Exodus Chapter 35

Commentary

The Sabbath

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.

Materials for the Tabernacle

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.

The Skilled Tabernacle Workmen

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 vail 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.

The People Offer Gifts

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.

Bezelel and Oholiab

(Exodus 31:1-11)

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.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Sabbath

1 Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded, that you should do them.

2 ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’”

Offerings for the Tabernacle
(Exodus 25:1–9)

4 Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh commanded, saying, 5 ‘Take from among you an offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Yahweh’s offering: gold, silver, brass, 6 blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, 7 rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, 8 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.

The Skilled Craftsmen

10 “‘Let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Yahweh has commanded: 11 the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12 the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen; 13 the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the show bread; 14 the lampstand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15 and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of brass, it poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base; 17 the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 the pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords; 19 the finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.’”

The People Offer Gifts

20 All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh’s offering, for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments. 22 They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man who offered an offering of gold to Yahweh. 23 Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them. 24 Everyone who offered an offering of silver and brass brought Yahweh’s offering; and everyone, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25 All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. 26 All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair. 27 The rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastplate; 28 and the spice, and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to Yahweh; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Yahweh had commanded to be made by Moses.

Bezalel and Oholiab
(Exodus 31:1–11)

30 Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship; 32 and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in brass, 33 in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship. 34 He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.

The Sabbath

1 Then Moses assembled the whole congregation of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do: 2 For six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death. 3 Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

Offerings for the Tabernacle
(Exodus 25:1–9)

4 Moses also told the whole congregation of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded: 5 Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD:

gold, silver, and bronze;

6 blue, purple, and scarlet yarn;

fine linen and goat hair;

7 ram skins dyed red and fine leather; a

acacia wood;

8 olive oil for the light;

spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

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

The Skilled Craftsmen

10 Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the LORD has commanded:

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

12 the ark with its poles and mercy seat, and the veil to shield it;

13 the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence;

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

15 the altar of incense with its poles;

the anointing oil and fragrant incense;

the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;

16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils;

the basin with its stand;

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

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

19 and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”

The People Offer Gifts

20 Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence of Moses. 21 And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.

22 So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

23 Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them. 24 And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.

25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen. 26 And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.

27 The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece, 28 as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

29 So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

Bezalel and Oholiab
(Exodus 31:1–11)

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, 32 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, 33 to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.

34 And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He 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 as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

 

Footnotes:

7 a Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verse 23

The Sabbath

1And Moses assembleth all the company of the sons of Israel, and saith unto them, 'These are the things which Jehovah hath commanded -- to do them:

2Six days is work done, and on the seventh day there is to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to Jehovah; any who doeth work in it is put to death; 3ye do not burn a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath-day.'

Materials for the Tabernacle

4And Moses speaketh unto all the company of the sons of Israel, saying, 'This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded, saying, 5Take ye from among you a heave-offering to Jehovah; every one whose heart is willing doth bring it, -- the heave-offering of Jehovah, -- gold, and silver, and brass, 6and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and linen, and goats' hair, 7and rams' skins made red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, 8and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the spice perfume, 9and shoham stones, and stones for settings, for an ephod, and for a breastplate.

The Skilled Tabernacle Workmen

10'And all the wise-hearted among you come in, and make all that Jehovah hath commanded: 11'The tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its hooks, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets, 12'The ark and its staves, the mercy-seat, and the vail of the covering, 13'The table and its staves, and all its vessels, and the bread of the presence, 14'And the candlestick for the light, and its vessels, and its lamps, and the oil for the light, 15'And the altar of perfume, and its staves, and the anointing oil, and the spice perfume, and the covering of the opening at the opening of the tabernacle, 16'The altar of burnt-offering and the brazen grate which it hath, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base, 17'The hangings of the court, its pillars, and their sockets, and the covering of the gate of the court, 18'The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords, 19'The coloured garments, to do service in the sanctuary, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons to act as priest in.'

The People Offer Gifts

20And all the company of the sons of Israel go out from the presence of Moses, 21and they come in -- every man whom his heart hath lifted up, and every one whom his spirit hath made willing -- they have brought in the heave-offering of Jehovah for the work of the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22And they come in -- the men with the women -- every willing-hearted one -- they have brought in nose-ring, and ear-ring, and seal-ring, and necklace, all golden goods, even every one who hath waved a wave-offering of gold to Jehovah. 23And every man with whom hath been found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins made red, and badgers' skins, have brought them in; 24every one lifting up a heave-offering of silver and brass have brought in the heave-offering of Jehovah; and every one with whom hath been found shittim wood for any work of the service brought it in. 25And every wise-hearted woman hath spun with her hands, and they bring in yarn, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the linen; 26and all the women whose heart hath lifted them up in wisdom, have spun the goats' hair. 27And the princes have brought in the shoham stones, and the stones for settings, for the ephod, and for the breastplate, 28and the spices, and the oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the spice perfume; 29every man and woman (whom their heart hath made willing to bring in for all the work which Jehovah commanded to be done by the hand of Moses) of the sons of Israel brought in a willing-offering to Jehovah.

