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.

The Skilled Workers Begin the Task

1
“Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom the LORD has put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD has commanded.” ​
2
Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it: ​
3
and they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They brought yet to him freewill offerings every morning. ​
4
All the wise men, who performed all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which they did.
5
They spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded to make.” ​
6
Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman make anything else for the offering for 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
All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, with cherubim, the work of the skillful workman, they made them. ​
9
The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one measure.
10
He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled one to another.
11
He made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second coupling.
12
He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling. The loops were opposite one to another.
13
He made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit. ​

Making the Tent Coverings

14
He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains. ​
15
The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure.
16
He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
17
He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was outermost in the second coupling.
18
He made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit. ​
19
He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above. ​

Constructing the Tabernacle Framework

20
He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up. ​
21
Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board.
22
Each board had two tenons, joined one to another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way.
23
He made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward.
24
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. ​
25
For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,
26
and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
27
For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
28
He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.
29
They were double beneath, and in the same way they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them in the two corners.
30
There were eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every board two sockets.
31
He made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, ​
32
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.
33
He made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other.
34
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
He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman. ​
36
He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of silver for them.
37
He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer; ​
38
and the five pillars of it with their hooks. 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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