mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 36.xml

<div2 id="Ex.xxxvii" n="xxxvii" next="Ex.xxxviii" prev="Ex.xxxvi" progress="49.50%" title="Chapter XXXVI">
<h2 id="Ex.xxxvii-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.xxxvii-p0.2">CHAP. XXXVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.xxxvii-p1">In this chapter, I. The work of the tabernacle is
begun, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.1-Exod.36.4" parsed="|Exod|36|1|36|4" passage="Ex 36:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. II. A
stop is put to the people's contributions, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.5-Exod.36.7" parsed="|Exod|36|5|36|7" passage="Ex 36:5-7">ver. 5-7</scripRef>. III. A particular account is given
of the making of the tabernacle itself; the fine curtains of it,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.8-Exod.36.13" parsed="|Exod|36|8|36|13" passage="Ex 36:8-13">ver. 8-13</scripRef>. The coarse
ones, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.14-Exod.36.19" parsed="|Exod|36|14|36|19" passage="Ex 36:14-19">ver. 14-19</scripRef>. The
boards, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.20-Exod.36.30" parsed="|Exod|36|20|36|30" passage="Ex 36:20-30">ver. 20-30</scripRef>. The
bars, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.31-Exod.36.34" parsed="|Exod|36|31|36|34" passage="Ex 36:31-34">ver. 31-34</scripRef>. The
partition veil, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.35-Exod.36.36" parsed="|Exod|36|35|36|36" passage="Ex 36:35,36">ver. 35,
36</scripRef>. And the hanging for the door, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.37-Exod.36.38" parsed="|Exod|36|37|36|38" passage="Ex 36:37,38">ver. 37</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36" parsed="|Exod|36|0|0|0" passage="Ex 36" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.1-Exod.36.7" parsed="|Exod|36|1|36|7" passage="Ex 36:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.36.1-Exod.36.7">
<h4 id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.11">Appointment of Bezaleel and
Aholiab. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxvii-p1.12">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxvii-p2">1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every
wise hearted man, in whom the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxvii-p2.1">Lord</span>
put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work
for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxvii-p2.2">Lord</span> had commanded.   2 And Moses
called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose
heart the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxvii-p2.3">Lord</span> had put wisdom,
<i>even</i> 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 <i>withal.</i> And they
brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.   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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxvii-p2.4">Lord</span>
commanded to make.   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxvii-p3">I. The workmen set in without delay. Then
they wrought, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.1" parsed="|Exod|36|1|0|0" passage="Ex 36:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>.
When God had qualified them for the work, then they applied
themselves to it. Note, The talents we are entrusted with must not
be laid up, but laid out; not hid in a napkin, but traded with.
What have we all our gifts for, but to do good with them? They
began when Moses called them, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.2" parsed="|Exod|36|2|0|0" passage="Ex 36:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. Even those whom God has qualified for, and inclined
to, the service of the tabernacle, yet must wait for a regular call
to it, either extraordinary, as that of prophets and apostles, or
ordinary, as that of pastors and teachers. And observe who they
were that Moses called: Those <i>in whose heart God had put
wisdom</i> for this purpose, beyond their natural capacity, and
<i>whose heart stirred them up to come to the work</i> in good
earnest. Note, Those are to be called to the building of the gospel
tabernacle whom God has by his grace made in some measure fit for
the work and free to engage in it. Ability and willingness (with
resolution) are the two things to be regarded in the call of
ministers. Has God given them not only knowledge, but wisdom? (for
those that would win souls must be wise, and have their hearts
stirred up to come to the work, and not to the honour only; to do
it, and not to talk of it only), let them come to it with full
purpose of heart to go through with it. The materials which the
people had contributed were delivered by Moses to the workmen,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.3" parsed="|Exod|36|3|0|0" passage="Ex 36:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. They could not
create a tabernacle, that is, make it out of nothing, nor work,
unless they had something to work upon; the people therefore
brought the materials and Moses put them into their hands. Precious
souls are the materials of the gospel tabernacle; they are <i>built
up a spiritual house,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.5" parsed="|1Pet|2|5|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:5">1 Pet. ii.
