Exodus 35

Chap. XXXV. Ver. 1—35. Voluntary offerings, &c.—Let us here observe the faithfulness of Moses, and learn to imitate it, in every thing intrusted to us; and through him look unto Jesus, who was “faithful as a Son over his own house.”— Without a willing mind the most costly offerings would be abhorred; but with it, the meanest will meet with a gracious acceptance; and our hearts may be said to be willing, when we cheerfully contribute and assist, according to our ability, in promoting the cause of God and his truth: but, as even this is the gift and work of God, we should beseech him daily to increase in us a willing mind, to abound unto every good work. They, who in mean employments are diligent and humbly contented, are as aorta to God, as those who are engaged in more splendid services.

The women who spun the goats’ hair were wise-hearted, as well as the persons who presided over the work of the tabernacle, or as Aaron who burned incense there; because they “ did it heartily to the Lord.” Thus the labourer, mechanic, or menial servant, who conscientiously attends to the work of his situation, in the faith and fear of God, may be as wise for his station as the most useful minister, and will certainly meet with the divine acceptance as well as he. In short, our wisdom and duty consist in giving God the glory and use of our talents, be they more or less; neither abusing nor burying them, but occupying with them till our Lord shall come; being satisfied that it is better to be a door-keeper in his service, than the most mighty and renowned of the ungodly.— TI’.

Scott.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXV. Ver. 11. Taches.—|Kerasim, from karas, to bend, so called from their curved form: hooks, clasps, or any thing used for the purpose of fastening, taches, as we call them, formed by apheresis from the French attacher, to fasten. They were equivalent, perhaps, to our hooks-and-eyes. |—Bagster. Ver. 14. Candlestick.—| Menorah, rather, a chandelier, which was of pure gold, and is described as having one shaft, with six branches proceeding from it adorned at equal distances with six flowers, like lilies, with as many bowls and knops placed alternately. On each of the branches there was a lamp; and one on the top of the shaft, which occupied the centre, making in all seven lamps. Calmet remarks, that the ancients used to dedicate candlesticks in the temples of their gods, bearing a number of lamps.

Pliny mentions one in the form of a tree, with lamps like apples, which Alexander the Great consecrated in the temple of Apollo. Athens mentions one which supported 365 lamps, which Dionysius the Younger, king of Syracuse, dedicated in the Prytaneum at Athens.|—Bagster. Ver. 18. The pins of the tabernacle.—|These, as Dr. Wall observes, were not particularly mentioned, Josephus says, that to every board of the tabernacle, and to every pillar of the hangings of the court, there were ropes or cords, fastened at the top of the board or pillar, and that the other end of the rope was fastened to a nail or pin, which, at a good distance off, was driven into the ground up to the head, a cubit deep. This was to keep the tabernacle from being blown down by the wind: Dr.

Shaw, describing the tents of the Bedouins, says, “These tents are kept firm and steady by bracing or stretching down their eves with cords tied to wooden hooked pins, well pointed, which they drive into the ground with a mallet; one of these re answering to the nail, as the mallet does to the hammer, which Jael used in fastening to the ground the temples of Sisera.’’ (Ju. iv. 21.)—Bagster. Ver. 22. Tablets.—Bochart supposes this word (ewmaz) to be a girdle; rather, perhaps, the jewel which fastened the Fine. Gen. Ver. 25. Blue and purple, &c.—As these colours are distinguished from the fine linen, some have supposed that dyed wool, of these colours, might be wove in with the linen; but this was expressly forbidden, (Leviticus 19:19). (Deuteronomy 22:11). See also (Ezekiel 44:17-18). But as Aholiab was an embroiderer, Scott supposes the white linen was embroidered with threads (why not silk?) of these colours.