# Overview Exodus Chapter 36 continues the narrative of the construction of the #Tabernacle, a central element of worship and the presence of #God among the #Israelites. The chapter begins with #Bezalel and #Oholiab, along with every skilled person whom the Lord has given wisdom and understanding, being tasked with the work. They are to carry out the construction as commanded by #Moses, based on the instructions given to him on #MountSinai. The people of Israel respond with overwhelming generosity, bringing more than enough materials for the work, which leads to a command to cease bringing additional offerings. This reflects the obedience and eagerness of the Israelites to contribute to the #Lord's work, exemplifying their commitment to the covenant. The chapter goes on to describe the actual work on the Tabernacle: the construction of the curtains, the frames, and the veils, all made according to the specific divine instructions. The curtains are crafted with fine twisted linen, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and adorned with cherubim woven into them by a skilled craftsman. The frames are built from #acacia wood, overlaid with gold, with silver bases. The detailed and careful construction of the Tabernacle signifies the holiness and sanctity of the space where God's presence will dwell among His people. Each element is crafted with precision and reverence, emphasizing the importance of following God's directives exactly, showcasing the Israelites' dedication to worshipping God in the manner He prescribed. ## Theological Insights Exodus 36 continues the narrative of the construction of the #Tabernacle, which is central to the worship and spiritual life of #Israel. This chapter highlights several key theological themes: 1. **Divine Provision and Willingness**: The chapter opens with a focus on the skilled craftsmen, #Bezalel and #Oholiab, who are filled with the Spirit of God to accomplish the work. This underscores the theme of divine provision and calling, as God equips those He calls for specific tasks. The willingness of the people to contribute both materials and labor (Exodus 36:3-7) reflects a communal response to God's covenant and an understanding that all offerings and gifts come from God’s own provision. 2. **Faithful Obedience**: The meticulous detail in the construction of the Tabernacle signifies the importance of faithful obedience to God’s instructions. The detailed adherence to the designs given to #Moses on Mount #Sinai (as seen in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25]]) reflects a commitment to executing God’s will precisely. This obedience is a recurring theme throughout the #Pentateuch, illustrating that true worship involves aligning with God’s commands. 3. **God’s Dwelling Among His People**: The Tabernacle symbolizes God’s presence with His people, a concept that is central to the narrative of Exodus. This theme finds its fulfillment in the New Testament, where Jesus is described as the Word made flesh who "tabernacled" among us (John 1:14). The Tabernacle thus serves as a precursor to God’s ultimate plan of redemption and His desire to dwell intimately with humanity. 4. **Generosity and Abundance**: The overwhelming generosity of the Israelites, who brought more than enough materials for the construction, points to a heart transformed by gratitude and worship. This generosity is a reflection of the abundance of God’s blessings and His desire for His people to respond with open hearts and hands. The narrative in Exodus 36:6-7, where Moses has to restrain the people from giving more, illustrates a profound communal expression of devotion and unity. 5. **The Role of Community in Worship**: The construction of the Tabernacle was a collective effort involving the entire community of Israel. This illustrates the theological principle that worship is not merely an individual act but a communal one. The Tabernacle serves as the focal point of Israel’s worship and identity as the people of God, emphasizing the significance of community in the life of faith. These themes in Exodus 36 not only highlight the Israelites' devotion and obedience but also set a pattern for understanding worship, community, and divine presence that resonates throughout both the Old and New Testaments. ## Thematic Connections ### Obedience to God's Command Exodus 36 highlights the meticulous obedience of the Israelites in following God's instructions for building the #tabernacle. This obedience connects with earlier themes in Exodus where adherence to God's commands was crucial, such as in the observance of the #Passover in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12]]. The completion of the tabernacle according to God's specifications mirrors the construction of Noah's ark in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 6]], where precise obedience was essential for fulfillment of God’s plan. ### Generosity and Willingness of the People The chapter emphasizes the generosity and willing spirit of the people in contributing resources for the tabernacle, resonating with the earlier call for offerings in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25]]. This theme of generosity is echoed in the New Testament, such as in [[2 Corinthians/2 Corinthians Chapter 9]] where Paul speaks of cheerful giving. The abundance of resources, to the point of Moses asking the people to stop giving, reflects a deep communal commitment to God’s work, reminiscent of the Israelites' initial eagerness to follow God's covenant. ### Skilled Artisanship as Worship The role of #Bezalel, #Oholiab, and other skilled artisans in crafting the tabernacle highlights the theme of using one's talents for divine purposes. This connection is evident in the wisdom and skill granted by God to these artisans, similar to the wisdom given to #Solomon for building the temple in [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 6]]. The craftsmanship in Exodus 36 underscores the idea that work, when done for God’s glory, is a form of worship. ### The Presence of God Among His People The construction of the tabernacle is central to the theme of God dwelling among His people. This anticipates the later fulfillment of God's presence in the temple in [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 8]] and ultimately in the incarnation of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], as described in [[John/John Chapter 1]], where “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The tabernacle serves as a physical reminder of God's promise to be with Israel, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture. ### Covenant Faithfulness The chapter reflects the covenant faithfulness between God and Israel. The faithful execution of the tabernacle's construction signifies Israel's commitment to the covenant established at Sinai, as recorded in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 19]]. This theme runs parallel to the perpetual call for covenant faithfulness seen throughout the Bible, including the prophetic reminders in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31]] where a new covenant is promised, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Skilled Workmen and the Tabernacle In Exodus 36, the construction of the #Tabernacle and the work of skilled artisans like #Bezalel and #Oholiab reflect the fulfillment of God's promises to equip His people for