Commentary on Exodus, Commentary · Chapter 36 – Chapter 37
CHAP. XXXVI.
Verſe 1. THen wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wiſe-hearted man, &c.] This Verſe is only a general Account of what follows more particularly, concerning the Execution of that which God had commanded, and for the effecting of which the People had liberally contributed. It is not ſaid where they wrought, but ſome think it was in that very ſpace of ground where the Tabernacle was ſet up, when perfected.
Ver. 2. And Moſes called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wiſe-hearted man, in whoſe heart the LORD had put wiſdom.] It appears by this that all the lower Artificers, who were taught by the Maſter-workmen Bezaleel and Aholiab, were alſo diſpoſed by God to learn; he giving them a quickneſs of apprehenſion and ſagacity, beyond what was natural to them.
Even every one whoſe heart ſtirred him up, to come unto the work to do it.] Yet this ſignifies, they had alſo a natural Genius, which inclined and prompted them to ſuch Imployments.
Ver. 3. And they received of Moſes all the Offerings which the Children of Iſrael had brought for the work of the Sanctuary, &c.] Into the hands of all theſe Artiſts, Moſes delivered the Offerings that had been made; and directed them what to do with them.
And they brought yet unto him Free-offerings every morning.] The hearts of the People were ſo enlarged, that every day they brought new Contributions unto Moſes; who ſent them (as appears by the next Verſe) to the Workmen, as ſoon as he received them.
Ver. 4. And all the wiſe men which wrought all the work of the Sanctuary, came every man from his work which he made.] After they had continued ſome time at their work, they all agreed to deſiſt a while, and go to Moſes, to let him know that there needed no further Offerings, for they had ſufficient already; nay, more than enough, as it follows v. 5.
Ver. 5. And they ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying, the People bring much more than enough, for the ſervice of the work, &c.] A wonderful inſtance of Integrity, that there ſhould not be one Man found among them (for the words in the Hebrew are very emphatical, iſch, iſch [man, man] that is, none excepted) who was inclined to purloin any thing for his own proper uſe: but by common conſent, they left their work, to put a ſtop to all further Contributions. A ſign they were Men indued with extraordinary Vertue, as well as Skill in their Employments.
Ver. 6. And Moſes gave Commandment.] To thoſe that attended on him; or perhaps to Bezaleel and Aholiab, and the reſt.
And they cauſed it to be proclaimed throughout the Camp.] By ſome under-Officers, who, it's likely, were wont to execute ſuch Commands.
Saying, let neither man nor woman make any more work for the Offering of the Sanctuary.] It ſeems ſome Men prepared and made ready ſome of the things which they offered; as the Women ſpun Yarn and Hair, and brought them to Moſes. For it was not hard to plain Boards (for inſtance) though the joyning them together, as God appointed, was beyond the Skill of common People.
Ver. 7. For the ſtuff they had were ſufficient, &c.] There were Materials of all ſorts, for every thing that was to be made, beyond what was neceſſary.
Ver. 8. And every wiſe-hearted man among them that wrought the work of the Tabernacle, &c.] They began firſt (as was but fit) with the Houſe of God, before they made the Furniture. For that was firſt ordered in general words, XXV. 8. though the Structure of it be not directed till the XXVIth Chapter. Where every thing mentioned in this is explained; and therefore there will need no more to be done here, but to point to a few things, which are explained elſewhere particularly in the foregoing Chapter.
Ver. 14. He made Curtains of Goats-hair for the Tent over the Tabernacle.] What is here meant by Tent, ſee XXXV. 11.
Ver. 19. He made a covering for the Tent.] This Curtain covered the Tent, as the Curtain of which the Tent was made covered the Tabernacle. See XXVI. 14. XXXV. 11.
Of Rams-skins died red.] The Particle Mem here is cut off before Skins; as it is in ſeveral Verſes of this Chapter, 8, 34, 35. and others.
Covering of Badgers-skins.] I obſerved on XXVI. 14. that THACAS doth not ſignifie a Badger, but a certain Colour, and alledged that place in XVI Ezek. 10. for the proof of it, where God ſetting forth his kindneſs to Iſrael, under the figure of a moſt loving Husband, who denies his Wife nothing, though never ſo coſtly, ſaith he ſhod her with Thacas; which I ſince ſind tranſlated by an Anonymous Authour, with purple ſhoes.
CHAP. XXXVII.
IN this Chapter Moſes gives an Account of the making of all the Furniture of the Tabernacle; with ſuch exactneſs as he deſcribes the making of the Tabernacle it ſelf, in the foregoing Chapter. To ſhow that God's directions about the making every thing, was punctually obſerved; nothing being omitted or added, but all made according to the Pattern in the Mount, XXV. 9, 40. In which Chapter moſt of the things here mentioned, are explained; and there needs little to be added here.
Ver. 1. And Bezaleel made the Ark of Shittim-wood, &c.] Abarbinel fancies, that though other things were made by inferiour Artificers, whom Bezaleel directed; yet the Ark, becauſe of its dignity and preheminence, above all other things was made by him, without the help of any other. And ſo Rambam alſo; from whence the Jews commonly called it (as Buxtorf obſerves) the Ark of Bezaleel. But this hath no good foundation; for he is ſaid to have made alſo every thing elſe in the Tabernacle; the Table, and all its Veſſels: in ſhort, every thing mentioned in this Chapter, and in the next alſo, and in the foregoing, v. 10, 11, &c. He therefore is ſaid to have made the Ark, &c. becauſe he gave directions to the under Workmen, and ſaw them make it.
Ver. 10. And he made the Table of Shittim-wood, &c.] Next to the Ark, the Mercy-ſeat, and the Cherubims which belong to it; the Table and the Veſſels appertaining to it, were the principal things within the Tabernacle. See XXV. 23, &c. where all the things, mentioned between this Verſe and the Seventeenth, are explained.
Ver. 17. And he made the Candleſtick, &c.] The orders which Moſes received for the making this, the Branches and the Lamps thereof, and every thing appertaining to it, are ſet down XXV. 31, 32, &c. which Bezaleel exactly followed.
Ver. 25. He made the Incenſe Altar, &c.] This and all that follows in the three next Verſes, ſee explained XXX. 1, &c.
Ver. 29. And he made the holy anointing Oyl, &c.] See XXX. 31, &c.
And the pure Incenſe, &c.] XXX. 34, &c.