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Exodus Chapter Thirty-six

 

Exodus 36 Outlines

The People Give More than Enough (v.1~7)

Building the Tabernacle (v.8~38)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 36

Bezaleel and Aholiab, with the artificers under them, having a call as well as qualifications for the service of the sanctuary, and having received from Moses the materials for it, set about it, Exodus 36:1 but the people bringing more than was necessary, they acquaint Moses with it, who by a proclamation restrained from it, Exodus 36:4 and next an account is given of the several things that were wrought by them, as first the curtains for the tabernacle, both of linen and goats' hair, and the coverings of them, Exodus 36:8 next the boards for the tabernacle, and the sockets they were set in, and the bars for the boards, Exodus 36:20 and then the vail which parted the most holy place from the holy place, and the hanging which divided between the holy place and the court, Exodus 36:35.

 

Exodus 36:1  “And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the Lord has commanded.”

   YLT  1And Bezaleel, and Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whom Jehovah hath given wisdom and understanding to know to do every work of the service of the sanctuary, have done according to all that Jehovah commanded.

Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man,.... Or every ingenious artificer under them: when they began to work is not precisely said, but it is very probable they set about it directly, as soon as they were furnished with materials for it, nor is it said where they wrought; it is very likely there was a particular place, where they were ranged according to their respective manufactories, and where they did their work under the inspection, and by the direction of these two men:

in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding, to know how to work all manner of work, for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded; for as all the wisdom and understanding, which Bezaleel and Aholiab had for the building of the tabernacle, and making everything appertaining to it, and for instructing others to do the same, were from the Lord; so all the wisdom, understanding, and capacity in the artificers to learn of them, and work according to their directions, were also from him; who in a very extraordinary manner enlarged their faculties, and increased their natural abilities, to take in what was suggested to them, and perform their work exactly agreeable thereunto.

 

Exodus 36:2  2 Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.

   YLT  2And Moses calleth unto Bezaleel, and unto Aholiab, and unto every wise-hearted man in whose heart Jehovah hath given wisdom, every one whom his heart lifted up, to come near unto the work to do it.

And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man,.... It was not enough that they had qualifications for this work, but they must have a call to it from Moses, to whom the whole affair was committed, to see that it was done according to the pattern shown him in the mount: so all that are concerned in the public work and service of the church of God should have a call unto it both from the Lord and from the church:

in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it; who had not only abilities given him of God, but a mind disposed for it, a willingness of heart, a readiness of soul for such service, was even eager upon it, and in haste to be at it.

 

Exodus 36:3  3 And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.

   YLT  3And they take from before Moses all the heave-offering which the sons of Israel have brought in for the work of the service of the sanctuary to do it; and still they have brought in unto him a willing-offering morning by morning.

And they received of Moses all the offering,.... That is, Bezaleel and Aholiab received it of him, who delivered it to the several workmen, as the nature of their work required, some one thing, and some another: to some gold, to others silver, to others brass, and to some they delivered out fine linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and to others shittim wood; Moses gave all out faithfully that he received, and kept back nothing for his own use or private advantage, even all the above things of which the offering consisted:

which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal; and which perhaps they went and fetched the same day they were called together, and acquainted with the mind of God concerning it; or at least they brought it in a very short space of time, and as soon as it possibly could be; it was delivered to the workmen, that the work might be begun, and carried on with the utmost expedition:

and they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning; they continued for a course of time afterwards to bring their freewill offerings of one thing or another to Moses, every morning, which perhaps was the most suitable time for him to receive them; and best expresses their readiness and diligence in bringing them, and which, as they brought, he sent to the workmen, as appears by what follows.

 

Exodus 36:4  4 Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing,

   YLT  4And all the wise men, who are doing all the work of the sanctuary, come each from his work which they are doing,

And all the wise men that wrought all the work of the sanctuary,.... The ingenious artificers who were employed, some in one thing, and some in another, either on the tabernacle itself, or the vessels of it, and things appertaining to it:

came every man from his work which they made; left off their work by mutual consent and agreement, and came in a body to Moses.

 

Exodus 36:5  5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.”

   YLT  5and speak unto Moses, saying, `The people are multiplying to bring in more than sufficient for the service of the work which Jehovah commanded to make.'

