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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:10
They saw the God of Israel. These words can scarcely mean less than that they saw with their bodily eyes some appearance of the Divine being who had summoned them to his presence for the purpose. Moses, we know, saw a "…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:11
The nobles—i.e; the notables—the seventy elders, and other persons, already mentioned (Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:9). He laid not his hand. God did not smite them with death, or pestilence, or even blindness. It was thought…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:12
Come up to me. Moses, apparently, had descended again into the plain, with Aaron and the seventy elders, after the festival was over. (See Exodus 24:14, and compare Exodus 32:1.) He is now commanded to reascend, and be…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:12-18
Moses ascends the mount. Observe, 1. He alone ascends (Exodus 24:12). Aaron and his sons, with the seventy elders, were left behind. Their privilege was great as compared with that of the body of the people. Yet even th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:12-18
EXPOSITION MOSES' ENTRY INTO THE CLOUD, AND FORTY DAYS' COMMUNE WITH GOD. It was necessary now that Moses should receive full directions for the external worship of God, the sanctuary, and the priesthood. Every religion…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:12-18
Prolonged commune with God. Prolonged commune with God is the soul's truest strengthening, and sweetest refreshment. Without it our spirits languish—we grow weary and faint—worldliness creeps upon us—our thoughts and di…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:13
Moses went up. Prompt to obey, Moses, though he had only just descended from the mount, immediately made ready to set forth and again ascend it. This time he was attended by his minister, Joshua, whose arm he had employ…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 24:14
And he said unto the elders. Before taking his departure for the long sojourn implied in God's address to him, "Come up to me into the mount, and be there" (Exodus 24:12), Moses thought it necessary to give certain dire…
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,…
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 25:1-7
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 25:1-9
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 25:1-10
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 25:2
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…