Exodus 35

After the golden calf and Israel’s renewed covenant, Moses now gives the people God’s plan for building the tabernacle. He begins with the Sabbath, then calls for willing gifts and skilled hands. The people respond so generously that the work is amply supplied, and God names and fills the craftsmen He has chosen.

Exodus 35:1

Moses gathers the whole people to hear what the LORD has commanded. The tabernacle will be built by all Israel together, not by a few. Everything that follows rests on God’s word, not on human invention.

BSA: assembled (“gathered, summoned”): The whole people are called together, so the work belongs to everyone.

Exodus 35:2-3

Before any building instructions, God repeats the Sabbath. Six days are for work; the seventh is holy, a day of complete rest. Even the sacred project must not push aside the Lord’s day. The command to kindle no fire shows how total the rest was meant to be.

BSA: holy (“set apart, sacred”): The day is set apart for God, not just emptied of work.

Hebrew: שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן (shabbat shabbaton, H7676) — “a sabbath of solemn rest.” The doubled word stresses the fullest, most complete rest, a day to stop entirely and belong to the LORD.

See also: Exodus 31:15-17; Mark 2:27.

Exodus 35:4-5

The call for gifts comes with one key condition: the heart. Nothing is taken by force. God asks only from those whose hearts are willing. Gold, silver and bronze lead the list of materials.

BSA: willing (“noble, generous”): God wants gifts that flow from a generous heart, not from pressure.

See also: 2 Corinthians 9:7.

Exodus 35:6-9

The list continues: colored yarns, linen, goat hair, skins, acacia wood, oil, spices and precious stones. These were largely things the people had carried out of Egypt. Their plunder and possessions now become materials for God’s dwelling.

BSA: acacia wood (“shittim wood, from thorny trees”): A hard, durable desert wood, well suited to a portable sanctuary.

See also: Exodus 12:35-36.

Exodus 35:10

God now calls for workers as well as gifts. Every skilled craftsman is invited to come and make what the LORD has commanded. Skill itself is treated as a gift to be offered back to Him.

BSA: skilled (“wise-hearted”): In Scripture such skill is a kind of wisdom of the heart, not just trained hands.

Exodus 35:11-12

The list begins with the tabernacle’s framework: tent, covering, frames, bars and bases. Then comes the ark with its mercy seat and the veil that shields it. The ark, where God met His people, is the center of the whole design.

BSA: mercy seat (“golden lid, atonement cover”): It was the place where atoning blood was sprinkled, so God’s presence met sinners with mercy.

See also: Leviticus 16:14-15; Hebrews 9:3-5.

Exodus 35:13-15

Inside the holy place stand the table with the Bread of the Presence, the lampstand, and the altar of incense. Bread, light and fragrant prayer-smoke picture fellowship, illumination and worship before God. A curtain marks the doorway.

BSA: Bread of the Presence (“showbread, sacred bread, food offered to God”): Bread set continually before God’s face shows constant fellowship with Him.

See also: Leviticus 24:5-8; Psalm 141:2.

Exodus 35:16-17

Outside, in the courtyard, stands the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, and the basin for washing. Sacrifice and cleansing come first for anyone approaching God. The courtyard hangings mark off the sacred space.

BSA: altar (“place of sacrifice”): The altar is where blood was shed, so the way to God begins with sacrifice.

See also: Exodus 30:17-21.

Exodus 35:18-19

Even the tent pegs and ropes are listed, so no detail is too small for God. The priests’ woven garments close the list. Those who serve in the holy place are clothed for their work as carefully as the building is made.

BSA: holy (“sacred, consecrated”): The garments are set apart for God’s service, marking the priests’ calling.

See also: Exodus 28:2-4.

Exodus 35:20-21

The people leave Moses and return with gifts, moved from within. Two things stir them: the heart and the spirit. Giving here is a response to God, not a tax. The gifts serve the tent, its services and the holy garments.

BSA: stirred (“whose heart was moved, whose spirit was willing”): The gift begins as an inward lifting of the heart before any hand opens.

Hebrew: נְשָׂאוֹ (nesa’o, H5375) — “lifted him up.” The verb means to lift or raise. Their hearts were lifted up, as if God picked them up and carried them to give.

Exodus 35:22

Men and women alike bring their gold jewelry: brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces. They give what they treasure and wear. The gold is presented as a wave offering, lifted before the LORD and given over to Him.

BSA: wave offering (“a specific type of offering”): The gift is lifted and presented to God, showing it now belongs to Him.

See also: Exodus 32:2-3.

Exodus 35:23-24

Each person gives what they have. Some bring yarn and skins, some silver or bronze, some wood. No one is asked for what he lacks. The variety shows that every kind of gift, large or small, has a place.

BSA: everyone (“all individuals, every person”): Giving is open to each person according to what he holds.

See also: 2 Corinthians 8:12.

Exodus 35:25-26

The women spin with their own hands, fine yarn and even tough goat hair. Their skill is called wise-heartedness. Ordinary daily work, offered to God, becomes part of His sanctuary.

BSA: skilled (“wise-hearted”): The women’s spinning is called a wisdom of the heart, as honorable as any other craft. stirred (“lifted, inspired”): Their hearts were lifted up to serve, not merely told to.

Exodus 35:27-28

The leaders bring the precious stones, spices and oil. They are listed after the others, perhaps because they waited to see what was needed. Whatever the reason, they too give for the priestly garments, the lamp, the anointing oil and the incense.

BSA: leaders (“high-ranking officials, captains”): Those with rank and wealth also share in the giving.

Exodus 35:29

The summary stresses willingness. Men and women, all moved in the heart, bring a freewill offering. They do it for the work the LORD commanded through Moses, so their generosity fits God’s plan and is also fully voluntary.

BSA: freewill offering (“voluntary gift, spontaneous donation”): The gift is given freely, from desire rather than duty alone.

See also: 1 Chronicles 29:9.

Exodus 35:30-31

God has called Bezalel by name, from Judah. He fills him with the Spirit of God, giving skill, ability and knowledge. Artistic craftsmanship is shown as a work of God’s Spirit, not just natural talent.

BSA: filled (“completely controlled, enabled”): The Spirit fully equips him for the task, so the skill is a gift from God. Bezalel (“in the shadow of God”): His name suggests one who works under God’s protecting shadow.

See also: Exodus 31:1-5.

Exodus 35:32-33

Bezalel’s gifts cover metalwork, gem-cutting and woodcarving. He is made a master of every artistic craft. Beauty made for God’s house is a worthy use of human creativity.

BSA: artistic (“skilful, cunning”): His work is thoughtful design, not merely routine labor.

Exodus 35:34

God also gives Bezalel and Oholiab, from the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach. Skill is meant to be passed on. A man from Judah and a man from Dan work together, one of the leading tribes beside one of the humbler.

BSA: teach (“direct, show, instruct”): The gift includes instructing others so the work is shared.

Exodus 35:35

The chapter closes by praising their range: engraving, designing, embroidering and weaving. God filled them with skill for every kind of work. The sanctuary was built by people whom He Himself equipped.

BSA: filled (“given wisdom of heart, instructed with wisdom”): Their ability is described as wisdom placed in the heart by God.

See also: Exodus 36:1.