Exodus 36:7

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.

For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it,.... The gold, silver, brass, and precious stones, the wood and yarn, which had been already brought in, were sufficient for everything they were ordered to make: and too much; a great deal more than would be used; much would remain after all was wrought: what was done with this is not said, whether it was returned to the people, or laid up for the use of the tabernacle and service, as might hereafter be wanted; which latter seems most probable.

(Compare Exodus 36:8-33 .) The tabernacle was to comprise three main parts, the tabernacle Exodus 26:1-6 , more strictly so-called, its tent Exodus 26:7-13 , and its covering Exodus 26:14 (Compare Exodus 35:11 ; Exodus 39:33-34 ; Exodus 40:19 , Exodus 40:34 ; Numbers 3:25 , etc.). These parts are very clearly distinguished in the Hebrew, but they are confounded in many places of the English Version (see Exodus 26:7 , Exodus 26:9 , etc.). The tabernacle itself was to consist of curtains of fine linen woven with colored figures of cherubim, and a structure of boards which was to contain the holy place and the most holy place; the tent was to be a true tent of goats' hair cloth to contain and shelter the tabernacle: the covering was to be of red rams' skins and "tachash" skins Exodus 25:5 , and was spread over the goats' hair tent as an additional protection against the weather. On the external form of the tabernacle and the arrangement of its parts, see cuts at the end of the chapter. Exodus 26:1 The tabernacle - The משׁכן mı̂shkân, i. e. the dwelling-place; the definite article regularly accompanies the Hebrew word when the dwelling-place of Yahweh is denoted. But in this place the word is not used in its full sense as denoting the dwelling-place of Yahweh: it denotes only the tabernacle-cloth Exodus 26:6.

5. they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough, &c.—By the calculations which the practised eyes of the workmen enabled them to make, they were unanimously of the opinion that the supply already far exceeded the demand and that no more contributions were required. Such a report reflects the highest honor on their character as men of the strictest honor and integrity, who, notwithstanding they had command of an untold amount of the most precious things and might, without any risk of human discovery, have appropriated much to their own use, were too high principled for such acts of peculation. Forthwith, a proclamation was issued to stop further contributions [Ex 36:6].

"And there was enough (דּיּם their sufficiency, i.e., the requisite supply for the different things to be made) of the property for every work to make it, and over" (lit., and to leave some over). By this liberal contribution of freewill gifts, for the work commanded by the Lord, the people proved their willingness to uphold their covenant relationship with Jehovah their God.

Fifty golden clasps were also to be made, to fasten the pieces of drapery (the two halves of the tent-cloth) together, "that it might be a dwelling-place." This necessarily leads to Bhr's conclusion, that the tent-cloth, which consisted of two halves fastened together with the loops and clasps, answering to the two compartments of the dwelling-place ( Exodus 26:33 ), enclosed the whole of the interior, not only covering the open framework above, but the side walls also, and therefore that it hung down inside the walls, and that it was not spread out upon the wooden framework so as to form the ceiling, but hung down on the walls on the outside of the wooden beams, so that the gilded beams were left uncovered in the inside. For if this splendid tent-cloth had been intended for the ceiling only, and therefore only 30 cubits had been visible out of the 40 cubits of its breadth, and only 10 out of the 28 of its length-that is to say, if not much more than a third of the whole had been seen and used for the inner lining of the dwelling, - that is to say, if not much more than a third of the whole had been seen and used for the inner lining of the dwelling, - it would not have been called "the dwelling" so constantly as it is (cf. Exodus 36:8 ; Exodus 40:18 ), nor would the goats'-hair covering which was placed above it have been just as constantly called the "tent above the dwelling" ( Exodus 26:7 ; Exodus 36:14 ; Exodus 40:19 ).

[Reformed Biblical] And these remains, it is probable, were put into the sacred treasury, to be used as occasion should require. Exodus 38:25 Exodus 38:26 Exodus 38:27 Exodus 38:28 Exodus 38:29 Exodus 38:30 Exodus 38:31 ## Exodus 39:1 EXODUS CHAPTER 39 The holy garments, Exo_39:1. The ephod, Exo_39:2-7 The breastplate, with twelve stones therein, Exo_39:8-21. The robe of the ephod, Exo_39:22-26. The coats, mitre, and girdle of fine linen, Exo_39:27-29. The plate of the holy crown, Exo_39:30,31. All is viewed and approved by Moses, Exo_39:32-43 Exodus 39:2 Exodus 39:3 Exodus 39:4 Exodus 39:5 Exodus 39:6 Exodus 39:7 Exodus 39:8 Exodus 39:9 Exodus 39:10 Exodus 39:11 Exodus 39:12 Exodus 39:13 Exodus 39:14 Exodus 39:15 Exodus 39:16 Exodus 39:17 Exodus 39:18 Exodus 39:19 Exodus 39:20 Exodus 39:21 Exodus 39:22 Exodus 39:23 Exodus 39:24 Exodus 39:25 Exodus 39:26 Exodus 39:27 Exodus 39:28 Exodus 39:29 Exodus 39:30 Exodus 39:31 Exodus 39:32 Exodus 39:33 Exodus 39:34 Exodus 39:35 Exodus 39:36 Exodus 39:37 Exodus 39:38 Exodus 39:39 Exodus 39:40 Exodus 39:41 Exodus 39:42 Exodus 39:43 i.e. Both the people for their liberal contribution, and the workmen for their great care and industry. ## Exodus 40:1 EXODUS CHAPTER 40 The tabernacle is commanded to be reared, Exo_40:1-8; and anointed, Exo_40:9-11, Aaron and his sons sanctified, Exo_40:12- 15. Moses performeth all things accordingly, Exo_40:16-33.

7. THE HANGING FOR THE DOOR. (36, 37) It is essential in the East to shut out light and heat, whence tents have always doors. These are usually made of a piece of cloth, which is raised for a man to enter, and falls behind him. But for a tent of the size described, which seems to have been above twenty-two feet high in the centre, something more was required. The “hanging” spoken of appears to have been a beautifully embroidered curtain, which could be either drawn up or let down, and which was attached by golden “hooks” to five pillars plated with gold, thus dividing the entrance into four equal spaces.

Exodus 7-13 (cf. Exodus 36:14-18 ). The Tent over the Dwelling, consisting of eleven curtains of cloth made of goats’ hair, each 30 cubits long, and 4 cubits wide, fastened together so as to form a single large curtain, 30 cubits broad, and 44 cubits long. The Bedawin still make their tents of goats’ hair in the same way: breadths of goats’ hair cloth, it may be ¾ yd. broad, and as long as the breadth of the tent, are stitched together, and form a covering capable of keeping out the heaviest rain (Burckh. Bedouins , i. 37; cf. DB. iv. 717): comp. Song of Solomon 1:5 , where their dark colour is alluded to.