Exodus 38
PATwhich Moses received for the making this, the branches and the lamps thereof, and every thing appertaining to it, aro set down xxv.31, 32, &c. which Bezaleel exactly followed. hundred and seventy-five shekels more, demonstrates that a talent contains three thousand shekels. For no number (as the same learned bishop hath shewn) but three thousand, dividing three hundred and onethousand, seven hundred and seventy-five, will produce a hundred, and leave one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five in remainder.
Exodus 38:1
J±ND he made the altar of burnt-offering, &c. Having given an account of the making of all the furniture of the house, he proceeds to shew how all things were made without doors with tho same exactness, according to the Divine prescriptions. All which Bezaleel could not mako with his own hands; but he was chief director in these things as well as the rest of the work. Five cubits was the length thereof, &c] See xxvii. 1, 2, &c. where this, and the six following verses are explained. Ver. S. And he made the laver of brass, &c] See xxx. IS. where order is given for the making of this laver, and its situation directed: but neither there nor here are we told the figure or dimensions of it; but have a particular remark, in this place, concerning the materials out of which it was made, in the following words. Of the looking-glasses J] So we interpret the Hebrew word maroih; because now such things are commonly made of glass; but anciently of polished brass: which they looked upon as far better than silver, for that made a weaker reflection, as Vitruvius informs us, (lib. vii. cap. 3.) And the best of these specula were, among the ancient Romans, made at Brundusium, of brass and tin mixed together, as Pliny tells us, (lib. xxxiii. 9. xxxiv. 17.) This shews the laver was made of the finest and most pure brass. Of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.] The Hebrew word Hattzobeoth signifies that they came by troops to make this present to tho Lord. And the LXX. and Chaldee understanding it of such women as came together to serve God, by fasting and prayer, (for there is the samo word used in 1 Sam. ii. 22.) most interpreters think, they that made this oblation were very devout women, who were wont to spend much time at the tabernacle, where the presence of God was. For Moses’s tent served instead of the tabernacle of the congregation, and was so called, till this tabernacle was built, (xxxiii. 7, &c.) Thus Aben Ezra also observes, upon these words; that these women making a free-will offering of the looking-glasses, wherein they were wont to behold the beauty of their faces, and to dress and adorn their heads, it seems to argue their very religious mind, despising the vanity of the world, and delighting far more in the service of God.
Exodus 38:9
And he made the court, &c. All that follows from this place to ver. 21. is explained in the twentyseventh chapter, from vcr. 9. to ver. 20. except two or three words, which I shall here take notice of.
Exodus 38:17
The chapiters of silver. There is no mention of rashivi (chapiters) in the twenty-seventh chapter; but only qf vauim (or hooks) which were of silver, ver. 10. and 17. But this verse shews that those hooks were in the chapiters, or heads of the pillars, out of *vhich those arose, as an ornament to them.
Exodus 38:18
And the height in the breadth, &c. This is a Hebrew phrase, signifying the height of the hanging itself: whose breadth, when it lay along, was callcd.its height when it was hung up. And that was jfae cubits; proportionable to tho hangings of the court, which was five cubits high, (xxvii. 18.)
Exodus 38:21
This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of the testimony, &c. Some will have this relate to the forenamed things, mentioned in this and in the foregoing chapters. But I take it rather to be a preface to the account which Moses ordered to be taken of all the gold, silver, and brass that was employed in building of the tabernacle. Which being summed up, amounted to so many talents as are mentioned, ver. 24, &c. For the service of the Levites.] Rather, by the ministry of the Levites; whom Moses appointed to take the account of all the expenses. By the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.’] Under tho conduct of Ithamar, the youngest son of Aaron; whom he appointed to preside over the Levites, in taking this account.