5</scripRef>. To this end they are to offer themselves a free-will
offering to the Lord, for his service (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.15.16" parsed="|Rom|15|16|0|0" passage="Ro 15:16">Rom. xv. 16</scripRef>), and they are then committed to
the care of his ministers, as builders, to be framed and wrought
upon by their edification and increase in holiness, till they all
come, like the curtains of the tabernacle, <i>in the unity of the
faith, to be a holy temple,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Eph.2.21-Eph.2.22 Bible:Eph.4.12-Eph.4.13" parsed="|Eph|2|21|2|22;|Eph|4|12|4|13" passage="Eph 2:21,22,4:12,13">Eph. ii. 21, 22; iv. 12, 13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxvii-p4">II. The contributions restrained. The
people continued to bring <i>free offerings every morning,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.3" parsed="|Exod|36|3|0|0" passage="Ex 36:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Note, We should
always make it our morning's work to bring our offerings unto the
Lord; even the spiritual offerings of prayer and praise, and a
broken heart surrendered entirely to God. This is that which the
duty of every day requires. God's compassions are new every
morning, and so must our duty to him be. Probably there were some
that were backward at first to bring their offering, but their
neighbours' forwardness stirred them up and shamed them. The zeal
of some provoked many. There are those who will be content to
follow who yet do not care for leading in a good work. It is best
to be forward, but better late than never. Or perhaps some who had
offered at first, having pleasure in reflecting upon it, offered
more; so far were they from grudging what they had contributed,
that they doubled their contribution. Thus, in charity, <i>give a
portion to seven, and also to eight;</i> having given much, give
more. Now observe, 1. The honesty of the workmen. When they had cut
out their work, and found how their stuff held out, and that the
people were still forward to bring in more, they went in a body to
Moses to tell him that there needed no more contributions,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.4-Exod.36.5" parsed="|Exod|36|4|36|5" passage="Ex 36:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>. Had they
sought their own things, they had now a fair opportunity of
enriching themselves by the people's gifts; for they might have
made up their work, and converted the overplus to their own use, as
perquisites of their place. But they were men of integrity, that
scorned to do so mean a thing as to sponge upon the people, and
enrich themselves with that which was offered to the Lord. Those
are the greatest cheats that cheat the public. If to murder many is
worse than to murder one, by the same rule to defraud communities,
and to rob the church or state, is a much greater crime than to
pick the pocket of a single person. But these workmen were not only
ready to account for all they received, but were not willing to
receive more than they had occasion for, lest they should come
either into the temptation or under the suspicion of taking it to
themselves. These were men that knew when they had enough. 2. The
liberality of the people. Though they saw what an abundance was
contributed, yet they continued to offer, till they were forbidden
by proclamation, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.6-Exod.36.7" parsed="|Exod|36|6|36|7" passage="Ex 36:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6,
7</scripRef>. A rare instance! Most need a spur to quicken their
charity; few need a bridle to check it, yet these did. Had Moses
aimed to enrich himself, he might have suffered them still to bring
in their offerings; and when the work was finished might have taken
the remainder to himself: but he also preferred the public before
his own private interest, and was therein a good example to all in
public trusts. It is said (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.5" parsed="|Exod|36|5|0|0" passage="Ex 36:5"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>), <i>The people were restrained from bringing;</i>
they looked upon it as a restraint upon them not to be allowed to
do more for the tabernacle; such was the zeal of those people, who
gave <i>to their power, yea, and beyond their power, praying</i>
the collectors <i>with much entreaty to receive the gift,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.8.3-2Cor.8.4" parsed="|2Cor|8|3|8|4" passage="2Co 8:3,4">2 Cor. viii. 3, 4</scripRef>. These
were the fruits of a first love; in these last-days charity has
grown too cold for us to expect such things from it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxxvii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.8-Exod.36.13" parsed="|Exod|36|8|36|13" passage="Ex 36:8-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.36.8-Exod.36.13">
<h4 id="Ex.xxxvii-p4.7">Construction of the
Tabernacle. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxvii-p4.8">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxvii-p5">8 And every wise hearted man among them that
wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains <i>of</i> fine
twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: <i>with</i>
cherubims of cunning work made he them.   9 The length of one
curtain <i>was</i> twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one
curtain four cubits: the curtains <i>were</i> all of one size.
  10 And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and
<i>the other</i> 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
<i>another</i> 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 <i>was</i> in the coupling of the second:
the loops held one <i>curtain</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxvii-p6">The first work they set about was the
framing of the house, which must be done before the furniture of it
was prepared. This house was not made of timber or stone, but of
curtains curiously embroidered and coupled together. This served to
typify the state of the church in this world, the palace of God's
kingdom among men. 1. Though it is upon the earth, yet its
foundation is not in the earth, as that of a house is; no, Christ's
kingdom is not of this world, nor founded in it. 2. It is mean and
mutable, and in a militant state; shepherds dwelt in tents, and God
is the Shepherd of Israel; soldiers dwelt in tents, and the Lord is
a man of war, and his church marches through an enemy's country,
and must fight its way. The kings of the earth enclose themselves
in cedar (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.22.15" parsed="|Jer|22|15|0|0" passage="Jer 22:15">Jer. xxii. 15</scripRef>),
but the ark of God was lodged in curtains only. 3. Yet there is a
beauty in holiness; the curtains were embroidered, so is the church
adorned with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, that <i>raiment of
needle-work,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.14" parsed="|Ps|45|14|0|0" passage="Ps 45:14">Ps. xlv.
