To Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study Table of Contents

About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 


The book of Exodus was written by Moses.  The word "exodus" means to "go out" or "leave".  This book is about the Israelites leaving Egypt and going back to Canaan. Exodus begins about 350 after Joseph died.  The date that the Israelites leave Egypt is about  1445 B.C. (1, 445 years before Jesus Christ was born).


Exodus 35 - 37
The Israelites donate materials to make the Tabernacle.
Bezaleel, Aholiab, and their assistants build the Tabernacle.

Exodus 35

The law about the Sabbath 

Moses talked to the Israelites.  He gave them the laws that the Lord God had given him.
[1] And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.

Moses told them that they should not work on the sabbath--the seventh day of the week. They should rest on the sabbath. They should not make any fires on the sabbath. If anyone worked on the sabbath, he would be killed.
[2] Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
[3] Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.


Building the tabernacle--Moses gives the instructions

Moses told the people what was needed to build the tabernacle.  He said that if anyone would like to donate something to help, they should bring it to him.  Moses told them that they needed:  gold, silver, brass, linen (colors blue, purple, and red), goat's hair, rams' skins that had been dyed red, badgers' skins, shittim wood, oil for the light, spices, and valuable stones (jewels).
[4] And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
[5] Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
[6] And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
[7] And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
[8] And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
[9] And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

Moses asked for skilled people to come and help build the tabernacle.  They needed to build the tent, the tent's covering, the walls, the pillars, the ark, the poles, the equipment, and the showbread.
[10] And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;
[11] The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,
[12] The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,
[13] The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,

They also needed to make the candlestick, the lamps, the incense altar, the anointing oil, the incense, the altar for sacrifices, the large bowl, and the equipment for the altar. They also needed to make the curtains that went around the tabernacle area and the clothes for the priests.
[14] The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,
[15] And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
[16] The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
[17] The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,
[18] The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,
[19] The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.

After Moses finished talking, the people left.
[20] And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.


Freewill Offering for the Tabernacle
From the
La Vista Church of Christ web site

The Israelites donate the materials and labor for the Tabernacle.

Many people willingly donated materials (things needed to build the Tabernacle). Many other people came to help build the Tabernacle and make the clothes for the priests.
[21] And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

Men and women came, and they brought their gold jewelry. They also brought blue, purple, and red linen, goat's hair, rams' skins, and badgers' skins.
[22] And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.
[23] And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.

People brought silver, brass, and shittim wood.  The women who knew how to spin (make cloth) brought the blue, purple, and red linen. Other women used the goats' hair to make cloth.
[24] Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD's offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.
[25] And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
[26] And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.

The leaders of the Israelites brought the jewels for the priest's ephod and the breastplate.  They also brought spice, oil for the light, anointing oil, and incense.
[27] And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
[28] And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

The people donated their time and items willingly.  That means that they wanted to donate them. They were not pressured or forced.
[29] The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.


Bezaleel and Aholiab

Moses told the Israelites that the Lord God chose Bezaleel to be in charge of the artistic work. He was skilled in working with jewelry, gold, silver, brass, and wood.  Bezaleel's father was named Uri, and his grandfather's name was Hur. Bezaleel was from the tribe of Judah.
[30] And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
[31] And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
[32] And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
[33] And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.

God wanted Bezaleel and another man, Aholiab, to teach these skills to other people. Aholiab's father was named Ahisamach. Aholiab was from the tribe of Dan.  Bezaleel and Aholiab were also skilled in engraving, embroidering, and weaving. 
[34] And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
[35] Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.


Bezaleel, Aholiab, and the workers start working

Exodus 36

Bezaleel, Aholiab, and the men they taught knew how to make the things that God told Moses about.
[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.

Moses called Bezaleel, Aholiab, and the workers. Moses gave them the things that the Israelites donated for the tabernacle. The Israelites brought their donations every morning.
[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.

The workers came to see Moses. The workers said that the Israelites were giving more than they could use. 
[4] And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;
[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.

Moses told the Israelites that they did not need to make any more donations. There was enough to make the tabernacle.
[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.


The curtains

The workmen built the tabernacle.  They made the curtains and embroidered (sewed) angels on them. Each curtain was 14 yards long and 2 yards wide.
[8] And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.
[9] The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.


They sewed the curtains together. They sewed 5 curtains together, and then they sewed 5 more curtains together. They put 50 blue loops on the tops of both curtains.  Then they had 2 big curtains. They hooked them together with 50 gold hooks.
[10] And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another.
[11] And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
[12] Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another.
[13] And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.


