Commentary - Exodus 35:4-19

Bird's-eye view

This passage marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history. After the grievous sin of the golden calf and the subsequent covenant renewal, Moses now gathers the people to communicate Yahweh's instructions for building the Tabernacle. This is not a tax or a compulsory levy; it is a call for a freewill offering from the heart. The construction of God's dwelling place among His people is to be fueled by the glad and willing generosity of those same people. The detailed list of materials, from precious metals to common animal skins, and the comprehensive catalog of the Tabernacle's components, underscores the corporate nature of this project. Every contribution, whether costly or humble, and every skill, whether in metallurgy or weaving, is summoned for the singular purpose of creating a space where Heaven and Earth will meet. This is the gospel in miniature: God provides the pattern, but He condescends to use the willing gifts and talents of His redeemed people to build His house.

Outline

Context In Exodus

Coming directly after the account of covenant renewal in chapter 34, this chapter begins the practical application of that renewed relationship. The sin of the golden calf (Ch. 32) was a profound breach, a flirtation with idolatry that threatened the entire covenant enterprise. But God, in His mercy, relented from His fierce anger and re-established His covenant with Israel. The building of the Tabernacle is therefore not simply an architectural project. It is the tangible evidence of forgiveness and restored fellowship. God is going to dwell among them after all. The instructions given here largely repeat the initial commands from chapters 25-31, but the context is now entirely different. Before, the commands were given to Moses on the mountain in anticipation of covenant life. Now, they are given to a people who have already failed, been judged, and been mercifully restored. Their response of giving, therefore, is not one of naive idealism, but of grateful, redeemed worship.

Key Issues

Verse by Verse Commentary

4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded, saying,

Moses does not act as an innovator or a fundraiser-in-chief. He is a herald, a spokesman. The authority for this grand project comes directly from Yahweh. The phrase "This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded" establishes from the outset that what follows is not a suggestion or a good idea from Moses. It is a divine imperative. The entire congregation is addressed, emphasizing that this is a corporate responsibility and a corporate privilege. No one is excluded from hearing the command, and as we will see, no one is excluded from the opportunity to participate.

5 ‘Take from among you a contribution to Yahweh; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as a contribution to Yahweh: gold, silver, and bronze,

Here is the central principle of all true Christian giving. The contribution, or offering, is to be taken "from among you." The resources for building God's house are already present within the covenant community. God is not asking for something they do not possess. But the crucial qualifier is the state of the heart. "Whoever is of a willing heart." God is not interested in coerced compliance. He wants cheerful, willing, glad-hearted obedience. This is not a tax; it is an opportunity. The offering is "to Yahweh," not to Moses and not to the building fund. The ultimate recipient is God Himself. The list begins with the most precious metals, gold, silver, and bronze, setting a high standard for the value and beauty of the materials to be used in God's dwelling place.

6 and blue, purple, and scarlet material, fine linen, goats’ hair,

The materials move from metals to textiles. These are not drab, utilitarian fabrics. Blue, purple, and scarlet were expensive dyes, often associated with royalty and wealth in the ancient world. God's house is to be adorned with beauty and splendor. Fine linen speaks of purity and righteousness, while goats' hair was a more common, durable material used for tents. This juxtaposition is important. The Tabernacle will be a blend of the glorious and the practical, the royal and the common, foreshadowing the one who was both God and man, who tabernacled among us.

7 and rams’ skins dyed red, and porpoise skins, and acacia wood,

The list continues with the outer coverings. Rams' skins dyed red speak of sacrifice and atonement, a covering provided through the shedding of blood. The "porpoise skins" (or badger skins, or sea cow skins, the exact identity is uncertain) would have provided a durable, weatherproof outer layer. This house of God was designed for a journey through the wilderness; it had to be both glorious on the inside and rugged on the outside. The acacia wood was the foundational structural material, a hard, durable wood resistant to decay, fitting for the framework of God's holy furniture. It speaks of the incorruptible humanity of Christ.

8 and oil for lighting, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense,

Worship in the Tabernacle was not just a visual experience; it engaged the other senses. The oil for the lampstand would provide light in the Holy Place, a picture of the illumination of the Holy Spirit through the Word. The spices were for two specific purposes: the anointing oil, which would consecrate the priests and the furniture, setting them apart as holy to the Lord, and the fragrant incense, which represented the prayers of the saints ascending to God. This is a full-bodied worship, engaging sight, smell, and touch.

