UNROLL
Morning in the workmen's corner of a desert camp: long mats under awnings heaped with folded colored cloth, stacks of acacia planks, baskets of gold and jars, with a craftsman small in the distance, hands on his hips, looking at it all.

The Book of

Exodus 36

The gifts kept coming, morning after morning, until the craftsmen had to say: enough.

38 verses≈ 6 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–6Slaves in EgyptOppression and a deliverer
  2. 7–13The plaguesThe LORD against Pharaoh
  3. 14–18Through the seaRescued and led
  4. 19–24At SinaiThe covenant and the law
  5. 25–31A place to dwellThe tabernacle planned
  6. 32–40Broken and renewedThe calf, mercy, the gloryChapter 36

The People Bring More than Enough

“So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person are to carry out everything commanded by the LORD, who has given them skill and ability to know how to perform all the work of constructing the sanctuary.”

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Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the LORD had gifted—everyone whose heart stirred him to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the contributions that the Israelites had brought to carry out the service of constructing the sanctuary.

Early morning in the camp: a line of men and women still arriving with armfuls of cloth, baskets and jars, while craftsmen who have put down their tools stand beside heaps of gifts already too large to use.

Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning,

so that all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD has commanded us to do.”

0:23

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

After Moses had given an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp: “No man or woman should make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing more, since what they already had was more than enough to perform all the work.

The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD has commanded us to do.

Exodus 36:5

Reflect

More than enough

Not long before, the same people had handed over their gold for a calf. Now they brought freewill offerings “morning after morning,” until the craftsmen said, “The people are bringing more than enough.” Hearts that God has forgiven become generous. What has God given you that you hold tightly? Write down one gift of time, money or skill you could offer Him freely this week.

The Ten Curtains for the Tabernacle

All the skilled craftsmen among the workmen made the ten curtains for the tabernacle.

Close on the join between two great linen curtains of white, blue, purple and scarlet: a row of blue loops on each edge, fastened together by small gold clasps, in warm lamplight.

What they made

Ten curtains of linen

  1. The inner curtains

    Linen and yarn, with cherubim

    They were made of finely spun linen, as well as blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully worked into them.

  2. Each about 42 by 6 feet

    Each curtain was twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide; all the curtains were the same size.

  3. Two sets of five

    And he joined five of the curtains together, and the other five he joined as well.

  4. Joining

    Fifty loops of blue on each set

    He made loops of blue material on the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and also on the end curtain in the second set. He made fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the second set, so that the loops lined up opposite one another.

  5. Fifty gold clasps make it one

    He also made fifty gold clasps to join the curtains together, so that the tabernacle was a unit.

The Eleven Curtains of Goat Hair

The back corner of the tent in daylight, its layers at the edge: dark woven goat hair hanging over the side, a strip of red-dyed ram skin under the plain outer leather, ropes and bronze pegs in the sand.

What they made

The tent and its coverings

  1. Over the linen

    Eleven curtains of goat hair

    He then made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven curtains in all.

  2. Each about 45 by 6 feet

    Each of the eleven curtains was the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.

  3. Sets of five and six

    He joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another.

  4. Fifty loops, fifty bronze clasps

    He made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and fifty loops along the edge of the corresponding curtain in the second set. He also made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together as a unit.

  5. Outer coverings

    Red ram skins, then fine leather

    Additionally, he made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.

Courtyard · 100 × 50 cubitsNGate · EastTent of MeetingBronze altarBasinThe tent, enlarged · 30 × 10 cubitsArkTableLampstandIncense altarVeilScreenMost Holy PlaceHoly Place

Plan to scale in cubits · north at the top

Where it stood

The tent

The ten linen curtains, joined by fifty gold clasps “so that the tabernacle was a unit,” were laid over the frames to make the dwelling, about 45 feet long and 15 wide. Over them went the goat-hair tent, then ram skins dyed red and fine leather, just as God had shown Moses (26:1–14).

Question

Quick question

The craftsmen left their work and went to Moses with a problem few builders ever have.

Why did Moses send a proclamation throughout the camp?

The Frames and Bases

Under an awning, two goldsmiths fit thin hammered gold over a long acacia crossbar on trestles, gold rings laid out beside them, with gold-covered frames standing in silver bases behind.

What they made

The crossbars

  1. Acacia wood

    Five bars for one side

    He also made five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one side of the tabernacle,

  2. Five for the other side and rear

    five for those on the other side, and five for those on the rear side of the tabernacle, to the west.

  3. The middle bar runs end to end

    He made the central crossbar to run through the center of the frames, from one end to the other.

  4. Overlaid with gold

    Frames in gold, gold rings

    And he overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars.

  5. The bars in gold as well

    He also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

The Veil

Next, he made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.

He also made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold, along with gold hooks; and he cast four silver bases for the posts.

The Curtain for the Entrance

For the entrance to the tent, he made a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, together with five posts and their hooks. He overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold, and their five bases were bronze.

Courtyard · 100 × 50 cubitsNGate · EastTent of MeetingBronze altarBasinThe tent, enlarged · 30 × 10 cubitsArkTableLampstandIncense altarVeilScreenMost Holy PlaceHoly Place

Plan to scale in cubits · north at the top

Where it stood

The veil and the entrance

The veil hung on four gold-covered posts in silver bases, dividing the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. At the east end, the entrance curtain hung on five posts whose “five bases were bronze.” Both were made just as God had told Moses (26:31–37).

Pray

Made as He said

Frame by frame and curtain by curtain, the craftsmen made what God had shown Moses on the mountain, nothing added and nothing left out. The same people who had broken the covenant at the calf now did the work God had commanded. Thank God that He forgives and sets His people to work again. Ask Him for a willing heart and faithful hands for whatever work He has given you.

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Exodus 36

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A verse to carry with you

The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD has commanded us to do.

Exodus 36:5

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