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Exodus 36

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1“Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Yahweh has commanded.” 2Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Yahweh had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it: 3and they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They brought yet to him freewill offerings every morning. 4All the wise men, who performed all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which they did. 5They spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which Yahweh commanded to make.” 6Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman make anything else for the offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing. 7For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. 8All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, with cherubim, the work of the skillful workman, they made them. 9The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one measure. 10He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. 11He made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second coupling. 12He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling. The loops were opposite to one another. 13He made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit. 14He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains. 15The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure. 16He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was outermost in the second coupling. 18He made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit. 19He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above. 20He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up. 21Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board. 22Each board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way. 23He made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward. 24He made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. 25For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards, 26and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 27For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. 28He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part. 29They were double beneath, and in the same way they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them in the two corners. 30There were eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every board two sockets. 31He made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 32and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward. 33He made the middle bar to pass through in the middle of the boards from the one end to the other. 34He overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. 35He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman. 36He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of silver for them. 37He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer; 38and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sockets were of brass.

World English Bible (public domain)

And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for the work of the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning.

Exodus 36:3

Summary

Exodus chapter 36 describes the actual construction of the Tabernacle, outlining how the skilled artisans and craftsmen carried out God's commands regarding the sacred structure. Bezalel and Oholiab, two key figures endowed with divine wisdom and skills, lead the work, reflecting how God equips His people for service. The chapter highlights the collaborative effort of the Israelites who willingly contributed materials such as gold, silver, and fine linen, demonstrating their commitment and reverence toward God's presence among them.

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Chapter outline

How Exodus 36 unfolds

  1. Exodus 36:1–3 The Call for Skilled Workers

    Moses calls Bezalel and Oholiab, along with wise-hearted men, to work on the sanctuary according to God's commands. They begin to receive freewill offerings from the people every morning.

  2. Exodus 36:4–7 Abundance of Offerings

    The skilled workers report to Moses that the people have brought more than enough materials for the sanctuary. Moses then commands them to stop bringing offerings.

  3. Exodus 36:8–14 Construction of the Tabernacle

    The craftsmen begin constructing the tabernacle, making the curtains of fine linen and skillfully incorporating cherubim designs. Specific measurements and details are provided for accuracy.

  4. Exodus 36:15–30 Boards and Framework

    The workers continue by constructing the framework of the tabernacle using acacia wood. Detailed descriptions of the boards, sockets, and their arrangement emphasize the tabernacle's structure.

  5. Exodus 36:31–38 Finishing Touches

    The chapter concludes with the crafting of the veil and the screen for the tabernacle entrance. The skilled artisans complete their work, ensuring everything is adorned with gold and skillful embroidery.

Key verses

  • Exodus 36:3Exodus 36:3 encapsulates the chapter's focus on community contribution, highlighting the people's commitment to God's work.

Main themes in Exodus 36

Divine craftsmanship and skills

This theme appears as Bezalel and Oholiab lead skilled workers in creating the tabernacle, as seen in verses 1-3. The chapter emphasizes the divine wisdom bestowed upon these craftsmen, showcasing their ability to execute intricate designs as commanded by God. It illustrates how God equips individuals with unique skills for fulfilling His purposes.

Generosity and community involvement

The theme of generosity and community involvement is evident in Exodus 36, particularly in verses 3-5. The Israelites respond willingly to Moses' call for contributions, demonstrating a collective spirit in providing materials for the tabernacle. This enthusiasm for giving not only facilitates the construction of the sacred space but also underscores how vital communal participation is in achieving God's purposes for worship.

God's dwelling among His people

The theme of God's dwelling among His people is prominently featured in Exodus 36, especially in verses 8-14. The detailed construction of the tabernacle signifies God's intention to inhabit the midst of the Israelites, showcasing His desire for close relationship with them. This careful craftsmanship of a sacred space highlights the importance of divine presence in the community's life and worship.

Obedience to God's instructions

Obedience to God's instructions is a key theme in Exodus 36, illustrated through the precise execution of His commands during the tabernacle's construction, particularly in verses 8-38. Each aspect of the building process reflects a dedicated commitment to following God's directives, which is crucial for maintaining the covenant relationship. This careful attention to detail reveals that obedience is foundational for the community's worship and their identity as God's chosen people.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Exodus 36

Study questions

Questions for studying Exodus 36

  1. Who are Bezalel and Oholiab in this chapter?
  2. What types of materials did the Israelites bring for the sanctuary?
  3. How did Moses respond to the overflowing contributions?
  4. What specific details are given about the tabernacle's curtains?
  5. What symbolism might the materials and colors used represent?
  6. How does the craftsmanship reflect God's instructions to His people?
  7. In what ways does this chapter highlight community involvement in worship?

Exodus 36: frequently asked questions

What is Exodus 36 about?+
Exodus chapter 36 describes the actual construction of the Tabernacle, outlining how the skilled artisans and craftsmen carried out God's commands regarding the sacred structure. Bezalel and Oholiab, two key figures endowed with divine wisdom and skills, lead the work, reflecting how God equips His people for service. The chapter highlights the collaborative effort of the Israelites who willingly contributed materials such as gold, silver, and fine linen, demonstrating their commitment and reverence toward God's presence among them.
What is the key verse in Exodus 36?+
Exodus 36:3: "and they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They brought yet to him freewill offerings every morning."
What are the main themes of Exodus 36?+
The main themes of Exodus 36 are Divine craftsmanship and skills, Generosity and community involvement, God's dwelling among His people, Obedience to God's instructions.

Related chapters

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Study Notes