Exodus 36: Offerings, Tabernacle, and Wise Work

Short answer: Exodus 36 recounts how the people brought more than enough offerings for the sanctuary, so Moses restrained them, and then describes the wise-hearted men building the tabernacle curtains, coverings, boards, veil, and screen according to Yahweh's commands.

What Exodus 36 says

The chapter opens with Moses calling Bezalel, Oholiab, and every wise-hearted person whose heart stirred them to do the work. These workers had been given wisdom and understanding by Yahweh to perform all the service of the sanctuary. They received the offerings the people brought for the work, but the people kept bringing freewill offerings every morning. Eventually the craftsmen came to Moses and reported that the people had brought much more than enough. So Moses commanded that no man or woman should make anything else for the offering, and the people were restrained from bringing. The text notes that the stuff they had was sufficient and too much. This opening section highlights both divine gifting and extraordinary generosity.

Verses 8 through 13 describe the making of the tabernacle itself, starting with ten curtains of fine twined linen in blue, purple, and scarlet, with cherubim worked into them by a skillful workman. Each curtain measured twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide, all the same size. Five curtains were coupled to one another, and the other five likewise. Loops of blue were made on the edges, fifty loops on each set, opposite one another. Fifty gold clasps joined the curtains so that the tabernacle became a single unit. The precision and unity of the design show careful obedience to the pattern given earlier.

Verses 14 through 19 turn to the coverings for the tabernacle. Eleven curtains of goats' hair were made as a tent over the tabernacle, each thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. These were coupled with fifty loops and fifty bronze clasps to form one unit. Then a covering of rams' skins dyed red and a covering of sea cow hides above that were made. This section emphasizes protection and layering, again following the instructions precisely. The materials vary, but the purpose is consistent: to cover the holy place as God had commanded.

The final section, verses 20 through 38, details the structural elements: boards of acacia wood standing up, each ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide, with two tenons each. Sockets of silver were made to hold them, twenty boards for the south side and twenty for the north, with forty sockets each. For the west side, six boards and two corner boards were made, with eight boards and sixteen silver sockets. Bars of acacia wood were overlaid with gold to hold the frame together. Then the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen with cherubim was made, hung on four gold-overlaid pillars with silver sockets. A screen for the door was embroidered and hung on five pillars with gold capitals and bronze sockets. Every detail is reported as completed.

Verses that carry the chapter

• ““Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Yahweh has commanded.” (Exodus 36:1)” (Exodus 36:1) — This verse identifies the workers as those in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding, showing that skill for the sanctuary is a divine gift, not merely human talent.
• “They spoke to Moses, saying, “The people have brought much more than enough for the service of the work which Yahweh commanded to make.” (Exodus 36:5)” (Exodus 36:5) — The people have brought much more than enough, a striking testimony to their willing generosity and the abundance of the offering.
• “For the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work, and too much.” (Exodus 36:7) — The text states that the stuff was sufficient and too much, underscoring that the need was fully met and exceeded, so the work could proceed without lack.
• “He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman.” (Exodus 36:35) — The veil with cherubim, made by a skillful workman, represents the careful artistry and reverence required for the most holy place.

Gospel connection

The tabernacle built in Exodus 36 points forward to the greater dwelling of God with humanity. The careful work, the costly materials, and the separation of the veil all anticipate the need for a mediator and a sacrifice. In the New Testament, Jesus is the true tabernacle, the one who tabernacled among us, and through his death the veil of the temple was torn, opening access to God. The generous offerings of Israel also echo the greater generosity of God in giving his Son, and the willing service of the wise-hearted reminds us that God equips his people by his Spirit for the work of his kingdom.

Application

This chapter asks the reader to consider how they respond to God's work. The Israelites gave so freely that they had to be restrained, which challenges stinginess and half-hearted giving. It also shows that God gives wisdom and skill for specific tasks, so no act of service in his house is unimportant. The detailed obedience of the craftsmen encourages believers to follow God's instructions carefully rather than improvising. Finally, the unity of the tabernacle, held together by clasps and bars, pictures the church as a body joined together for God's dwelling. Readers are invited to examine their own willingness to give, to serve with the gifts God has given, and to pursue the unity of the Spirit.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not name any of the wise-hearted men besides Bezalel and Oholiab, nor does it describe their personal backgrounds or motives beyond the stirring of their hearts. It does not specify the exact location of the construction, the timeline, or the number of workers. It does not claim that the people were coerced; rather, they were restrained from bringing more. The text does not explain how the wisdom was imparted or what the cherubim looked like. It also does not mention any failure or sin in the building process. Where the text is silent, we should not add details.

Questions for study

1. What does the chapter say about why the people brought so much, and how did Moses respond to their abundance?
2. How does the text describe the source of the workers' skill and willingness? What does that suggest about service in God's work?
3. Why do you think the chapter gives such detailed measurements and descriptions of the curtains, boards, and coverings?
4. What is the significance of the tabernacle being made as a single unit through the clasps and bars?
5. How might the generosity and restraint in this chapter challenge or encourage your own giving and service?

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Related studies: Exodus 1 Bible Study, Exodus 10 Bible Study, Exodus 11 Bible Study, Exodus 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Who were the main craftsmen in Exodus 36?

Bezalel and Oholiab are named, along with every wise-hearted person whom Yahweh had given wisdom and whose heart stirred them to come to the work.

Why did Moses stop the people from bringing more offerings?

Because the craftsmen reported that the people had brought much more than enough for the work, and the stuff they had was sufficient and too much.

What materials were used for the tabernacle coverings?

The inner curtains were of fine twined linen with blue, purple, and scarlet, and cherubim. Over that were curtains of goats' hair, then rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.