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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 25:1-9

We may suppose that when Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and abode there so long, where the holy angels attended the shechinah, or divine Majesty, he saw and heard very glorious things relating to the upper world, but they were things which it was not lawful nor possible to utter; and therefore, in the records he kept of the transactions there, he says nothing to satisfy the curiosity of those who would intrude into the things which they have not seen, but writes that only which he was... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 25:10-22

The first thing which is here ordered to be made is the ark with its appurtenances, the furniture of the most holy place, and the special token of God's presence, for which the tabernacle was erected to be the receptacle. I. The ark itself was a chest, or coffer, in which the two tables of the law, written with the finger of God, were to be honourably deposited, and carefully kept. The dimensions of it are exactly ordered; if the Jewish cubit was, as some learned men compute, three inches... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 25:23-30

Here is, 1. A table ordered to be made of wood overlaid with gold, which was to stand, not in the holy of holies (nothing was in that but the ark with its appurtenances), but in the outer part of the tabernacle, called the sanctuary, or holy place, Heb. 9:2, 23 There must also be the usual furniture of the sideboard, dishes and spoons, etc., and all of gold, Exod. 25:29. 2. This table was to be always spread, and furnished with the show-bread (Exod. 25:30), or bread of faces, twelve loaves,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 25:31-40

I. The next thing ordered to be made for the furnishing of God's palace was a rich stately candlestick, all of pure gold, not hollow, but solid. The particular directions here given concerning it show, 1. That it was very magnificent, and a great ornament to the place; it had many branches drawn from the main shaft, which had not only their bowls (to put the oil and the kindled wick in) for necessity, but knops and flowers for ornament. 2. That it was very convenient, and admirably contrived... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... When on the mount, and in the midst of the cloud with him: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:2

Speak unto the children of Israel ,.... That is, when he should go down from the mountain to the camp: that they bring me an offering ; the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call it a "separation": something separated from their substance, and devoted to the service of God, and for the use of the sanctuary afterwards to be built: of every man that giveth it willingly, with his heart, ye shall take my offering ; or take what was offered to him, be it more or less, and of whatsoever... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:3

And this is the offering which ye shall take of them ,.... That is, some one or other of the following things were to be taken of each of them that had a heart, and it was in the power of their hands to give; it was not expected that something of each of these should be had of everyone, but every man was to give, and it was to be received of him, what of these would suit him best to bestow, some one thing, some another, as they were possessed of, and had a heart to give; and for which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:4

And blue, and purple, and scarlet ,.... The Jewish doctors are much divided about the sense of the words so rendered by us; some will have one colour, and some another meant; but, according to those learned men, who have taken much pains in searching into the meaning of them, as Bochart and Braunius, it appears that our version of them is most correct: and by these we are not to understand the colours themselves, which could not be brought, nor even the materials for dying them are intended;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:5

And rams' skins died red ,.... Of these were made a covering for the tent or tabernacle: and badgers' skins , which were for the same use: the Septuagint version calls them hyacinth or blue skins; according to which, they seem to be the rams' skins died blue; and so Josephus F2 Ut supra. (Antiq. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 1.) seems to have understood it; and it is much questionable whether the same creature is meant we call the badger, since that with the Israelites was an unclean creature;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:6

Oil for the light ,.... For the light of the lamps in the candlestick: this was oil olive, as the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi, see Exodus 27:20 , spices for anointing oil ; for the anointing of Aaron and his sons, and the tabernacle and its vessels, such as pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, and cassia: and for sweet incense ; as stacte, onycha, and galbanum; from whence they had this oil and these spices, it is not easy to say, unless they brought them out of Egypt... read more

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