top of page
36.1-38

Exodus

36.1-38

The House of the Lord should never go wanting when there is an opportunity for the people to respond to a need. In the first seven verses of this chapter, we read of two balanced principles for the administration of material to accomplish God's purposes. Moses had commanded the people to respond to the need for material to build the Tabernacle (25:1–9, 35:20–29). Contrite of heart and seeking restoration of Yahweh's presence among them (33:4), the people were eager to honor God with all they could bring, "And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit was willing came and brought the contribution to Yahweh for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments." (35:21). When the material to meet the need was adequate for the work, Moses did not allow the people to continue to bring more (vv5-6). The response to the call had been heeded. The need had been met. The acceptance of provision beyond what was called for would have been a mockery of what God directed Moses to do, just as when Yahweh commanded the people to only take enough manna for the need they had each day (Ex 16). God had commanded Moses to tell the people to take only enough for one day (16:4). Moses delivered that command, "And Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.” But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; (16:19-20). Moses was not going to defy this principle with the provision God delivered for the building of the Tabernacle. God does not desire that we store up beyond our need when there is work that can be done for His Kingdom, nor should the church receive to excess without making use of what God has provided. Christ reinforced this as well in declaring to the disciples how we should pray. "Give us this day our daily bread" (Mt 6:11). Give when called upon to give, and do not waste what the Lord has provided nor seek more than what is needed. The verses that follow in 36:8-38 mirror those declared by Moses in chapter 26, except that here describes what has been made versus what was previously ordered "to be" made.


CHAPTER 36

1 “Now Bezalel and Oholiab and every person wise at heart, to whom Yahweh has given wisdom and discernment to know how to do all the work of the service of constructing the sanctuary, shall do in accordance with all that Yahweh has commanded.”

Making the Tabernacle

2 Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every person wise at heart to whom Yahweh had given wisdom, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to do it.
3 And they received from Moses the entire contribution which the sons of Israel had brought to do the work in the service of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.
4 And all the wise men who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was doing,
5 and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the service of the work which Yahweh commanded us to do.”
6 So Moses commanded and a proclamation was passed throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer do the work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.
7 Indeed, the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to do it.
8 And all those wise at heart among those who were doing the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material, with cherubim, the work of a skillful designer, Bezalel made them.
9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains had the same measurements.
10 He joined five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he joined to one another.
11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set; he did likewise on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set.
12 He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set; the loops were opposite each other.
13 He made fifty clasps of gold and joined the curtains to one another with the clasps, so the tabernacle was one unit.
14 Then he made curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains in all.
15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits and four cubits the width of each curtain; the eleven curtains had the same measurements.
16 He joined five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves.
17 Moreover, he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the first set, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set.
18 He made fifty clasps of bronze to join the tent together so that it would be a unit.
19 He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red and a covering of porpoise skins above.
20 Then he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.
21 Ten cubits was the length of each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
22 There were two tenons for each board, fitted to one another; thus he did for all the boards of the tabernacle.
23 And he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side;
24 and he made forty bases of silver under the twenty boards; two bases under one board for its two tenons and two bases under another board for its two tenons.
25 Then for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,
26 and their forty bases of silver; two bases under one board and two bases under another board.
27 For the rear of the tabernacle, to the west, he made six boards.
28 And he made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the rear.
29 And they were separated beneath, but were together at their completion at the top, at the first ring; thus he did with both of them for the two corners.
30 And there were eight boards with their bases of silver, sixteen bases, two bases under every board.
31 Then he made bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of 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 rear side to the west.
33 And he made the middle bar to pass through in the center of the boards from end to end.
34 He also overlaid the boards with gold and made their rings of gold as holders for the bars and overlaid the bars with gold.
35 Moreover, he made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; he made it with cherubim, the work of a skillful designer.
36 And he made four pillars of acacia for it and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four bases of silver for them.
37 And he made a screen for the doorway of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver;
38 and he made its five pillars with their hooks, and he overlaid their tops and their bands with gold; but their five bases were of bronze.

Study Storage

©2025 by Study Storage.

  • Facebook Link to Davis STreet Baptist Church

Click Facebook to connect to Davis Street Baptist Church and see the latest message from
Pastor Mark Thompson

bottom of page