Bonus Lesson : Exodus 35-40

• In our previous lesson we learned about what we now refer to as “The Ten Commandments” including their origin. We also learned about what happened to the Israelites while Moses was up on the mountain.  Finally, we learned about the ways God communicated with Moses.
• This lesson describes how Moses called the people together and why.  It explains who built the tabernacle and the items in it, and who created the robes for the priests.  Finally, there we will learn about how a specific order was implemented and how God signaled the nation of Israel.
• Genesis 35 starts with Moses calling the people of Israel together so He can tell them what God commanded them to do.  (Exodus 35:1)
• Moses tells them not do work, but to rest on the Sabbath.  (Exodus 35:2-3)
• Moses appeals to them to provide contributions if they are feeling generous just as God has commanded in Genesis 25. (Exodus 35:4-29)
• Then Moses called the craftsman Bezalel and Oholiab to come forward.  God has named them specifically (Exodus 31:1-6).  It is unclear if they had specific training while they were in Egypt; it is clear that they did not need it if they did because God had blessed them with the ability to be craftsman.  It is also worth noting that Bezalel was the grandson of Hur (Exodus 31:2), (Exodus 35:30) who had together with Joshua held up Moses’ hand in the victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17).  Jewish tradition was Hur was the son of Miriam, which would have made him Moses’s nephew.  When Moses calls them forward, he tells them to make exactly what God to him to tell them to make.  (Exodus 35:30-Exodus 36:8)
• The exact dimensions of the object and weight of the materials are specified (a “cubit” was about 18 inches or 45 centimetres, a “handbraith” was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimetres, and a “talent” was a unit of weight which was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms).  Bezalel (probably who “he” refers to as we will see in the next chapter), followed the instructions very exactly.  (Exodus 36:10 – 38)
• Bezalel turns his attention to making the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat, enclosed by two angels on top.  According to (I Samuel 4:4), the mercy seat was a throne for God.  (Exodus 37:1-9)
• Next, Bezalel makes the table and all the dishes that were on it.  (Exodus 37:10-16)
• Bezalel makes the lamp stand which was the only source of light in the tabernacle.  (Exodus 37:17-24)
• Chapter 37 closes with Bezalel making the altar of incense and the actual oil to be used also.  Remember that God specified a mix in Exodus 30 and said don’t use anything else or use this for any other purpose.  (Exodus 37: 25-29)
• Bezalel makes the burnt offering altar.  Even this had hooks in it so that it was mobile too.  (Exodus 38:1-7)
• Bezalel makes the court and the court entrance.   This was on the outside of the tabernacle.   One might think that the entrance would not be as ornate, but it was.  (Exodus 38:8-20) 
• All the materials which were used are listed.  Of note is the fact that there were millions of pounds of precious metals.  It could not have been easy to carry all this, but there were over 600,000 men over 20 and they did have carts and livestock too.  (Exodus 38:21-31)
• Just as God has commanded Moses, the garments for all the priests were created very ornately with the bells on them so that no one could have any question who the Priests were, and one could hear them going about their duties.  (Exodus 39:1-31)
• Everything is finally finished (there is never any indication how long this took), and Moses blesses them for following God’s instruction.  (Exodus 39:32-43)
• God gives Moses very specific instructions on when and how to assemble all these items, and in what order to do thing.  (Exodus 40:1-15)
• Moses does all the things God commands Him to do (with Aaron’s help). (Exodus 40:16-33)
• God dwells in the tent of meeting (remember this is different than the tabernacle) as fire by night and a cloud by day.   It is so intense that Moses, who used to meet God there, cannot even go in.  God signals that it is time for them to be on the move again by raising up the fire or cloud from the tent of meeting.  (Exodus 40:34-38)

Questions:

1. Why does Moses call all the people together?
2. What did Moses say to do on the Sabbath?
3. 3.What does Moses tell Israel re: contributions?
4. Who was Bezalel?
5. What two things are specified in building the temple?
6. What is the Mercy Seat?  Where was it located?  What is its significance?
7. What is the only source of light in the tabernacle?
8. What did God say about the oil to be used for fire?
9. Why do the Priests have to be so decorated and even wear bells?
10. What does Moses do as soon as all the work is done?

1. Who helps Moses obey God’s orders on how to set everything up?

1. How does God lead the people again and show that he is among them when they stop?