Then they made the 11 goats' hair curtains to go over the tabernacle. Each curtain was 15 yards long and 2 yards wide. They sewed 5 curtains together. Then they sewed 6 curtains together.  They put 50 loops on both of the curtain. They had 2 big curtains.  Then they put the 2 big curtains together with brass hooks.
[14] And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
[15] The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.
[16] And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
[17] And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
[18] And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.


Then they made 2 more coverings for the tent. The coverings were made of rams' skins that were dyed red and badgers' skins.
[19] And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that.


The walls

Then they made the boards for the walls of the tabernacle. The boards were made of shittim wood. Each board was 15 feet tall and 27 inches wide.
[20] And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
[21] The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.

Each board had 2 pegs at the bottom.
[22] One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

They put 2 silver sockets (holders) under each board. These would help the boards to stand up. There were 20 boards on the south side of the tabernacle and 20 boards on the north side.
[23] And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:
[24] And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
[25] And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,
[26] And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

They made 6 boards to make the west wall. 2 more boards were used to make the corners.
[27] And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
[28] And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.


The boards in the corners were attached from top to bottom. In all, there were 8 boards with 2 silver holders under each board (a total of 16 silver holders).. 

[29] And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.
[30] And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.


They made long pieces of wood to go across the boards. These were called crossbars. The sides of the tabernacle  had 5 crossbars. The crossbars were covered with gold.
[31] And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
[32] And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward.
[33] And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.
[34] And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.


The curtain that divided the inside of the tabernacle into two parts.

He made the curtain. He used the blue, purple, and red linen cloth. There were angel designs embroidered in the curtain. 
[35] And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.

He used wood to make 4 poles. The poles had gold on them, and the poles were standing in silver holders. They used gold hooks and hung the curtains on the poles. 

[36] And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.

He made a curtain for the tabernacle door with the blue, purple, and red linen cloth. He embroidered on the curtain.  He made 5 posts and covered them with gold.  The posts were in bronze stands.
[37] And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
[38] And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.


Exodus 37

Bezaleel makes the ark 

The ark was the wooden box where the Ten Commandments would be kept.  Bezaleel made the ark. He used shittim wood.  The ark was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.  It was 27 inches tall.  He put gold all over it on the inside and on the outside.  He made a edge around the top.
[1] And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
[2] And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.

 

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel
Photo from BiblePlaces.com


Bezaleel made 4 gold rings to put on the corners of the ark. They put 2 rings on one side and 2 rings on the other side. Then he made the wood poles to carry the ark. He covered the wood poles with gold. The poles went through the rings.
[3] And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it.
[4] And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
[5] And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.



He made the lid of the ark. It was called the mercy seat.  It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.
[6] And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

He carved (cut to make) 2 gold angels.  They were part of the mercy seat. It was all one piece.
[7] And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;
[8] One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof.


The angels spread their wings forward and covered the mercy seat.
[9] And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.


 

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel
Photo from BiblePlaces.com

The table for the showbread

He made a table of shittim wood.  The table was 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. He put gold over all of the table and made an edge around the top that was 3 inches wide..
[10] And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof:
[11] And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about.
[12] Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about.

He made 4 gold rings and put the 4 rings on the corners. He made 4 wood poles and covered them with gold.  The poles went through the rings to carry the table. 
[13] And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof.
[14] Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table.
[15] And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.


He made the items to go on the table: dishes, spoons, bowls, and cups for wine offerings.  All of these were made of gold.
[16] And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold.


The candlestick

 

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel
Photo from BiblePlaces.com


He made the candlestick.  The candlestick was made of gold. The candlestick had branches, bowls, knobs, and flowers. All of these were made of gold.
[17] And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:


The candlestick had 6 branches. There were 3 branches on one side and 3 branches on the other side.
[18] And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:

Each branch had 3 bowls that looked like almond flowers.
  
[19] Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.


The stem of the candlestick had 4 bowls that looked like almond flowers. 
[20] And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:


There was a knop (knob) where the two sides of the branches met on the stem. They were all made of gold.
[21] And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it.
[22] Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.

He made 7 lamps and the equipment for the lamps. They all weighed 75 pounds, and they were gold. 
[23] And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.
[24] Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.


Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel
Photo from BiblePlaces.com

The altar for burning incense 

Bezaleel made the altar for burning incense.  When incense was burning, it smelled good. It was 18 inches wide, 18 inches long, and 36 inches tall.  It had 4 horns on the corners.   The altar and the horns were covered in gold.  There was also a gold edge around the top.
[25] And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.
[26] And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.

He made 4 gold rings.  He put 2 gold rings on one side and 2 gold rings on the other side. The rings were for the poles to carry the altar.  He made 2 wood poles and covered them with gold.  
[27] And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal.
[28] And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.


The holy anointing oil

Bezaleel made the oil used to anoint (make holy). He also made the special incense.
[29] And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

 Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study Table of Contents