4 Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel , saying , "This is the thing which the Lord has commanded , saying , 5 ' Take from among you a contribution to the Lord ; whoever is of a willing heart , let him bring it as the Lord'S contribution : gold , silver , and bronze , 6 and blue , purple and scarlet material, fine linen , goats' hair, 7 and rams' skins dyed red , and porpoise skins , and acacia wood , 8 and oil for lighting , and spices for the anointing oil , and for the fragrant incense , 9 and onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece .
10 ' Let every skillful e man e among you come , and make all that the Lord has commanded : 11 the tabernacle , its tent and its covering , its hooks and its boards , its bars , its pillars , and its sockets ; 12 the ark and its poles , the mercy seat , and the curtain of the screen ; 13 the table and its poles , and all its utensils , and the bread of the Presence ; 14 the lampstand also for the light and its utensils and its lamps and the oil for the light ; 15 and the altar of incense and its poles , and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense , and the screen for the doorway at the entrance of the tabernacle ; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating , its poles , and all its utensils , the basin and its stand ; 17 the hangings of the court , its pillars and its sockets , and the screen for the gate of the court ; 18 the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court and their cords ; 19 the woven garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons , to minister as priests .' "
20 Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from Moses' presence . 21 Everyone e whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord'S contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments . 22 Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women , came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets , all articles of gold ; so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the Lord . 23 Every man , who had in his possession blue and purple and scarlet material and fine linen and goats' hair and rams' skins dyed red and porpoise skins , brought them. 24 Everyone who could make a contribution of silver and bronze brought the Lord'S contribution ; and every man who had in his possession acacia wood for any work of the service brought it. 25 All the skilled e women spun with their hands , and brought what they had spun , in blue and purple and scarlet material and in fine linen . 26 All the women whose heart stirred with a skill spun the goats' hair. 27 The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones for setting for the ephod and for the breastpiece ; 28 and the spice and the oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense . 29 The Israelites e , all the men and women , whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work , which the Lord had commanded through Moses to be done , brought a freewill offering to the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 35:4-29
Commentary on Exodus 35:4-19
(Read Exodus 35:4-19)
The tabernacle was to be dedicated to the honour of God, and used in his service; and therefore what was brought for it, was an offering to the Lord. The rule is, Whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring. All that were skilful must work. God dispenses his gifts; and as every man hath received, so he must minister, 1 Corinthians 12:7-21.
Commentary on Exodus 35:20-29
(Read Exodus 35:20-29)
Without a willing mind, costly offerings would be abhorred; with it, the smallest will be accepted. Our hearts are willing, when we cheerfully assist in promoting the cause of God. Those who are diligent and contented in employments considered mean, are as much accepted of God as those engaged in splendid services. The women who spun the goats' hair were wise-hearted, because they did it heartily to the Lord. Thus the labourer, mechanic, or servant who attends to his work in the faith and fear of God, may be as wise, for his place, as the most useful minister, and he equally accepted of the Lord. Our wisdom and duty consist in giving God the glory and use of our talents, be they many or few.