Israelites Bringing Offerings for the Wilderness SanctuaryBible World
35:27Exodus 35:27
And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
The rulers provided onyx stones and other gems to be set in the ephod and breastplate, giving precious materials as a willing offering for the sanctuary and its priestly garments. Their gifts were part of freewill offerings beyond regular dues, brought willingly and abundantly without urging, with all the people invited to share in building God's house. So much was given that more than enough was brought, until Moses had to command that the cheerful offerings cease. The abilities and materials employed were gifts from God, to be used with exactness, skill and perfection in everything done for His service. That same free, willing readiness to give and to cooperate is needed now, that givers may share the blessing of returning to the Lord His own and help prepare His temple in the soul.
Sanctuary Offering Described
Exodus 35:27 records that Israel's rulers brought onyx stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate, contributing precious materials for the sanctuary and its priestly garments as a willing offering to God. Those stones were part of the willing gifts given to build and furnish God's tabernacle, belonging to abundant freewill contributions that made compulsion unnecessary. Their gifts came with the offerings brought willingly for the sanctuary in such abundance that Moses told the people to stop bringing more because all that was brought could not be appropriated.
The rulers also brought spices and oil for the sanctuary's light, for the anointing oil, and for the incense, as offerings for the tabernacle and its service. The verse belongs to the account of God instructing Moses in the making of the tabernacle and its skilled work, a work the Lord carefully directed and commanded according to the design and pattern shown to Moses in the mount, including its outward beauty and skilled craftsmanship. The tabernacle was built by God's command and by the design God gave.
It was built soon after Israel left Egypt, when there was but a step back from freedom to slavery, from scanty means, with God's house put first though their own tents were small. The work required exactitude, skill, tact, wisdom and perfection, and that same exactness, skill and perfection belongs in every work done in His service. The skills and materials used in the work were gifts from God, to be employed for His glory.
Its adornment required skilled artisans, including women who worked embroidery with silver and gold, and skilled men who made the work and vessels of solid gold.
Willing Generous Giving
The onyx stones and set stones for the ephod and breastplate were part of special free-will offerings, distinct from systematic tithes and regular donations, brought willingly to build and furnish the tabernacle. Everyone was invited to contribute willingly to that work. Those abundant free-will contributions made compulsion unnecessary. Their cheerful preparation of materials was devotion, energy, and liberality in supporting the worship of God.
The call to give rested upon all the people rather than upon a particular class. The requirement was proportioned according to the amount possessed, so that a more valuable gift was required where larger capital was entrusted. These calls were made by God upon the people for their own good as well as to sustain His service.
The gifts came without urging, in abundance and with devotion, energy, and liberality. Personal ornaments and jewelry were cast into the treasury, and materials of gold, silver, brass, and ornamental work were gladly given. Each soul was anxious to have an interest in erecting God's house.
More than a million dollars was expended until more was brought than could be appropriated. Moses had to proclaim that they had enough and that cheerful, willing offerings and labor must cease. The rulers joined all the people in giving until the leaders could say it is enough and bring no more offerings.
Lessons for Today
The skill, tact, wisdom and materials employed in making the ephod and breastplate were gifts from God to be used for His glory, and the exactitude and perfection required in that tabernacle work belongs in every work done in His service. Workers are to seek mental strength to do everything according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount, because perfection is required in every line of work connected with His service. The cheerful preparation of onyx and other stones and materials sets the measure for all who value God's presence, who should show zeal and interest in preparing a place for worship in proportion to the value they place on heavenly blessings.
The rulers' stones were part of abundant free-will offerings brought without urging, with personal ornaments and jewelry cast into the treasury and gold, silver, brass and ornamental work gladly given, each soul anxious to have an interest in erecting God's house. The tabernacle was built soon after leaving Egypt, when there was but a step back from freedom to slavery, from scanty means, with God's house put first though their own tents were small, by command and design from God. More than a million dollars was expended until more was brought than could be appropriated, so Moses had to proclaim that cheerful, willing offerings and labor must cease because there was enough. That same free, willing, anxious readiness to aid with means and hearty cooperation is needed now for the advancement of His work whenever there is assurance that a work is to be done and He calls for it.
He could create abundance of means without asking any sacrifice, for the gold and the silver are His and even souls and bodies are His, yet He called on all the people to give so that all would share the blessing of returning to Him what is His own. The same blessing belongs to every soul who does his part and opens heart and purse in free-will offerings to help purchase property for a school where youth are educated to go forth as missionaries, as the people gave until the leaders said it is enough and to bring no more offerings. Everyone was invited to contribute willingly of varied materials and gifts for the construction and furnishing of the sanctuary, and through that giving and labor the people learned to cooperate with Him and with one another. That cooperation helped prepare His temple in the soul.
