Exodus 36:4

Exodus 36:1 INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 36 Bezaleel and Aholiab, with the artificers under them, having a call as well as qualifications for the service of the sanctuary, and having received from Moses the materials for it, set about it, Exodus 36:1 but the people bringing more than was necessary, they acquaint Moses with it, who by a proclamation restrained from it, Exodus 36:4 and next an account is given of the several things that were wrought by them, as first the curtains for the tabernacle, both of linen and goats' hair, and the coverings of them, Exodus 36:8 next the boards for the tabernacle, and the sockets they were set in, and the bars for the boards, Exodus 36:20 and then the vail which parted the most holy place from the holy place, and the hanging which divided between the holy place and the court, Exodus 36:35. Ver. 1. Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man,....

36:1-38 The making of the tabernacle The liberality of the people restrained. - The readiness and zeal with which these builders set about their work, the exactness with which they performed it, and the faithfulness with which they objected to receive more contributions, are worthy of our imitation. Thus should we serve God, and our superiors also, in all things lawful. Thus should all who are in public trusts abhor filthy lucre, and avoid all occasions and temptations to covetousness. Where have we the representation of God's love towards us, that we by love dwell in him and he in us, save in Emmanuel? Mt 1:23. This is the sum of the ministry of reconciliation, 2Co 5:18,19. This was the design of the tabernacle of witness, a visible testimony of the love of God to the race of men, however they were fallen from their first state. And this love was shown by Christ's taking up his abode on earth; by the Word being made flesh, Joh 1:14, wherein, as the original expresses it, he did tabernacle among us.

And all the wise men that wrought all the work of the sanctuary,.... The ingenious artificers who were employed, some in one thing, and some in another, either on the tabernacle itself, or the vessels of it, and things appertaining to it: came every man from his work which they made; left off their work by mutual consent and agreement, and came in a body to Moses.

Verses 4, 5. - At last, remonstrance had to be made. The workmen were cumbered with an overplus of material - an embarras de richesses - and came in a body to Moses, to make complaint. All the wise men came, every man from his work, with the cry " The people bring much more than enough - we are hampered in our work by the too great abundance - let an end be put to it." Exodus 36:4

42 . As in v. 32 (cf. Exodus 25:8 ), the Israelites generally, not Bĕẓal’çl and Oholiab in particular, are mentioned as those who did the work. No doubt the ‘wise hearted’ assistants ( Exodus 31:6 , Exodus 35:10 ; Exodus 35:25 , Exodus 36:1-2 ; Exodus 36:4 ; Exodus 36:8 ) are thought of. Exodus 39:42

3. they (the workmen) received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought, &c.—It appears that the building was begun after the first few contributions were made; it was progressively carried on, and no necessity occurred to suspend operations even for the shortest interval, from want of the requisite materials. they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning, &c.—Moses, in common with other Oriental magistrates, had his morning levees for receiving the people (see on [33]Ex 18:13); and it was while he was performing his magisterial duties that the people brought unto him freewill offerings every morning. Some who had nothing but their manual labor to give would spend a great part of the night in hastening to complete their self-imposed task before the early dawn; others might find their hearts constrained by silent meditations on their beds to open their coffers and give a part of their hoarded treasure to the pious object. All whose hearts were touched by piety, penitence, or gratitude, repaired with eager haste into the presence of Moses, not as heretofore, to have their controversies settled, but to lay on his tribunal their contributions to the sanctuary of God (2Co 9:7).

Then the wise workmen came, every one from his work that they were making, and said to Moses, "Much make the people to bring, more than suffices for the labour (the finishing, as in Exodus 27:19 ) of the work," i.e., they are bringing more than will be wanted for carrying out the work (the מן in מדּי is comparative); whereupon Moses let the cry go through the camp, i.e., had proclamation made, "No one is to make any more property (מלאכה as in Exodus 22:7 , Exodus 22:10 , cf. Genesis 33:14 ) for a holy heave-offering," i.e., to prepare anything more from his own property to offer for the building of the sanctuary; and with this he put a stop to any further offerings.

[Reformed Biblical] Exodus 36:3 Which time they chose as the first and best part of the day, and therefore for fittest for God’s service. Exodus 36:4 Exodus 36:5 Exodus 36:6 The women did part of this work as well as the men. See Exo_35:25 Exodus 36:7 Exodus 36:8 Exodus 36:9 Exodus 36:10 Exodus 36:11 Exodus 36:12 Exodus 36:13 Exodus 36:14 i. e. For the outward covering of the tabernacle. See Exo_35:11 Exodus 36:15 Exodus 36:16 Exo