Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 35

2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD : whosoever doth work therein shall be put to death.

This command of the sabbath is repeated here, as also Exod. 31. 13. together with the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle and its utensils, to shew that they were made for no other use than the service of God, which was to be performed as every day, so in an eminent and peculiar manner upon the sabbath day, and to teach them the absolute necessity of minding that precept in and above all their ceremonial observations.

Marginal references: chap. 20. 9. Lev. 23. 3. Deut. 5. 12. Luk. 13. 14.; Heb. Holiness.

3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

This command seems to be onely temporary and extraordinary during the present season and condition, and not extending to succeeding generations. For 1. There are instances of temporary precepts both in the Old and New Testament, which yet are not in their places said to be so. Such were some of the precepts concerning the Passeover. Exod. 12. 11. as is confessed. And such was▪ that law of abstaining from things strangled and blood, Act. 15. 2. This precept is nakedly proposed, and not called a perpetual statute, nor enjoyned to be observed in their generations, as other precepts are, to whom those or some like clauses are frequently added. 3. The sabbath is rather a feast-day than a fast-day. And the Iews did make feasts and invited guests upon the sabbath-day, which could not probably be without kindling a fire. And, which is more considerable, Christ himself, who fulfilled all righteousness and therefore would not have joined in the violation of the sabbath, went to one of those feasts Luk. 14. And the Corinthians as they received the Lords Supper upon that day, which none question, so they had their feasts, as is confessed, and apparent from 1 Cor. 11. 21, 22, &c. 4. The kindling of a fire was no greater hinderance to the religious observation of the Sabbath than other things which were allowed upon that day, such as the washing and dressing of themselves, eating and drinking, &c. 5. This prohibition doth not seem to concern the dressing of meat, as many understand it by comparing this with Exod. 16. 23. (which place I humbly conceive is misunderstood, as I have there intimated, for that was lawful to be done upon their most solemn days, Exod. 12. 16.) but the service of the Tabernacle, which is the subject of this chapter and the occasion of these words, and the sence seems to be this, You shall kindle no fire for any handy-work throughout your habitation, no not for the service of this Tabernacle, for the heating of any tools, or the melting of any metals, or other things belonging to it, which being to be made for Gods service, and deserving and requiring all expedition, they might probably conceive that such work might be done upon that [illegible: 1+ letters]y. And here also, as oft elsewhere, under one kind all the rest are comprehended and forbidden.

5 Take ye from amongst you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart , let him bring it, an offering of the LORD, gold, and silver, and brass,

For God values not forced or grudged services, 2 Cor. 9. 7.

Marginal references: chap. 25. [illegible: 1+ letters].

10 And every wise-hearted among you, shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded.

(i. e.) Skilful artist: for though God had prescribed the things yet it required Wisdom and skill to execute what God commanded.

Marginal references: chap. 31. [illegible: 1+ letters].

11 The tabernacle , his tent , and his covering , his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets:

(i. e.) The boards or structure of the Tabernacle, as it appears because it is distinguished here from its tent and curtains, whereas elsewhere, the Tabernacle is put for all together.

The inward and finer curtains which covered the boards of it.

The outward and courser coverings.

Marginal references: ch. 26. 1, [illegible: 1+ letters].

12 The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy-seat, and the vail of the covering .

(i. e.) Which was hanged before the Ark and Mercyseat.

13 The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shew-bread :

But neither did God prescribe the making of the shewbread amongst the other utensils, Exod. 25. nor was this made by the workmen here spoken of, but by others. How then comes this to be mentioned here? Ans. 1. The shew-bread may be here put for the vessels for the receiving of the shew-bread, by an usual Metonymy of the adjunct, the thing contained put for the thing containing, as treasures are put for the place where the treasures are put, Psal. 135. 7. Mat. 2. 11. and 12. 35. and the gifts or offerings of God for the treasury where they were put, Luk. 21. 4. Hence Tremellius renders this place, and the vessels of the shew-bread. Obj. All the vessels of the Table are mentioned before, of which this was one. Ans. It is not unusual after a general expression comprehending all distinctly to name one eminent member of that kind, such as this unquestionably was, the table being made principally for this use. Thus Mark 16. 7. Tell my disciples and Peter. Like examples are in 2 Sam. 2. 30. 1 King. 11. 1. Psal. 18. the Title. Act. 1. 14. and in other Authors. And for the particle Vau, and, which may seem to imply that these were things of another kind, and not any vessels of the Table, that is oft put for especially, as Ios. 2. 1. Mark. 16. 7. and so onely notes an eminent thing of the same kind, as hath been said. Ans. 2. Though God did not prescribe the making of the shew-bread, yet he mentions it, together with the table, Exod. 25. 30. and therefore it is conveniently mentioned with the table in this place also, where Moses to shew his exactness and fidelity, doth punctually repeat the same things to the people which he had received in command from God. In like manner the oil, which fed the light of the lamps, is mentioned here in the next verse, because the lighting of the lamps was prescribed, Exod. 25. 37.

21 And they came every one whose heart stirred him up , and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORDS offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

(i. e.) Whose heart being desirous and ready to serve God ingaged his hand to offer what he had to his service.

22 And they came both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought bracelets, and ear-rings , and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold, and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.

Obj. Aaron had go[illegible: 1+ letters] these from them for the making of the calf, Exod. 32. Ans. Though the generality of the people did then part with their ear-rings, yet there was a considerable number who did not, as being unsatisfied with that Idolatrous design, and it may seem that the women would not part with theirs being more fond of their ornaments than of their Idols. See the notes on Exod. 32. 3.

26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom , spun goats hair.

This word seems better to agree with the following than with the foregoing word, they sp[illegible: 1+ letters] with wisdom, i. e. with skill and art.

34 And he hath put in his heart, that he may teach both he, and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan.

To wit, others to work under him: for the work required many hands: and it is a peculiar gift of God to be apt to teach, which every skilful man hath not.