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Exodus Chapter Thirty-nine

 

Exodus 39 Outlines

Making the Garments of the Priesthood (v.1)

Making the Ephod (v.2~7)

Making the Breastplate (v.8~21)

Making the Other Priestly Garments (v.22~31)

The Work Completed (v.32~43)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 39

In this chapter is continued the account of making the several things belonging to the sanctuary, particularly the clothes for the service of the tabernacle, and the garments of the priests, as the ephod and its curious girdle, Exodus 39:1 the breastplate and the putting of the stones in it, and the fastening of it to the ephod, Exodus 39:8 the robe of the ephod, with the bells and pomegranates to it, Exodus 39:21 and the coats, mitre, bonnets, breeches, and girdle of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons, Exodus 39:27 and the golden plate, Exodus 39:30 and all being finished, the tabernacle and everything belonging to it were brought to Moses, and viewed by him; who seeing that all was done exactly according to the commandment of the Lord, blessed the people, and particularly the artificers, Exodus 39:38.

 

Exodus 39:1  Of the blue, purple, and scarlet thread they made garments of ministry,[a] for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  1And of the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, they made coloured garments, to minister in the sanctuary; and they make the holy garments which [are] for Aaron, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service,.... Jarchi observes that there is no mention made of linen, because these were not the priestly garments in which there was linen; but these were they with which they covered the vessels of the sanctuary when they journeyed; and so says Aben Ezra; and those were covered with cloths of blue, purple, and scarlet, Numbers 4:5 though some think these were clothes wore by the priests:

to do service in the holy place: and which they only wore when in it, and employed in the service of it; and therefore what follows must be by way of explanation:

and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord commanded Moses; the particulars of which are given in the following verses.

 

Exodus 39:2  2 He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen.

   YLT  2And he maketh the ephod, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen,

Verses 2-31

And he made the ephod of gold,.... From hence to the end of verse thirty one we have a very particular account of the making of the priest's garments exactly according to the directions given to Moses; see Gill on Exodus 28:1 &c. to end of chapter twenty eight; only it may be observed, that here in Exodus 39:3 an account is given of the manner in which they made the gold fit to be worked along with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; they beat the gold into thin plates, and then cut them into wires, and then twisted them together with the yarn: the gold that was used in the weaving of the ephod and the breastplate, spoken of in the law, was wrought after this manner; the workman took one thread of pure gold, and put it with six threads of blue, and twisted the seven threads as one, and so he wrought a thread of gold with six of purple, and another thread with six of scarlet, and another with six of linen or flax, so that there were four threads of gold, and all the threads were twenty eight, as it is said; "they did beat" or spread out "the gold", &c. "to work in the midst of blue", &c. from whence is learnt that the thread of gold was twisted in the midst of themF25Maimon. Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 5. : and it may be further observed, that after the enumeration of the stones in the breastplate, Exodus 39:10 no mention is made of the Urim and Thummim, which seems to confirm the opinion of many, and which is my own, that they are the same with the stones: moreover, in Exodus 39:28, it may be observed, that what the coats for the common priests were made of is expressed, which is not before, which was linen; expressive of their purity and holiness, and in which they ought always to appear before God and man, and in which apparel they have been imitated among the Heathens: the priests of Hercules are said to be clothed with linenF26Silius Ital. de Bell. Punic. l. 3. , and the Egyptian priests wore only a linen garmentF1Herodot. Euterpe sive, l. 2. c. 38. ; hence the priests of Isis, with whom she is represented as surrounded by JuvenalF2Satyr. 6. , are called by him "grex liniger", and by Martial, "linigeri"F3L. 12. Epigram. 26. .

 

Exodus 39:3  3 And they beat the gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, to work it in with the blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen, into artistic designs.

   YLT  3and they expand the plates of gold, and have cut off wires to work in the midst of the blue, and in the midst of the purple, and in the midst of the scarlet, and in the midst of the linen -- work of a designer;

 

Exodus 39:4  4 They made shoulder straps for it to couple it together; it was coupled together at its two edges.

   YLT  4shoulder-pieces they have made for it, joining; at its two ends it is joined.

