Westminster Annotations, Exodus · Chapter 35 – Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXV.
MUch of this Chapter is to be found in the twentie fifth, and the Exposition in the Annot. upon it.
V. 2. * sixe day…s] * Chap. 20. 9. Levit. 23. 3. Deut. 5. 1… Luk. 13. 14.
* an holy day] * Hebr. holinesse.
put to death] The Sabbath is so often remembred, and upon such severt penalties imposed, because of the great importance of it to Gods glory, and mans good, and the pronenesse of our corrupt nature, either to forget it, or to profane it.
V. 3. kindle no fire] For any handy-worke, though for the framing of the Tabernacle: or, (as some expound) for dressing of meat, wherein the Sabbath was more strictly observed, then the first and last day of the Feast of unleavened bread, Exod. 12. 16. though (in other respects) they were kept as precisely as the Sabbath: for though (according to our Saviours Argument in another case) that which is extraordinary, is usually more solemnly, reverendly, and respectively entertained, and there is more cost bestowed upon it, then on that which is ordinary, in this the case is otherwise; for, for the ordinary weekly Sabbath, there is a Commandement in the Decalogue, plainly and fully expressed, and by many Arguments pressed upon the conscience of the people, all written twice over by Gods own writing in the Tables of Stone, which cannot be said of any of the Anniversary Feasts: and when the chiefest of them, (which was the Passeover) light upon the weekly Sabbath, it was to be kept with more restraint, then if it had happened on another day, and then the libertie of dressing meat, or of kindling of a fire, to such a purpose, was to be forborne. Yet because the Sabbath was all the yeare long, and therefore (in Winter as well as in Summer,) and that in Winter little children, sicke or weake persons, yea and such as are reasonable strong could not comfortably persist, in the celebration of the Sabbath, without fire. It is not probable that all kinde of kindling of fire, to light a candle or to dresse meat, was forbidden on the Sabbath, but that such a kindling of fire as the duties of mercy and exigencies of necessitie required, was allowed; and though the Tabernacle were of much use for the solemne service of God, and there was very great cause, to hasten the worke: yet for that God would not give any allowance for any labour upon it; no not so much as for kindling of any fire to heat any toole, or melt any metall; and therefore is this strict prohibition brought in, as an Introduction of Caution, immediately before the preparation for the Tabernacle be presented.
V. 5. willing heart] God careth not for that which is given with grudging, 2 Cor. 9. 7.
V. 10. wise hearted *] Who was a skilfull and expert Artificer, especially for the curious worke, required for the framing of the Tabernacle.
* Vers. 25. 26. 31. 34. 35. & Chap. 31. 6. & 36. 1, 2.
V. 11. the Tabernacle] His Tent; and by Tabernacle is meant the whole, by Tent the curious and glorious part of it, and by Covering that which was spread upon it to preserve it: yet (sometimes) the covering over the principall Fabrick is called a Tent, Chap. 36. vers. 14. which is the covering of Camels haire put upon the Tabernacle.
V. 12. The vaile of the covering] Which hanged before the Mercy-seat, that it could not be seene. See Note on vers. 35.
V. 15. incense Altar] Chap. 30. 1.
V. 18. pinnes] These were sharpened in the lower part, and fastened in the ground, and they were to keepe the curtaines from whifling to and fro with the wind: the Pillars (which some Translations call Pinnes) also might be sharpened in like sort, that piercing deepe into the ground, they might support the Tabernacle with more firmnesse.
V. 22. and brought bracelets and earerings] If these were the some who before gave their golden earerings, to the making of the golden Calf, Ch. 32. 3. they now shewed themselves cordiall and reall converts, by this bountie to a better worke▪ If they were not the same, they were more religious towards God, and more wise in honouring him with their substance, and esteeming his service worthy of their most precious jewels.
V. 26. in wisdome] That were skilfull in spinning.
V. 28. and spice] Chap. 30. 23.
V. 29. by the hands of Moses] That is, the Lord gave a Commandement to Moses, concerning the framing of the Tabernacle, as it were delivering the worke into his hands, to be ordered by his appointment.
