Chapter XXXVI
Ver. 1-38. Offeuings Delivered to the Workmen.
Ver. 1-35. Contkibittions to the Tabernacle. 1. Noses gathered all the con^egation of the clilUlren of Israel, &c.—On the occasion referred to In the opening of this chapter, the Israelites were specially reminded of the design to erect a magnificent tabernacle for the regular worship of God, as well as of the leading articles that were required to furnish that .sacred edifice. (See on chs.
1. Tlieii wrouglit Bezaleel and Aliollab, and every wise-hearted man, <fcc.—Here is an illustrious example of zeal and activity in the work of the Lord. No unnecessary delay was allowed to take place ; and from tlie moment the first pole Wiis stuck in the ground till the final completion of the .sacred edifice, he and his associates laboured with all tlie energies botli of mind and body engaged in the work. And what was the mainspring of their arduous and untiring diligence? They could be actuated by none of the ordinary motives that give impulse
25., 27., 30., 31). no, fil. All the cougregatiou of lerael departed from the presence of Moses—No exciting harangues wore made, nor had the people Bibles at home in
which they could compare the requirements of their leader and see if these things were so. But they had no doubt as to his bearing to' them the will of God, and they were impressed with so strong a sense of Its being their duty, that they made a spontaneous olferof the best and most valuable treasures they possessed, they came, every one whose heart stirred him up—One powerful element doubtless of this extraordinary open-hearted
to human industry, by no desire for the acquisition of gain; no ambition for honour; no view of gratifying a mere love of power in directing the labours of a large body of men. They felt the stimulus—the strong irresist-
ible impul.se of higher and holier motives—obedience to the authority, zeal for tlie glory, and love to the service
of God. 3. they brouglit yet unto liim free oflerings every morning, &c.—Jloses, in common with other Ori-
liberality, was the remembrance of their recent transgression, which made them " zealous of good works" (ef. 2 Corinthians 7. 11). But along with this motive, there were others of a higlier and nobler kind—a principle of love to God and devotedness to His service, an anxious desire to secure the benefit of His presence, and gratitude for the tokens of His Divine favour: it was under the combined influence of these considerations that the peo-
ental magistrates, had his morning levees for receiving the people (see on ch. 18. 13), and it was while he was performing his magisterial duties that the people brought unto him freewill offerings every morning. Some who had nothing but their manual labour to give would spend a great part of the night iu hastening to complete their self-imposed task before the early dawn; others might
find their hearts constrained by silent meditations on
ple were so willing and ready to pour their contributions into that exchequer of the sanctuary, every one whom his spti-it iaad« willing—Human nature is always the same, and it is implied that while an extraordinary spirit of pious liberality reigned in the bosoms of the people at large, there were exceptions—some who were too fond of the world, who loved their possessions more than their God, and who could not part with these; no, not for the gervice of the tabernacle. !2^. tliey came, both men and women, &c.—lil., "the men over and above the women ;" a phraseology which implies that the women acted a prominent part, presented their otTerings fijst, and then were followed by as many of their male companions as were similarly disposed, brought bracelets, &c.—Money in the form of coins or bullion there was none in that early age. What money passed current with the merchant consisted of rings which were weighed, and principally of ornaments for personal decoration. Astonishment at the abundance of their ornaments is at an end when we learn that costly and elegant ornaments abounded in proportion as clothing was simple and scarce among the Egyptians, and some, entirely divested of clothing, yet wore rich necklaces. [Hengstenbero.] Amongst people with Oriental sentiments and tastes, Bcarcely any stronger proof could have been given of the power of religion than their willingness not onlj' to lay uslde, but to devote those much-valued trinkets to the house of God; and thus all, like the Eastern sages, laid the best they had at the service of God. 30. See. the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, &c. —MOHCB had made this communication before. But now that the collection had been made, the materials were contributed, and the operations of building about to be oomioenced, it was with the greatest jjropriety be re-
their beds to open their coffers and give a part of their hoarded treasure to the pious object. All whose hearts were touched by piety, penitence, or gratitude, repaired with eager haste into the presence of Moses, not as here-
tofore, to have their controversies settled, but to lay on
his tribunal their contributions to the sanctuary of God
(2 Corinthians 9. 7). they (the workmen) received of Moses all tlie oftering which tlie children of Israel had brought, &e.—It appears that the building was begun after the first few contributions were made; it was progressively carried, and no necessity occurred to suspend operations even for the shortest Interval, from want
of the requisite materials. 5. they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough, Ac-By the calculations which the practised eyes of the workmen enabled them to make, they were unanimously
of opinion that the supply already far exceeded the demand, and that no more contributions were required. Such a report reflects the highest honour on their cha-
racter as men of the strictest honour and integrity, who, notwithstanding they had command of an untold amount
of the most precious things, and might, without any risk
of human discovery, have appropriated much to theit own use, were too high principled for such acts of pecula-
tion. Forthwith, a proclamation was issued to stop fur-
ther contribuUons. 35. he made a veil of blue—the second or inner veil, which separated the holy from the most holy place, embroidered with cherubim and of great
size and thickness. 37. made an hanging for the . . . door—curtains of elaborately wrought niedlework are
often suspended over the entrance to tents of the great nomad sheicks, and throughout Persia, at the entrance
of summer tents, mosques, and palaces. They are pre-
Fwniture of the Tabernacle. EXODUS XXXVII—XXXIX. Oarmems cf the Prieds.
