Exodus36

Bezaleel, Aholiab, and other wise-hearted craftsmen began the work of the Tabernacle, utilizing the abundant offerings from the Israelites. So plentiful were the contributions that Moses had to command the people to cease bringing more, as the materials were more than sufficient. The chapter then details the meticulous creation of the Tabernacle's various components, including its inner curtains, outer coverings, wooden framework, inner veil, and door hanging, all according to the Lord's specific instructions.
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The Skilled Workers Begin the Task

1
And Bezalel and Oholiab shall work, and every wise-hearted man, in whom Jehovah hath put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Jehovah hath commanded. ​
2
And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Jehovah had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: ​
3
and they received of Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, wherewith to make it. And they brought yet unto him freewill-offerings every morning. ​
4
And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they wrought;
5
and they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which Jehovah commanded to make. ​
6
And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. ​
7
For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

Making the Inner Curtains

8
And all the wise-hearted men among them that wrought the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim, the work of the skilful workman, Bezalel made them. ​
9
The length of each curtain was eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains had one measure.
10
And he coupled five curtains one to another: and the other five curtains he coupled one to another.
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And he made loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the second coupling.
12
Fifty loops made he in the one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling: the loops were opposite one to another.
13
And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was one. ​

Making the Tent Coverings

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And he made curtains of goats’hairfor a tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them. ​
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The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of each curtain: the eleven curtains had one measure.
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And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
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And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which was outmost in the second coupling.
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And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one. ​
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And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above. ​

Constructing the Tabernacle Framework

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And he made the boards for the tabernacle, of acacia wood, standing up. ​
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Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board.
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Each board had two tenons, joined one to another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
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And he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward;
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and he 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. ​
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And for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,
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and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
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And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
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And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part.
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And they were double beneath; and in like manner they were entire unto the top thereof unto one ring: thus he did to both of them in the two corners.
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And there were eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every board two sockets.
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And he made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, ​
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and 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.
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And he made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other.
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And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold for places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. ​

The Veil and the Entrance Screen

35
And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim, the work of the skilful workman, made he it. ​
36
And he made thereunto four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
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And he made a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; ​
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and the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold; and their five sockets were of brass. ​

Study Notes for Exodus 36

Verse 1

This verse initiates the physical construction of the Tabernacle, emphasizing that the skill and understanding required for sacred work is a gift divinely endowed by the LORD.

Verse 2

The work required both divine appointment (Bezaleel and Aholiab) and personal willingness; the workers whose hearts 'stirred him up' were called to service.

Verse 3

The people’s zeal was so great that they brought free-will offerings daily, showcasing the extraordinary generosity of the recently freed Israelites toward God’s dwelling place.

Verse 5

This is a unique moment in scripture where a religious building campaign had to be halted because the people’s voluntary offerings exceeded the necessary materials.

Verse 6

Moses had to issue a formal command to restrain the giving, confirming that the collection was based entirely on the generous, free contributions of the community.

Verse 8

The inner Tabernacle curtains were the most beautiful, woven with cherubim and utilizing the expensive colors (blue, purple, scarlet), intended to reflect the glory of the divine presence.

Verse 13

The golden 'taches' (clasps) linked the two sets of five curtains, creating a single unified structure ('one tabernacle'), symbolizing the unity and integration of the sacred space.

Verse 14

The goats' hair curtains formed the second layer, providing a darker, more durable covering over the fine linen to protect the sacred interior from the desert elements.

Verse 18

Unlike the inner gold clasps, the clasps for the outer goats' hair layer were made of brass (or bronze), reflecting its external function and lower level of sanctity.

Verse 19

The final two layers provided robust protection: rams’ skins dyed red (durable leather) and an outermost covering of *tachash* skins (often translated 'badgers' skins' but likely referring to seal or dugong), known for being waterproof and resilient.

Verse 20

The framework utilized shittim wood (acacia), a hard, durable wood common in the desert, signifying stability and permanence even though the Tabernacle was designed to be portable.

Verse 24

The sockets were made of silver, derived from the census tax paid by the people (Ex. 30:11-16). Their heaviness provided the massive weight required to anchor the entire structure firmly in the sand.

Verse 31

The five bars were essential for structural integrity, holding the upright boards firmly together across the length of the Tabernacle walls.

Verse 34

The boards and bars were completely overlaid with gold, ensuring that the interior of the Tabernacle appeared entirely golden, reflecting divine glory, purity, and wealth.

Verse 35

The veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark resided. It was elaborately woven with cherubim, symbolizing the barrier guarding God's immediate presence.

Verse 37

This external hanging served as the entry door to the Holy Place. It used the same rich colors as the inner veil but was distinguished by being 'needlework' (embroidery) rather than woven cherubim.

Verse 38

The five pillars of the entrance screen rested on brass sockets, a lesser metal than the silver used for the main structure and inner veil, marking the transition from the sacred courtyard to the Holy Place.

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