Exodus 36
Exodus 36 deals with the practical start of the construction of the Tabernacle. Following the commands given by God, it shows how Bezalel and Oholiab, along with everyone whose heart is wise, prepare and build the various parts of the Tabernacle. The people brought their offerings willingly, leading to an abundance of materials, and the builders work with careful attention.
1verse“Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom the LORD has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD has commanded.”
2verseMoses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it.
3verseThey 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 kept bringing free will offerings to him every morning.
4verseAll the wise men, who performed all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which he did.
5verseThey spoke to Moses, saying, “The people have brought much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded to make.”
6verseMoses gave a 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.
7verseFor the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work, and too much.
8verseAll the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet. They made them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman.
9verseThe length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one measure.
10verseHe coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.
11verseHe 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.
12verseHe 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.
13verseHe made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit.
14verseHe made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.
15verseThe length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure.
16verseHe coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
17verseHe 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.
18verseHe made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit.
19verseHe made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
20verseHe made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.
21verseTen cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board.
22verseEach board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way.
23verseHe made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.
24verseHe 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.
25verseFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards
26verseand their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
27verseFor the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
28verseHe made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.
29verseThey 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.
30verseThere were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.
31verseHe made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
32verseand 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.
33verseHe made the middle bar to pass through in the middle of the boards from the one end to the other.
34verseHe overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
35verseHe made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman.
36verseHe 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.
37verseHe made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
38verseand the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sockets were of bronze.
Structure and Flow of the Chapter
- Offerings and overflowing dedication (verses 1–7): The people bring materials willingly every morning, and far more than enough is gathered. The abundance is so great that Moses commands the people to stop bringing additional offerings.
- Making the tabernacle structure (verses 8–38): The craftsmen carefully make the curtains, coverings, frames, bars, veil, screen, and other structural elements of the tabernacle. The detailed descriptions of sizes, materials, and designs show obedience to God’s instructions.
Overall Meaning
This chapter shows the process by which God's commands are carried out in reality, emphasizing especially the zeal of the people who join in God's work and the obedience and precision of the craftsmen. It also reveals the community serving God with one mind, along with God's grace filling everything abundantly beyond measure.
Points to Ponder
- Offerings and service to God should come from willing hearts rather than compulsion, and this chapter shows that God is pleased with such a heart.
- When each person faithfully carries out his or her part according to the wisdom and gifts God provides, the community can be built up in harmony.
Putting It into Practice
- Reflect on how much joy and willingness you bring to the work God has entrusted to you.
- Examine whether the talents and resources given to you are being used for the community and for God’s kingdom.