9 and onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

The final items on this list are the most precious stones, designated for the high priest's garments. The ephod and the breastpiece were central to his ministry of intercession. The names of the tribes of Israel were to be engraved on these stones, meaning that when the high priest went before Yahweh, he carried the people with him on his shoulders (strength) and over his heart (affection). These were not just decorative elements; they were theological statements about representation and intercession, pointing to our great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

10 ‘And let everyone wise at heart among you come and make all that Yahweh has commanded:

The call now shifts from givers to makers, from materials to craftsmen. And just as the giving was to be from a "willing heart," the making is to be done by the "wise at heart." This is not a reference to native intelligence but to Spirit-endowed skill. God not only commands the work but also equips the workers. The wisdom here is a practical, artistic, and technical skill, consecrated to the service of God. All who have such skill are summoned to participate. There is no room for artistic pride or individualistic expression; their task is to "make all that Yahweh has commanded," according to His pattern, not their own.

11 the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its clasps and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its bases;

Moses begins to list the projects, starting with the main structure itself. The word "tabernacle" refers to the dwelling place, the inner linen curtains. "Its tent" refers to the goats' hair covering over it, and "its covering" to the outer layers of animal skins. Every detail is specified, down to the clasps, boards, bars, pillars, and bases. This is a detailed, intricate work, requiring precision and cooperation among the various craftsmen.

12 the ark and its poles, the mercy seat, and the curtain of the screen;

Next are the furnishings for the Holy of Holies, the spiritual center of the entire structure. The Ark of the Covenant, containing God's law, was the throne of God on earth. The mercy seat was its lid, the place of atonement. The curtain, or veil, separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, a constant reminder that sinful man could not casually enter God's presence. These are the most sacred items, and their construction is of paramount importance.

13 the table and its poles, and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence;

Moving out into the Holy Place, we have the table for the bread of the Presence. This was a constant reminder of God's covenant provision for His people. The twelve loaves represented the twelve tribes, always before the face of God. He is the one who feeds and sustains His people. The poles and utensils indicate that this, too, was designed for travel.

14 the lampstand also for the light and its utensils and its lamps and the oil for the light;

Also in the Holy Place was the golden lampstand, the Menorah. Its purpose was to give light in the windowless chamber. It is a beautiful type of Christ as the light of the world, and of the church, which is to hold forth the word of life, illuminated by the oil of the Holy Spirit.

15 and the altar of incense and its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the doorway at the entrance of the tabernacle;

The third piece of furniture in the Holy Place was the altar of incense, which stood just before the veil. Here the prayers of the people, symbolized by the rising smoke of the incense, were offered up continually. The anointing oil and incense are mentioned again, as their creation was a specific, skilled task. The screen for the doorway marked the entrance into the holy tent itself.

16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils, the laver and its stand;

Now we move outside the tent into the courtyard. Here we find the two bronze items. First, the altar of burnt offering. This was the first thing an Israelite would encounter. It was the place of sacrifice, the place where sin was dealt with through a substitutionary death. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Next was the laver, the basin for washing, reminding the priests that they must be clean to serve a holy God.

17 the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court;

The courtyard itself was defined by a fence of linen hangings, supported by pillars and bases. This created a sacred enclosure, separating the holy ground of God's house from the common ground of the camp. The screen for the gate was the single point of entry, another picture of Christ, who is the only way to the Father.

18 the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court and their cords;

Even the most mundane items are specified. The pegs and cords were essential for securing the entire structure in the wilderness. Nothing is overlooked. Every part, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, has its place in the divine pattern and contributes to the stability and function of the whole. So it is in the church; every member has a role to play.

19 the woven garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.’ ”

The final category is the priestly clothing. These were not ordinary clothes but "holy garments" designed for ministering before a holy God. Their beauty and specific design were meant to display the glory and honor of the priestly office. This was not about exalting the man, but about exalting the office he held as God's representative. This comprehensive list, from the foundation pegs to the high priest's breastpiece, shows the totality of the work. It was a massive undertaking, requiring the willing hearts and wise hands of the entire community, all working together to build a house for their redeeming God.