The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 227

CHAPTER XXV noble spirit which the people showed when the appeal wa.s made to them, see eh. xxx v Vcrs. 1-7.-TIII!: TABERNAOLE AND THE 21-29; and eh. xxxv1. 3-7. OIFTH FOR IT. The great principles of the moral Ver. 3.--Thia ia the off'ering-gold and law had been given in the Ten Commandments silver and br888. Gold was needed for the overlaying of the boards, whereof the ark was uttered by God amid the thunders of Sinai. composed (ver. 11); for the" crown of gold,'' The " Book of the Covenant,'' or short sum- which surmounted it (ib;d.); for the" rings" mary of the main laws, civil, political, and (ver. 12); the "mercy-seat" (ver. 17): the socie.l, had been communicated to Moses, and cherubim (ver. 18) ; the dishes, the spoons, by him reduced to a written form (eh. xxiv. 4). the covers, the bowls (ver. 29); the candlestick (ver. 31); the tongs and snuff dishes (ver. A solemn league and covenant bad been 28); the hooks and taches(xxvi.6,32): for the entered into between God and bis people, the covering of the table of shew bread ( eh. xxv. people nndertnking to keep all the words of 24.) ; and of the staves and pillars ( ib. 28 : eh. the Lord, and God to be their Protector, xxvi. 32, 37) ; and also for many parts of the Guide, and King. But no form of worship dress of the High Priest ( eh. xxviii. 6, 8, 11, 14, etc.). Silver was required for the sockets had been set up. Abstract monotheism had which supported the boards of the Tabernacle been inculcated ; and worship had been so far (eh. xxvi. 19); and for the" hooks" and" fil- touched upon that an "altar" had been men- lets" of the pillars of the court (eh. xxvii. 10) tioned, and certain directions, chiefly negative, Brass, or rather bronze, was wanted for the bad been given with respect to it ( eh. xx. 24 "taches" which coupled together the curuins of the tent ( eh. xxvi. 11) ; for the "sockets " -26). It remained that the abstract mono- which received the pillars or tent-poles (;J, th~ism should be enshrined in forms, obtain a 37); for the external coating of the altar loce.l habitation, and be set forth before the ( eh. xxvii. 2): for the vessels and utensils of eyes, and so fixed in the heart and affections the altar (ib. 3) ; for the covering of its staves cf the people. God was now about to declare ( ib. 6) ; for the sockets of the pillars of the Court ( eh. xxvii 10) ; for the "pins " of the to Moses wbat the character of the habitation Court ( ib. 19) ; and generally for the vessels of should be, its size, form, and materie.ls. But the Tabernacle (ibid.). To understand how before doing this, as a first and fitting, if not the Israelites could supply e.11 that was wanted, necessary, preliminary, he required of the we must remember, 1. That they had a cer- people to bring of the best of their possessions tain amount of ancestre.l wealth, as that which Joseph bad accumulated, and what Jacob and for the service which be was about to institute, bis so'IS had brought with them into Egypt. enumerating the substances which he would 2. That they had received large presents of condescend to receive at their hands, and gold and silver from the Egyptians just before especie.lly enjoining upon them that e.11 should their departure ( eh. xii. 35) ; and 3. That be offered willingly and from the heart (ver. 2). they bad recently defeated, and no doubt despoiled, the Amalek.ites (eh. xvi. 8-13). Ver. 2.-Spea.k unto the ohildren of Israel Whether they had further made money by that they' bring me an offering. The word trade since they entered the Sinaitic peninsula, translated "offering" is that commonly ren- may be doubted. The supposition is not at all dered" heave-offering;" but it seems to be used needed in order to account for their wee.Ith. here (o.s in eh. xxx. 13; xxxv. 5, etc.) in a Ver. 4.-A.nd blue, and purple, and scarlet. generic sense. The propriety of the people, Cloths of these three colours seem to be meant. when God was about establishing his habita- The materie.1 W!L! probo.My wool; the blue tion among them, presenting to God e.11 the dye probably indigo, which was the ordinary materials needed, is self-evident and requires blue dye of Egypt ; the purple was no doubt no comment. Of every man that giveth it derived from one or other of the shell-fish so willingly. Litere.lly, " of every man whose weh-known to the Syrians (of which the one heart drives him." God will have no gifts but most used was the Jlfurex trunc"l'U.l ), and Wll..'I such e.s -are freely offered. He " loveth a of a warm reddish hue, not for from crimson ; cheerful giver." If a man gives "grudgingly the scarlet (litera.lly, "scarlet worm " or or of necessity," God rejects the gift. On the "wor-111 scarlet,") was the produee o[ tht!  THE TIOOK OF EXODtm.