Exodus Chapter 36

Old Testament Law (Torah) 38 Verses

What is Exodus 36 about?

Israel's deliverance from Egypt, the Ten Commandments given at Sinai, and the construction of the Tabernacle. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And Bezalel and Oholiab shall work, and every wise-hearted man, in whom Jehovah hath put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Jehovah hath commanded.
2And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Jehovah had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:
3and they received of Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, wherewith to make it. And they brought yet unto him freewill-offerings every morning.
4And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they wrought.
5And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which Jehovah commanded to make.
6And 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.
7For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
8And all the wise-hearted men among them that wrought the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim, the work of the skilful workman, [Bezalel] made them.
9The length of each curtain was eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains had one measure.
10And he coupled five curtains one to another: and [the other] five curtains he coupled one to another.
11And he made loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the second coupling.
12Fifty loops made he in the one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling: the loops were opposite one to another.
13And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was one.
14And he made curtains of goats` [hair] for a tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
15The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of each curtain: the eleven curtains had one measure.
16And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
17And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which was [outmost in] the second coupling.
18And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
19And he made a covering for the tent of rams` skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.
20And he made the boards for the tabernacle, of acacia wood, standing up.
21Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board.
22Each board had two tenons, joined one to another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
23And he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward.
24And he made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.
25And for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,
26and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
27And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
28And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part.
29And they were double beneath; and in like manner they were entire unto the top thereof unto one ring: thus he did to both of them in the two corners.
30And there were eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every board two sockets.
31And he made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
32and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward.
33And he made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other.
34And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold for places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
35And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim, the work of the skilful workman, made he it.
36And he made thereunto four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; And he cast for them four sockets of silver.
37And he made a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer;
38and the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold; and their five sockets were of brass.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, etc.] Or every ingenious artificer under them: when they began to work is not precisely said, but it is very probable they set about it directly, as soon as they were furnished with materials for it, nor is it said where they wrought; it is very likely there was a particular place, where they were ranged according to their respective manufactories, and where they did their work under the inspection, and by the direction of these two men: in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding, to know how to work all manner of work, for the service of the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“OFFERINGS DELIVERED TO THE WORKMEN. (Exo. 36:1-38) Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man, &c.--Here is an illustrious example of zeal and activity in the work of the Lord. No unnecessary delay was allowed to take place; and from the moment the first pole was stuck in the ground till the final completion of the sacred edifice, he and his associates labored with all the energies both of mind and body engaged in the work. And what was the mainspring of their arduous and untiring diligence? They could be actuated by none of the ordinary motives that give impulse to human industry, by no desire…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“See the notes to Exodus 26:0. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Exodus 36". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/exodus-36.html. 1870. StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 2
“And Moses called Bezaleel - "Even those whom God has qualified for, and inclined to the service of the tabernacle, yet must wait for a call to it, either extraordinary, as that of preachers and apostles, or ordinary, as that of pastors and teachers. And observe who they were that Moses called; those in whose heart God had put wisdom for this purpose, beyond their natural capacity, and whose heart stirred him up to come to the work in good earnest." Those are to be called to the building of the gospel tabernacle, whom God has by his grace made in some measure fit for the work, and free to it: ability and…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“An, Ex, Is, 1, Tisri to Adar Bezaleel: Exo 31:1-6, Exo 35:30-35 wise hearted man: Exo 28:3, Exo 31:6 for the service: Exo 36:3, Exo 36:4, Exo 25:8; Num 7:9; Heb 8:2 according: Exo 23:21, Exo 23:22, 39:1-43, 40:1-38; Psa 119:6; Mat 28:20; Luk 1:6 Exodus 36:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 2
“Moses then summoned the master-builders named, and all who were skilled in art, "every one whom his heart lifted up to come near to the work to do it" (i.e., who felt himself stirred up in heart to take part in the work), and handed over to them the heaven-offering presented by the people for that purpose, whilst the children of Israel still continued bringing freewill-offerings every morning. Exodus 36:4”
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