Exodus35

Moses gathered the Israelites, reiterating the Sabbath command, including the prohibition against kindling fire. He then called for a freewill offering of materials from those with a willing heart to construct the Tabernacle and its furnishings. The congregation responded enthusiastically, bringing various precious metals, fabrics, and other necessary items. Finally, Moses announced that Bezaleel and Aholiab had been divinely gifted with wisdom and skill to oversee and execute all the craftsmanship for the holy work.
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Assembly and Reiteration of Commands

1
Then Moses assembled the whole congregation of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do: ​
2
For six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death. ​
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Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” ​

Call for Tabernacle Materials

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Moses also told the whole congregation of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:
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Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; ​
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blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;
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ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood;
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olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
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and onyx stones and gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
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Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the LORD has commanded: ​
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the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;
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the ark with its poles and mercy seat, and the veil to shield it;
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the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence;
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the lampstand for light with its accessories and lamps and oil for the light;
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the altar of incense with its poles; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;
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the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand;
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the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard;
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the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;
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and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”

The People Respond Generously

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Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence of Moses.
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And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments. ​
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So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. ​
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Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them.
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And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.
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Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen. ​
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And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.
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The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece,
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as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.
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So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do. ​

Appointment of Skilled Craftsmen

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Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ​
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And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, ​
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to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
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to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.
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And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ​
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He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

Study Notes for Exodus 35

Verse 1

Moses gathers the people immediately after descending the mountain (Ex. 34), emphasizing that obedience and worship must precede the work of building the sanctuary.

Verse 2

The Sabbath command is reiterated here to ensure that the urgency of the Tabernacle construction does not override the fundamental covenant requirement of rest and holiness.

Verse 3

The specific prohibition against kindling fire reinforces the totality of the Sabbath rest, preventing activities related to cooking or metalworking (often necessary for construction).

Verse 5

The emphasis on a 'willing heart' (voluntary offering) is crucial. God desired that the materials for His dwelling place be given out of devotion, not taxation or coercion.

Verse 10

The 'wise hearted' are those possessing God-given skill and artistry. This shows that technical and artistic ability, when used for God, is recognized as a spiritual gift.

Verse 21

The repeated phrases 'heart stirred him up' and 'spirit made willing' highlight that true giving is motivated by an internal, divine prompt, reflecting the spirit of generosity imparted by God.

Verse 22

Men and women contributed personal jewelry, likely including items salvaged from Egypt or perhaps even gold previously used in the Golden Calf incident (Ex. 32), symbolizing a redirection of wealth toward holy purposes.

Verse 25

The involvement of 'wise hearted' women in spinning demonstrates that skilled labor and spiritual gifts necessary for the Tabernacle transcended gender divisions.

Verse 29

This verse summarizes the success of the appeal, confirming that the entire community—men and women—participated willingly in providing for the sanctuary.

Verse 30

Moses now shifts from the materials to the designated leadership. Bezaleel is the chief artisan, called 'by name' for this specific task.

Verse 31

Bezaleel is the first individual in Scripture explicitly described as being 'filled with the Spirit of God' for the purpose of artistic and technical service, equating craftsmanship with divine endowment.

Verse 34

God gives Bezaleel and Aholiab the ability not only to perform the work but also to teach others, ensuring that the specialized, Spirit-empowered knowledge is passed on to benefit the whole community.

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