Exodus 36
Construction Begins
1“Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom the LORD has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD has commanded.”
2Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to the work to do it.
3They received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They kept bringing free will offerings to him every morning.
4All the wise men, who performed all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which he did.
5They spoke to Moses, saying, “The people have brought much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded to make.”
6Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman make anything else for the offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing.
7For the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work, and too much.
Making the Tabernacle
8All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet. They made them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman.
9The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one measure.
10He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.
11He made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second coupling.
12He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling. The loops were opposite to one another.
13He made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit.
14He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.
15The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure.
16He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
17He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was outermost in the second coupling.
18He made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit.
19He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
20He 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 width of each board.
22Each board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way.
23He made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.
24He 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.
25For 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.
27For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
28He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.
29They were double beneath, and in the same way they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them in the two corners.
30There were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.
31He 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.
33He made the middle bar to pass through in the middle of the boards from the one end to the other.
34He overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
35He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman.
36He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of silver for them.
37He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
38and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sockets were of bronze.
Exodus 36 records the beginning of the tabernacle's construction under the skilled leadership of Bezalel and Oholiab. The Israelites' generosity proves so overwhelming that Moses must command them to stop bringing offerings, as they have provided more than enough materials. The chapter then details the meticulous craftsmanship of the tabernacle's curtains, coverings, and wooden framework, emphasizing the precise adherence to God's specifications given in earlier chapters.
Context
This chapter begins the actual construction phase following God's detailed instructions in chapters 25-31 and the covenant renewal after the golden calf incident.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2Calling the CraftsmenMoses summons Bezalel, Oholiab, and all skilled workers whom God has equipped with wisdom for the sanctuary work.
- 3-7Overwhelming GenerosityThe people bring so many offerings that Moses must command them to stop, as they have provided more than sufficient materials.
- 8-13The Inner CurtainsSkilled craftsmen create ten fine linen curtains with cherubim designs, joined together with gold clasps to form the tabernacle proper.
- 14-19The Outer CoveringsWorkers construct protective coverings of goat hair, ram skins, and sea cow hides to shield the tabernacle.
- 20-38The Wooden FrameworkCraftsmen build the tabernacle's structural frame from acacia wood boards with silver bases and connecting bars.
Construction Begins
36:1–36:7The Israelites bring so many offerings for the tabernacle construction that Moses must command them to stop giving because they have more than enough. This shows extraordinary generosity and God's abundant provision through willing hearts.
person_contrast
Moses uniquely commands the Israelites to *stop* giving offerings—the only instance in Exodus where abundance, not scarcity, requires divine intervention through leadership.
Making the Tabernacle
36:8–36:38Detailed account of the construction of the tabernacle curtains, coverings, and framework by skilled craftsmen following God's specifications. This passage emphasizes the careful obedience to divine instructions in creating a holy dwelling place.
structural
The Hebrew verb "asah" (made/did) appears 23 times in these 31 verses, creating an emphatic drumbeat of human craftsmanship mirroring divine creation.
Exodus 36:1
Exodus 31:6lexicalBehold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who…
1 Kings 7:14lexicalHe was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was fil…
Exodus 31:3lexicalI have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workman…
Exodus 35:31lexicalHe has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship;
1 Chronicles 28:21lexicalBehold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God’s house. Every willing man who…
Exodus 36:3
Exodus 35:21lexicalThey came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought the LORD’s offeri…
2 Chronicles 31:14lexicalKore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free will offerings of God, to distribut…
Exodus 35:24lexicalEveryone who offered an offering of silver and bronze brought the LORD’s offering; and everyone with whom was found acac…
Leviticus 23:36lexicalSeven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you. Y…
Leviticus 23:21lexicalYou shall make proclamation on the same day that there shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall do no regular work.…
Exodus 36:8
Exodus 26:1lexical“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with…
Exodus 26:31lexical“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a…
Exodus 39:8lexicalHe made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 28:15lexical“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
Exodus 28:6lexical“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exodus 36:9
Exodus 26:2lexicalThe length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains sha…
Exodus 26:8lexicalThe length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall…
2 Chronicles 3:3lexicalNow these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of God’s house: the length by cubits after the first m…
Ezekiel 40:33lexicalwith its lodges, its posts, and its arches, according to these measurements. There were windows in it and in its arches…
Ezekiel 40:29lexicalwith its lodges, its posts, and its arches, according to these measurements. There were windows in it and in its arches…
Exodus 36:10
Exodus 26:9lexicalYou shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in…
Exodus 26:3lexicalFive curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
Exodus 36:11
Exodus 26:4lexicalYou shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on…
Exodus 26:10lexicalYou shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge…
Exodus 26:5lexicalYou shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the…
Exodus 36:12
Exodus 26:5lexicalYou shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the…
Exodus 26:4lexicalYou shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on…
