Exodus 36

Updated
2001-05-26; 14:31:15utc

The building of the tent

36:1-38

The separation into chapters of the material presented in ch. 35-40 is rather random and at some points incorrect. It seems, for instance, that vs. 35 of the previous chapter should not be separated from vs. 1 of this chapter. The only argument in favor of divisions is that it would make the reading seem tedious and more redundant, if no lines were drawn at all.

In ch. 35 the freewill offering was called for; the plan for the tent was laid out in detail, and the two main builders were appointed. In ch. 36 the offerings are transferred to the builders, and the erection of the tent is described in detail. Ch. 37 describes both the making of the furniture for the two inner chambers of the tent and also the anointing oil and the incense for the sacrifices. Ch. 38 deals with the making of everything that pertains to the outside of the tent: the pieces of furniture to be used there and the fence around the yard. It concludes with an inventory list of the metals used for the construction. Ch. 39 goes back inside for the making of the curtain that separates the two inner chambers, and it describes the way the garments are made. The conclusion presents the transfer of the finished product to Moses, who inspects it and declares it ready with a blessing that falls upon all the people. The final chapter of Exodus shows us how the building went up and how God took possession of it.

As we said before, all this moves too slowly for people of the twentieth century who are used to live in the fast lane of life. This may be exactly the lesson we will have to learn from these chapters. We are so used to rushing through time on earth that we cannot slow down when we are faced with eternity. People in the Middle Ages took two or more centuries to build their cathedrals to the Lord. It took Solomon seven years to build the temple in Jerusalem. It took Israel about one year in the desert to build the tabernacle. In our age of prefab and modular buildings and concrete structures that are poured in one day (and demolished in one), we have totally lost the love of detail and affinity to what is beautiful and functional and lasting. It can be very relaxing to go through these chapters and see how every piece is brought and waved before the Lord and then laid out and used and prepared and put together. If we find ourselves unable to do this, we should start at the end and work backwards; at the tent filled with the Shekinah, and examine the details of the structure.

"Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out-- until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels."[ 1 ]

Vs. 1 teaches us that skill and knowledge are gifts of God. True humility will not dwell upon our inability to do certain things. To be aware of one's abilities is not a lack of humility. We are humble if we know that our abilities are a gift from the Lord. It is also a gift from God if we learn to obey. Vs. 1 states: "The LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary [and] to do the work just as the LORD has commanded."

The vs. 3-7 paint us a picture that would be inconceivable in our present day: Too much came in for the project! I am trying to imagine a church or a mission society giving out the word to donors, please, not to send any more gifts, because the budget had been met! It is this kind of atmosphere that makes us understand why Moses goes over the details more than once. There was the vision of the reality God had shown him on top of the mountain, there was the blueprint and the spirit of freewill offering; there were the parts spread out on the desert floor, and there was the erection of those parts into the building of a dwelling place of the Lord. Then the Lord came in His glory and dwelt among them. No wonder, Moses could not leave the subject alone!

When more comes in than is needed, Moses does not look for another project, as we would have done. Moses knows only the project God has commanded him to work on.

The first things made are the ten curtains for the tabernacle, with their loops and golden clasps. All this corresponds exactly with the details given in ch. 26:1-6. The figures of the cherubim woven into the material or embroidered upon it, represented heaven. The second phase is the fabrication of the eleven goat hair curtains, which are fastened together with brass clasps. The description of those curtains is found in ch. 26:7-11. The outer covering of the tent with red dyed ram skins and "tachash" was described in ch. 26:14. The construction of the frame of the tent was laid out in detail in ch. 26:14-29. The curtain that separates the two inner chambers was described in ch. 26:33,34 and the curtain at the entrance with its supporting frame, in ch. 26:36,37. Now the tent is finished, but it is still empty. Thus ends this chapter.

[ 1 ] Ex. 40:34-38