And they spake unto Moses, saying,.... One in the name of the rest:

the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make; they had taken an estimate of what was to be done, and of what was necessary for the doing of it, and of what the people brought for this service; and they found there was a great deal more brought than would be wanted, and therefore they thought proper to advise Moses of it, that no more might be brought: it is hard to say which is most to be wondered at, the great liberality of the people in contributing so freely and bountifully, and continuing to do so without being urged, or even asked; or the honesty of the workmen, one and all, who might have gone on to have received the gifts of the people by the hands of Moses, and what was superfluous might have converted to their own use; but instead of this, they agree as one man to let Moses know how the state of things was, and prevent the people from making any more contributions.

 

Exodus 36:6  6 So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing,

   YLT  6And Moses commandeth, and they cause a voice to pass over through the camp, saying, `Let not man or woman make any more work for the heave-offering of the sanctuary;' and the people are restrained from bringing,

And Moses gave commandment,.... Orders to some proper person or persons about him:

and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, or "caused a voice to pass"; a crier or herald, as the Targums, who went through the camp and published in every quarter:

saying, let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary; as the men in cutting shittim wood, and planing it, and the women in spinning blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and goats' hair:

so the people were restrained from bringing; that is, any more: instead of a spur to liberality, which most want, a restraint was laid upon these to check it, and prevent an excess in it, of which there is rarely any danger; so eager, forward, and zealous were they in this good work.

 

Exodus 36:7  7 for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed too much.

   YLT  7and the work hath been sufficient for them, for all the work, to do it, and to leave.

For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it,.... The gold, silver, brass, and precious stones, the wood and yarn, which had been already brought in, were sufficient for everything they were ordered to make:

and too much; a great deal more than would be used; much would remain after all was wrought: what was done with this is not said, whether it was returned to the people, or laid up for the use of the tabernacle and service, as might hereafter be wanted; which latter seems most probable.

 

Exodus 36:8  8 Then all the gifted artisans among them who worked on the tabernacle made ten curtains woven of fine linen, and of blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim they made them.

   YLT  8And all the wise-hearted ones among the doers of the work make the tabernacle; ten curtains of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, [with] cherubs, work of a designer, he hath made them.

Verses 8-38

And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle,.... Did the part assigned him, what he was fittest for, and most skilful in: particularly some

made ten curtains, &c. which were properly the tabernacle, and were made first, and then the several things appertaining to it; and from hence, to the end of the chapter Exodus 36:9, is only an account of the making of the tabernacle, its curtains, coverings, boards, sockets, and bars, the vail for the most holy place, and the hangings for the tabernacle, exactly as they are ordered to be made; see Gill on Exodus 26:1 &c. to end of chapter: and it may be observed, that throughout the account of the various articles, it is all along said "he" did this and the other; either referring to Moses, by whose orders they were done, or to Bezaleel, the chief director of the work, or to each and everyone of the artificers severally concerned.

 

Exodus 36:9  9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the curtains were all the same size.

   YLT  9The length of the one curtain [is] eight and twenty by the cubit, and the breadth of the one curtain four by the cubit; one measure [is] to all the curtains.

 

Exodus 36:10  10 And he coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.

   YLT  10And he joineth the five curtains one unto another, and the [other] five curtains he hath joined one unto another;

 

Exodus 36:11  11 He made loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set; likewise he did on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set.

   YLT  11and he maketh loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain, at the end, in the joining; so he hath made in the edge of the outmost curtain, in the joining of the second;

 

Exodus 36:12  12 Fifty loops he made on one curtain, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain on the end of the second set; the loops held one curtain to another.

   YLT  12fifty loops he hath made in the one curtain, and fifty loops hath he made in the end of the curtain which [is] in the joining of the second; the loops are taking hold one on another.

 

Exodus 36:13  13 And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps, that it might be one tabernacle.

   YLT  13And he maketh fifty hooks of gold, and joineth the curtains one unto another by the hooks, and the tabernacle is one.

 

Exodus 36:14  14 He made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains.

   YLT  14And he maketh curtains of goats' [hair] for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains he hath made them;

 

Exodus 36:15  15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains were the same size.

