Exodus 35
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1Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded, that you should do them. 2‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. 3You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’” 4Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh commanded, saying, 5‘Take from among you an offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Yahweh’s offering: gold, silver, brass, 6blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, 7rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, 8oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, 9onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate. 10“‘Let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Yahweh has commanded: 11the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen; 13the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the show bread; 14the lamp stand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; 16the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of brass, it poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base; 17the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18the pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords; 19the finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.’” 20All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh’s offering, for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments. 22They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man who offered an offering of gold to Yahweh. 23Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them. 24Everyone who offered an offering of silver and brass brought Yahweh’s offering; and everyone, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. 26All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair. 27The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate; 28with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to Yahweh; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Yahweh had commanded to be made by Moses. 30Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship; 32and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in brass, 33in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship. 34He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.
World English Bible (public domain)
“And let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded: the tabernacle, its tents and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars and its bases, the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen; the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the lampstand also for the light, and its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; and the altar of incense, and its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the entrance of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests.”
Exodus 35:10-19
Summary
Exodus chapter 35 serves as a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Israelite community as they prepare to build the Tabernacle, a dwelling place for God's presence among them. Moses gathers the people and reiterates the commandment to observe the Sabbath, emphasizing the importance of rest and worship. The chapter showcases the communal effort required to contribute to the construction, as individuals are called to bring gifts of materials and skills to the project. This collective participation highlights the theme of stewardship and the importance of dedicating resources to God's service.
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Chapter outline
How Exodus 35 unfolds
Exodus 35:1–3 Moses Commands Sabbath Observance
Moses gathers the Israelites and reiterates the command to observe the Sabbath, emphasizing it as a day of rest dedicated to Yahweh.
Exodus 35:4–19 Call for Contributions to the Tabernacle
Moses instructs the people to bring offerings for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, highlighting the importance of voluntary contributions.
Exodus 35:20–29 Congregation Responds with Willing Hearts
The Israelites respond generously, bringing various materials and offerings for the work, indicating a community spirit and willingness to serve.
Exodus 35:30–35 Bezalel and Oholiab Are Appointed
Moses announces that Bezalel and Oholiab have been chosen and filled with the Spirit of God to oversee the craftsmanship needed for the Tabernacle.
Key verses
Exodus 35:10-19Exodus 35:10-19 captures the essence of community participation in the sacred task of constructing the Tabernacle.
Main themes in Exodus 35
Community Involvement
Community involvement is evident as Moses calls for contributions from all the Israelites, inviting them to participate in building the Tabernacle (verses 5-9). The chapter emphasizes the collective effort, as everyone whose heart was stirred brought offerings, demonstrating unity and shared purpose. This participation reflects the importance of communal responsibility in fulfilling God's commands.
Holy Service
The theme of holy service emerges as the Israelites are called to contribute materials and skills for the Tabernacle's construction (verses 10-19). The chapter highlights the significance of dedicating resources and talents to God's work, illustrating that service to God involves both material and skilled offerings. This theme underscores the sacred nature of their responsibilities in worship.
Sabbath Rest
Sabbath rest is underscored by Moses' instruction to observe a holy day of rest (verses 2-3). This command reflects the importance of rest and worship in the life of the Israelites, reinforcing their dependence on God. Observing the Sabbath serves as a reminder of God's creation and the need for spiritual rejuvenation.
Divine Presence
The theme of divine presence is prominent as the construction of the Tabernacle is central to God's dwelling among His people (verses 10-19). The careful attention to details in the offerings and workmanship reflects the desire to create a place for God's presence. This theme signifies the relationship between God's people and His manifestation in their midst.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Exodus 35
- Exodus 31This passage connects as it highlights the importance of Sabbath observance, reinforcing the command given to the Israelites.
- Exodus 25This chapter echoes earlier instructions about the Tabernacle, emphasizing the need for community contributions to build a dwelling for God.
- Exodus 26This connection develops the understanding of the Tabernacle's structure and design, which is further detailed in the contributions mentioned.
- Exodus 36This later reference shows the fulfillment of the offerings and craftsmanship instructions given in this chapter.
- 2 Corinthians 8This passage connects by illustrating the New Testament principle of voluntary giving for God's work, paralleling the Israelites' generous contributions.
- 1 Chronicles 29This chapter echoes themes of communal giving and the importance of dedicating resources for divine service, similar to the offerings in Exodus 35.
Study questions
Questions for studying Exodus 35
- What specific materials does Moses ask the Israelites to bring for the Tabernacle?
- How does the community's response illustrate their willingness to contribute?
- What does the command to observe the Sabbath reveal about Israelite identity?
- Who are Bezalel and Oholiab, and what roles do they play?
- What does this chapter suggest about the importance of skillful craftsmanship in worship?
- How does the theme of community involvement manifest in this chapter?
- In what ways does this chapter connect to earlier instructions about the Tabernacle?
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