14</scripRef>. 4. The several societies of believers are united in
one, and, as here, all <i>become one tabernacle; for there is one
Lord, one faith, and one baptism.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxxvii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36" parsed="|Exod|36|0|0|0" passage="Ex 36" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxvii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.14-Exod.36.34" parsed="|Exod|36|14|36|34" passage="Ex 36:14-34" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.36.14-Exod.36.34">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxvii-p7">14 And he made curtains <i>of</i> goats'
<i>hair</i> for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he
made them.   15 The length of one curtain <i>was</i> thirty
cubits, and four cubits <i>was</i> the breadth of one curtain: the
eleven curtains <i>were</i> 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 <i>of</i> brass to couple the tent together, that it might
be one.   19 And he made a covering for the tent <i>of</i>
rams' skins dyed red, and a covering <i>of</i> badgers' skins above
<i>that.</i>   20 And he made boards for the tabernacle
<i>of</i> shittim wood, standing up.   21 The length of a
board <i>was</i> ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit
and a half.   22 One board had two tenons, equally distant one
from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the
tabernacle.   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,
<i>which is</i> 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.   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.   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 <i>were</i> sixteen sockets of silver, under
every board two sockets.   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 <i>of</i> gold
<i>to be</i> places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with
gold.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxvii-p8">Here, 1. The shelter and special protection
that the church is under are signified by the curtains of
hair-cloth, which were spread over the tabernacle, and the covering
of rams' skins and badgers' skins over them, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.14-Exod.36.19" parsed="|Exod|36|14|36|19" passage="Ex 36:14-19"><i>v.</i> 14-19</scripRef>. God has provided for his
people a <i>shadow from the heat, and a covert from storm and
rain,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.6" parsed="|Isa|4|6|0|0" passage="Isa 4:6">Isa. iv. 6</scripRef>. They
are armed against all weathers; the sun and the moon shall not
smite them: and they are protected from the storms of divine wrath,
that hail which will <i>sweep away the refuge of lies,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.28.17" parsed="|Isa|28|17|0|0" passage="Isa 28:17">Isa. xxviii. 17</scripRef>. Those
that dwell in God's house shall find, be the tempest ever so
violent, or the dropping ever so continual, it does not rain in. 2.
The strength and stability of the church, though it is but a
tabernacle, are signified by the boards and bars with which the
curtains were borne up, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.20-Exod.36.34" parsed="|Exod|36|20|36|34" passage="Ex 36:20-34"><i>v.</i>
20-34</scripRef>. The boards were coupled together and joined by
the bars which shot through them; for the union of the church, and
the hearty agreement of those that are its stays and supporters,
contribute abundantly to its strength and establishment.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxxvii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.35-Exod.36.38" parsed="|Exod|36|35|36|38" passage="Ex 36:35-38" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.36.35-Exod.36.38">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxvii-p9">35 And he made a vail <i>of</i> blue, and
purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: <i>with</i> cherubims
made he it of cunning work.   36 And he made thereunto four
pillars <i>of</i> shittim <i>wood,</i> and overlaid them with gold:
their hooks <i>were of</i> gold; and he cast for them four sockets
of silver.   37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door
<i>of</i> 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 <i>were of</i> brass.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxvii-p10">In the building of a house there is a great
deal of work about the doors and partitions. In the tabernacle
these were answerable to the rest of the fabric; there were
curtains for doors, and veils for partitions. 1. There was a veil
made for a partition between the holy place, and the most holy,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.35-Exod.36.36" parsed="|Exod|36|35|36|36" passage="Ex 36:35,36"><i>v.</i> 35, 36</scripRef>. This
signified the darkness and distance of that dispensation, compared
with the New Testament, which shows us the glory of God more
clearly and invites us to draw near to it; and the darkness and
distance of our present state, in comparison with heaven, where we
shall be <i>ever with the Lord</i> and <i>see him as he is.</i> 2.
There was a veil made for the door of the tabernacle, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxvii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.36.37-Exod.36.38" parsed="|Exod|36|37|36|38" passage="Ex 36:37,38"><i>v.</i> 37, 38</scripRef>. At this door the
people assembled, though forbidden to enter; for, while we are in
this present state, we must get as near to God as we can.</p>
</div></div2>