Exodus Chapter 36

At a Glance

  • The narrative details the practicalities of construction: ten curtains fashioned with fine linen and interwoven colors, meticulous sewing, loops, and couplings.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Exodus 36 sits in the midst of the wilderness narrative (Exodus 25–40) where God gives Moses precise instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings (the “tent of meeting”).
  • In the book’s architecture, 36–38 function as the execution phase of the divine blueprint introduced in 25–31.
  • - Divine enablement of skilled labor: Bezalel, Oholiab, and the “wise-hearted” carpenters demonstrate that God equips people with specific gifts to fulfill sacred tasks.

EXODUS CHAPTER 36

Chapter Overview

Exodus 36 marks a pivotal moment in the wilderness-building project: the completion of the tabernacle’s construction through the generosity and skill of the people, and the formal mobilization of the craftsmen whose wisdom is explicitly credited to the Lord. The chapter begins with Bezalel, Oholiab, and “every wise-hearted man” whom the LORD had filled with understanding, assembling the work crews (v. 2). Moses then relays gathered materials from the people, and a striking turn occurs: the people’s offerings multiply so abundantly that instruction must be given to stop collecting. The beauty of this scene lies not merely in abundance but in shared holy purpose. The people respond with free will offerings, and the workers insist on restraint, underscoring that worship must be governed by divine command rather than human excess.

The narrative details the practicalities of construction: ten curtains fashioned with fine linen and interwoven colors, meticulous sewing, loops, and couplings. The technical specificity highlights the sacred artistry of worship: material, color, proportion, and ornament all serve symbol and function. As the work progresses, the text emphasizes cooperation and communal zeal—everyone, from the skilled artisans to the simply disposed, participates. The chapter closes with a confirmation that the workmanship is complete for the tabernacle to be erected, and the people stand ready to contribute no more than commanded. The overarching movement is from divine instruction to human partnership, from scarcity to sufficiency, from scattered efforts to a unified, sanctified center. The result is not merely a tent with furniture; it is a living locus of God’s presence among the people—God dwelling with Israel in their worship and in their organized life.

Historical & Literary Context

Exodus 36 sits in the midst of the wilderness narrative (Exodus 25–40) where God gives Moses precise instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings (the “tent of meeting”). This section is part of the larger legal-ritual corpus that forms the heart of Yahweh’s instruction to Israel about worship, sacrifice, priesthood, and sacred space. The genre blends narrative with treaty-like prescriptions, ceremonial law, and theological reflection. Exodus presents a formative theology: God’s dwelling among His people requires holy space, sacred artifacts, and a community shaped by obedience and generosity. The chapter specifically belongs to the “construction of the sanctuary” sub-plot that culminates in Exodus 40 with the tabernacle’s completion and God’s glory filling the tent (a climactic display of divine presence).

In the book’s architecture, 36–38 function as the execution phase of the divine blueprint introduced in 25–31. The emphasis on Bezalel and Oholiab—gifted artisans filled with wisdom—highlights a recurring biblical motif: the Spirit equips skilled labor for sacred ends. The narrative also contrasts human exuberance with divine restraint; the people’s abundance becomes a theologically charged moment showing proper worship is funded by consent to divine command, not self-adulation or unchecked generosity.

Key Themes

- Divine enablement of skilled labor: Bezalel, Oholiab, and the “wise-hearted” carpenters demonstrate that God equips people with specific gifts to fulfill sacred tasks. The Spirit’s empowerment turns craft into worship.

- Generosity aligned to divine instruction: The people’s offerings overflow, yet the community responds with restraint to honor God’s command, illustrating worship governed by divine boundaries.

- Sacred space as a communal project: The tabernacle is the product of shared effort—resources, artistry, and labor converge to house God’s presence among Israel.

- Precision in worship: The meticulous details of curtains, loops, and couplings emphasize that worshipspaces must be crafted with care, beauty, and fidelity to God’s pattern.

- God’s presence as goal and gift: The completion of the sanctuary foreshadows the eventual “glory” filling of the tabernacle, signaling that the divine-human relationship centers on God dwelling with His people.

Modern Application

Exodus 36 invites contemporary readers to consider how communities discern and deploy their gifts for holy purposes. First, it affirms the value of skilled labor in service of mission—whether in worship spaces, ministries, or community projects—reminding believers that vocation and worship can merge. Second, it warns against worship as mere sentiment or show; generosity should be disciplined by obedience to God’s revealed plan, ensuring resources are used as God prescribes. Third, the chapter champions shared labor across diverse gifts, encouraging collaboration between leaders and laypeople, artisans and organizers, so that a common sacred goal is achieved with integrity and beauty. Fourth, the emphasis on beauty and order in worship challenges communities to create spaces and practices that reflect God’s character—holy, good, and inviting. Finally, this passage points to dependence on God’s enabling Spirit for meaningful work; human effort is essential, but it is God who empowers the craft and gives the outcome purpose.

- Exodus 25–31 (instructions for construction and the Spirit-gifted artisans)

- Exodus 40 (tabernacle completed; God’s glory fills the tent)

- Exodus 35:4–9 (call for offerings and participation in building)

- 1 Chronicles 28–29 (David’s call for offerings and skilled artisans in temple preparations)

Recommended Personas (Which Biblical personas would provide insight)

- Bezalel and Oholiab (craftspeople): to illuminate gifted labor, craftsmanship, and Spirit-filled artistry in service to worship.

- Moses (leadership and governance): to discuss leadership structure, communication of divine commands, and managing resources.

- Jesus (as fulfillment of divine presence among people): to draw out the deeper significance of God dwelling with His people and the beauty of divine-human collaboration.

Chapter Text

1

Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.

2

And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even 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 withal. 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 LORD 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.

8

And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.

9

The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.

10

And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other 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 another 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 was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain 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.

14

And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.

15

The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were 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 of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.

19

And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.

20

And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.

21

The length of a board was 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, which is 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 were 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 of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

35

And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.

36

And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.

37

And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of 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 were of brass.

Discuss This Chapter with Biblical Personas

Explore Exodus Chapter 36 with Biblical figures who can provide unique perspectives grounded in Scripture.

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