Exodus 35NIV
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Exodus35

New International Version

1Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded you to do:

2For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death.

3Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

4Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded:

5From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze;

6blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair;

7ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood;

8olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

9and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

10“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded:

11the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases;

12the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it;

13the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence;

14the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light;

15the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;

16the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand;

17the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;

18the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes;

19the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”

20Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence,

21and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.

22All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord.

23Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them.

24Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.

25Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen.

26And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.

27The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

28They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.

29All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

30Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,

31and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—

32to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,

33to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.

34And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

35He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 35.

Full AI study →

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.

Cross References

Exodus 35
v2Exodus 31:13-16thematic

Direct 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

v30Exodus 31:2-6thematic

Direct reference to the divine calling and naming of Bezaleel and Aholiab for the tabernacle work.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v10Exodus 31:1-11thematic

The initial divine call and spiritual filling of the skilled craftsmen Bezaleel and Aholiab.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v21Exodus 25:2thematic

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

v3Exodus 16:23thematic

A critical comparative text for the controversial prohibition on kindling fires or cooking on the Sabbath.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Exodus 25:2thematic

The original command of God to take an offering from everyone who gives willingly.

Supported by John Calvin

v5Exodus 35:21thematic

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

v31Exodus 31:3thematic

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

v12Exodus 25:10-22thematic

The original blueprint for the Ark of the Covenant, now called to be constructed.

Supported by JFB

v13Exodus 25:23-30thematic

The original specifications for the Table of Shewbread listed among the utensils.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v14Exodus 25:31-39thematic

The design pattern for the golden candlestick and its instruments of light.

Supported by JFB

v15Exodus 30:1-10thematic

The original design instructions for the golden altar of incense.

Supported by JFB

v16Exodus 27:1-8thematic

The specifications for the bronze altar of burnt offering and its necessary utensils.

Supported by JFB

v21Ezra 1:5thematic

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

v28Exodus 30:23-38thematic

Provides the specific recipes for the anointing oil and sweet incense mentioned in verse 28.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v34Exodus 38:23thematic

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

v23Exodus 26:7thematic

The direct instruction to use goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v30Exodus 38:22thematic

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

v301 Kings 7:14thematic

Solomon's master artisan, Hiram, filled with wisdom and understanding, parallel to Bezaleel.

Supported by Matthew Henry