1
Thus Bezaleel and Aholiab and every skilled man, whom the LORD had endowed with skill and understanding, were to do all kinds of work for the sanctuary, exactly as the LORD had commanded.
2
Then Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab and every skilled man, in whose heart the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him to come and do the work.
3
They received from Moses all the special offering that the Israelites had brought for the work of building the sanctuary. But the Israelites kept bringing freewill offerings to Moses every morning.
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So all the skilled men who were doing all the work for the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing,
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and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for the work that the LORD commanded to be done.”
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Then Moses gave orders, and a proclamation was made throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman make anything further as a special offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing any more.
7
For what they had was sufficient for all the work to be done, and even more.
8
Then all the skilled men among the workers made the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely twisted linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully worked into them; all of them were made by skilled craftsmanship.
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The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains were the same size.
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Five of the curtains were joined to one another, and the other five were also joined to one another.
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On the edge of the first set, at the end of one curtain, loops of blue were made, and likewise on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set.
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Fifty loops were made on the first curtain, and fifty loops on the curtain at the end of the second set, so that the loops faced one another.
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Fifty gold clasps were made, and the curtains of the Tabernacle were joined one to another with the clasps, so that it became one.
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Curtains of goats’ hair were made for a covering over the Tabernacle; eleven curtains were made.
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The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains were the same size.
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Five of the curtains were joined together in one set, and six of the curtains in another set.
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Fifty loops were made on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and fifty loops were made on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set.
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Fifty bronze clasps were made to join the tent together, so that it became one.
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Also for the tent they made a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of dolphin skins.
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For the Holy Tent they made upright boards of acacia wood,
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ten cubits the length of each board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
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Each board had two tenons joined one to another; so it was made with all the boards of the Holy Tent.
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They made the boards for the Holy Tent: twenty boards on the south side.
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And forty silver bases were made under the twenty boards, two bases under one board for its two tenons, and likewise two bases under each board for its two tenons.
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For the second side of the Holy Tent, on the north side, they made twenty boards
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with their forty silver bases: two bases under one board, and likewise two bases under each board.
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For the rear side of the Holy Tent, on the west side, they made six boards.
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Two boards were made for the corners of the Holy Tent at the rear side.
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The two boards were paired at the bottom, and likewise they were paired at the top, to the first ring; so it was done with both of them for the two corners.
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So there were eight boards with their silver bases: sixteen bases; two bases under each board.
31
He also made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the Holy Tent,
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five bars for the boards on the second side of the Holy Tent, and five bars for the boards of the Holy Tent at the rear side, on the west.
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The middle bar was made to run through the center of the boards from end to end.
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The boards were overlaid with gold, the rings were made of gold as holders for the bars, and the bars were overlaid with gold.
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The curtain was made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine twisted linen; it was made with cherubim, the work of an expert weaver.
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For it he made four pillars of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, with gold hooks, and cast four silver bases for the pillars.
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Also a curtain was made for the entrance of the tent, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer;
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and its five pillars with their hooks; and he overlaid their capitals and their bands with gold, and their five sockets were of bronze.
🔨🏕️🛠️ Summary of Exodus 36 – The Building of the Holy Tent Begins
This chapter describes the beginning of the building of the Holy Tent, the central place of worship for the people of Israel. The people gave more than enough, and the craftsmen filled with the Spirit of God began to build carefully and faithfully according to the Lord’s command.
1. Bezalel, Aholiab, and the Called Craftsmen (verses 1–2)
- Bezalel and Aholiab, together with all the people whom the Lord had given ability to, began this great work.
- Moses called those whose hearts were moved to join in the building, emphasizing that spiritual work is also done with skill and humility.
2. The Abundant Offering (verses 3–7)
- The people kept bringing offerings every morning, beyond what was needed.
- The workers came to Moses and said:
“The people are bringing more than is required.”
- Moses gave orders to stop the collection of offerings.
- This is the only record in the Bible where an offering was stopped because there was too much!
3. The Making of the Holy Tent – The Tabernacle (verses 8–38)
- The workers began making the Holy Tent piece by piece:
Ten curtains of fine linen and blue, purple, and red yarn
Curtains of goat hair as the outer covering
Coverings of ram skins and dolphin skins
Support boards of acacia wood overlaid with gold
Gold hooks and silver bases
The separating curtain to the Most Holy Place
The entrance curtain of the Tent
All was done accurately, in order, and according to the Lord’s instructions.
📖 Main Teaching
- A true longing for the Lord produces active participation and joy in giving.
- Work for the Lord requires skill, obedience, and cooperation.
- The Lord moves heart and hand—not only the mouth.
- Obedience in details reflects reverence for the Lord.
- There is a time to give, and also a time to stop giving when the work has been sufficiently supplied.
✨ Spiritual Meaning
- A physical building made willingly and in faith reflects God’s presence dwelling among His people.
- A people who give more than enough show the restoration of their relationship with God after the sin of the golden calf.
- The Tabernacle is a picture of Christ and His church, where now we are the living temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16).
- Full obedience to the Lord’s instructions shows that worship is not about human creativity, but divine will.