Bezelel and Oholiab

(Exodus 31:1-11)

30And Moses saith unto the sons of Israel, 'See, Jehovah hath called by name Bezaleel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31and He doth fill him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all work, 32even to devise devices to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 33and in graving of stones for settings, and in graving of wood to work in any work of design. 34'And to direct He hath put in his heart, he and Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; 35He hath filled them with wisdom of heart to do every work, of engraver, and designer, and embroiderer (in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in linen), and weaver, who do any work, and of designers of designs.

The F.O.G Commentary:

What is the meaning of Exodus 35?

Introduction to Exodus 35

Exodus 35 marks a pivotal transition in Israel’s wilderness journey, where we witness the remarkable transformation from receiving divine instructions to actively participating in building יהוה’s dwelling place. This chapter beautifully illustrates how the infinite God of creation involves His finite creatures in establishing His sanctuary, demonstrating both His desire for partnership with humanity and His emphasis on proper worship.

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The chapter opens with a profound reminder of the Sabbath commandment before detailing the implementation of the Tabernacle’s construction, highlighting the intricate relationship between sacred time and sacred space in biblical worship. This ordering is not coincidental but reflects a deep theological truth about the priority of rest and relationship with God before service.

Context of Exodus 35

This chapter follows immediately after the dramatic events of the Golden Calf incident and Moses’ intercession for Israel. The nation has been forgiven, the covenant renewed, and now they begin the actual construction of the Tabernacle, following the detailed instructions given in chapters 25-31. This sequence is significant because it shows that divine worship must be preceded by reconciliation and restoration of relationship with God.

In the broader context of Exodus, chapter 35 begins the final major section of the book, which describes the actual construction of the Tabernacle. This section (chapters 35-40) largely parallels the instructions given earlier (chapters 25-31), but with a crucial difference: while the earlier chapters record God’s commands, these chapters document Israel’s faithful obedience. This parallel structure emphasizes the importance of exact compliance with divine instructions in matters of worship.

Within the larger narrative of Scripture, this chapter serves as a prototype for all future temple construction and restoration projects, including Solomon’s Temple, the Second Temple, and ultimately points toward the New Jerusalem where God will dwell permanently with His people (Revelation 21:3).

Ancient Key Word Study

  • Sabbath (שַׁבָּת, shabbat): More than just a day of rest, this term derives from the root meaning “to cease” or “to stop.” Its placement at the beginning of the chapter emphasizes that all sacred work must be founded on proper rest and relationship with God.
  • Willing Heart (נְדִיב לֵב, nediv lev): This phrase literally means “generous heart” or “noble heart.” It appears multiple times in the chapter, emphasizing that true worship springs from voluntary devotion rather than compulsion.
  • Offering (תְּרוּמָה, terumah): This specific type of offering denotes something lifted up or separated for sacred use. It’s distinct from other offerings in that it represents a complete transfer of ownership to God’s service.
  • Skilled (חָכַם־לֵב, chakham-lev): Literally “wise of heart,” this term connects practical skill with spiritual wisdom, suggesting that craftsmanship for God’s sanctuary requires both technical ability and spiritual insight.
  • Weave (אָרַג, arag): This technical term for weaving carries symbolic significance, representing how individual threads are brought together to create something greater, much like the community itself.
  • Work (מְלָאכָה, melachah): This word specifically refers to creative or constructive work, the same term used in Genesis for God’s creative activity, suggesting that human creativity in service of God reflects divine creativity.
  • Contribute (נָשָׂא, nasa): Literally meaning “to lift up,” this verb in context describes the act of bringing offerings, suggesting that giving to God elevates both the gift and the giver.
  • Wisdom (חָכְמָה, chochmah): In this context, wisdom refers not just to intellectual knowledge but to practical skill guided by divine inspiration, showing how God empowers people for His service.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1: The phrase “Moses assembled all the congregation” uses the verb וַיַּקְהֵל (vayakhel) rather than the more common אָסַף (asaf). This choice emphasizes the formal, sacred nature of the gathering and connects it linguistically to the word for community (קָהָל, kahal).
  • Verse 2: The placement of the Sabbath command before construction details emphasizes that even sacred work must yield to sacred rest, contrasting with ancient Near Eastern temple-building accounts where work proceeded without interruption.
  • Verse 5: The emphasis on “willing heart” (נְדִיב לֵב) rather than obligation creates a striking contrast with other ancient Near Eastern texts where temple construction was often portrayed as forced labor.
  • Verse 10: The phrase “wise-hearted” (חֲכַם־לֵב) is chosen over more common terms for skill or ability, suggesting that true craftsmanship combines both technical skill and spiritual wisdom.
  • Verse 21: The repetition of “whose heart stirred him up” uses the unusual verb נָשָׂא (nasa) rather than the more common עוֹרֵר (orer), emphasizing the lifting up or elevation of the heart in service to God.
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Exodus 35 Unique Insights

