Exodus 35

which we translate wisdom, is used variously, as Maimonides observes; sometimes for the understanding of Divine things; sometimes for moral virtue; and sometimes for skill in any art (of which he alleges this place as an instance), and sometimes for craft and subtlety. (See. More Nevoch. par. iii. cap. 54.) The word leb (or heart) is used here according to the vulgar opinion of those days, that the heart is the seat of the understanding. And thus I observed before upon chap. xxv. that excellent artists are by the heathen called wise men. Since which I have observed, that this is the language of Homer himself; whose verses, concerning Margites are quoted by Aristotle in more places than one, (lib. vi. Moral, ad Niehomach. cap. 7. et lib. v. Moral, ad Eudcmiim, cap. 7.) where he saithhe was so foolish, that Tov 8* ovr tip GKairrrioa $to\ Siaav ovr aporijpa Ovr aXXwc Tt ao^ov. The gods neither made Mm a ditcher, nor a ploughman, nor any other sort of wise man. Upon which Aristotle notes, ttjv 8c <ro<piav lv rate riyyatq, roXg a»cpij3e<rraroic Tag Tc^vac a7ro8/8ojuv, We ascribe wisdom in arts to those who excel in them; and then he instances in Phidias a stone-cutter, and Polyeletus a statuary. Ven 11. The tabernacle.’] This signifies sometimes the whole structure of the house of God; but hero only the fine inward curtains, mentioned xxvi. 1, 2, &c. His tent.] This signifies the curtains of goats’ hair; which were laid over the other, (xxvi. 7, &c.) His covering.] Of rams’ skins and badgers’ skins; which were thrown over the other two, (xxvi. 14.) His taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets.] All these are explained in that chapter.. Vcr. 23* And every man with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, &c.] The coramou sort of people also offered such as they had, yarn, and One linen, goats’ hair, and skins. (See xxv. 4, 5.)

Exodus 35:1

JjlND Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together. Having told them what orders he had received from the Lord, and sufficiently convinced them of his authority, (xxxiv. 32, 33.) he now proceeds to put them in execution. And in order to it, he gathered col-hadath, all the congregation: which sometimes signifies all the elders and judges, &°. (the prime governors of the people) and sometimes the whole body of the people, as Corn. Bon. Bertram observes, de Itepub. Jud. cap. 6. It seems here to be used in the first sense; for he could not speak these. words to the whole body of the people, but to the principal persons of the several tribes, by whom what he said was communicated to all Israel. These are the words which the Lord hath commanded, that ye should do them.’] Before they entered upon the work, he admonishes fc thcm that nono of it must be done upon the sabbath.

Exodus 35:2

Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to. you a holy sabbath, &c. This commandment was particularly repeated to Moses, at the end of all the directions about the building of the tabernacle, (seo xxxi. 13 — 15.) and now repeated to them (as it was at his late renewing his covenant with them, xxxiv. 21.) that they might not imagine any of the work here commanded to be done about the tabernacle, &c. would license them to break the.sabbath. Tho observation of which being the great preservative of religion, that is the reason it is so often enjoined, and particular care taken to secure it. And it is not to be omitted, that (to shew of what great concern it is) he calls it here, as he did xxxi. 15. where the end and use “of it is set down, the sabbath of sabbatJis, that is, the great sabbath or rest.

Exodus 35:3

Ye shall kindle no fire in your habitations upon the sabbath-day. To dress their meat, or for any other work: otherwise they might kindle a fire to warm themselves in cold weather. This is sufficiently comprehended under the general command, thou shalt not do any work, (xx. 10.) Therefore the meaning is, Thou shalt not so much, as kimjlc a fire for any such purpose. For that is the rule they givo in Halicoth Olam, cap. 2. that such particular prohibitions forbid the whole kind, i. e. all manner of work whatsoever; which is here mentioned, to shew they might not kindle a fire for this work of the tabernacle.

Exodus 35:4

And spake unto all the congregation, &c. See ver. 1. This is the thing which the Lord commanded.] Having* secured the observation of the sabbath, according to the direction given just before he came down from the mount the first time, (xxxi. 13—15.) he now relates to them what commands he received from God, concerning all that follows.

Exodus 35:5

Take ye from amongst you an offering unto the Lord. And first he makes a motion to them from the Lord, that they would make a free oblation of materials for the building of the tabernacle, and all other things which the Lord commanded to be made, (ver. 10, &c.) Take ye, is as much as bnng ye, and so we translate it xxv, 2. (See there.) Where it appears that this was the very first thing God said to him (concerning a voluntary offering, which was tho foundation of all the rest), and therefore is first propounded to the people by him. Whosoever is of a willing heart, &c] See xxv. 2. Ver. (>— 9.] All these have been explained iu the twentyfifth chapter, ver. 3 — 5, &c., Ver! 10. Every wise-hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded.] Every skilful person in the art of making the things following. The samo is said of the, women, ver. 25. The Hebrew word cochmah,

Exodus 35:12

TJie ark and his staves, with the mercy-seat. See xxv. 10. 13. 17. And the veil of the covering.] Whereby the holy was separated from the most holy place. Which is hero fitly mentioned between the mercy-scat, which was within; and the table, &c. which were without this veil.