Exodus 38:22
And Bezaleel, the son of Uri, made all that the Lord commanded Moses,. Which gold, silver, and brass was committed into the hands of Bezaleel (though in the presence of all the rest of the workmen, xxxvi. 2, 3.) as the principal person, who was to see it employed in making every thing which tho Lord commanded Moses. Vcr. 23. And with him teas Aholiab, &c] Unto whom God joined Aholiab as his associato in so great an undertaking; who made use of several others, whom they taught in those arts, which God, by an extraordinary inspiration^ had made them to understand, (xxxv. 30, 31. 34, 35.)
Exodus 38:24
All the gold which was occupied for the work, &c. About the ark, the table, the candlestick, and all belonging to them, (xxxvii.2. 11. 17. 24. 26.) and about the holy garments mentioned xxxix. 5, &c. 15. 25. 30. What w r as not employed about this work (for the people brought more than enough, xxxvi. 5. 7.) it is very probable was laid up in the treasury, for sacred uses, as there should be occasion. Twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels.] It hath been noted before, that a shekel is near half-a-crown of our money: now it is evident (from ver. 25, 20.) that there were three thousand shekels in a talent; so that a talent of silver, as Dr. Cumberland, bishop of Peterborough, computes it (in his learned treatise of Scripture Weights and Measures, chap. 4.) amounts to three hundred and fifty-three pounds, eleven shillings, and some odd pence, in our money. And a talent of gold (reckoning gold to be above fourteen times in value) to five thousand and seventy-six pounds, three shillings, and tenpence.
Exodus 38:25
He made the incense-altar, &c. This, and all that follows in the three next verses, see explained, xxx. l,&c. Vcr. 29. And he made the holy anointing oil, &c.] Seo xxx. 31, &c. And the pure incense, &c] See xxx. 34, &c. And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was a hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, Sec] There being six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men, that offered each of them half a shekel (as the next verse tells us), they make three hundred and one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five thousand shekels. Which, amounting to a hundred talents, with one thousand seven
Exodus 38:26
A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, &c. See xxx. 13. Some may possibly think it unaccountable, that so great treasures should be found among the Israelites in the desert; and especially that they should be furnished with such precious stones, as are mentioned in the next chapter, V£*. 10, 8cc. as they were before, xxviii. 17, 18, &c. But such persons should consider, that their ancestors -were very great men, and had gathered great riches, before 4hey came into Egypt; where Joseph, it is likely/left them no small treasures: and though Pharaoh perhaps squeezed them (as I said upon chapter the’ first) yet they preserved most of their riches, and were reimbursed what they lost, by what they, borrowed of the Egyptians. From whose dead bodies thrown on the sea-shore, we may well suppose they got still more; as they did also from the Amalekites, who being a people near to Arabia (from whence a great part of the precious stones came), we may likewise suppose were not unfurnished with them. And besides all this, they had shittim-wood good store in the wilderness; (as I noted chap, xxv.) and some of the Jews, particularly Abarbincl, think it not improbable, that they traded with the neighbouring nations, who bordered upon the wilderness; while they continued in it.
Exodus 38:27
And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, &c. It appears by the twentysixth chapter, that there were just a hundred of these sockets, which were the foundation of the house of God, (ver. 19. 21. 25. 32.) To the making of every one of which there went a talent of silver. Vct. 28. And of the thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, he made, &c] A hundred talents being spent in making the sockets, the remainder, which was one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels, (ver. 25.) was laid out upon hooks, and chapiters, and fillets, about the pillars. Which make up the whole account of the silver. Ver. 2S). And the brass of the offering, &c] This verse gives an account of the value of the brass, which the people offered; as the former verses of the gold and silver.
Exodus 38:30
And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the tabernacle, and the brazen altar, &c. This verse and the next gives an account how the brass was employed, according to Gfod’s order beforementioned, (xxvi. 37. xxvii. 2 — 4.)
Exodus 38:31
And the sockets of the court, &c. See xxvii. 10. 17 — 19. Here is not such a particular account given upon what things the gold was employed, (but only in general, in all the work of the holy place, ver. 24.) because all things that were not rojide of silver and brass were made of gold; and a great deal, it appears by the next chapters, was employed in making Aaron’s glorious attire.