Bible Commentaries

Exodus 35:1 And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These [are] the words which the LORD hath commanded, that [ye] should do them.

Ver. 1. And said unto them, These, &c,] He often goes over the same things, as the knife doth the whetstone. Good things must be repeated, sicut in acuendo. It is Moses’s own metaphor. [Deuteronomy 6:7]

Exodus 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

Ver. 2. Six days shall work be done.] This duty is so oft inculcated, to show the necessity, excellency, difficulty of well doing it.

Exodus 35:3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

Ver. 3. Ye shall kindle no fire,] sc., For the furtherance of the work of the tabernacle: or, at least, that is not of absolute necessity. It might also signify that in the kingdom of heaven we shall be set free from all the fire and scorching heat of affliction.

Exodus 35:4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This [is] the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,

Ver. 4-7, &c. Much of this chapter is to be read in the twenty-fifth, and elsewhere. See the notes there.

Exodus 35:5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever [is] of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD gold, and silver, and brass,

Ver. 5. {See Trapp on "Exodus 35:4"}

Exodus 35:6 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ [hair],

Ver. 6. {See Trapp on "Exodus 35:4"}

Exodus 35:7 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,

Ver. 7. {See Trapp on "Exodus 35:4"}

Exodus 35:22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, [and] brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered [offered] an offering of gold unto the LORD.

Ver. 22. And brought bracelets.] Glad they had anything of price to dedicate to God and to seal up their thankfulness for this readmittance into his love and favour. {See Trapp on "Matthew 9:10"} Nazianzen put this price upon his Athenian learning, wherein he was very famous, that he had something of value to part with for Christ. These in the text, in token of their true repentance, brought their bracelets and other ornaments, as freely for the service of the tabernacle, as erst they had done to the making of the golden calf.

Exodus 35:32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

Ver. 32. And to devise curious works.] "This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working." [Isaiah 28:29] Pliny ^(a) makes mention of some famous painters, whose rare pieces were Oppidorum opibus venditae: sold for so many towns’ wealth. A certain craftsman set a watch clock upon a ring that Charles V wore upon his finger. ^(b) King Ferdinand sent to Solyman the Turk, for a present, a wonderful globe of silver of most rare and curious device; daily expressing the hourly passing of the time, the motions of the planets, the change and full of the moon; lively expressing the wonderful conversions of the celestial frame. ^(c) To which I may well add that admirable invention of printing, a special blessing of God to mankind.