Bible Commentaries
Exodus 39

Verse 1

And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Cloths of service - official robes. The ephod of the high priest, the robe of the ephod, the girdle of needlework, and the broidered coat were all of fine linen; for on no material less delicate could such elaborate symbolical figures have been portrayed in embroidery, and all beautified with the same brilliant colours. (See the note at Exodus 28:1-43.)

Verse 2

And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 3

And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.

Gold ... cut it into wires, to work it - i:e., the metal was beaten with a hammer into thin plates, cut with scissors or some other instrument into long slips, then rounded into filaments or threads. 'Cloth of golden tissue is not uncommon on the monuments, and specimens of it have been found rolled about mummies; but it is not easy to determine whether the gold thread was originally interwoven or subsequently inserted by the embroiderer' (see the note at Exodus 28:1-43.) (Taylor, 'Bible illustrated by Egyptian Monuments,' p. 76; Rawlinson, 'Herodotus,' b. 2:, ch. 18:, note 2; Wilkinson's 'Ancient Egypt,' vol. 3:, p. 128).

Verses 4-29

They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 30

And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

A writing, like to the engravings of a signet. The seal-ring worn both by ancient and modern Egyptians on the little finger of the right hand contained, inscribed on a cornelian or other precious stone, along with the owner's name, a religious sentiment or sacred symbol, intimating that he was the servant of God, or expressive of trust in Him. And it was to this practice the inscription on the high priest alludes (cf. John 3:33).

Verses 31-33

And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses.

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 34

And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,

The covering of rams' skins dyed red - (see Exodus 25:5). It was probably red morocco leather; and "badgers' skins" - rather, the skins of the tahash, supposed to be the dugong, or dolphin of the Red Sea, the skin of which is still used by the Arabs under the same appellation.

Verses 35-42

The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 43

And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

Moses did look upon all the work - a formal inspection was made on the completion of the tabernacle, not only with a view to have the work transferred from the charge of the workmen, but to ascertain whether it corresponded with "the pattern." The result of a careful and minute survey showed that every plank, curtain, altar, and vase, had been most accurately made of the form and in the place designed by the divine architect; and Moses, in accepting it off their hands, thanked God for them, and begged Him to bless them.