Exodus35
King James Version · Public Domain
1And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the Lord hath commanded, that ye should do them.
2Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
3Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.
4And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying,
5Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,
6And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
7And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
8And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
9And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
10And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded;
11The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,
12The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering,
13The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,
14The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,
15And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
16The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
17The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,
18The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,
19The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
20And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
21And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.
22And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.
23And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.
24Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord's offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.
25And 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.
26And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.
27And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
28And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
29The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
30And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
31And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
32And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
33And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
34And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 35.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The sabbath to be observed. (1–3). The free gifts for the tabernacle. (4–19). The readiness of the people in general. (20–29). Bezaleel and Aholiab called to the work. (30–35).
vv1-3
The mild and easy yoke of Christ has made our sabbath duties more delightful, and our sabbath restraints less irksome, than those of the Jews; but we are the more guilty by neglecting them. Surely God's wisdom in giving us the sabbath, with all the mercy of its purposes, are sinfully disregarded. Is it nothing to pour contempt upon the blessed day, which a bounteous God has given to us for our growth in grace with the church below, and to prepare us for happiness with the church above?
vv4-19
The tabernacle was to be dedicated to the honour of God, and used in his service; and therefore what was brought for it, was an offering to the Lord. The rule is, Whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring. All that were skilful must work. God dispenses his gifts; and as every man hath received, so he must minister, 1Pe 4:10. Those that were rich, must bring in materials to work on; those that were skilful, must serve the tabernacle with their skill: as they needed one another, so the tabernacle needed them both, 1Co 12:7–21.
vv20-29
Without a willing mind, costly offerings would be abhorred; with it, the smallest will be accepted. Our hearts are willing, when we cheerfully assist in promoting the cause of God. Those who are diligent and contented in employments considered mean, are as much accepted of God as those engaged in splendid services. The women who spun the goats' hair were wise-hearted, because they did it heartily to the Lord. Thus the labourer, mechanic, or servant who attends to his work in the faith and fear of God, may be as wise, for his place, as the most useful minister, and he equally accepted of the Lord. Our wisdom and duty consist in giving God the glory and use of our talents, be they many or few.
Key Words
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
קָהַל: to convoke
עֵדָה: a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
שֵׁשׁ: six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth
Cross References
Exodus 35Direct parallel linking the Sabbath command immediately with instructions for constructing the Tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's principle of giving cheerfully, not under compulsion, echoing the 'willing heart' requirement.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct reference to the divine calling and naming of Bezaleel and Aholiab for the tabernacle work.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The initial divine call and spiritual filling of the skilled craftsmen Bezaleel and Aholiab.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The initial command and pattern for taking a willing-hearted offering for the sanctuary.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
NT principle of cheerful, non-grudging giving directly echoes the willing-hearted contributors here.
Supported by Matthew Poole
A critical comparative text for the controversial prohibition on kindling fires or cooking on the Sabbath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original command of God to take an offering from everyone who gives willingly.
Supported by John Calvin
The immediate fulfillment showing the people's hearts were stirred to bring the free-will offering.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallel joy and willingness in offering materials for the construction of the Temple under David.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel to various spiritual gifts given by the same Spirit for the common good.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbatim parallel of being filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom and knowledge.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Historical account of the execution of a Sabbath-breaker who was caught gathering sticks for a fire.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original blueprint for the Ark of the Covenant, now called to be constructed.
Supported by JFB
The original specifications for the Table of Shewbread listed among the utensils.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The design pattern for the golden candlestick and its instruments of light.
Supported by JFB
The original design instructions for the golden altar of incense.
Supported by JFB
The specifications for the bronze altar of burnt offering and its necessary utensils.
Supported by JFB
Echoes those whose spirits God stirred to build the house of the Lord.
Supported by John Calvin
Depicts virtuous, wise-hearted women spinning and working with their hands in textile crafts.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Provides the specific recipes for the anointing oil and sweet incense mentioned in verse 28.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms Aholiab's specific role as an engraver, cunning workman, and embroiderer.
Supported by Matthew Henry
David's acknowledgment that all offering willingness and substance ultimately come from God's hand.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The direct instruction to use goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms Bezaleel executed all that the Lord commanded Moses for the tabernacle.
Supported by JFB
Shows the rulers taking the lead in offering precious stones and treasures.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Solomon's master artisan, Hiram, filled with wisdom and understanding, parallel to Bezaleel.
Supported by Matthew Henry