasury of God, will prove more durable riches than, if we could fill our coffers with diamonds, or adorn our own houses with tapestry of gold.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
women. In Egypt the women did the dyeing and spinning; the men did the weaving and embroidering. and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6), to emphasise the four items.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Exo 28:3, Exo 31:6, Exo 36:1, 2Ki 23:7, Pro 14:1, Pro 31:19-24, Luk 8:2, Luk 8:3, Act 9:39, Rom 16:1-4, Rom 16:6, Rom 16:12, Gal 3:28, Phi 4:3
Reciprocal: Exo 26:31 – blue Exo 36:2 – one whose Exo 40:5 – the altar 1Ch 28:21 – willing Neh 3:12 – he and his daughters
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
35:25 And all the women that were {e} wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, [both] of blue, and of purple, [and] of scarlet, and of fine linen.
(e) Who were witty and expert.