Bible Commentaries
Exodus 38

Introduction

Overview

Exodus 38:1, The altar of burnt offering; Exodus 38:8, The laver of brass; Exodus 38:9, The court, and its hangings; Exodus 38:21, The sum of what the people offered, and the use to which it was applied.

Verse 1

the altar: This altar consisted of four boards of shittim - acacia wood, covered with brass, and hollow in the middle; but it is supposed to have been filled up with earth when used, for it is expressly said - Exodus 20:24 that the altar is to be of earth. As it was five cubits long and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, if the cubit be reckoned at 21 inches, it must have been eight feet nine inches square, and about five feet three inches in height. Exodus 27:1-8, Exodus 40:6, Exodus 40:29, 2 Chronicles 4:1, Ezekiel 43:13-17, Romans 8:3, Romans 8:4, Romans 12:1, Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 13:10, 1 Peter 2:5

foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof: Ezekiel 43:16, John 6:37, Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 21:16

Reciprocal: Exodus 31:9 - the altar Exodus 35:16 - The altar Leviticus 1:3 - a burnt Numbers 3:31 - the altars Numbers 4:14 - all the vessels thereof 2 Chronicles 1:5 - the brazen

Verse 2

he made: Exodus 27:2

brass: Job 6:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:12 - the horns 1 Kings 1:50 - caught Psalms 118:27 - the horns Ezekiel 43:16 - square

Verse 3

he made: Exodus 27:3

fleshhooks: 1 Samuel 2:13

Reciprocal: Leviticus 10:1 - censer 1 Kings 7:45 - the pots 2 Kings 25:14 - the pots 2 Chronicles 4:16 - pots also Jeremiah 52:18 - caldrons

Verse 4

Reciprocal: Exodus 27:4 - a grate of network Exodus 27:5 - compass of the altar

Verse 5

the grate: Exodus 27:4

Verse 6

Exodus 25:6, Deuteronomy 10:3

Verse 7

to bear it withal: Acts 9:15, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 2:2

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:12 - General

Verse 8

the laver: Exodus 30:18-21, Exodus 40:7, Exodus 40:30-32, 1 Kings 7:23-26, 1 Kings 7:38, Psalms 26:6, Zechariah 13:1, John 13:10, Titus 3:5, Titus 3:6, Hebrews 9:10, 1 John 3:7, Revelation 1:5, looking glasses, or, brazen glasses, The word maroth, from raah, to see, denotes reflectors, or mirrors, of any kind. That these could not have been looking glasses, as in our translation, is sufficiently evident, not only from the glass not being then in use, but also from the impossibility of making the brazen laver of such materials. The first mirrors known among men, were the clear fountain and unruffled lake. The first artificial ones were made of polished brass, afterwards of steel, and when luxury increased, of silver; but at a very early period, they were made of a mixed metal, particularly of tin and copper, the best of which, as Pliny informs us, were formerly manufactured at Brundusium. When the Egyptians went to their temples, according to St. Cyril, they always carried their mirrors with them. The Israelitish women probably did the same; and Dr. Shaw says, that looking-glasses are still part of the dress of Moorish women, who carry them constantly hung at their breasts.

assembling: Heb. assembling by troops, It is supposed that these women kept watch during the night. Among the ancients, women were generally employed as door-keepers. See note on 1 Samuel 2:22. Proverbs 8:34, Matthew 26:69, Luke 2:37, John 18:16, 1 Timothy 5:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 31:9 - the laver Exodus 35:16 - the laver Job 37:18 - as Isaiah 3:23 - glasses 1 Peter 3:3 - that Revelation 4:6 - a sea

Verse 9

the court: Exodus 27:9-19, Exodus 40:8, Exodus 40:33, 1 Kings 6:36, Psalms 84:2, Psalms 84:10, Psalms 89:7, Psalms 92:13, Psalms 100:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 35:17 - The hangings Exodus 40:28 - General Leviticus 6:26 - in the court Numbers 3:26 - the hangings Ezekiel 40:23 - and he

Verse 14

hangings: Exodus 27:14

Verse 17

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:36 - under the custody and charge Numbers 4:32 - the instruments 1 Kings 7:16 - General

Verse 18

needlework: 2 Chronicles 3:14

Verse 19

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 7:16 - General

Verse 20

the pins: Exodus 27:19, 2 Chronicles 3:9, Ezra 9:8, Ecclesiastes 12:11, Isaiah 22:23, Isaiah 33:20, Ephesians 2:21, Ephesians 2:22, Colossians 2:19

Verse 21

tabernacle of testimony: Exodus 25:16, Exodus 26:33, Exodus 40:3, Numbers 1:50, Numbers 1:53, Numbers 9:15, Numbers 10:11, Numbers 17:7, Numbers 17:8, Numbers 18:2, 2 Chronicles 24:6, Acts 7:44, Revelation 11:19, The word tabernacle is used in many different senses, and signifies:

