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Exodus 36

Exodus36

New American Standard

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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.”

2 Then 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.

3 They 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.

4 And all the skillful people who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which they were performing,

5 and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.”

6 So 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.

7 For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.

8 All 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.

9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains had the same measurements.

10 He joined five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he joined to one another.

11 And 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.

12 He 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.

13 He also made fifty clasps of gold, and joined the curtains to one another with the clasps, so that the tabernacle was a unit.

14 Then he made curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains in all.

15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the width of each curtain; the eleven curtains had the same measurements.

16 He joined five curtains by themselves, and the other six curtains by themselves.

17 Moreover, 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.

18 He also made fifty clasps of bronze to join the tent together so that it would be a unit.

19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of fine leather above.

20 Then he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.

21 Ten cubits was the length of each board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.

22 There were two tenons for each board, fitted to one another; he did this to all the boards of the tabernacle.

23 So he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side;

24 and 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.

25 Then for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,

26 and their forty bases of silver; two bases under one board, and two bases under another board.

27 And for the back of the tabernacle, to the west, he made six boards.

28 He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the back.

29 They 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.

30 There were eight boards with their bases of silver, sixteen bases, two bases under every board.

31 Then he made bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle,

32 and 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.

33 And he made the middle bar to pass through in the center of the boards from end to end.

34 Then he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

35 Moreover, 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.

36 And 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.

37 He 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;

38 and 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.

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Exodus 36

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 36. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

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.

Cross References

Exodus 36
v8Exodus 26:1-37thematic

The exact structural blue-print given in Exodus 26 is executed in this chapter detail by detail.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v1Exodus 31:1-6thematic

Fulfillment of God's call and endowment of Bezaleel and Aholiab with artistic and architectural wisdom.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v1Exodus 35:30-35thematic

The immediate presentation and commission of the master craftsmen to the congregation of Israel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v35Exodus 26:31thematic

The precise manufacturing of the inner veil separating the Holy from the Most Holy place.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v19Exodus 26:14thematic

The instruction for making the protective coverings of rams' skins and badger skins is realized.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v20Exodus 26:15-25thematic

The construction of the upright boards of acacia wood for the tabernacle's frame.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v35Hebrews 10:20typology

The veil represents Christ's flesh, rent to open access to God's presence.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v37Exodus 26:37thematic

The creation of the outer hanging/screen for the door of the tent.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Exodus 35:5-21thematic

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

v14Exodus 26:7-13thematic

The creation of the goat hair curtains designed to cover the inner tabernacle.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v31Exodus 26:26-29thematic

The manufacture of the wood bars overlaid with gold to hold the boards together.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v36Exodus 26:32thematic

The creation of the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold for the veil.

Supported by Matthew Poole