Exodus 38:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 38:1-8

Bezaleel having finished the gold-work, which, though the richest, yet was ordered to lie most out of sight, in the tabernacle itself, here goes on to prepare the court, which lay open to the view of all. Two things the court was furnished with, and both made of brass:? I. An altar of burnt-offering, Exod. 38:1-7. On this all their sacrifices were offered, and it was this which, being sanctified itself for this purpose by the divine appointment, sanctified the gift that was in faith offered on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 38:8

And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass ,.... Not of the brass of the offering, for of that were made the brazen altar, its grate and vessels, the sockets of the court and court gate, and the pins of the tabernacle, Exodus 38:29 but no mention is made there of the laver; for that was made, as here said: of the looking glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation ; though these are called looking glasses, it is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 38:8

He made the laver - See Clarke's note on Exodus 30:18 , etc. The looking-glasses - The word מראת maroth , from ראה raah , he saw, signifies reflectors or mirrors of any kind. Here metal, highly polished, must certainly be meant, as glass was not yet in use; and had it even been in use, we are sure that looking - Glasses could not make a Brazen laver. The word therefore should be rendered mirrors, not looking-glasses, which in the above verse is perfectly absurd, because from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 38:1-8

THE FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE WORK — THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FURNITURE FOR THE COURT .— Exodus 38:9-20 .— AND OF THE COURT ITSELF . On the completion of the tabernacle, Bezaleel and his assistants turned their attention to the court and its furniture; and constructed, first, the altar of burnt offering ( Exodus 38:1-7 ); secondly, the bronze laver ( Exodus 38:8 ); and thirdly, the hangings, pillars, connecting-rods, hooks and pins for the circuit... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 38:1-21

The brazen altar, the laver, and the court. See Homilies on Exodus 27:1-20 ; Exodus 30:17-22 .— J . O . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 38:1-31

The Court and its lessons. I. THE FURNISHING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE COURT 2 . The construction of the court . 3 . The order in which they were made . The altar first, then the laver, and, last of all, the enclosing of the court. First, Christ and his sacrifice; next, the washing of regeneration by him through the Spirit; and, last of all, the gathering together of the Church. This is the Divine order. The true Church has ever this history. None have a right to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 38:8

Of the looking-glasses of the women . This interesting fact has not been previously mentioned. Bronze plates, circular or oval, admitting of a high polish, were used by the Egyptian women as mirrors from a very early date, and may be seen in the Egyptian collection of the British Museum. They have handles like those of our fire-screens, generally also of bronze. It was natural that the Hebrew women should possess similar articles, and should have taken care to bring them with them out of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 38:8

The triumph of female piety over female vanity. Hebrew women were, it must be presumed, much like other women in their natural dispositions, and therefore not without their share of personal vanity. The fact, that in all the haste of their sudden departure from Egypt they had not omitted to carry with them their metal mirrors, is indicative of this. The mirror was the most valued of toilet articles, and the most indispensable for effecting that end, at which almost all women aim—the making... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 38:8

The mirrors of the women. The women assembling at the door of the tabernacle (see Hengstenberg's "Egypt and the Books of Moses,"—"The Institution of Holy Women ") gave up their mirrors for the making of the laver. Learn— 1 . Peculiar devotion to God expresses itself in acts of sacrifice. 2 . Religion gives power to make sacrifices. 3 . It weans the affections from the world. 4 . It gives superiority to the motives of personal vanity. The mirror is peculiarly a woman's... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 38:8

See the marginal reference. The women who assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting were most probably devout women who loved the public service of religion. The giving up of their mirrors for the use of the sanctuary was a fit sacrifice for such women to make (compare Exodus 35:22 note). read more

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