1. A tent or pavilion Numbers 24:5, Matthew 17:4, 2. A house or dwelling Job 11:4, Job 22:23, 3. A kind of tent, which is designated, to speak after the manner of the men, the palace of the Most High, the dwelling of the God of Israel Exodus 26:1, Hebrews 9:2, Hebrews 9:3, 4. Christ's human nature, of which the Jewish tabernacle was a type, wherein God dwells really, substantially, and personally Hebrews 8:2, Hebrews 9:11, 5. The true church militant Psalms 15:1, 6. Our natural body, in which the soul lodges as in a tabernacle 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Peter 1:13, 7. The token of God's gracious presence Revelation 21:3 by the hand: Numbers 4:28-33, Ezra 8:26-30

Ithamar: Exodus 6:23, 1 Chronicles 6:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 16:34 - General Numbers 4:32 - the instruments

Verse 22

Bezaleel: Exodus 31:1-5, Exodus 35:30-35, Exodus 36:1-3, The supernatural qualifications of Bezaleel and Aholiab proved their divine appointment; yet they had an express nomination to their work: they were also miraculously qualified to instruct their assistants, as well as to superintend them. Christ alone builds the Temple of the Lord, and bears the glory; but ministers and private Christians, under his direction and by his grace, may be fellow-workers together with him. They who, in mean employments, are diligent and humbly contented, are equally acceptable with those who are engaged in more splendid services. The women who spun the goats' hair were wise-hearted, as well as the persons who presided over the work of the tabernacle, or as Aaron, who burnt incense there, because they did it heartily unto the Lord. Our wisdom and duty consist in giving God the glory and use of our talents, be they more or less; neither abusing nor burying them, but occupying with them until our Lord shall come; being satisfied that it is better to be a door-keeper in his service, than the most mighty and renowned of the ungodly. - Scott.

all that the Lord: Psalms 119:6, Jeremiah 1:7, Matthew 28:20

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 2:20 - Bezaleel

Verse 23

Aholiab: Exodus 35:34

a cunning: Exodus 35:34

Reciprocal: Exodus 26:31 - cunning work 2 Kings 22:6 - carpenters

Verse 24

All the gold: If we follow the estimation of the learned Dean Prideaux, the value of the twenty-nine talents, and 730 shekels of gold, will be 198,347. 12s. 6d. The value of the silver contributed by 603,550; Israelites, at half a shekel, or 1s. 6d. per man, will amount to 45,266. 5s. The value of the 70 talents, 2,400 shekels of brass, will be 513. 17s. The gold weighed 4,245 pounds; the silver, 14,603 pounds; and the brass, 10,277 pounds, troy weight. The total value of all the gold, silver, and brass, will consequently amount to 244,127. 14s. 6d.; and the total weight of these three metals will amount to 29,124 pounds troy, which reduced to avoirdupois weight, is equal to fourteen tons, 226 pounds! - It may, perhaps, seem difficult to imagine how the Israelites should be possessed of so much wealth in the desert; but it should be remembered, that their ancestors were opulent men before they came into Egypt; that they were further enriched by the spoils of the Egyptians and Amalekites; and that it is probable, they traded with the neighbouring nations who bordered on the wilderness. There appear to be three reasons why so much riches should have been employed in the construction of the tabernacle, etc.

1. To impress the people's minds with the glory and dignity of the Divine Majesty, and the importance of his service.

2. To take out of their hands the occasion of covetousness.

3. To prevent pride and vain glory, by leading them to give up to the divine service even the ornaments of their persons. 1 Chronicles 22:14-16, 1 Chronicles 29:2-7, Haggai 2:8

offering: Exodus 25:2, Exodus 29:24, Exodus 35:22

the shekel: Exodus 30:13, Exodus 30:14, Exodus 30:24, Leviticus 5:15, Leviticus 27:3, Leviticus 27:25, Numbers 3:47, Numbers 18:16

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:25 - the charge 2 Kings 5:22 - a talent

Verse 25

Reciprocal: Exodus 30:12 - takest Exodus 30:16 - appoint Numbers 26:2 - General 2 Chronicles 25:6 - an hundred talents of silver

Verse 26

bekah: Exodus 30:13, Exodus 30:15, Exodus 30:16

every man: Heb. a poll, Numbers 1:46

six hundred: Exodus 12:37, Numbers 1:46

Reciprocal: Exodus 30:12 - takest Numbers 1:2 - Take ye the sum Numbers 2:32 - General Numbers 11:21 - General Numbers 26:2 - General 2 Chronicles 25:6 - an hundred talents of silver Matthew 17:24 - tribute

Verse 27

and the sockets: Exodus 26:19, Exodus 26:21, Exodus 26:25, Exodus 26:32

Verse 28

and filleted them: Exodus 27:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 26:32 - their hooks shall be of gold 1 Kings 7:16 - General

Verse 30

the sockets: Exodus 26:37, Exodus 27:10, Exodus 27:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 26:19 - forty sockets of silver Exodus 39:39 - General

Verse 31

Reciprocal: Exodus 26:19 - forty sockets of silver Exodus 27:19 - all the pins thereof Exodus 31:6 - that they