Chapter Thirty-Six

1–2. Beginning of the works for the construction of the tabernacle. 3–7. Abundance of the offerings. 8–19. Preparation of the coverings of the tabernacle. 20–34. Construction of the boards (framework) and the bars. 35–38. Preparation of the inner veil and the veil of the entrance to the tabernacle.

Exodus 36:1. And Bezalel and Oholiab and every wise-hearted man, to whom the Lord gave wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded, took up the work. Exodus 36:2. And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart moved him to come to the work to do it. See the commentary on verses 34 of chapter 35.

Exodus 36:3. And they received of Moses all the offerings, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the sanctuary, for the work that needed to be done. And they brought to him yet more free offerings every morning. See the commentary on verses 21–24 of chapter 35.

Exodus 36:4. And all the wise men, who worked all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; Exodus 36:5. And they said to Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make. The zeal and diligence of the people is explained by their inclination toward the ceremonial side of religion and, perhaps, by a desire to atone for the sin of the golden calf at Sinai.

Exodus 36:6. 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. Exodus 36:7. For the materials they had were sufficient for all the work to make it, and even more. Exodus 36:8. And every wise-hearted man among those who worked the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet; with cherubim of skillful work made he them; Exodus 36:9. The length of one curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of one curtain four cubits: all the curtains had one measure. Exodus 36:10. And he coupled five curtains one to another: and the other five curtains he coupled one to another. Exodus 36:11. And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the edge where it was joined with another; similarly he made also on the edge of the last curtain, for joining it with another; Exodus 36:12. Fifty loops he made on one curtain, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain which joined with another; these loops corresponded one to another; Exodus 36:13. And he made fifty clasps of gold, and he joined one curtain with another by means of the clasps, and the tabernacle became one whole. Exodus 36:14. Then he made curtains of goat hair for a covering over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made such; Exodus 36:15. The length of a curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of a curtain was four cubits: the eleven curtains had one measure. Exodus 36:16. And he coupled five curtains apart and six curtains apart. Exodus 36:17. And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain, where it joined with another, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain that joined with another; Exodus 36:18. And he made fifty bronze clasps for joining the covering, so that it became one whole. Exodus 36:19. And he made a covering for the tabernacle of red dyed rams’ skins and a covering above of blue skins. See the commentary on verses 1–14 of chapter 36. In the present case, only the prescription of verses 12–13 is omitted.

Exodus 36:20. And he made boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright: Exodus 36:21. Ten cubits was the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board; Exodus 36:22. Each board had two tenons, set one against the other: so did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle. Exodus 36:23. And he made boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side, Exodus 36:24. And forty silver sockets he made under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons; Exodus 36:25. And for the other side of the tabernacle, toward the north, he made twenty boards Exodus 36:26. And forty silver sockets: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board; Exodus 36:27. But for the back of the tabernacle, toward the west, he made six boards, Exodus 36:28. And two boards he made for the corners of the tabernacle in the back; Exodus 36:29. And they were joined at the bottom and joined together at the top to one ring: so he made both of them for both corners; Exodus 36:30. And there were eight boards and their silver sockets, sixteen sockets, two sockets under each board. Exodus 36:31. And he made bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, Exodus 36:32. And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the back side of the tabernacle; Exodus 36:33. And he made the inner bar to pass through the middle of the boards from one end to the other; Exodus 36:34. And he covered the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to hold the bars, and covered the bars with gold. See the commentary on verses 15–30 of chapter 26.

Exodus 36:35. And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twisted linen: with skillful work he made it with cherubim; Exodus 36:36. And he made for it four pillars of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, with golden hooks, and cast for them four sockets of silver. Preparation of the veil, which separated the Holy of Holies from the sanctuary. See the commentary on verses 31–33 of chapter 26.

Exodus 36:37. And he made the veil of the door of the tent of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twisted linen, with broidered work; Exodus 36:38. And five pillars for it with their hooks; and he overlaid their tops and their fillets with gold: and their five sockets were of bronze. Preparation of the veil, which covered the entrance to the tabernacle. See the commentary on verses 36–37 of chapter 26.