Exodus 26:10lexicalYou shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge…
Exodus 36:13
Exodus 26:6lexicalYou shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a u…
Exodus 26:11lexicalYou shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be o…
Exodus 36:14
Exodus 26:7lexical“You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
Exodus 26:8lexicalThe length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall…
Isaiah 54:2lexical“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your c…
Numbers 4:25lexicalthey shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the covering of sealskin that is…
Exodus 26:13lexicalThe cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the te…
Exodus 36:15
Exodus 26:8lexicalThe length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall…
Exodus 26:2lexicalThe length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains sha…
Ezekiel 40:49lexicalThe length of the porch was twenty cubits and the width eleven cubits, even by the steps by which they went up to it. Th…
Ezekiel 46:22lexicalIn the four corners of the court there were courts enclosed, forty cubits long and thirty wide. These four in the corner…
1 Kings 7:2lexicalFor he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its heig…
Exodus 36:16
Exodus 26:9lexicalYou shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in…
Exodus 26:3lexicalFive curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
Exodus 36:17
Exodus 26:4lexicalYou shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on…
Exodus 26:10lexicalYou shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge…
Exodus 26:5lexicalYou shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the…
Exodus 36:18
Exodus 26:11lexicalYou shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be o…
Exodus 26:6lexicalYou shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a u…
Exodus 36:19
Exodus 26:14lexicalYou shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
Exodus 39:34lexicalthe covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
Exodus 35:7lexicalrams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
Exodus 25:5lexicalrams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
Exodus 35:23lexicalEveryone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, br…
Exodus 36:20
Exodus 26:26lexical“You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 26:15lexical“You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.
Exodus 36:21
Exodus 26:16lexicalTen cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
Exodus 37:10lexicalHe made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a…
Exodus 25:23lexical“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a…
Exodus 25:10lexical“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a c…
Exodus 25:17lexicalYou shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width.
Exodus 36:23
Exodus 26:18lexicalYou shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.
Exodus 27:9lexical“You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine…
Exodus 26:20lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
Ezekiel 47:19lexical“The south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea. T…
Ezekiel 48:28lexical“By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh…
Exodus 36:24
Exodus 26:19lexicalYou shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two…
Exodus 26:21lexicaland their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exodus 26:25lexicalThere shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets…
Exodus 27:10lexicalIts pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of…
Exodus 38:10lexicaltheir pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silve…
Exodus 36:25
Exodus 26:20lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
Exodus 26:27lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabern…
Exodus 26:18lexicalYou shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.
Exodus 26:26lexical“You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 26:35lexicalYou shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the…
Exodus 36:26
Exodus 26:21lexicaland their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exodus 26:19lexicalYou shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two…
Exodus 26:25lexicalThere shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets…
Exodus 36:27
Exodus 26:22lexicalFor the far side of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.
Exodus 26:27lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabern…
Exodus 26:23lexicalYou shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side.
Exodus 36:28
Exodus 26:23lexicalYou shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side.
Exodus 26:22lexicalFor the far side of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.
Exodus 26:27lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabern…
Exodus 36:30
Exodus 26:25lexicalThere shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets…
Exodus 26:19lexicalYou shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two…
Exodus 26:21lexicaland their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
2 Chronicles 29:17lexicalNow they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the LORD…
1 Chronicles 24:4lexicalThere were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of…
Exodus 36:31
Exodus 26:26lexical“You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 26:27lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabern…
Exodus 26:15lexical“You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.
Exodus 26:20lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
Exodus 40:18lexicalMoses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pill…
Exodus 36:32
Exodus 26:27lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabern…
Exodus 26:26lexical“You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 26:20lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
Exodus 26:22lexicalFor the far side of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.
Exodus 26:23lexicalYou shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side.
Exodus 36:33
Exodus 26:28lexicalThe middle bar in the middle of the boards shall pass through from end to end.
Exodus 36:35
Exodus 26:31lexical“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a…
Exodus 26:1lexical“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with…
Exodus 39:8lexicalHe made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 28:15lexical“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
Exodus 28:6lexical“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exodus 36:36
Exodus 26:32lexicalYou shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.
Exodus 26:37lexicalYou shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shal…
Exodus 38:19lexicalTheir pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals,…
Exodus 38:11lexicalFor the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pilla…
Exodus 27:10lexicalIts pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of…
Exodus 36:37
Exodus 26:36lexical“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
Exodus 27:16lexicalFor the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, t…
Exodus 38:18lexicalThe screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. T…
Exodus 39:29lexicalthe sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 39:8lexicalHe made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 36:38
Exodus 26:37lexicalYou shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shal…
Exodus 27:11lexicalLikewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
Exodus 38:11lexicalFor the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pilla…
Exodus 27:10lexicalIts pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of…
Exodus 38:19lexicalTheir pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals,…
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