Exodus 35:10-19 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

The Skilled Workmen Are Called To Assist (Exodus 35:10-19).

Exodus 35:10-19

‘And let every skilled (‘wise-hearted') man among you come, and make all that Yahweh has commanded, the Dwellingplace, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; the Ark, and its staves, the mercy-seat, and the Veil of the screen; the Table, and its staves, and all its vessels, and the showbread; the Lampstand also for the light, and its vessels, and its lamps, and the oil for the light; and the altar of incense, and its staves; and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense; and the screen for the door, at the door of the Dwellingplace; the altar of burnt-offering, with its grating of brass, it staves, and all its vessels; the laver and its base; the hangings of the court, its pillars and their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the Dwellingplace, and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron ‘the priest', and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.'

The skilled craftsmen were to bring their skills freely and make the different furniture and components of the Dwellingplace which Yahweh had commanded. For details of these see on Exodus 25:10 to Exodus 28:43. Note that the order in which they are mentioned goes from the Holy of Holies to the outer court depending on the level of holiness. This order differs from that in Exodus 25-30 because the intention is different. There the aim was to present first the details of the means by which Yahweh approached His people, followed then by the means by which they approached Yahweh. Here it is in levels of holiness. We should note that in making this furniture they were not following their own likes and dislikes, but only concerned to do His will.

Exodus 35:10-19

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,

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.