 

Exodus 39:5  5 And the intricately woven band of his ephod that was on it was of the same workmanship, woven of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  5And the girdle of his ephod which [is] on it is of the same, according to its work, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

 

Exodus 39:6  6 And they set onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold; they were engraved, as signets are engraved, with the names of the sons of Israel.

   YLT  6And they prepare the shoham stones, set, embroidered [with] gold, opened with openings of a signet, by the names of the sons of Israel;

 

Exodus 39:7  7 He put them on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  7and he setteth them on the shoulders of the ephod -- stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

 

Exodus 39:8  8 And he made the breastplate, artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen.

   YLT  8And he maketh the breastplate, work of a designer, like the work of the ephod, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen;

 

Exodus 39:9  9 They made the breastplate square by doubling it; a span was its length and a span its width when doubled.

   YLT  9it hath been square; double they have made the breastplate, a span its length, and a span its breadth, doubled.

 

Exodus 39:10  10 And they set in it four rows of stones: a row with a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald was the first row;

   YLT  10And they fill in it four rows of stones; a row of a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle [is] the one row;

 

Exodus 39:11  11 the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

   YLT  11and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;

 

Exodus 39:12  12 the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

   YLT  12and the third row an opal, an agate, and an amethyst;

 

Exodus 39:13  13 the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold in their mountings.

   YLT  13and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper -- set, embroidered [with] gold, in their settings.

 

Exodus 39:14  14 There were twelve stones according to the names of the sons of Israel: according to their names, engraved like a signet, each one with its own name according to the twelve tribes.

  YLT  14And the stones, according to the names of the sons of Israel, are twelve, according to their names, openings of a signet, each according to his name, for the twelve tribes.

 

Exodus 39:15  15 And they made chains for the breastplate at the ends, like braided cords of pure gold.

   YLT  15And they make on the breastplate wreathed chains, work of thick bands, of pure gold;

 

Exodus 39:16  16 They also made two settings of gold and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.

   YLT  16and they make two embroidered things of gold, and two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate,

 

Exodus 39:17  17 And they put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.

   YLT  17and they put the two thick bands of gold on the two rings on the ends of the breastplate;

 

Exodus 39:18  18 The two ends of the two braided chains they fastened in the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front.

   YLT  18and the two ends of the two thick bands they have put on the two embroidered things, and they put them on the shoulders of the ephod, over-against its front.

 

Exodus 39:19  19 And they made two rings of gold and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which was on the inward side of the ephod.

   YLT  19And they make two rings of gold, and set [them] on the two ends of the breastplate, on its border, which [is] on the side of the ephod within;

 

Exodus 39:20  20 They made two other gold rings and put them on the two shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod.

   YLT  20and they make two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulders of the ephod below, over-against its front, over-against its joining, above the girdle of the ephod;

 

Exodus 39:21  21 And they bound the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it would be above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate would not come loose from the ephod, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  21and they bind the breastplate by its rings unto the rings of the ephod, with a ribbon of blue, to be above the girdle of the ephod, and the breastplate is not loosed from off the ephod, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

 

Exodus 39:22  22 He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.

   YLT  22And he maketh the upper robe of the ephod, work of a weaver, completely of blue;

 

Exodus 39:23  23 And there was an opening in the middle of the robe, like the opening in a coat of mail, with a woven binding all around the opening, so that it would not tear.

   YLT  23and the opening of the upper robe [is] in its midst, as the opening of a habergeon, a border [is] to its opening round about, it is not rent;

 

Exodus 39:24  24 They made on the hem of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, and of fine woven linen.

   YLT  24and they make on the hems of the upper robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, twined.

 

Exodus 39:25  25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe all around between the pomegranates:

   YLT  25And they make bells of pure gold, and put the bells in the midst of the pomegranates, on the hems of the upper robe, round about, in the midst of the pomegranates;

 

Exodus 39:26  26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe to minister in, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, [are] on the hems of the upper robe, round about, to minister in, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

 

Exodus 39:27  27 They made tunics, artistically woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons,

   YLT  27And they make the coats of linen, work of a weaver, for Aaron and for his sons,

 

Exodus 39:28  28 a turban of fine linen, exquisite hats of fine linen, short trousers of fine woven linen,

   YLT  28and the mitre of linen, and the beautiful bonnets of linen, and the linen trousers, of twined linen,

 

Exodus 39:29  29 and a sash of fine woven linen with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, made by a weaver, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  29and the girdle of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, work of an embroiderer, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

 

Exodus 39.30  30 Then they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

   YLT  30And they make the flower of the holy crown of pure gold, and write on it a writing, openings of a signet, `Holy to Jehovah;'

 

Exodus 39:31  31 And they tied to it a blue cord, to fasten it above on the turban, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

   YLT  31and they put on it a ribbon of blue, to put [it] on the mitre above, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

 

Exodus 39:32  32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did.