V. 34. may teach] So cunning and skilfull as to be Masters of their Art, able to instruct and teach others.
V. 35. availe of] That was the inward Vaile of the Tabernacle, dividing betwixt the Holy of Holies, (where the Arke was) and the other part called the Sanctuary▪
CHAP. XXXVI.
Vers. 1. ALL * manner] * Chap. 35. 31.
V. 1. Sanctuary] By the Sanctuary, he meaneth here all the Tabernacle.
V. 2. * called Bezaleel] * Cha. 31. 2. They were endowed with gifts before, but that qualification did not warrant them to enter upon the publique worke, without a pe…liar calling of Authoritie. See Exod. 18. 25. Act. 6. 3.
V. 3. every morning] Hebr. in morning in morning▪ That is, morning by morning, or every morning. By morning some conceive is understood the whole day artificiall, as Gen. Chap. 1. without any difference or distinction of houres: but in regard of the great forwardnesse of the people, it is like the former part of the day is meant.
V. 6. neither man nor] Both Sexes were imployed in preparing the Tabernacle: the women in carding and spinning coloured wooll, and men in weaving their worke into a webbe of cloth, and other works.
restrained from bringing] Their liberalitie condemneth the backwardnesse of many, either to build an house to the Lord, or to uphold and repaire it, when it hath been built by others: and this restraint sheweth and blameth their fault, who thinke there cannot be too much bestowed on the outward magnificence and ornament of Temples or Churches.
V. 8. Cherubims] Which were little pictures, with wings, in the forme of children. See Annot. on Exod. 25. 18.
V. 10. fiftie loopes] Chap. 26. 10.
V. 14. Tent over the Tabernacle] The Tabernacle was a Tent, and is so called, vers. 18. but this Tent was a courser covering, to keepe it fa…re from offence of foule weather. See Annot. on Chap. 35. 11.
V. 19. above that] There were divers coverings of the most curious Tabernacle, one above another, to preserve it from the annoyance of raine and stormy seasons.
V. 20. standing up] To beare up the Curtaines of the Tabernacle.
V. 27. Westward] Or toward the Sea, which was the Sea called Mediterraneum, Westward from Jerusalem.
V. 29. coupled] Hebr. twined.
V. 30. every board] Hebr. two sockets under one board.
V. 33. middle barre] Of this barre there is no mention, in any precedent description of the Tabernacle; it seemeth to be a barre thrust through the middle of the boards; there were other barres, on the out-side, which were of use both to unite and strengthen them.
V. 35. a Vaile of blue] Which was betwixt the Sanctuarie and the Holiest of all.
Cherubims] See Annot. on vers▪ 8.
V. 37. hanging for] Which was betwixt the Court and the Sanctuarie.
needle work] Heb. The work of a needle worker, or, embroiderer.
V. 38. Overlaid their chapiters] That is, their heads, and knobs which were covered with golden plates, that nothing outwardly appeared on them but gold▪ but the pillars though they had gold upon them, were not wholly covered with it, but had, as it were, girdles or hoopes of gold, here and there; whereby they were rather adorned, then covered; for between these golden girdles, or couples, the wood was▪ seene. It may seeme (by Chap. 26. vers. 37.) the pillars themselves were overlaid with gold; but in this 36. Chapter the particulars are more distinctly set downe, then in the 26. and therefore that verse is to be expounded by this, as in the present Annot. which is confirmed, Chap. 38. 17.
CHAP. XXXVII.
MAny of the particulars here mentioned are brought in before, Chap. 25. and Chap. 39. and there expounded.
Vers. 1. * the Arke] * Chap. 25. 10.
V. 2. crowne of gold] See Annot. on Exod. 30. 3.
V. 6. Mercy-seat] See Annot. on Chap. 25. vers. 17.
V. 7. Cherubims] See Annot. on Chap. 35. vers. 8.
V. 8. on the end] Or, out of the end.
on the] Or, out of the, &c. Of the selfe-same matter that the Mercy-seat was.
