Exodus 35 - Offerings for the Tabernacle Construction
Timeline: 1450 BC
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Israelite Journeys Rameses
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After the covenant was restored, the construction of the tabernacle is about to begin. Moses gathered all the children of Israel the next day after he returned from Mount Sinai. Moses has made it clear that the commandments came from God and not himself. Exodus35:1 Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, "These are the words which the Lord has commanded you to do: Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day." Moses is about to require the people to engage in the work, but first he reminds them of a few laws. The Sabbath rest must be observed. The Israelites were to work 6 days and rest on the 7th day. This rule was to be observed even in connection with the work to be done for the tabernacle. This was a strict call to obedience. The reference to kindling the fire referred to fire to heat their tools or melt their metal, or do anything for which that was necessary for the work on the tabernacle. Between the time of the first set of tablets and the time second set of tablets, fire was used for making the molded calf and preparing the feast. The forbidden 'fire' on the Sabbath was clearly linked to idolatry. (See Exodus Chapter 25-30) Exodus35:4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying: 'Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. When Moses asked for the materials needed for the tabernacle, joy and excitement moved through the Israelite camp. They only gave Aaron their earrings for the golden calf. When Moses shamed them for their idolatry, they stripped themselves of their ornaments, indicating that they still possessed much more. Total Price of the Tabernacle and all in it in today's dollars: $62,155,646.16 (over 62 MILLION dollars). (See Exodus Chapter 25-30) Exodus35:10 'All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; the ark and its poles, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering; the table and its poles, all its utensils, and the showbread; also the lampstand for the light, its utensils, its lamps, and the oil for the light; the incense altar, its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the screen for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, all its utensils, and the laver and its base; the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegs of the court, and their cords; the garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.' " Various kinds of workmanship was required for the construction of the tabernacle so individuals with high levels of craftsmanship were called to use their God-given talents and abilities to contribute to the work of the Lord. (See Exodus Chapter 25-30) Exodus35:20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord's offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them. Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the Lord's offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats' hair. The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done. Finally, the people of God actually did what they were told to do. Rather than doing their own thing or worshiping false gods, they obeyed God's command. Their obedience came from the heart. Both men and women contributed all the necessary materials and the labor needed to build the tabernacle. Exodus39:30 And Moses said to the children of Israel, "See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.
God filled them with the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit worked primarily from the outside. The indwelling was limited to certain individuals, for specific tasks or purposes. The indwelling of the Spirit was not permanent. Old Testament believers were counted as righteous when they believed in God's promises and adhered to His commandments. The Law provided a clear framework for holy living, detailing how Israelites were to conduct themselves in a manner pleasing to God. Today, the Holy Spirit lives within us, the law has been written on our hearts. The Holy Spirit guides, and transforms believers from the inside out. (See Exodus Chapter 25-30) Bible Study Questions 1. What words did the Lord call the seventh day? 1. A Sunday 2. Who is to give an offering to the Lord? 1. Anyone who is of a willing heart. 3. Who was asked to make the tabernacle? 1. All who are gifted artisans. 4. What did the women bring for an offering? 1. Onyx stones. 5. What did the men bring for an offering? 1. Badger and ram skins. 6. Whom did the Lord call by name to design artistic works? 1. Bezalel the son of Uri. 7. What tribe was the design artist from? 1. Judah. 8. Whom did the Lord give the ability to teach? 1. Ahisamach the son of Aholiab. 9. What tribe was the teacher from? 1. Judah. 10. The Lord filled the design artist and the teacher with what skill? 1. To do all manner of work of the engraver and the tapestry maker |
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