Exo 35: "It would have been exciting to the nation when the
tabernacle was completed. It represented the presence of the Deity in their
midst, the assurance of ultimate salvation, and the redemption of the nation
from the dry and howling wilderness of trial and probation to the joy of the
Promised Land. Moses records: [1] The people are reminded of their spiritual
obligations: vv 1-3. [2] Free gifts solicited for the tabernacle: vv 4-19. [3]
The people willingly respond: vv 20-29. [4] The workmen called to their labour:
vv 30-35.
"The people express their enthusiasm in generosity. They gave
according to their ability to do so (v 24). Their hearts were stirred and their
spirits made willing (v 21). Men were chosen for their special skills and were
expected to use those gifts (vv 30-35). Thus these gifts were for God. They
originated in a willing heart (vv 21, 22, 26). The gifts were supplied according
to opportunity (vv 10, 24, 25, 35). They resulted in abundance supplied to
Yahweh (Exo 36:5-7), and set forth a remarkable lesson for generosity in the
work of the Truth. That generosity is seen in a willing offering, not in a
self-satisfying labour" (GEM).
Exo 35:5
EVERYONE WHO IS WILLING: "Each man should give what he
has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver" (2Co 9:7).
Exo 35:7
SEA COWS: Heb "tachashim". Translated, variously, "sea
cows" (NIV; WEB); "dugongs" (mg); "porpoises" (NASB); "seals" (JPS); or
"badgers" (KJV; Roth). The general scholarly consensus on the word is that it is
Egyptian in origin. The Arabic word "duhas" refers to a dolphin. They are common
in the Red Sea; their skins are used for clothing by the Bedouin. The word has
also been connected to an Egyptian word for "leather" (BDB). This is followed by
NRSV and NET ("fine leather").
Exo 35:13
THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE: "The bread of the face(s)",
or "shewbread" (AV). Called also "perpetual bread" (Num 4:7).
Exo 35:20
Vv 20-29: Without a willing mind, costly offerings would be
abhorred. With it, the smallest will be accepted. Our hearts are willing, when
we cheerfully assist in promoting the truth both by giving our money and our
time and our labor. The women who spun the goats' hair were wise-hearted,
because they did it heartily to the Lord. Thus anyone who attends to his work in
the faith and fear of God, may be as wise, for his place, as anyone else, and be
equally accepted of the Lord. Our wisdom and duty consist in giving God the
glory and use of our talents, be they many or few: "So whether you eat or drink
or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1Co 10:31).
Exo 35:22
As part of a (symbolic) "New Creation", the Tabernacle was to
have gold and jewels (cp Gen 2:11,12).
Idolatry and immorality are often linked to such items of
jewelry in the ancient Near East. The gold ornaments obtained from the Egyptians
(Exo 3:22; 11:2; 12:35) were actually plunder (Exo 12:36). Possibly the gold
ornaments had a direct association with the false worship of the Egyptians (cp
Amo 5:26). And so the putting off of Israel's ornaments and jewelry was an
appropriate act of repentance, because these ornaments were similar to those
which had been contributed to make the golden calf (Exo 32:2-4). These images
seem to have had an idolatrous association with the past, with pagan gods. Thus,
to put off these ornaments was to show Israel's repentance over the golden calf
incident.
It looks as though the Israelites never again put on these
ornaments: "So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb" (Exo
33:6). Probably these ornaments, which the Israelites put off here, were later
offered to God to be used for the furnishings of the Tabernacle (Exo 35:21,22).
As implements of idolatry, these golden ornaments were fit only for destruction.
But as tokens of Israel's repentance, these ornaments were fit for use in the
Tabernacle furnishings, in the very presence of God. In this way the "idols" of
Egypt were still made to serve the One true God!
Exo 35:23
SEA COWS: Heb "tachashim". Translated, variously, "sea
cows" (NIV; WEB); "dugongs" (mg); "porpoises" (NASB); "seals" (JPS); or
"badgers" (KJV; Roth). The general scholarly consensus on the word is that it is
Egyptian in origin. The Arabic word "duhas" refers to a dolphin. They are common
in the Red Sea; their skins are used for clothing by the Bedouin. The word has
also been connected to an Egyptian word for "leather" (BDB). This is followed by
NRSV and NET ("fine leather").