The chapter contains a fascinating structural parallel with Creation. Just as God worked for six days and rested on the seventh, the chapter begins with the Sabbath command before describing the work of building the Tabernacle. This parallel suggests that the construction of the sanctuary was viewed as a kind of new creation, establishing a sacred space where heaven and earth could meet.

The Rabbinical tradition in Midrash Tanchuma notes that the specific prohibition against kindling fire on the Sabbath (verse 3) appears only here, leading to extensive discussions about the nature of creative work. The sages saw in this a principle that all forms of creative transformation of materials (מְלָאכָה, melachah) are extensions of this basic principle of transformation through fire.

Early Christian writers, particularly Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, saw in the various materials brought for the Tabernacle (gold, silver, bronze, etc.) a hierarchy of spiritual gifts and virtues that believers bring to build God’s spiritual house. This interpretation finds echoes in 1 Peter 2:5, where believers are described as living stones being built into a spiritual house.

The chapter’s emphasis on skilled craftsmanship infused with divine wisdom presents a unique biblical perspective on the integration of natural talent and spiritual gifting. This synthesis challenges both secular views that separate technical skill from spiritual insight and religious views that devalue practical abilities.

Exodus 35 Connections to Yeshua

The willing offerings brought by the Israelites prefigure the Messiah’s voluntary self-offering. Just as the people brought their best materials for God’s dwelling place, Yeshua offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to establish the new and living way into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-22).

The combination of divine instruction and human participation in building God’s dwelling place foreshadows the mystery of the incarnation, where divine and human nature perfectly unite in Yeshua. Furthermore, the emphasis on the Spirit filling craftsmen with wisdom points forward to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, enabling believers to become God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Exodus 35 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates deeply with 2 Corinthians 9:7, where Paul emphasizes cheerful giving, echoing the willing hearts of the Israelites. The spiritual gifting of Bezalel and Oholiab finds parallel in the New Testament’s teaching about spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12.

The theme of God’s people collectively building His dwelling place appears throughout Scripture, from Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 6) to the post-exilic rebuilding (Ezra 3), culminating in the vision of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).

Exodus 35 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to consider what we bring to the Lord’s service. Just as the Israelites brought their best materials and skills, we too are called to offer our talents, resources, and time for God’s purposes. The emphasis on “willing hearts” reminds us that God values our attitude in giving as much as what we give.

The chapter also teaches us about the balance between work and rest. Even in building God’s sanctuary, the Sabbath was to be kept holy. This principle remains relevant today, reminding us that our service to God must flow from our rest in Him, not replace it.

The divine gifting of craftsmen reminds us that all abilities can be used for God’s glory. Whether our skills are in traditional “spiritual” areas or in practical crafts, all can be sanctified for divine service when offered with a willing heart.

Did You Know

  • The precious stones mentioned for the priestly garments were believed in ancient times to have specific spiritual properties. The rabbis taught that each stone corresponded to one of the twelve tribes and would illuminate in specific ways to provide divine guidance.
  • The blue dye (תְּכֵלֶת, techelet) mentioned in the text was extracted from a specific species of snail (Murex trunculus) and was so expensive that it was worth more than its weight in gold.
  • The acacia wood used in construction was believed to be specifically chosen because it was resistant to decay, symbolizing the eternal nature of God’s covenant with Israel.
  • The prohibition against kindling fire on the Sabbath is mentioned only here in the entire Torah, leading to extensive rabbinical discussions about the nature of creative work.
  • The word for “skill” (חָכְמָה, chochmah) used in this chapter is the same word used for “wisdom” in Proverbs, suggesting that practical skill and spiritual wisdom were not seen as separate categories in biblical thought.
  • The voluntary nature of the offerings was so successful that Moses had to issue a command to stop giving because they had more than enough materials (Exodus 36:6).
  • Archaeological discoveries have confirmed that the technical skills mentioned in this chapter (metalworking, weaving, etc.) were indeed highly developed in Egypt during this period, supporting the historical context of the exodus narrative.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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