The Second Book of Moses, called Exodus
Exodus 35
Chapter XXXV · Vol. I, pp. 354–355
2 The sabbath. 4 The free gifts for the tabernacle. 20 The readiness of the people to offer. 30 Bezaleel and Aholiab are called to the work.
1 AND Moses gathered all the 1 congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should a do them.
2 Sixb days shall work be done; but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy 2 day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
b ch. 20.9; 31.13-16; 34.21. Le. 23.3. De. 5.12, 13. Lu. 13.14. Nu. 15.32-36. See Ge. 2.2.
2 Heb. holiness.
3 Ye shall c kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath-day.
c ch. 16.30. Is. 58.13; 56.2, 4, 6.
4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
5 Taked ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: e whosoever is of a willing heart let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
d See what follows explained on ch. xxv.-xxxi.
e ch. 25.2-7. 1 Ch. 29.6, 9, 14, 17. Ps. 110.3. 2 Co. 9.7.
6 And f blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and g goats' hair,
f Wool, ch. 26.1; 28.5, 6, 8, 15.
g ch. 26.7, 14.
7 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim-wood,
8 And h oil for the light, and i spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491.
h ch. 27.20.
i ch. 20.33-38.
9 And k onyx-stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
k ch. 28.9,17-21; 39.6-14.
10 And every l wise-hearted among you shall come, and make m all that the LORD hath commanded;
l ch. 31.6; 36.2,4.
m ch. xxv.-xxx. xxxvi.-xl.; 39.32-43. See on ch. 25.9; 31.6. Nu. 3.25,31,36,37; 4.4-33. ver. 11-19.
11 The n tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets;
n ch. 31.7-11; xxvi.; 27.9-19; xxxvi.; 38.9-20. Nu. 4.25,36,37.
12 The o ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy-seat, and the vail of the covering;
o ch. 25.10-20; 37.1-9; 26.33-35; 36.35,36. Nu. 4.31.
13 The p table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the show-bread;
p ch. 25.23-40; 27.20; 37.10-24.
14 The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light;
15 And q the incense-altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and r the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle;
q ch. 30.1-9, 23-38; 37.25-29.
r ch. 26.36,37; 36.37,38.
16 The s altar of burnt-offering, with his brazen grate, his staves, and all his vessels; the laver and his foot;
s ch. 27.1-8; 30.17-21; 38.1-8.
17 The t hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court;
t ch. 27.9-19; 38.9-20.
18 The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords;1
1 As Moses, 'faithful in all his house,' omits nothing of all that God had shown him, even to a pin or a cord; so the true believer omits nothing of the 'outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates the benefit of redemption.'—Note, As the cords and the pins preserved the tabernacle from falling, so these outward things of religion preserve the believer in his steadfastness. How many neglect the regular reading of the Scriptures, stated prayer in the closet or family, how many absent themselves from the Lord's table, and think they are Christians! When tempted to these fatal neglects, let them remember Moses, who was 'faithful,' not in a part, but in 'all his house.'—C.
19 The u clothes 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.
u ch. xxviii. xxxix. Le. 8.7-9; 16.4,23,24.
20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.2
2 When Moses had delivered his message to the people, they departed to their tents, to fetch their several oblations; and on this occasion a peculiar influence was felt, enlarging their hearts to liberality. Nothing but ear-rings seem to have been given to make the golden calf; but various other golden ornaments were offered on this occasion, principally of the spoils of Egypt; both men and women being willing to part with their newly acquired adornings, to beautify the sanctuary of God. A rare example! But besides these articles of manufactured gold, some of the people presented such as was unwrought, and used as money; for this is thought to be meant by the words rendered, 'Every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.'—I.
21 And they came, every one whose x 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.
x See ver. 5. Ju. 5.9. 2 Sa. 7.27. Je. 30.21. Ps. 110.3. 2 Co. 9.7.
22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought bracelets,y and ear-rings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.
y Pr. 3.9, with ch. 32.3. Is. 23.18. 1 Ch. 22.14-16; 28.14-18; 29.2-8. ver. 27.
23 And every man with whom z was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.
z 2 Co. 8.12.
24 Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought3 the LORD's offering: and every man with whom was found shittim-wood, for any work of the service, brought it.
3 The narrative of Moses has been ques-
25 And all the a 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.
A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491.
26 And all the women, whose heart stirred them up in wisdom, spun goats' hair.
27 And b the rulers brought onyx-stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
b See ver. 8,9. 1 Ch. 22.14-16; 28.14-18; 29.2-8.
28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
29 The children of Israel brought a c willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, d which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, e the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
e ch. 31.2-6. 1 Ki. 7.14. 1 Co. 12.5; 3.10. Ja. 1.17. Is. 28.26.
31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, f in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
f They were typical of Christ, as the skilful builder of his church, Is. 11.2-5; 61.1-3. Col. 2.3.
32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
33 And in the cutting of stones to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
34 And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work of the engraver, and of the g 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 4 cunning work.5
g Typical of Christian teachers, 1 Co. 1.5,7; 12.4,8,12. Ga. 3.2,5. Ac. 19.6,8. 1 Ti. 3.15; 4.16. 2 Ti. 2.15.
4 This curious work signified the marvellous gifts and graces of Christ and his church.
5 God can effect his work by any means, yet he usually chooses those bestowed by his own Spirit. Of this Moses and Paul are a striking proof: and, in the case before us, 'Bezaleel and Aholiab,' by the divine tuition, are trained to execute all his pleasure. They may very properly be styled men of universal genius. They were complete masters of the work assigned them, and supernaturally qualified to instruct others. What an honour does sanctified genius confer upon its possessor! Unsanctified, what a curse!—C.
Notes
Reflections.—As this and the following chapters generally relate no more but the execution of what was directed in chapters xxv.- xxviii. xxx. xxxi. the notes and reflections there found are referred to. Only let me observe, that the glory of God, the happiness of men, are deeply interested in the exact observation of the Sabbath; and that God will either have voluntary service, or will not accept of it at all. Sincere repentance always issues in hearty dedications to God: and it is comely when professors, according to their respective abilities, concur in promoting the honour and service of God. In such a work he graciously accepts, not according to what they have not, but according to what they have, if there be first a willing mind. And since God liberally furnishes such as he calls to public offices in his church, the greater our gifts or grace, or the higher our station, the more earnest ought to be our labour in the service of Christ and in helpfulness to our fellow-members.