Exodus36
New American Standard
1“Now Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with everything that the Lord has commanded.”
2Then Moses called Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it.
3They received from Moses every contribution which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him voluntary offerings every morning.
4And all the skillful people who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which they were performing,
5and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.”
6So Moses issued a command, and circulated a proclamation throughout the camp, saying, “No man or woman is to perform work any longer for the contributions of the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing any more.
7For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.
8All the skillful people among those who were performing the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twisted linen and violet, purple, and scarlet material, with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer, Bezalel made them.
9The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains had the same measurements.
10He joined five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he joined to one another.
11And he made loops of violet on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set; he did likewise on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set.
12He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set; the loops were opposite each other.
13He also made fifty clasps of gold, and joined the curtains to one another with the clasps, so that the tabernacle was a unit.
14Then he made curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains in all.
15The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the width of each curtain; the eleven curtains had the same measurements.
16He joined five curtains by themselves, and the other six curtains by themselves.
17Moreover, he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the first set, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set.
18He also made fifty clasps of bronze to join the tent together so that it would be a unit.
19And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of fine leather above.
20Then he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.
21Ten cubits was the length of each board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
22There were two tenons for each board, fitted to one another; he did this to all the boards of the tabernacle.
23So he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side;
24and he made forty bases of silver under the twenty boards; two bases under one board for its two tenons, and two bases under another board for its two tenons.
25Then for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,
26and their forty bases of silver; two bases under one board, and two bases under another board.
27And for the back of the tabernacle, to the west, he made six boards.
28He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the back.
29They were double beneath, and together they were complete to its top, to the first ring; he did this with both of them for the two corners.
30There were eight boards with their bases of silver, sixteen bases, two bases under every board.
31Then he made bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of 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 back side to the west.
33And he made the middle bar to pass through in the center of the boards from end to end.
34Then he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
35Moreover, he made the veil of violet, purple, and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen; he made it with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer.
36And he made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four bases of silver for them.
37He also made a curtain for the doorway of the tent, of violet, purple, and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver;
38and he made its five pillars with their hooks, and he overlaid their tops and their bands with gold; but their five bases were of bronze.
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