Exodus 35:13

Tlie table, and his staves, and all his vessels. Seo all these explained, xxv. 23, 24, &c. And the shew-bread.] This is a short expression, one word (as is usual) being cut off, viz, the dishes, in which the sheio-bread was set. For Moses had not order to make the bread itself, but the dishes (as I said) on which the loaves were laid, (xxv. 29.)

Exodus 35:14

TJie candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps. See xxvi. 31, 32, &c. With the oil for the light.] See xxvii. 20, 21.

Exodus 35:15

And tlie incense-altar, and the staves. See xxxi. ],2,&c.. And the anointing oil.] See xxxi. 23, 24, &c. And the sweet incense.] See xxxi. 34, &c. He mentioned before the materials for them, (ver. 8.) and now the things themselves. And the hanging for the door, at the entering in of tlie tabernacle.] Of this, see xxvi. 3G. Ver. 1G. And the altar of burnt-offering, with his brazen grate, his staves.] These are explained, xxvii. 1 — 7. And all his vessels.] See there, ver. 3. The laver and his foot.] See xxix. 17, 18.

Exodus 35:17

The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets. Sec xxvii. 9, 10, &c. And the hangings for the door of the court.] See there, ver. 16.

Exodus 35:18

TJie pins of the tabernacle, &c. See xxvii. 19.

Exodus 35:19

The clothes of the service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons, &c. Of which there is an account in the whole twenty-eighth chapter. And Moses here makes this large enumeration of all the things which God had commanded, (ver. 10.) that they might be stirred up to be the more liberal in their offering, when they saw how many things were to be done.

Exodus 35:20

And all the congregation of the children of Israel. Whom he had summoned to meet together, (ver. 1.) Departed from the presence of Moses.].When he had reported to them what orders he had received from the Divine Majesty in the mount, (ver. 4, 5, &c.)

Exodus 35:21

And they came. Being dismissed to their own tents, they went thither only to fetch an offering to the. Lord; which they came and brought immediately. Every one whose heart stirred him up.] Whose mind was raised to a” free and cheerful readiness. The Hebrew words are, lifted him up; that is, had animiim excelsum, a noble mind; or, was of a generous spirit; as the following words import, Every one whom his spirit made willing. And they brought the Lord’s offering.] An offering to the Lord, as Moses exhorted, (ver. 5.) To the work of the tabernacle.] For the building a sanctuary, wherein God might dwell among them, (xxv., 8.) And for all his service.] For all that belonged to the furniture of it, both within and without, which are mentioned in the verses beforegoing. And for the holy garments.] That the priests might mi-* nister there in their office, (ver. 19.)

Exodus 35:22

And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted. Who » seem to have been the greatest part of the congregation. * And brought bracelets, and ear-rings, and rings.] They were no less forward to offer, to the service of God, than they had been to the making the golden calf, (xxxii. 2, 3.) for which offence they now make some sort of satisfaction; being more liberal in contributing to this work, than they were to that. For we read there only of their ear-rings, whiph they brake off from their ears and brought to Aaron; but here of their bracelets also, and rings, with other things. For though they may be supposed to have parted with a great deal, on that wicked account; it did not make those who were touched with what Moses said, less willing to give afresh to a holy use. Tablets.] The Hebrew word comaz, or camaz, is of very uncertain signification; for somo make it an ornament of the arms, and others of some other part: but the Chaldee takes it for something about the breast; a fascia (saith Elias) wherewith women tied up and compressed their breasts, to make them appearmore beautiful, by being round. This Boehartus approves, in his Canaan, lib. ii. cap. 5. All jewels of gold.] All the four forenamed sorts of ornaments were of gold. And every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.] The first oblations that were brought, either by the women or the men, were all of gold: and then followed meaner things, which the people of lower condition brought to the Lord.

Exodus 35:24

Everyone that did offer an offering of silver and brass, Sec J. Those of a middle condition offered silver, and brass, and shittim-wood. All which were necessary for several uses: for the ark and the table were to be overlaid with gold; of which the candlesticks and several other things were to bo made. (See chap, xxv.) The inward cutains were to be made of the yarn; and the outward of goats’ hair, and the covering of both of skins. The foundations of the tabernacle were of silver; and the taches of the curtains and altar of burnt-offering of brass; and shittim-wood was used about the boards of the tabernacle, the ark, table, &c. (See chap. xxv. xxvk xxvii.)

