Exodus36
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And Bezalel and Oholiab shall work, and every wise-hearted man, in whom Jehovah hath put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Jehovah hath commanded.
2And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Jehovah had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:
3and they received of Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, wherewith to make it. And they brought yet unto him freewill-offerings every morning.
4And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they wrought;
5and they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which Jehovah commanded to make.
6And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
7For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
8And all the wise-hearted men among them that wrought the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim, the work of the skilful workman, Bezalel made them.
9The length of each curtain was eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains had one measure.
10And he coupled five curtains one to another: and the other five curtains he coupled one to another.
11And he made loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the second coupling.
12Fifty loops made he in the one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling: the loops were opposite one to another.
13And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was one.
14And he made curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
15The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of each curtain: the eleven curtains had one measure.
16And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
17And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which was outmost in the second coupling.
18And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
19And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.
20And he made the boards for the tabernacle, of acacia wood, standing up.
21Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board.
22Each board had two tenons, joined one to another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
23And he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward;
24and he made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.
25And for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,
26and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
27And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
28And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part.
29And they were double beneath; and in like manner they were entire unto the top thereof unto one ring: thus he did to both of them in the two corners.
30And there were eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every board two sockets.
31And he made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
32and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward.
33And he made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other.
34And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold for places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
35And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim, the work of the skilful workman, made he it.
36And he made thereunto four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
37And he made a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer;
38and the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold; and their five sockets were of brass.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 36.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The making of the tabernacle, The liberality of the people restrained. (1-38).
vv1-38
The readiness and zeal with which these builders set about their work, the exactness with which they performed it, and the faithfulness with which they objected to receive more contributions, are worthy of our imitation. Thus should we serve God, and our superiors also, in all things lawful. Thus should all who are in public trusts abhor filthy lucre, and avoid all occasions and temptations to covetousness. Where have we the representation of God's love towards us, that we by love dwell in him and he in us, save in Emmanuel? Mt 1:23. This is the sum of the ministry of reconciliation, 2Co 5:18, 19. This was the design of the “tabernacle of witness,” a visible testimony of the love of God to the race of men, however they were fallen from their first state. And this love was shown by Christ's taking up his abode on earth; by the Word being made flesh, Joh 1:14, wherein, as the original expresses it, he did tabernacle among us.
Key Words
בְּצַלְאֵל: Betsalel, the name of two Israelites
אׇהֳלִיאָב: Oholiab, an Israelite
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הֵם: they (only used when emphatic)
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
חׇכְמָה: wisdom (in a good sense)
תָּבוּן: intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice
יָדַע: to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
מְלָאכָה: properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)
Cross References
Exodus 36The exact structural blue-print given in Exodus 26 is executed in this chapter detail by detail.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Fulfillment of God's call and endowment of Bezaleel and Aholiab with artistic and architectural wisdom.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The immediate presentation and commission of the master craftsmen to the congregation of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The precise manufacturing of the inner veil separating the Holy from the Most Holy place.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The instruction for making the protective coverings of rams' skins and badger skins is realized.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The construction of the upright boards of acacia wood for the tabernacle's frame.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The veil represents Christ's flesh, rent to open access to God's presence.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The creation of the outer hanging/screen for the door of the tent.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The execution of the voluntary collection of materials commanded earlier by Moses.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the New Testament principle of cheerful, voluntary giving to the work of God.
Supported by JFB
The creation of the goat hair curtains designed to cover the inner tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The manufacture of the wood bars overlaid with gold to hold the boards together.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The creation of the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold for the veil.
Supported by Matthew Poole