Exodus 35

Exodus 35:1-19

1. Moses gives Israel these instructions he had received, (1.) Concerning the Sabbath, vers. 1, 2, 3. (2.) Concerning the contribution for the erecting of the tabernacle, vers. 4—9. (3.) Concerning the framing of the tabernacle, and the worship of it, vers. 10—19. 2. The people bring in their contributions, vers. 20—29. 3. The head-workmen are appointed, vers. 30—35.

2. AND Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and laid unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. 2. ‘Six 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: whoever doth work therein, shall be put to death. 3. ‘Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the

Sabbath day. 4. ¶ And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the

thing which the LORD commanded, saying, 5. Take

ye from amongst you an offering unto the LORD: ‘Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an

offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass, 6. And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goat’s hair, 7. And rams skins dyed red, and badgers skins, and thistim-wood, 8. And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, 9. And onyx-stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breast-plate. 10. And every wise-hearted among you shall come and make all that the LORD hath commanded; 11. The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets, 12. The ark and the staves

thereof, with the mercy-seat, and the vali of the covering, 13. The table and his staves, and all his vessels,

and the shew-bread, 14. The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light, 15. And 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, 16. The altar of burnt-offering with his brazen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, 17.

The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court, 18.

The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court,

and their cords, 19. The 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. VOL. I. God now condescending to dwell among them, the tabernacle is to be erected. Moses delivers all his orders, and is particular on this head; with all convenient speed they must begin, yet though the work he urges, the Sabbath must not be infringed, on pain of death: they may not be much as kindle a fire for any service work. The Sabbath is a day of sacred rest, and to be employed wholly with and for God. The tabernacle is to be built by voluntary contribution: God will be served, not by force, but by choice; and they who love the God of the tabernacle will delight to honour him with their

best, and be happy to employ their wealth to so blessed a purpose. He hath no part among the true Israel, who hath a

nugard heart in God’s service. The wisest must be selected; it is not every man is set for tabernacle work. It is the

shame of many, that when their children are fit for nothing else, they thrust them into the ministry, and count that shining talents should have a more grateful employment. But surely the greatest parts, and most distinguished abilities, can never be so becomingly employed, as in the immediate service of God’s church and kingdom. 20. ¶ And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21. And 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. 22. And they came both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and ear-rings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the LORD. 23. And every man with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goat’s hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers skins, brought them. 24. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass, brought the LORD’s offering: and every man with whom was found thistim-wood for any

work of the service, brought it. 25. And all the women that were wise-hearted, did spun with their hands,

and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. 26. And all the women whose hearts stirred them up in wisdom,

spun goats hair. 27. And the rulers brought onyx-stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the

breast-plate. 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 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.

Exodus 35:20-29

Their swift obedience to the command, was a

blessed proof of the sincerity of the repentance they had professed. They no sooner hear, than they obey, delays in duty

are dangerous; what we do, we must do quickly: their heart was willing, and therefore their hands were upon: a genuine principle of love makes a cheerful giver. The richest jewels are brought in, for they who have talked of God’s grace, think they can never enough testify their gratitude to him; it was not indeed in every man’s power to bring gold or diamonds, but if it was a sheep’s skin, or goat’s hair, it was accepted: not the greatness of the gift, so much as the temper of the giver, is precious in God’s sight. The idol call had robbed them of much; it is a shame to reflect how much we have spent upon our sins: yet the spoils of Egypt abundantly supplied them; they had better have left behind the gold indeed, than made a god of it: but now they have an opportunity of employing even the unrighteous mammals, in the service of the living God. Whilst some are opening their stores, others are at work with their hands; every man has something he can do for God and and his neighbour; and we should remember, that a thread spun for the tabernacle, or two miles call into the treasury of God, will prove more durable riches, than if we could fill our coffers with diamonds, or adorn our own houses with tapestry of gold. 30. ¶ And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 31. And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; 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 E. 35. Aboliah Before Chord 1457. Belfast-Chiell 1495. Aholish the son of Ahlismach, 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 cumning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, ever of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

Exodus 35:30-35

The workmen are now appointed according to the Divine choice, and qualified for their work: wise to contrine, diligent to execute, and able to teach others also. Note, (1.) In the church of God, they who are distinguished in flation, should be more distinguished for abilities, zeal, and labour. (2.) Whoever are truly called to the work of the ministry, God will give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, to know how rightly to divide the word of truth. (3.) Whatever learning or abilities we are possessed of, if there be not a communication of them for the instruction of others, they become as useless, as the candle under a bulbel.