His purposes. The detailed instructions and the Spirit-filled craftsmanship fulfill God’s earlier commandments given in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 31]], where God promises to fill Bezalel with the Spirit of God, with ability, intelligence, and knowledge in craftsmanship. This is prophetic of the New Testament believers who receive spiritual gifts to build the body of Christ, as seen in [[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 12]]. ### God's Dwelling with His People The Tabernacle's construction fulfills God's promise of dwelling among His people, as declared in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25|Exodus 25:8]]: "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." This foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence with humanity through [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], who is referred to as "Immanuel" – God with us – in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 1|Matthew 1:23]]. Moreover, the presence of God dwelling with His people is fully realized in the New Jerusalem, as depicted in [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 21]], where God’s dwelling place is with humanity. ### The Overflowing Generosity The people's overwhelming generosity in providing materials for the Tabernacle's construction fulfills God's command for a freewill offering, as stated in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25|Exodus 25:2]]. This prefigures the New Testament teaching of cheerful giving, as indicated in [[2 Corinthians/2 Corinthians Chapter 9|2 Corinthians 9:7]], where Paul exhorts believers to give not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. The abundance of materials reflects the readiness of hearts moved by God’s Spirit, highlighting the principle that God provides abundantly for His work when His people respond to His call with willing hearts. ## Verses - **Exodus 36:1** - "The Lord has gifted Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other skilled craftsmen with wisdom and ability to perform any task involved in building the sanctuary. Let them construct and furnish the Tabernacle, just as the Lord has commanded." - See also: [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 31]], where Bezalel and Oholiab are first mentioned for their skills. - **Exodus 36:2** - "So Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and all the others who were specifically gifted by the Lord and were eager to get to work." - **Exodus 36:3** - "Moses gave them the materials donated by the people of Israel as sacred offerings for the completion of the sanctuary. But the people continued to bring additional gifts each morning." - **Exodus 36:4** - "Finally the craftsmen who were working on the sanctuary left their work." - **Exodus 36:5** - "They went to Moses and reported, 'The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do!'" - **Exodus 36:6** - "So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: 'Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!' So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings." - **Exodus 36:7** - "Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project." - **Exodus 36:8** - "The skilled craftsmen made ten curtains of finely woven linen for the Tabernacle. Then Bezalel decorated them with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim." - The cherubim are also mentioned in the design of the Temple in [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 6]]. - **Exodus 36:9** - "All ten curtains were exactly the same size—42 feet long and 6 feet wide." - **Exodus 36:10** - "Five of these curtains were joined together to make one long curtain, and the other five were joined to make a second long curtain." - **Exodus 36:11** - "He made fifty loops of blue yarn and put them along the edge of the last curtain in each set." - **Exodus 36:12** - "The fifty loops along the edge of one curtain matched the fifty loops along the edge of the other curtain." - **Exodus 36:13** - "Then he made fifty gold clasps and fastened the long curtains together with the clasps. In this way, the Tabernacle was made of one continuous piece." - **Exodus 36:14** - "He made eleven curtains of goat-hair cloth to serve as a tent covering for the Tabernacle." - **Exodus 36:15** - "These eleven curtains were all exactly the same size—45 feet long and 6 feet wide." - **Exodus 36:16** - "Bezalel joined five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, and the other six were joined to make a second long curtain." - **Exodus 36:17** - "He made fifty loops for the edge of each large curtain." - **Exodus 36:18** - "He also made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the long curtains together. In this way, the tent covering was made of one continuous piece." - **Exodus 36:19** - "He completed the tent covering with a layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather." - **Exodus 36:20** - "For the framework of the Tabernacle, Bezalel constructed frames of acacia wood." - **Exodus 36:21** - "Each frame was 15 feet high and 27 inches wide," - **Exodus 36:22** - "with two pegs under each frame. All the frames were identical." - **Exodus 36:23** - "He made twenty of these frames to support the curtains on the south side of the Tabernacle." - **Exodus 36:24** - "He also made forty silver bases—two bases under each frame, with the pegs fitting securely into the bases." - **Exodus 36:25** - "For the north side of the Tabernacle, he made another twenty frames," - **Exodus 36:26** - "with their forty silver bases, two bases under each frame." - **Exodus 36:27** - "He made six frames for the rear—the west side of the Tabernacle—" - **Exodus 36:28** - "along with two additional frames to reinforce the rear corners of the Tabernacle." - **Exodus 36:29** - "These corner frames were matched at the bottom and firmly attached at the top with a single ring, forming a single corner unit. Both of these corner units were made the same way." - **Exodus 36:30** - "So there were eight frames at the rear of the Tabernacle, set in sixteen silver bases—two bases under each frame." - **Exodus 36:31** - "Then he made crossbars of acacia wood to link the frames, five crossbars for the north side of the Tabernacle" - **Exodus 36:32** - "and five for the south side. He also made five crossbars for the rear of the Tabernacle, which faced west." - **Exodus 36:33** - "He made the middle crossbar to attach halfway up the frames. It ran all the way from one end of the Tabernacle to the other." - **Exodus 36:34** - "He overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. Then he overlaid the crossbars with gold as well." - **Exodus 36:35** - "For the inside of the Tabernacle, he made a special curtain of finely woven linen. He decorated it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim." - **Exodus 36:36** - "For the curtain, he made four posts of acacia wood and four gold hooks. He overlaid the posts with gold and set them in four silver bases." - **Exodus 36:37** - "Then he made another curtain for the entrance to the sacred tent. He made it of finely woven linen and embroidered it with exquisite designs using blue, purple, and scarlet thread." - **Exodus 36:38** - "This curtain was hung on gold hooks attached to five posts. The posts with their decorated tops and bands were overlaid with gold, and the five bases were cast from bronze."