   YLT  32And all the service of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting is completed; and the sons of Israel do according to all that Jehovah hath commanded Moses; so they have done.

Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished,.... Both the tabernacle, consisting of the court, the holy place, and the most holy place, and the tent or covering that was over it, with all things appertaining to the service of it, as before described:

and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they: both the people in general, and the artificers in particular; the people brought gold, silver, and brass, &c. as was proposed to them; and the artificers wrought these and all other things, according to the directions and instructions they received.

 

Exodus 39:33  33 And they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings: its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;

   YLT  33And they bring in the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all its vessels, its hooks, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets;

Verses 33-42

And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses,.... That is, the several parts of it before it was put together, with all its furniture, and everything appertaining to it; which are examined in the order in which they were directed to be made, from hence to the end of Exodus 39:42 and this was done, that Moses might inspect the whole, and see whether it was done according to the pattern shown him, and the instructions he had given to the workmen.

 

Exodus 39:34  34 the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of badger skins, and the veil of the covering;

   YLT  34and the covering of rams' skins, which are made red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering;

 

Exodus 39:35  35 the ark of the Testimony with its poles, and the mercy seat;

   YLT  35the ark of the testimony and its staves, and the mercy-seat;

 

Exodus 39:36  36 the table, all its utensils, and the showbread;

   YLT  36the table, all its vessels, and the bread of the presence;

 

Exodus 39:37  37 the pure gold lampstand with its lamps (the lamps set in order), all its utensils, and the oil for light;

   YLT  37the pure candlestick, its lamps, the lamps of arrangement, and all its vessels, and the oil for the light.

 

Exodus 39:38  38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, and the sweet incense; the screen for the tabernacle door;

   YLT  38And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the spice-perfume, and the covering of the opening of the tent;

 

Exodus 39:39  39 the bronze altar, its grate of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils; the laver with its base;

   YLT  39the brazen altar and the brazen grate which it hath, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base.

 

Exodus 39:40  40 the hangings of the court, its pillars and its sockets, the screen for the court gate, its cords, and its pegs; all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;

   YLT  40The hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets; and the covering for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pins; and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;

 

Exodus 39:41  41 and the garments of ministry,[b] to minister in the holy place: the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister as priests.

   YLT  41the coloured clothes to minister in the sanctuary, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to act as priest in.

 

Exodus 39:42  42 According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.

   YLT  42According to all that Jehovah hath commanded Moses, so have the sons of Israel done all the service;

 

Exodus 39:43  43 Then Moses looked over all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them.

   YLT  43and Moses seeth all the work, and lo, they have done it as Jehovah hath commanded; so they have done. And Moses doth bless them.

And Moses did look upon all the work,.... Made a survey of it, and with great care and accuracy examined every particular thing, and the manner in which it was finished:

and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it; both as to matter and manner in every point, on all accounts, just as they were ordered and directed; they being throughout the whole filled by the Spirit of God with wisdom and understanding, to do everything just as it was the will and pleasure of God it should be done:

and Moses blessed them; commended them for what they had done, and implored the divine blessing upon them; and which may be understood both of the people who had so liberally and plentifully contributed to this good work, and of the artificers who had so carefully and punctually performed it. The form of blessing, as the Targum of Jonathan gives it, is,"may the Shechinah (or the divine Majesty) of the Lord dwell in the works of your hands;'or as Jarchi expresses it,"may it be the pleasure (of God) that the Shechinah may dwell in the works of your hands, and the beauty of the Lord our God may be upon us, &c.'which last words were part of the prayer of Moses, Psalm 90:17.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

a.    Exodus 39:1 Or woven garments

b.    Exodus 39:41 Or woven garments