Exodus 36:1-38

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 36:1-7

I. The workmen set in without delay. Then they wrought, Exod. 36:1. When God had qualified them for the work, then they applied themselves to it. Note, The talents we are entrusted with must not be laid up, but laid out; not hid in a napkin, but traded with. What have we all our gifts for, but to do good with them? They began when Moses called them, Exod. 36:2. Even those whom God has qualified for, and inclined to, the service of the tabernacle, yet must wait for a regular call to it, either... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 36:8-13

The first work they set about was the framing of the house, which must be done before the furniture of it was prepared. This house was not made of timber or stone, but of curtains curiously embroidered and coupled together. This served to typify the state of the church in this world, the palace of God's kingdom among men. 1. Though it is upon the earth, yet its foundation is not in the earth, as that of a house is; no, Christ's kingdom is not of this world, nor founded in it. 2. It is mean and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 36:14-34

Here, 1. The shelter and special protection that the church is under are signified by the curtains of hair-cloth, which were spread over the tabernacle, and the covering of rams? skins and badgers? skins over them, Exod. 36:14-19. God has provided for his people a shadow from the heat, and a covert from storm and rain, Isa. 4:6. They are armed against all weathers; the sun and the moon shall not smite them: and they are protected from the storms of divine wrath, that hail which will sweep away... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 36:35-38

In the building of a house there is a great deal of work about the doors and partitions. In the tabernacle these were answerable to the rest of the fabric; there were curtains for doors, and veils for partitions. 1. There was a veil made for a partition between the holy place, and the most holy, Exod. 36:35, 36. This signified the darkness and distance of that dispensation, compared with the New Testament, which shows us the glory of God more clearly and invites us to draw near to it; and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 36:1

Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man ,.... Or every ingenious artificer under them: when they began to work is not precisely said, but it is very probable they set about it directly, as soon as they were furnished with materials for it, nor is it said where they wrought; it is very likely there was a particular place, where they were ranged according to their respective manufactories, and where they did their work under the inspection, and by the direction of these... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 36:2

And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man ,.... It was not enough that they had qualifications for this work, but they must have a call to it from Moses, to whom the whole affair was committed, to see that it was done according to the pattern shown him in the mount: so all that are concerned in the public work and service of the church of God should have a call unto it both from the Lord and from the church: in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even everyone... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 36:3

And they received of Moses all the offering ,.... That is, Bezaleel and Aholiab received it of him, who delivered it to the several workmen, as the nature of their work required, some one thing, and some another: to some gold, to others silver, to others brass, and to some they delivered out fine linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and to others shittim wood; Moses gave all out faithfully that he received, and kept back nothing for his own use or private advantage, even all the above... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 36:4

And all the wise men that wrought all the work of the sanctuary ,.... The ingenious artificers who were employed, some in one thing, and some in another, either on the tabernacle itself, or the vessels of it, and things appertaining to it: came every man from his work which they made ; left off their work by mutual consent and agreement, and came in a body to Moses. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 36:5

And they spake unto Moses, saying ,.... One in the name of the rest: the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make ; they had taken an estimate of what was to be done, and of what was necessary for the doing of it, and of what the people brought for this service; and they found there was a great deal more brought than would be wanted, and therefore they thought proper to advise Moses of it, that no more might be brought: it is hard... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 36:6

And Moses gave commandment ,.... Orders to some proper person or persons about him: and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp , or "caused a voice to pass"; a crier or herald, as the Targums, who went through the camp and published in every quarter: saying, let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary ; as the men in cutting shittim wood, and planing it, and the women in spinning blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and goats' hair: so the... read more

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