Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 39:3
And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut [it into] wires, to work [it] in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, [with] cunning work.
3. As far as fine linen, an addition, not in Exo 28:6, explaining how the gold was used; it was beaten into thin plates, and these were then cut into narrow strips, forming wires or threads, which were worked in with the variously coloured yarns (Exo 35:25). Cf. Wilk.-B. ii. 166 f.
beat ] cf. Num 16:38-39. The verb is the one from which ra‘, ‘firmament,’ lit. something beaten out, is derived.
the cunning workman ] the designer, or pattern-weaver.
Verse 3. They did beat the gold into thin plates] For the purpose, as it is supposed, of cutting it into wires () or threads; for to twist or twine is the common acceptation of the root pathal. I cannot suppose that the Israelites had not then the art of making gold thread, as they possessed several ornamental arts much more difficult: but in the present instance, figures made in a more solid form than that which could have been effected by gold thread, might have been required. 3. cut the gold into wires to workitthat is, the metal was beaten with a hammer into thinplates, cut with scissors or some other instrument into long slips,then rounded into filaments or threads. “Cloth of golden tissueis not uncommon on the monuments, and specimens of it have been foundrolled about mummies; but it is not easy to determine whether thegold thread was originally interwoven or subsequently inserted by theembroiderer” [TAYLOR]. [See comments on Ex 39:2].
(3) They did beat the gold into thin plates and cut it into wires.This very primitive method of forming gold thread is nowhere else mentioned. It implies a ruder state of the art of metallurgy than we should have expected.
To work it in the blue.The blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the white linen thread were woven into a patterned fabric. The gold was inserted afterwards in the way of embroidery. A similar practice prevailed in Egypt (Wilkinson, Ancient Egyptians, vol. iii., p. 128).
Exo 39:3. And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires Bishop Patrick observes, that, as they had not then the art which we now have, of drawing a piece of gold into threads of what length we please, they used to beat it first into thin plates, and then to cut off small wires, which they used in the business of embroidery.
wires = threads, or cords.
cunning = skilful.
cunning work: Exo 26:1, Exo 36:8
Reciprocal: Exo 28:5 – gold
Exo 39:3. Cut it into wires They had not then the art which we have now, of drawing a piece of gold into threads of what length we please; but they beat it first into thin plates, and then cut off small wires, which they wove with the other materials here mentioned.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments