The Book Of Exodus
Exodus 3:14 "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say
unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
CHAPTER 35:
Chapters 35-39 describe the funding and then the building of the tabernacle as instructed by God to Moses in chapters 25-31. What’s important to note here is that the incident with the golden calf did not completely derail the project of building the tabernacle. In the wake of God’s incredible act of mercy in renewing His covenant with the children of Israel, Moses now gathers the congregation together and repeats for them the book of the law. (v.1) He reminds them of the importance of the sabbath which “…shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord…”. (v.2) (Exodus 20:9-10, Leviticus 23:3, Deuteronomy 5:13-14) As stated before, anyone that violates this commandment is to be put to death. Moses specifically mentions the kindling of fire in verse 3. Even this is forbidden on the sabbath. (Exodus 16:23, Numbers 15:32) Verses 4-20: Moses then repeats what God had commanded regarding the offering of money and materials to be gathered from the people in order to build the tabernacle. (Exodus 25:2, 1 Chronicles 29:14, Mark 12:41, 2 Corinthians 9:7) These verses are basically a summary of the detailed instructions set forth by God in chapters 25-31. Verses 21-29: “The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord…”. (v.29) All the supplies necessary for building the tabernacle and all of its furnishings, as well as the materials needed for the priest’s robes, including the precious stones for the ephod and breastplate of judgment, are brought forth by all the congregation of Israel. While verses 22 and 29 specifically state that the Israelites give of a willing heart, we can also logically infer that, in the wake of their sin with the golden calf, the children of Israel are genuinely sorry for their sin, and that this bountiful offering is given out of a contrite heart and a humble spirit. God also stirs the hearts of His chosen people to give them the wisdom and skills needed for each specific task. (v.26) Verses 30-35: Moses calls out Bezaleel, son of Uri, (v.30) and Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, (v.34) before all the people and proclaims their God-given wisdom and talents regarding the building of the tabernacle. They also have the ability to teach and instruct others (v.34), and they will be the ones in charge of this project. Bezaleel is of the tribe of Judah and Aholiab is of Dan. “Them hath He filled with wisdom of heart…”. (v.35) (Exodus 31:3, 6, 1 Kings 7:14, 2 Chronicles 2:14, Isaiah 28:26) CHAPTER 36: Verse 1 is a summary of chapters 36-39. Under the direction and leadership of Bezaleel and Aholiab, all the wise hearted men work all that is necessary to build the tabernacle as God instructed. (Exodus 28:3, 31:6, 35:10, 35) Verses 2-7: Bezaleel, Aholiab, and all the other wise hearted men receive from Moses the offering of raw materials from the people. God stirs not only the hearts of the workmen but also of the people to give what is needed. (v.2-3) (Exodus 35:21, 26, 1 Chronicles 29:5, 9, 17) But the offering is not just a one-time collection. Verse 3 says the people come every morning, eventually bringing far more than what is needed. The workers inform Moses that they have all they need to begin the work (v.5), and Moses commands the people to cease from giving an offering. (v.6) All that was collected is more than sufficient. (v.7) When God works in the hearts of men, His blessings are always more than enough to supply His servants with what they need to do His work. Verses 8-38: The remainder of this chapter is another detailed description and summary of the work on the tabernacle. This continues through the end of chapter 39. “The repetition of so much detail reminds us that God never tires of those things which speak to Him about His beloved Son.” (Believer's Bible Commentary) As noted earlier in my commentary for Chapter 25, the shittim wood that comes from the Acacia tree is very strong and durable and practically indestructible. (v.20-30) “Likewise, the Lord Jesus was a root out of dry ground, was morally beautiful, and is the Eternal One.” (Isaiah 53:2) (Believer's Bible Commentary) Verses 31-34 describe the bars of shittim wood that hold the boards of the walls of the tabernacle together. Four of the bars are visible, but the fifth is invisible because it runs through the center of the board. “The invisible bar is a good picture of the Holy Spirit, binding believers together into ‘a holy temple in the Lord’ (Ephesians 2:21-22). The four other bars may suggest the life, love, position, and confession that are common to all God’s people.” (Believer's Bible Commentary) Hebrews 10:20 compares the veil that separates the Holy of Holies from the rest of the tabernacle to Christ’s flesh. When Jesus died on calvary, his flesh was torn just as the veil was also torn, thus giving all believers direct access to the throne of God. The cherubim on the veil represent the cherubim that surround God on His throne. CHAPTER 37: This chapter describes the construction of the furnishings within the tabernacle: the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat, the table of the shewbread, the lampstand, and the altar of incense. (Refer to my notes on Chapters 25 and 30.) According to the notes in my study Bible, the lampstand, which is made of pure gold, is a symbol of Jesus Christ, for He is the true light. (John 1:9, 8:12) The gold represents His deity. In Revelation 1:20 the golden candlestick represents the NT church. As noted in my earlier commentaries, oil is often used throughout scripture to symbolize the Holy Spirit. Each of the seven lamps is to be trimmed every morning and evening, and all are not to be extinguished at the same time. (Exodus 27:21, Leviticus 24:3-4) It is estimated that in today’s currency, the golden lampstand would be worth about $34,000. CHAPTER 38: Verses 1-20 describe the construction of the bronze altar, the utensils, the laver, and the courtyard. (Refer to my notes on Chapters 27 and 30.) Verse 8: There’s no mention of women serving at the door of the tabernacle in the earlier chapters of Exodus when God first gave Moses the instructions. The only other reference to this in scripture is 1 Samuel 2:22 and Luke 2:37. There’s no other explanation in the OT that gives any more detail about what exactly this service is or the qualifications of the women that will perform this service. This is also the only mention in scripture about lookingglasses, or mirrors, in relation to the laver and its functions. Verse 21: This is the first time the tabernacle is referred to as the Tabernacle of Testimony. (Numbers 1:50, 53, 9:15, 10:11, 17:7-8, 2 Chronicles 24:6, Acts 7:44) Those last three references use the phrase “tabernacle of witness”. Both names refer to the stone tablets of the law that are placed within the ark of the covenant. The tabernacle is built for two reasons: 1) to house the ark of the covenant, and 2) to provide a dwelling place for God among His chosen people. The entire structure and all that is within it are a testimony of God’s presence, His providence, and His glory. That’s why it is always placed at the exact center of the camp. Verses 22-23: Bezaleel and Aholiab are once again recognized for all their work in overseeing the construction of the tabernacle. Their submission and obedience to the will of God by making “…all that the Lord commanded Moses…” is also noted in verse 22. Verses 24-31: According to my study Bible, it has been “…calculated that the amount of gold listed here (29 talents and 730 shekels) is about 40,940 ounces. At $500 per ounce that would be about $20, 470,000, an enormous sum in that day. The silver, amounting to about 141,000 ounces, would be valued at about $4,230,000, figuring silver at $30 per ounce.” I’m reminded of that line from the old hymn: “Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.” These verses are a testament to not only the glory and beauty of the tabernacle, but also the incredible amount of wealth that the Israelites received from the Egyptians on the night of the exodus. CHAPTER 39: Verses 1-31: The priestly garments. (Refer to my notes on Chapter 28.) Verses 32-43: The children of Israel bring all the finished pieces of the tabernacle and the priestly garments to Moses for his inspection and blessing. Verses 32, 42 and 43 emphasize that the children of Israel “…did all that the Lord commanded Moses.” That, along with the list of all the components, indicates that everything was indeed completed as God had instructed. There is nothing missing, nor are there any mistakes or errors in either the design or the sub-assembly of the different sections. The “…tabernacle of the tent of the congregation…” (v.32) is perfect and complete, including the garments for Aaron and his sons. (v.41) There is an echo in verses 32 and 42 of Genesis 2:1-2. That same sense of finality and completeness that was present when God declared His creation of the heavens and the earth as finished is present here when the children of Israel present the pieces of the tabernacle and the priestly garments to Moses. Moses blesses the Israelites and all their work. (v.43) CHAPTER 40: Verses 1-16: These final instructions from God to Moses regarding the erection of the tabernacle and the placement of all its furnishings seems especially redundant here. But God is a God of not only order and detail, but also of specific timing and purpose. There’s a sense in these opening verses of God giving permission to Moses to now assemble all the components of the tabernacle, now that the final inspection and blessing by Moses is complete. Remember, too, that the furniture within the tabernacle and outside in the courtyard couldn’t be placed just anywhere. As given in the first set of instructions, there is a specific layout and design for all of it, and that’s the other purpose of these final reminders from God to Moses. Moses obeys all of God’s instructions. (v.16) Verses 17-33: The tabernacle is assembled and completed in the month of Abib, which is the first month of the year. (v.1, 17) (Exodus 12:2, 13:4) Verse 17 also states that this is the beginning of the