Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Exodus 36
Exodus 36:2And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.
This verse shows the perfect partnership between God's divine enabling and human willingness. God put the skill in their minds, but their own hearts stirred them to step up and do the work.Exodus 36:5and they said to Moses, "The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do."
In a remarkable moment, the craftsmen report that the people have given too much. This highlights the community's wholehearted repentance and devotion after the golden calf incident.Exodus 36:13And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.
The coupling of the curtains into a single whole is symbolic. It represents how individual parts, when joined according to God's plan, create a unified and complete dwelling for His presence.
Historical & Cultural Context
From Rebellion to Restoration: The Work Begins
This chapter follows God's renewal of His covenant with Israel after the disastrous golden calf episode in Exodus 32. In Exodus 35, Moses called for contributions and skilled workers, and the people responded with eager hearts. Now, in chapter 36, the work begins. The atmosphere is no longer one of rebellion but of enthusiastic cooperation, as the community channels its energy and resources into creating a visible symbol of God's presence.
Divine Blueprints and Dedicated Builders
The narrative shifts from gathering resources to the meticulous process of construction. The focus is on Bezalel and Oholiab, men specially filled with God's Spirit for this task, as they direct the craftsmen. The chapter reads like a construction log, emphasizing that every detail, from the yarn colors to the curtain dimensions, is being executed exactly as God had commanded Moses on the mountain. This precision underscores the holiness of the project.
Building the Tabernacle: A Community Effort
The scene is the Israelite camp at the foot of Mount Sinai, buzzing with purpose. Having gathered a surplus of materials, the community is now ready to build. In Exodus 36, we see the transition from planning to action, as divinely appointed artisans begin the holy task of constructing the Tabernacle, starting with its foundational coverings and structure.
The Workers Assemble and the Giving Overflows (Exodus 36:1-7)
1 "Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded."
2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.
3 They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,
4 So all the skilled men who were doing all the work on the sanctuary came, each from the work that he was doing,
5 and they said to Moses, "The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do."
6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing.
7 For the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.
Commentary:
The skilled workers begin, but the people's offerings are so abundant that Moses has to tell them to stop giving.
Crafting the Tabernacle's Curtains (Exodus 36:8-19)
8 And all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked.
9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.
10 And he coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.
11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set.
12 And for the east side the hangings were fifty cubits.
13 And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.
14 He made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains.
15 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.
16 He made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the other connecting curtain.
17 Then he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the first set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set.
18 And he made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together that it might be a single whole.
19 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.
Commentary:
Craftsmen create two sets of detailed curtains, one of fine linen and one of goats' hair, to form the Tabernacle's tent.
Assembling the Golden Framework (Exodus 36:20-34)
20 He made the upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood.
21 These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
22 Each board had two tenons for fitting together. He did this for all the boards of the tabernacle.
23 With it he made the bases for the entrance of the tent of meeting, the bronze altar and the bronze grating for it and all the utensils of the altar,
24 And with it he made the bases for the entrance of the tent of meeting, the bronze altar and the bronze grating for it, and all the utensils of the altar,
25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty frames
26 And he made for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and goatskins.
27 And for the corners of the court on the west you shall make six frames.
28 He also made bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
29 And they made the connecting rods of acacia wood to hold the veil in place.
30 And there were eight frames with their bases of silver: sixteen bases, under every frame two bases.
31 And he made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle,
32 And five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward.
33 And he made the middle bar to run from end to end halfway up the frames.
34 He overlaid the frames with gold and made their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
Commentary:
The workers build the Tabernacle's structure using gold-overlaid acacia wood frames set in silver bases.
Making the Veil and the Entrance Screen (Exodus 36:35-38)
35 He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it.
36 He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it.
37 He also made a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.
38 and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals, and their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze.
Commentary:
The sacred veil to separate the Most Holy Place and the screen for the tent's entrance are carefully crafted.
Key Ideas in the Tabernacle's Construction
God-Given Skill for His Glory
This chapter shows that artistic and practical skills are gifts from God. God filled Bezalel and Oholiab with 'skill and intelligence' (v. 1) to build His sanctuary. This demonstrates that our abilities can and should be used for His work.
The Beauty of a Willing Heart
The project succeeded because of the people's motivation. The workers' hearts were 'stirred up to come to do the work' (v. 2), and the givers brought 'freewill offerings' (v. 3). This demonstrates that true worship and service flow from a willing and cheerful heart, not from compulsion.
Obedience in Every Detail
The repetitive and precise descriptions of the construction are intentional. They teach that approaching a holy God requires careful obedience to His instructions. The builders didn't improvise. They faithfully executed the divine blueprint, showing that how we worship matters as much as the fact that we worship.
Bringing Exodus 36 into Your Life
Exodus 36:1 shows that God is the source of skill and intelligence for His purposes. Your talents - in art, administration, teaching, or craftsmanship - serve purposes beyond your career or hobby. They are God-given abilities you can offer back to Him for the good of His community.
The fact that Moses had to command the people to stop giving (v. 6) is a powerful lesson in cheerful and sacrificial generosity. It challenges you to consider if your giving flows from a 'stirred heart' or a sense of obligation. Their example shows that when God's people are truly moved, they can provide more than enough for His work to be done.
The careful attention to every curtain, clasp, and frame demonstrates a deep reverence for God's presence. For you, this translates into taking care in your own acts of worship and service. It reminds you that faithfulness is often found in the small, unseen details of your work for God, done according to His word.
God's People Build His House
Exodus 36 shows what happens when God's instructions are met with human obedience and enthusiasm. The Tabernacle's construction was a tangible sign of a restored relationship between God and His people. It represented more than an ancient building project. Through their God-given skills and overflowing generosity, the Israelites created a space for His holy presence to dwell among them. The message is that God provides everything needed for His will to be done, and He invites His people to participate in that work with willing hearts.
What This Means for Us Today
The story of the Tabernacle is a powerful picture of the church. We are now called to build a spiritual house, not with gold and linen, but with our diverse, God-given gifts. Exodus 36 invites us to bring our skills and resources with a cheerful heart, trusting that when we work together in obedience, God's presence will be known in our communities.
- What specific skill has God given you that you can contribute to His work?
- Is your giving characterized by the cheerful overflow seen in this chapter?
- Where in your life do you need to pay closer attention to God's instructions?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
This passage mirrors the freewill offerings for the Tabernacle, as King David and the people of Israel give generously for the building of the Temple.
Paul explains that the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to believers for the common good, much like God gave specific skills to the craftsmen for building the Tabernacle.
This New Testament chapter explains the symbolic meaning of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, revealing them as earthly copies of a heavenly reality fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions
- The people gave so generously that they had to be told to stop. What fosters that kind of culture in a community, and what might hinder it?
- Exodus 36:2 says God put skill in the craftsmen's minds, and their own hearts stirred them to work. How do you see this balance of divine gifting and human initiative playing out in your own life or church?
- This chapter is full of precise, repetitive details. If you were reading this for the first time, what would you find encouraging or challenging about this level of detail?