Chapter 35
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And 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.
2Six 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.
3Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.
4And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
5Take 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,
6And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
7And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
8And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
9And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
10And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;
11The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,
12The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,
13The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,
14The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,
15And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
16The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
17The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,
18The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,
19The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.
20And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
21And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.
22And 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.
23And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them.
24Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.
25And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
26And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.
27And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
28And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
29The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
30And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
31And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
32And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
33And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
34And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.
“And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.”
Overview
Moses assembles Israel and reiterates the Sabbath command. He then invites every willing-hearted person to bring an offering for the tabernacle — gold, silver, bronze, fine linen, skins, wood, oil, spices, and precious stones. The people respond with overwhelming generosity, bringing far more than is needed. Moses announces that God has called Bezaleel and Aholiab, filling them with the Spirit of God and skill in every kind of craftsmanship. Every wise-hearted person whose spirit is stirred comes forward to do the work.
Key Themes
Generous, Willing-Hearted Giving
The people give so abundantly that Moses must restrain them — this outpouring of generosity is the fruit of hearts stirred by God's Spirit, not compulsion.
Every Skill Consecrated to God
Artisans, weavers, carvers, and metalworkers all contribute their skills — every form of craftsmanship becomes an act of worship when devoted to building God's dwelling.
The Sabbath as Foundation for Service
Before calling for offerings and labor, Moses reiterates the Sabbath — even the holy work of building God's tabernacle does not override the command to rest.
Study Questions
What does it reveal about the people's hearts that they give so generously that they must be restrained (see 36:6-7)?
How does the emphasis on the 'willing heart' (v. 5) shape our understanding of Christian giving — what makes an offering acceptable to God?
Why does Moses repeat the Sabbath command before the tabernacle construction begins — what is the relationship between rest and work for God?
What can we learn from the variety of gifts brought — from gold to goats' hair — about the value God places on every person's contribution?
How does the stirring of the Spirit in the hearts of the people (v. 21) and in the skill of the craftsmen (v. 31) demonstrate that all true service for God is Spirit-empowered?
Connection to Christ
The overflowing generosity of Israel foreshadows the generosity of Christ, 'who, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich' (2 Corinthians 8:9). The Spirit-filled craftsmen building God's earthly dwelling anticipate the church, where every member is gifted by the Spirit to build up the body of Christ, the living temple of God.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Exodus 35. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?