second year, which means that a full year has passed since the exodus from Egypt. The work of cutting, sawing, carving, engraving, molding, sewing and then assembling all the hundreds of pieces and components of the tabernacle took several months for the Israelites to complete. Verses 34-38: As soon as the last piece is put in place, and after Aaron and his sons have been washed and clothed in their holy garments, the presence of God descends upon the tabernacle in the form of the cloud, completely filling His house. (v.34) (Exodus 29:43, Leviticus 9:6, 23, 16:2, Numbers 9:15, 1 Kings 8:10-11, 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, Isaiah 6:4) God’s glory is so great, in fact, that Moses cannot even come near the tabernacle. (v.35) From now on, whenever the cloud rests upon the tabernacle, the Israelites know to remain where they are camped. (v.37) But when the cloud lifts, the children of Israel know it’s time to continue their journey towards the promised land. (v.36) Just as He did a year earlier when guiding them out of Egypt, God will continue to reveal Himself to His chosen people in the form of the cloud by day and the fire by night. (v.38) (Exodus 13:21, Psalm 78:14, Isaiah 4:5) The only difference now is that the cloud and the fire – which is, of course, not literal fire but, rather, the awesome radiance of God’s glory – will rest within the newly completed tabernacle. The book of Exodus ends on an uplifting and hopeful note. The tabernacle is complete and the Aaronic priesthood established, despite the minor setback of the people’s sin with the golden calf. God had promised Moses that He would dwell among His people (Exodus 33:14), and now that promise is fulfilled. God desires the same for you and me today. At the moment of our salvation our bodies become the “…temple of the Holy Ghost…”. (John 14:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19) However, all of this – the indwelling of the tabernacle here in Exodus and the gift of the Holy Spirit to the New Testament church – is but a mere shadow of what we believers will experience in the new heaven and new earth after all is said and done. (Revelation 21:2-3) As with so many things in the Old Testament, the tabernacle is a symbol of something greater yet to come. Exodus “…ends looking forward. The tabernacle is finished but it was designed to move, and this nation needed to be on its way to the land of promise.” (The Moody Bible Commentary)
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CHAPTER 30:
Verses 1-10: Like the ark of the covenant and the table of shewbread, the altar of incense and the staves used to transport it are carved from shittim wood (v.1) and overlayed with gold. (v.3) (Exodus 37:25) (See photo above, courtesy of Logos Bible Software.) It’s a perfect square, 1 cubit by 1 cubit, and 2 cubits tall. (v.2) Around the top is a gold rim with a horn at each corner, and just below the rim are four rings for the staves. (v.3-4) The altar stands just in front of the veil that separates the holy place from the holy of holies where the ark of the covenant resides. (v.6) This altar is the furthest point the priest can go in the tabernacle except for once a year on the day of atonement. Twice a day, at morning and evening, when he is lighting the lampstand (v.7-8) (Exodus 27:20-21), Aaron is to also burn incense before the Lord. Just as with the lighting and trimming of the lamps, the burning of incense is a perpetual statute, an ordinance that is to be done always for all generations. In the Bible incense is often a physical representation of prayer. (Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4) The continual offer of incense is a picture of the daily prayers of the Israelites offered up to God by the high priest. Because of what the incense represents, as well as the holiness of the tabernacle and all its furnishings, God is very clear in His commandment in verse 9 that only a specific type and recipe of incense is to be burned upon this altar. No other incense is to be used, nor is this altar to be used for any of the burnt, meat, or drink offerings that were described in the previous chapter. This one is for incense alone. As explained later in this chapter, to violate this commandment is to invite a judgment of instant death. (v.22-38) (Leviticus 10:1) Aaron is to consecrate this altar once a year with the blood of a sin offering by sprinkling it on each of the horns of the altar. (v.10) This, too, is a perpetual ordinance for all generations. Verses 11-16: Next, God institutes a system of taxation from all the children of Israel for the maintenance and upkeep of the tabernacle. (Exodus 38:25-26, Numbers 1:2, 26:2, 2 Samuel 24:2) God tells Moses to take a census of the people, and every male of twenty years and older is to give an offering of half a shekel (ten gerahs). (v.13-14) At this time in the ANE a shekel is a unit of weight. Coins did not come into being until centuries later. The Believer’s Bible commentary says this: “At the outset it was used to make silver sockets to support the boards of the tabernacle. Silver speaks of redemption, which