   YLT  15the length of the one curtain [is] thirty by the cubit, and the breadth of the one curtain [is] four cubits; one measure [is] to the eleven curtains;

 

Exodus 36:16  16 He coupled five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves.

   YLT  16and he joineth the five curtains apart, and the six curtains apart.

 

Exodus 36:17  17 And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain of the second set.

   YLT  17And he maketh fifty loops on the outer edge of the curtain, in the joining; and fifty loops he hath made on the edge of the curtain which is joining the second;

 

Exodus 36:18  18 He also made fifty bronze clasps to couple the tent together, that it might be one.

   YLT  18and he maketh fifty hooks of brass to join the tent -- to be one;

 

Exodus 36:19  19 Then he made a covering for the tent of ram skins dyed red, and a covering of badger skins above that.

   YLT  19and he maketh a covering for the tent of rams' skins made red, and a covering of badgers' skins above.

 

Exodus 36:20  20 For the tabernacle he made boards of acacia wood, standing upright.

   YLT  20And he maketh the boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up;

 

Exodus 36:21  21 The length of each board was ten cubits, and the width of each board a cubit and a half.

   YLT  21ten cubits [is] the length of the [one] board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of the [one] board;

 

Exodus 36:22  22 Each board had two tenons for binding one to another. Thus he made for all the boards of the tabernacle.

   YLT  22two handles [are] to the one board, joined one unto another; so he hath made for all the boards of the tabernacle.

 

Exodus 36:23  23 And he made boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side.

   YLT  23And he maketh the boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward;

 

Exodus 36:24  24 Forty sockets of silver he made to go under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons.

   YLT  24and forty sockets of silver he hath made under the twenty boards, two sockets under the one board for its two handles, and two sockets under the other board for its two handles.

 

Exodus 36:25  25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty boards

   YLT  25And for the second side of the tabernacle, for the north side, he hath made twenty boards,

 

Exodus 36:26  26 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards.

   YLT  26and their forty sockets of silver, two sockets under the one board, and two sockets under the other board;

 

Exodus 36:27  27 For the west side of the tabernacle he made six boards.

   YLT  27and for the sides of the tabernacle, westward, hath he made six boards;

 

Exodus 36:28  28 He also made two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle.

   YLT  28and two boards hath he made for the corners of the tabernacle, in the two sides;

 

Exodus 36:29  29 And they were coupled at the bottom and coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus he made both of them for the two corners.

   YLT  29and they have been twins below, and together they are twins at its head, at the one ring; so he hath done to both of them at the two corners;

 

Exodus 36:30  30 So there were eight boards and their sockets—sixteen sockets of silver—two sockets under each of the boards.

   YLT  30and there have been eight boards; and their sockets of silver [are] sixteen sockets, two sockets under the one board.

 

Exodus 36:31  31 And he made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle,

   YLT  31And he maketh bars of shittim wood, five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

 

Exodus 36:32  32 five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle on the far side westward.

   YLT  32and five bars for the boards of the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle, for the sides westward;

 

Exodus 36:33  33 And he made the middle bar to pass through the boards from one end to the other.

   YLT  33and he maketh the middle bar to enter into the midst of the boards from end to end;

 

Exodus 36:34  34 He overlaid the boards with gold, made their rings of gold to be holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

   YLT  34and the boards he hath overlaid with gold, and their rings he hath made of gold, places for bars, and he overlayeth the bars with gold.

 

Exodus 36:35  35 And he made a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen; it was worked with an artistic design of cherubim.

   YLT  35And he maketh the vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, work of a designer he hath made it, [with] cherubs;

 

Exodus 36:36  36 He made for it four pillars of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four sockets of silver for them.

   YLT  36and he maketh for it four pillars of shittim [wood], and overlayeth them with gold; their pegs [are] of gold; and he casteth for them four sockets of silver.

 

Exodus 36:37  37 He also made a screen for the tabernacle door, of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver,

   YLT  37And he maketh a covering for the opening of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, work of an embroiderer,

 

Exodus 36:38  38 and its five pillars with their hooks. And he overlaid their capitals and their rings with gold, but their five sockets were bronze.

   YLT  38also its five pillars, and their pegs; and he overlaid their tops and their fillets [with] gold, and their five sockets [are] brass.

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible