Exodus 35

The Sabbath law repeated (vs. 1-3)--The tabernacle is about to constructed, so repeating this law here was appropriate. Verse 3, "You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day," will have some especial significance in Numbers 15, as we shall see when we arrive there by and by.

The materials required (vs. 4-9)--Keep in mind that all the information which the Lord had given regarding the tabernacle (chapters 25-31) had been given only to Moses. So now he passes the instructions on to the people. The next few chapters will be, in many ways, a virtual repetition of what was stated in chapters 25-31. I shall talk more about that later. These materials, which are listed in verses 5-9, are "an offering to the Lord" (v. 5), commanded by Him (v. 4), and were to be from a "willing heart" (v. 5). Forced obedience is no obedience at all.

The responsibilities of the "gifted artisans" (vs. 10-19)--This tabernacle will be, in effect, the Lord's house on earth, so it was to be made of the best materials and by the most talented men. Their responsibilities are listed in detail in verses 10-19. Nothing is omitted.

The offering of the people (vs. 20-29)--For once, and for one of the very few times, the people are deserving of commendation. They responded willingly and generously, so generously that they brought more than was necessary to accomplish the work (36:5). The offerings, as the Lord had desired, came from everyone "whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing" (v. 21), and again, the materials are listed in detail to indicate the total obedience to the Lord's command. As noted above, forced obedience is no obedience at all, and neither is partial obedience. Women were among the "gifted artisans," and they "spun yarn with their hands" (v. 25). Verse 29 emphasizes that this was a "freewill offering to the Lord" from "all the men and women whose hearts were willing."

The special artisans (vs. 30-35)--A man named Bezalel from the tribe of Judah was selected by the Lord to build the tabernacle and oversee the work done. He didn't do it all by himself, of course; he apparently became, in effect, the "foreman" of the job because part of his responsibility was to teach others. He would have help in that regard from a man named Aholiab (v. 34).