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The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:15
Moses went up into the mount. Having made the necessary arrangements for the government of the people during his absence, Moses ascended, in company with Joshua, to the upper part of the mountain, and there waited for s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:16
Now occurred a remarkable pause. The summons had been given to Moses, and he had obeyed it. He was there on the platform a little below the summit, ready, but waiting for a further call. The call was not made for six da…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:17
Meanwhile, to those below in the plain, "the glory of the Lord" on the summit above them, was like devouring fire on the top of the mount. They had but to lift their eyes thither, and they saw his wonderful glory—showin…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:18
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud. Quitting Joshua, Moses at last, in obedience to the call out of the midst of the cloud, entered within its shadow and disappeared from human vision In this abnormal condition,…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 25:1-9
God chose the people of Israel to be a peculiar people to himself, above all people, and he himself would be their King. He ordered a royal palace to be set up among them for himself, called a sanctuary, or holy place,…
The Tabernacle and Its Furniture. (b. c. 1491.)
THE TABERNACLE AND ITS FURNITURE. (B. C. 1491.) We may suppose that when Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and abode there so long, where the holy angels attended the shechinah, or divine Majesty, he saw and heard…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:1-7
The materials for the sanctuary. I. GOD REQUIRED THESE FROM THE PEOPLE. It might have been thought that in order to make this holy habitation, this tent for God travelling along with his people, God himself would have i…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:1-10
The command to build a sanctuary. The covenant being now ratified, everything was prepared for Jehovah taking up his abode with the people. He would dwell among them as their King. In keeping with the genius of the disp…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:1-9
The rearing of the Lord's sanctuary. I. FROM WHAT IT IS FORMED. 1. Of material supplied by his redeemed. To them only request and direction come—'' Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them." This is stil…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:1-7
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE TABERNACLE AND ITS FURNITURE, INCLUDING THE PRIESTLY ATTIRE. EXPOSITION THE TABERNACLE AND THE GIFTS FOR IT. The great principles of the moral law had been given in the Ten Commandments utter…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:1-7
The law of acceptable offerings. For offerings to be acceptable to God, it is necessary— I. THAT THEY BE FREELY OFFERED BY A WILLING HEART. Offerings were to be taken of those "whose heart drove them to it" (compare Ten…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:2
Speak unto the children of Israel that they bring me an offering. The word translated "offering" is that commonly rendered" heave-offering;" but it seems to be used here (as in Exodus 30:13; Exodus 35:5, etc.) in a gene…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:3
This is the offering—gold and silver and brass. Gold was needed for the overlaying of the boards, whereof the ark was composed (Exodus 25:11); for the "crown of gold," which surmounted it (ibid.); for the "rings" (Exodu…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:4
And blue, and purple, and scarlet. Cloths of these three colours seem to be meant. The material was probably wool; the blue dye probably indigo, which was the ordinary blue dye of Egypt; the purple was no doubt derived…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:5
And rams' skins dyed red. The manufacture of leather was well-known in Egypt from an early date, and the Libyan tribes of North Africa were celebrated for their skill in preparing and dyeing the material (Herod. 4.189).…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:6
Oil for the light. That the sanctuary to be erected would require to be artificially lighted is assumed. Later, a "candlestick" is ordered (Exodus 25:31-37). The people were to provide the oil which was to be burnt in t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:7
Onyx stones. On the need of onyx stones, see Exodus 28:9, Exodus 28:20. Stones to be set in the ephod, etc. Rather, "stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastplate." The only stones required for the ephod wer…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:8-9
EXPOSITION GENERAL DIRECTIONS. After the gifts which God will accept have been specified, and the spirit in which they are to be offered noted (Exodus 25:2), God proceeds to unfold his purpose, and declare the object fo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:8
A sanctuary well expresses the Hebrew micdash, which is derived from cadash—"to be holy." It is a name never given to the temples of the heathen deities. That I may dwell among them. Compare Exodus 29:45; Numbers 35:34.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:8
Earthly sanctuaries typical of the heavenly dwelling-place. Such habitations as God condescends to acknowledge for his in this earthly sphere, are, all of them, more or less types of the New Jerusalem, the eternal heave…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:9
The patterns. Many of the old Jewish commentators supposed, that Moses was shown by God a real material structure, which actually existed in the heavens, far grander than its earthly copy, after which he was to have the…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 25:10-22
The ark was a chest, overlaid with gold, in which the two tables of the law were to be kept. These tables are called the testimony; God in them testified his will. This law was a testimony to the Israelites, to direct t…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 25:10-22
The first thing which is here ordered to be made is the ark with its appurtenances, the furniture of the most holy place, and the special token of God's presence, for which the tabernacle was erected to be the receptacl…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 25:10-22
EXPOSITION THE PATTERN OF THE ARK.—Moses is first shown, not the pattern of the tabernacle, but the patterns of those things which it was to contain—the ark, the table of shew-bread, and the seven-branched candlestick,…