ferred as cooler and more elegant tlian wooden doors. This chapter contains an Instructive narrative: it is the
sources in the camp was exhausted, it is interesting to learn how zealously and to a vast extent they surrendered those valued accompaniments of the female toih't. of the -women assembling ... at the door—not priestesses but females of pious character and influence, who frequented the courts of the sacred building (Luke 2. 37), and whose parting with their mirrors, like the cutting tlie hair of the Nazarites, was tlieir renouncing the world for a season. [Hengstenberg.J 0. the court—It occupied a space of one hundred and fifty feet by seventy-five, and
first instance of donations made for the worship of God, given from tlie wages of the people's sufl'erings and toils. They were acceptable to God (Philippians 4. 18), and if the Israelites showed such liberality, how mucli more should those whose privilege it is to live under the Christian dispensation (1 Corinthians 6. 20; 16. 2). CHAPTEE XXXVII.
it was enclosed by curtains of fine linen about eiglit feet, high, suspended on brazen or copper pillars. Those fenrtains were secured hy rotls fastened to the top, and kept extended by being fastened to pins stuck in tlie grouud. 10. hooks—the hooks of the pillars in the court were for hanging up tlie carcasses of the sacrificial beasts—tliose on the pillars at the entry of tlie tabernacle were for hanging the sacerdotal robes and other things u.sed in the service. 11. sockets—mortices or holes in which the end of the pillars stood. 17. chapiters—or capitals of the
Ver. 1-29. Furniture of the Tabernacle. 1. Bezaleel made tlie arlt—^The description here given of the things within the sacred edifice is almost word for word the same as that contained in ch. 25. It is not on that account to be regarded as a useless repetition of minute particulars; for by the enumeration of these details,
It can be seen how exactly every thing was fashioned according to the "pattern shown on tlie mount
; " and the knowledge of this exact correspondence between the prescription and the execution was essential to the purposes of the fabric. 6-10. made tlie mercy-seat of pure gold —To construct a figure, whether the body of a beast or a man, with two extended wings, measuring from two to three feet from tip to lip, witli the hammer, out of a solid piece of gold, was what few, if any, artisans of the present day could accomplish. 17-32. he made tlie candlestick of pure gold—Practical readers will be apt to say, " Why do such works with the hammer, when tliey could have been cast so mucii easier—a process they were well acquainted with ?" The only answer that can be given is, that it was done according to order. We have no doubt but there were reasons for so distinctive an order, something significant, whieli has not been revealed to us. [Napier.] The whole of that sacred building was arranged with a view to inculcate throngli every part of its apparatus tlie great fundamental principles of revela-
pillars, were wooden posts which ran along their top, tc wliicii were attached the hooks for the hangings. 18. the height in the breadth—or in the measure. The sense ia that tlie hangings of the court gate, which was twenty cubits wide, were of the same height as the Iiangings all round the court. [Wall.] 31. Tlils is tlie sum of the tabernacle—Having completed his description of the component parts of the tabernacle, the inspired historian digresses into a statement respecting the gold and silver employed in it, the computation being niatle according to an order of Jloses—by the Levites, under the direction of Ithamar, Aaron's youngest son. 24. twenty and nine talents, and seven liuiulred and thirty shekels equivalent to £150,000 sterling. 35. the silver of them that were iiumbered—G0".,550 men at half a shekel each would contribute 301,775 shekels; which at 2s. id. each, amounts to £.>5,'207 sterling. It ma.v seem difficult to imagine how the Israelites should be possessed of so much wealth in the desert; but it should lie remembered that they were enriched first by the spoils of the Egyptians, and afterwards by those of the Amalekites. Besides, It
, tion. Every object was symbolical of important truth every piece of furniture was made tlie liieroglyphic of a doctrine or a duty—on the floor and along the sides of that movable eiliflce was exliil)ited, by emblematic signs addressed to tlie eye, the whole remedial scheme of the gospel. How far tliis spiritual instruction M'as received by every successive generation of tlie Israelites, it may not be easy to determine. But tlie tabernacle, lilvc the law of which it was a part, was a schoolmaster to Christ; and
is highly probable that during their sojourn they traded with the neighbouring nations who bordered on the wilderness. [Hewlett.]