Exodus 35:25

And all the women that were wise-hearted, did spin with their hands, and brottght that which they had spun, &c. Not only the men, but the women also, brought materials for the house; and more than that, such as were skilful among them spun both yarn and thread; w T hich was the proper work of women, not of men. Unto which work alone they were bound to apply themselves, if by the cus-. torn of the place no other work (such as knitting, and sewing with. their needle, &c.) was usually performed by them, as Mr. Selden observes, lib. iii. de Uxor. Hebr. cap. 10. where he treats of all the employments of their women.

Exodus 35:26

And all the women whose heart stirred them up. Whose minds were elevated to excellent contrivances. In wisdom, spun goats’ hair.] With great art spun goats’ hair; which was not so easy as to spin, wool and flax. For though their goats were shorn in those countries, as sheep are here (their hair being longer than ours), yet theTe was a great deal of skill required to work it into a thread, and to make stuff of it. (See Bochart. Hierozoic. par. i. lib. ii. cap. 51.) In old time also women were wont to weave as well as spiu, as appears not only out of the sacred books, but out of Homer, Plato, Cicero, and many other authors, mentioned by Braunius, in his book de Vestitu Sacerd. Hebr. lib. i. cap. 17, where he observes (N. 33.) out of Herodotus, that he, shewing the Egyptian customs to be different in many things from those, of other nations, mentions this among the rest, that their men kot otKovg Uvrtq v<paivovm, sat at home arid weaved; while their women went abroad and bought and sold, (lib. ii. cap. 35.)- Vcr. 27. And the rulers brought cnyx-stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breast-plate.] The great men also offered suitable to their quality; such things as the people could not furnish, viz. precious stones, for uses mentioned xxv. 7. xxviii. 9. 17, 18, &c.

Exodus 35:28

And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, &c. Such principal spices (as we translate it) mentioned xxx. 23. 34, together with oil for the light, (xxvii. 20.) which was so pure, that ordinary persons had it not. For there were several sorts of olives (as Fort. Scacchus. shews, Myrothec. Sacr. Elacochrysm. par. i. cap. 4, 5.) some of which were not so common as the other, and therefore of greater value. “: Ver. 29rllie clnldren of Israel brought a willing offering,- &c.] To sum up all in a few words, they brought whatsoever was necessary, for all manner of work which the Lord had commanded to be made. By the hand of Moses.] Whom he employed to deliver these commands to his people.

Exodus 35:30

And Moses said, See, the Lord hath called by name, &c. Hath principally made choice of Bezaleel to undertake and perform this work. This he said, that they might not be solicitons about artists, to make all that was propounded; for they knew that there were none among them bred to such employments. Moses therefore informs them, in the first place, that God had provided himself of a master workman, as he told him xxx. i, 2, &c.

Exodus 35:31

And he hath filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom, &c. This verse is explained before, xxxi. 3. 6. only I shall add, that the extraordinary skill which any man had without teaching, in common arts, was by the heathens ascribed to their gods. There are several instances of it observed by Maximus Tyrius, Dissert, xxii. where he argues, that it should not be thought strange, if a man bo made virtuous by a Divine inspiration, when some have no other ways become admirable artists. Among which ho mentions Demodocus, a musician, whom Homer introduces speaking thus of himself: AuroStSaicroc S 1 tlfii, Stot Se juot wiraaav 6/0t/v. I was never taught by any body, but the gods bestowed on me the gift of singing. The latter end of which verse is a little otherwise in Homer> as we now have him, (Odyss x.) but to the same sense, and it is Phemius, not Demodocus, who there speaks, a&PetrnsPetitus hath observed, in his Miscell; Ohserv. lib. i. cap. 19.

Exodus 35:32

And to devise curious works. The Hebrew word chaschab signifies to devise and excogitate; whence macheschaboth, which we translate curious works (and in the end of the next verse cunning works), is as much as ingenious inventions, devised with much art. Such were the engines made by king Uzziah, which are. said to bo invented by cunning men, or excellent engineers, as we now speak, (1- Chron. xxvi. 15.) See xxxi. 4. where this verse hath been explained. •

Exodus 35:33

And in the cutting of stones, &c. See xxxi. 5.

Exodus 35:34

And he hath put in his heart that he may teach.J Instruct others in his arts. For this was a gift of God, as much as any of the rest, to be able to inform others dexterously, in those things which he knew himself: as it was, to be able to comprehend what Moses told him God had ordered, and put it in execution. For God gave Moses the pattern, according to which all things were to be wrought: and as it was a peculiar gift of God, which enabled him to represent to Bezaleel what had been set before him; so it was by an extraordinary operation on his mind, that he conceived presently what w f as represented, and had skill to perform it according to direction. Vcr. 35. TJiem hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, &c] This is repeated so often y and such particular mention is here made again of their skill in every thing, though of ever so difficult contrivance, to assure the Israelites that they were so well qualified for the work, that they might be entrusted with the offerings they had made. And accordingly they were, (xxxvi. 3.)