is the foundation of our faith. Redemption is needed by all and is available to all on the same terms.” Half a shekel is affordable enough for both rich and poor (v.15), and this is called “atonement money” (v.16), meaning that each man is giving “…a ransom for his soul unto the Lord…”. (v.12) Not only does this provide the income for the necessary repairs and upkeep of the tabernacle, but it also serves as another reminder to the Israelites that they belong to God. According to the Holman commentators, “The need to pay a ransom…in order to avert a plague reminded everyone that the nation as a whole and its citizens belonged to the Lord. Their preservation depended ultimately on Him, not their military strength, wealth, or poverty.” Verses 17-21: The laver, or basin, of water is made of brass and placed between the door of the tabernacle and the brazen altar. (Exodus 38:8, 40:30, 1 Kings 7:38) Before entering the holy place or approaching the altar, Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. (v.19-20) (Exodus 40:31-32, Psalm 26:6, Isaiah 52:11, John 13:8, 10, Hebrews 10:22) Commentary from my study Bible: “The altar of sacrifice dealt with the priests’ guilt, but something else was required for effective fellowship and worship in the tabernacle. The blood did not remove the defilement of sin. So before one could enter the presence of a holy God, sin had to be taken care of. We are freed from the guilt of sin and its penalty by the application of the blood (Romans 5:9), but there remains defilement of sin that comes through daily living and is cleansed by the washing of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26, John 15:3).” This is why God repeats twice in verses 20-21 “…that they die not…”. To enter the holy place or to touch the altar of burnt offering without first cleansing himself by the washing of water means certain and immediate death for the offending priest. Verses 22-33: These verses give a recipe and instructions for the anointing oil that is used to consecrate Aaron and his sons as well as all the furnishings and utensils of the tabernacle. (Exodus 37:29, 40:9, Leviticus 8:10, Numbers 35:25, Psalm 89:20, 133:2) Verses 23-24 list the ingredients and their exact measurements. From the Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary: “The oil and incense for the tabernacle required costly ingredients (some coming from a great distance) and expert knowledge to compound them properly. Myrrh came from the sap of a tree found in Arabia and Ethiopia. Cinnamon came from the bark of a tree grown in Ceylon and Malaysia. Cassia may have come from a type of tree bark.” Everything from the tabernacle itself to the ark of the covenant, the table of shewbread, the candlestick, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the laver, and all the utensils are to be anointed and consecrated with the oil. (v.26-28) Verse 29: “And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.” For that reason, Aaron and his sons must also be anointed after washing themselves and putting on the robes as described in the previous chapter. (v.30) Verses 31-33 make it clear that this oil is to be used only for the tabernacle and the anointing of the priests. It’s not even allowed to touch the skin. This is why the anointing of the priests is done after they have put on all their garments and head coverings. To use the oil in any way or manner other than what is prescribed here, including preparing some for personal use outside of the tabernacle or to anoint a stranger (i.e. a non-Israelite), is to invite God’s immediate and fatal wrath. The offender “…shall even be cut off from his people.” (v.33) (Genesis 17:14, Exodus 12:15, Leviticus 7:20-21) Verses 34-38: These list the ingredients and recipe for the incense that is to be burned daily in the holy place. (Exodus 37:29) Like the spices for the anointing oil, these are extracted from various trees and/or plants native to this region of the ANE. As with the craftsmen that will be involved with the building of the tabernacle, the tradesmen who will mix the spices will be skilled in “…the art of the apothecary…”. (v.25) The same rule that applies to the oil also applies to the incense: anyone that does not use it exactly as prescribed by God “…shall even be cut off from his people.” (v.38) Take note of two of the key ingredients of the anointing oil and the incense: myrrh (v.23) and frankincense (v.34). These, combined with the presence of the gold that overlays all the furnishings within the tabernacle, explains some of the significance of the gifts of the Magi to Christ Jesus at His birth. (Matthew 2:11) This is yet another example of how the tabernacle and its elements are both a foreshadowing and a typology of Jesus Christ, our eternal High Priest. The holiness of God cannot be overstated. Every element of the tabernacle was described and instructed by God in specific detail. Everything – from the materials that made up the tabernacle itself, to the furnishings, to the robes of the priests, to the ingredients of the oil and incense – it all reflected God’s holiness and His attention to order