Exodus Chapters 36-39 

Most of the material in these chapters was also previously set forth in previous chapters.  Therefore, a reference will be made to the previous chapters in which the items appeared.  One of the great lessons to take out of this is that the tabernacle, its furnishings, the clothing of the priesthood and the anointing oils and incense were made according to the pattern that was shown of the LORD to Moses in the Mount Sinai.   

36:1 “Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: 3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;” 

From the above, we gather that Bezaleel and Aholiab were the leaders in the construction of the materials for the tabernacle, the furnishings of the tabernacle, the garments of the priesthood, and the anointing oil and incense.  God had chosen them, called them, and set them forth for the work.  In addition, the LORD brought forth every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it.  None of these men would have been suitable to do the work except the LORD had given them the wisdom and heart to do the work.  The materials for the work were brought to the men according to the free will offerings of every morning.   

36:5 “And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.”   

When a people have a vision and the LORD has stirred them up, we see the joy of the people in giving and the abundance of their heart in giving.  However, when the people have no vision, they lose their joy and willingness to give as they should.  In the above case the people gave far more than was needed for the work and had to be restrained from bringing any more materials for the work.   

The making of the materials for the tabernacle is detailed for us in Ex. 36:8-38.  The work which was done was according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 26. 

The making of the ark is detailed for us in Ex. 37:1-9.  The work was done in according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 25:10-22.   

The making of the table of showbread is detailed for us in Ex. 37:10-16.  The work was done according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 25:23-30.   

The making of the candlestick and its vessels is detailed for us in Ex. 37:17-24.  The work was done according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 25:31-40. 

The making of the incense altar is detailed for us in Ex. 37:25-28.  This work was done according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 30:1-6.   

The making of the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices is detailed for us in Ex. 37:29.  The work was done according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 30:7.

The making of the brazen altar of burnt offering is detailed for us in Ex. 38:1-7.  The work was done according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 27:1-8.   

The making of the laver of brass and the foot of it of brass is detailed for us in Ex. 38:8.  The work was done according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 30:18. 

The making of the materials for the court of the tabernacle is detailed for us in Ex. 38:9-20.  This work was done according to the detailed pattern in Ex. 27:8-19.   

In Ex.38:21-31 is detailed the great costliness of the tabernacle, its furniture, and the court.  The cost in terms of gold, silver and brass if built today would probably constitute one of the most costly building projects in the world today.  There is a cost to serving the LORD.  David said in 2 Sam 24:24 “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”  In the New Testament Church there is a cost to worship and serve the LORD as set forth in this passage of scripture: Luke 14:28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” 

The making of holy garments to be worn by Aaron and his sons is detailed for us in Ex. 39:1-31.  The work was done according to the detailed pattern in Exodus Chapter 28.   

39:32 “Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.”  

As can be seen, the work was done according to the detailed pattern that had been previously given to Moses from the LORD in Mount Sinai.  The pattern was of the LORD.  The work was done according to that pattern.  This is an important spiritual lesson for us.  We are not to deviate from the pattern in which the Lord has given us.  His pattern is perfect.  Any deviation from His pattern is a rebellion against the Lord and should not be done.  The Lord has given to us in his word every thing that we need to thoroughly furnish us unto all good works.  According to 2 Tim. 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 

39:33 “And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, 34 And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the veil of the covering, 35 The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, 36 The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the showbread, 37 The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, 38 And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, 39 The brazen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, 40 The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, 41 The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office. 42 According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. 43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.” 

The workers brought the items to be constructed and made to Moses.  Moses inspected it and blessed them.  They had made all the work according as the LORD had commanded.  The LORD gave the pattern to Moses.  Moses gave the pattern to the workers.  The workers built and made everything according to the pattern.  It pleases the LORD when we do things according to the word of God.  The words that he spoke to the faithful servants to which he had given 5 talents and 2 talents when they came back and gained respectively 5 and 2 more talents was: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”