V. 16. dishes] Chap. 25. 29.
to cover] Or, to poure out withall. The Hebrew word signifieth to cover, and to poure out: and in both senses these vessels called bowles, or covers, might be of use: for they might serve both to cover the Shewbread, and to poure out the drink-offering.
V. 17. * Candlesticks] * Chap. 25. 31.
V. 29. * holy anointing oyle] * Chap. 30. 35.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Vers. 1. HE made] Chap 27. 1.
V. 4. unto the midst] So that the Gridyron, or grate was halfe so high as the Altar, and stood within it.
V. 8. | Looking-glasses] | Or, brasen glasses. Rab. Kimchi saith, that women brought their Looking-glasses, which were of brasse, or fine metall, and offered them freely unto the use of the Tabernacle. The words in the Originall, and other Languages, have nothing in them that signifieth glasse, but onelyonly looking, or representing the looke, or to the lookes, which may be done in many sorts of metals; and for brasse in particular, it was the manner (not onelyonly among the Jews, but other Nations) for women to dresse themselves by setting a piece of shining brasse, or some other piece of bright burnisht metall before their faces; as the manner with us, and many others is to use steeled glasses. See Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 33. c. 9. These (notwithstanding their former fashion to trim themselves by them) they willingly gave up to the service of the Sanctuary, preferring therein Gods glory before their owne gracefulnesse.
assembling] Their Assembling to give up their desireable things to the service of God, was (according to the Originall reading) by troopes; so forward and free-hearted were they in their offerings, that they seemed to make haste, and as it were to strive who should come soonest with their gift.
V. 13. * East side Eastward] * Chap. 27. 13.
V. 21. summe of the Tabernacle] As an Inventorie of the particular furniture of the Tabernacle to bee kept by the Levites, and of the cost which was bestowed upon it, by the oblations of the people.
Levites] That the Levites might have the charge thereof, and minister in the same, as E…eaz…r and Ithamar, Num. 3. 4.
V. 24. * all the gold] * 1 Chron. 22. 14.
V. 25. an hundred talents] Every talent tooke up in weight and value three thousand shekels. See Annot. on Gen. 23. 15. and on Exod. 30. 13.
V. 26. * sixe hundred thousand] Chap. 12. 37. Numb. 1. 46. Exod. 30. 13.
halfe a shekel] The rate set upon the people, was for the offering of silver, vers. 25. but for the gold, vers. 24. there is no law, that setteth any rate upon them.
V. 27. an hundred sockets] Whereof fourtie were on the South-side, fourtie on the North, sixteene on the West, and four on the East, under the foure Pillars, dividing the Sanctuarie from the Holy of Holies. See Chap. 26. 19.
V. 29. talents] See Annot. on Chap. 25. 39.
CHAP. XXXIX.
MUch of the contents of this Chapter, is before at Chap. 28. and there expounded.
Vers. 1. And made] See Chap. 31. 10.
V. 6. Onyx stones] Chap. 28. 9.
V. 7. memoriall] Chap. 28. 12.
V. 10. foure rowes] See Annot. on Chap. 28. 17.
V. 23. habergeon] See Chap. 28. 32.
V. 25. * Bels] * Chap. 28. 33.
V. 30. * holinesse] * Chap. 28. 36.
V. 31. as the Lord commanded] See Chap. 40. 32.
V. 33. vaile of a covering] So called, because it hanged before the Mercy-seat, and covered it from sight of such as came into the Sanctuary, Chap. 35. 12.
V. 37. set in order] Or with Aaron dressed and refreshed with oyle every morning, Chap. 30. 7.
V. 38. sweete incense] Heb. the incense of sweet spices.
V. 42. * according to all] Signifying that in Gods matters man may neither adde nor diminish.
* Chap. 25. 40. 1 Chron. 28. 19.
V. 43. blessed them] Whereby is not meant (as some take it) the consecration of the Tabernacle, and of the things that appertained to it, for that is done in the next Chapter: but the blessing of the people, for their forwardnesse and bounty, for the building and furnishing of the Tabernacle; and his blessing of them, was praising of them for what they did; and praying for them, that God would blesse them from his Sanctuary, for their good will and free-heartednesse to his Sanctuary.