and detail. The tabernacle was also sacred. It and everything related to it was to be held in the highest regard and utmost respect, because of the very fact that it was the house of the Lord. It was where He dwelt among His chosen people. Therefore the Israelites were to treat all things related to it with the same humble reverence and greatest awe that they reserved for God Himself. To do otherwise was the gravest of sins and punishable by immediate death. CHAPTER 31: Verses 1-11: The construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings, as well as the weaving of the curtains, the creation of the priestly garments, and the cutting and setting of the precious stones for the breastplate of judgment would require a wide variety of skills and knowledge from the children of Israel. To that end, God now tells Moses that He has selected two men, Bezaleel (v.2) and Aholiab (v.6) to oversee the building of the tabernacle. (Exodus 35:30, 34) These two will, essentially, be acting as the foremen for the project. The reference in verse 3 to being filled “…with the spirit of God…” and possessing wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are used in the same context in Proverbs 2:6. God states that He has already given these two – and many others among the congregation of Israel – the abilities “…to devise cunning works…” (v.4) “…in all manner of workmanship…” (v.5), including stone cutting, wood carving, sewing and weaving, the cutting and setting of the precious stones, and the knowledge of apothecary with regards to the creation of the anointing oil and the incense. The Lord says in verse 6, “…in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom…”. (Exodus 28:3, 35:10, 35, 36:1) He then lists in verses 7-11 all the things that need to be made, in essence recapping with a summary list the instructions that He had given Moses in chapters 25-30. He concludes with, “…according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.” This is another example of God supplying what is needed in order to carry out His commands. He doesn’t just tell Moses to get it done and then leave it at that. God also supplies the knowledge, skills and talent to many of the Israelites so that they can successfully follow through with His instructions and plans for the tabernacle. Verses 12-18: God concludes with a reminder to Moses about the 4th commandment. (Exodus 20:8) As the Israelites are building the tabernacle and its furnishings they need to remember to observe the Sabbath. (Leviticus 19:3, 30, 26:2, Ezekiel 20:12, 20) No work is to be done on the Sabbath, and any Israelite who violates this commandment is to be put to death. (v.14-15) God reiterates here the primary reason for this commandment: “..it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.” (v. 13) (Leviticus 20:8) The sabbath is to be a day of rest and devotion, a day in which all of Israel focuses completely on God through worship and reflection on all that He has done for them. The reason that God refers to this weekly observance as “a sign” is because it refers to the new covenant that God had established with Israel when he gave them the ten commandments, just after their arrival at Mount Sinai just a few weeks earlier. (Exodus 24:3, 8) The sentence of death for anyone who does not obey this commandment is meant to impress upon the Israelites the importance of this covenant and their obedience to Him as their Lord and savior. This covenant is a perpetual one, meaning that it is to be observed for all generations, not just the current one. (v.16) “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever…”. (v.17) The Moody Bible Commentary puts it this way: “Just as the Noahic covenant had an outward sign (the rainbow, Genesis 9:12-17) as did the Abrahamic covenant (circumcision, Genesis 17:9-22), so the sign of the Sinai covenant was the Sabbath.” Verse 17 concludes with, “…in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.” (Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:11) This is another reason that God commands His chosen people to keep the Sabbath. They are to follow His example when He completed the creation of the world and all that is in it. As noted earlier, many of the commandments and instructions that God laid down for the Israelites in the Mosaic Law were for their physical health and general well-being. God knew that the Israelites needed one day of rest at the end of each week from their labor in the previous six days, and so He prescribed the Sabbath as that day of physical rest and refreshment. The chapter closes with the statement that God gives Moses “…two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” (Exodus 24:12, 32:15-16, Deuteronomy 4:13, 5:22, 2 Corinthians 3:3) These are what God was referring to earlier in His instruction to Moses regarding the ark of the covenant. (Exodus 25:16) The description of “the finger of God” underscores the fact that it was God Himself who gave to Moses the law and all the instructions for the tabernacle, the Aaronic priesthood, and the system of sacrifices. |
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