The Sabbath Command
Study note
Moses gathered the entire community of Israel together. Before talking about building the Tabernacle, he first reminded them to keep the Sabbath. For six days they could work, but the seventh day was a holy day of complete rest. They could not even light a fire in their homes on the Sabbath. This was important because the eagerness to build God's house must never replace the command to honor God's day.
1 Moses called all the Israelites together and said, "Here is what the Lord wants you to do." And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.
2 "You may work for six days, but the seventh day must be completely set apart — a holy Sabbath of total rest dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who does any work that day must be put to death." Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
3 "On the Sabbath, do not even start a fire in your home." Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.
Materials Needed for the Tabernacle
Study note
Moses told the people what materials were needed to build the Tabernacle: gold, silver, bronze, fine fabrics in blue, purple, and scarlet, fine linen, goat hair, animal skins, acacia wood, olive oil, spices, and precious stones. He made it clear that the offerings should come from willing hearts — no one was forced to give. Moses also listed all the things that needed to be made: the Tabernacle itself with its coverings, the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the courtyard, and the priestly robes.
4 Moses kept speaking to the whole community: "The Lord has given these directions:" And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
5 "Gather a special offering from your community for the Lord. Everyone who wants to give willingly should bring their offering: gold, silver, and bronze," Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
6 "yarn in blue, purple, and scarlet colors, fine linen, and hair from goats," And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
7 "skins from rams dyed red, fine leather hides, and acacia wood," And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
8 "olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense," And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
9 "and onyx stones plus other gems for the ephod and breastpiece." And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
10 "Anyone among you who has skill should come and help build everything the Lord has ordered:" And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;
11 "the Tabernacle — its tent, its coverings, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, its posts, and its base sockets;" The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,
12 "the Ark with its carrying poles, the mercy seat, and the curtain that shields it;" The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering,
13 "the table with its poles and utensils, and the bread of God's Presence;" The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,
14 "the lampstand with its accessories and lamps, along with the oil for light;" The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,
15 "the incense altar with its poles. The anointing oil and the sweet incense. The curtain for the Tabernacle door." And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
16 "the burnt offering altar with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its tools; the bronze basin and its stand;" The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
17 "the courtyard curtains with their posts and base sockets, and the curtain for the courtyard entrance;" The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,
18 "the tent pegs for the Tabernacle and courtyard, along with their ropes;" The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,
19 "and the special clothes for serving in the Holy Place. This includes the holy clothes for Aaron the priest. It also includes the priestly clothes for his sons." The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
The People Give Generously
Study note
The people left Moses' presence and then returned with their offerings. Everyone whose heart was stirred brought something. Men and women came with bracelets, earrings, rings, and gold jewelry. Others brought fine fabrics, animal skins, and wood. The leaders brought precious stones, spices, and olive oil. The women who were skilled spinners brought yarn and linen they had made with their own hands. The giving was completely voluntary, and the people gave joyfully.
20 The whole Israelite community left Moses and went home. And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
21 Then everyone whose heart was stirred came back. Everyone who truly wanted to give brought offerings to the Lord. The offerings were for building the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the sacred clothing. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.
22 Men and women alike came forward, all of them eager to give. They brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces — every kind of gold jewelry imaginable. Each person presented their gold as a special offering to the Lord. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.
23 Anyone who owned blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or fine leather donated them. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.
24 Everyone who could contribute silver or bronze did so as an offering to the Lord. Everyone who had acacia wood suitable for the project brought it in. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD's offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.
25 Every woman who knew how to spin yarn came and spun with her own hands -- blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. She brought what she had made. And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
26 Other women who felt inspired and had the skill spun goat hair into yarn. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.
27 The community leaders brought the onyx stones and gems needed for the ephod and breastpiece. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
28 They also provided the spices and olive oil for the light, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense. And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
29 Every Israelite whose heart moved them to give brought free gifts. Men and women alike. They gave for every part of the work the Lord assigned to Moses. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
Bezalel and Oholiab Are Announced
Study note
Moses told the people that God had chosen Bezalel from the tribe of Judah to lead the building project. God had filled him with His Spirit, giving him wisdom and skill in every kind of craft — metalwork, stonecutting, woodcarving, and design. God also chose Oholiab from the tribe of Dan to work alongside Bezalel. Both men were given the ability to teach others, so the entire team of builders could be trained. They were skilled in engraving, designing, weaving, and every kind of artistic craft.
30 Moses told the people, "Listen. The Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur. He is from the tribe of Judah." And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
31 "God has filled him with his Spirit. He gave him great wisdom and creative ability. He gave him broad knowledge. He is an expert in every type of craft." And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
32 "He can make beautiful designs and work with skill in gold, silver, and bronze." And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
33 "He knows how to cut and set gemstones, carve wood, and do every kind of artistic work." And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
34 "God has also given Bezalel and Oholiab the ability to teach their skills. Oholiab is the son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan." And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35 "God has given them skill in every kind of work. They can engrave, design, and create fabrics with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen. They can produce every type of craft and creative design." Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.