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.

Assembly and Reiteration of Commands

1
Moshe assembled the whole community of the people of Isra'el and said to them, "These are the things which ADONAI has ordered you to do. ​
2
On six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is to be a holy day for you, a Shabbat of complete rest in honor of ADONAI. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death. ​
3
You are not to kindle a fire in any of your homes on Shabbat." ​

Call for Tabernacle Materials

4
Moshe said to the whole community of the people of Isra'el, "Here is what ADONAI has ordered:
5
'Take up a collection for ADONAI from among yourselves -anyone whose heart makes him willing is to bring the offering for ADONAI: gold, silver and bronze; ​
6
blue, purple and scarlet yarn; fine linen, goat's hair,
7
tanned ram skins and fine leather; acacia-wood;
8
oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
9
onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ritual vest and the breastplate.
10
"'Then let all the craftsmen among you come and make everything ADONAI has ordered: ​
11
the tabernacle with its tent, covering, fasteners, planks, crossbars, posts and sockets;
12
the ark with its poles, ark-cover and the curtain to screen it;
13
the table with its poles, all its utensils and the showbread;
14
the menorah for the light, with its utensils and lamps, and the oil for the light;
15
the incense altar with its poles; the anointing oil; the fragrant incense; the screen for the entranceway at the entrance to the tabernacle;
16
the altar for burnt offerings, with its poles and all its utensils; the basin with its base;
17
the tapestries for the courtyard, with their posts and sockets; the screen for the gateway of the courtyard;
18
the tent pegs for the tabernacle; the tent pegs for the courtyard, with their ropes;
19
the garments for officiating, for serving in the Holy Place; and the holy garments for Aharon the cohen and the garments for his sons, so that they can serve in the office of cohen.'"

The People Respond Generously

20
Then the whole community of the people of Isra'el withdrew from Moshe's presence;
21
and they came, everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit made him willing, and brought ADONAI's offering for the work on the tent of meeting, for the service in it and for the holy garments. ​
22
Both men and women came, as many as had willing hearts; they brought nose-rings, earrings, signet-rings, belts, all kinds of gold jewelry - everyone bringing an offering of gold to ADONAI. ​
23
Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn; fine linen; tanned ram skins or fine leather brought them.
24
Everyone contributing silver or bronze brought his offering for ADONAI, and everyone who had acacia-wood suitable for any of the work brought it.
25
All the women who were skilled at spinning got to work and brought what they had spun, the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and the fine linen. ​
26
Likewise the women whose heart stirred them to use their skill spun the goat's hair.
27
The leaders brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set, for the ritual vest and the breasplate;
28
the spices; and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.
29
Thus every man and woman of the people of Isra'el whose heart impelled him to contribute to any of the work ADONAI had ordered through Moshe brought it to ADONAI as a voluntary offering. ​

Appointment of Skilled Craftsmen

30
Moshe said to the people of Isra'el, "See, ADONAI has singled out B'tzal'el the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Y'hudah. ​
31
He has filled him with the Spirit of God -with wisdom, understanding and knowledge concerning every kind of artisanry. ​
32
He is a master of design in gold, silver, bronze,
33
cutting precious stones to be set, woodcarving and every other craft.
34
[ADONAI] has also given him and Oholi'av the son of Achisamakh, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ​
35
He has filled them with the skill needed for every kind of work, whether done by an artisan, a designer, an embroiderer using blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen, or a weaver - they have the skill for every kind of work and design.

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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