The rulers provided onyx stones and other gems to be set in the ephod and breastplate, giving precious materials as a willing offering for the sanctuary and its priestly garments. Their gifts were part of freewill offerings beyond regular dues, brought willingly and abundantly without urging, with all the people invited to share in building God's house. So much was given that more than enough was brought, until Moses had to command that the cheerful offerings cease. The abilities and materials employed were gifts from God, to be used with exactness, skill and perfection in everything done for His service. That same free, willing readiness to give and to cooperate is needed now, that givers may share the blessing of returning to the Lord His own and help prepare His temple in the soul.
Sanctuary Offering Described
Exodus 35:27 records that Israel's rulers brought onyx stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate, contributing precious materials for the sanctuary and its priestly garments as a willing offering to God. Those stones were part of the willing gifts given to build and furnish God's tabernacle, belonging to abundant freewill contributions that made compulsion unnecessary. Their gifts came with the offerings brought willingly for the sanctuary in such abundance that Moses told the people to stop bringing more because all that was brought could not be appropriated.
The rulers also brought spices and oil for the sanctuary's light, for the anointing oil, and for the incense, as offerings for the tabernacle and its service. The verse belongs to the account of God instructing Moses in the making of the tabernacle and its skilled work, a work the Lord carefully directed and commanded according to the design and pattern shown to Moses in the mount, including its outward beauty and skilled craftsmanship. The tabernacle was built by God's command and by the design God gave.
It was built soon after Israel left Egypt, when there was but a step back from freedom to slavery, from scanty means, with God's house put first though their own tents were small. The work required exactitude, skill, tact, wisdom and perfection, and that same exactness, skill and perfection belongs in every work done in His service. The skills and materials used in the work were gifts from God, to be employed for His glory.
Its adornment required skilled artisans, including women who worked embroidery with silver and gold, and skilled men who made the work and vessels of solid gold.
Willing Generous Giving
The onyx stones and set stones for the ephod and breastplate were part of special free-will offerings, distinct from systematic tithes and regular donations, brought willingly to build and furnish the tabernacle. Everyone was invited to contribute willingly to that work. Those abundant free-will contributions made compulsion unnecessary. Their cheerful preparation of materials was devotion, energy, and liberality in supporting the worship of God.
The call to give rested upon all the people rather than upon a particular class. The requirement was proportioned according to the amount possessed, so that a more valuable gift was required where larger capital was entrusted. These calls were made by God upon the people for their own good as well as to sustain His service.
The gifts came without urging, in abundance and with devotion, energy, and liberality. Personal ornaments and jewelry were cast into the treasury, and materials of gold, silver, brass, and ornamental work were gladly given. Each soul was anxious to have an interest in erecting God's house.
More than a million dollars was expended until more was brought than could be appropriated. Moses had to proclaim that they had enough and that cheerful, willing offerings and labor must cease. The rulers joined all the people in giving until the leaders could say it is enough and bring no more offerings.
Lessons for Today
The skill, tact, wisdom and materials employed in making the ephod and breastplate were gifts from God to be used for His glory, and the exactitude and perfection required in that tabernacle work belongs in every work done in His service. Workers are to seek mental strength to do everything according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount, because perfection is required in every line of work connected with His service. The cheerful preparation of onyx and other stones and materials sets the measure for all who value God's presence, who should show zeal and interest in preparing a place for worship in proportion to the value they place on heavenly blessings.
The rulers' stones were part of abundant free-will offerings brought without urging, with personal ornaments and jewelry cast into the treasury and gold, silver, brass and ornamental work gladly given, each soul anxious to have an interest in erecting God's house. The tabernacle was built soon after leaving Egypt, when there was but a step back from freedom to slavery, from scanty means, with God's house put first though their own tents were small, by command and design from God. More than a million dollars was expended until more was brought than could be appropriated, so Moses had to proclaim that cheerful, willing offerings and labor must cease because there was enough. That same free, willing, anxious readiness to aid with means and hearty cooperation is needed now for the advancement of His work whenever there is assurance that a work is to be done and He calls for it.
He could create abundance of means without asking any sacrifice, for the gold and the silver are His and even souls and bodies are His, yet He called on all the people to give so that all would share the blessing of returning to Him what is His own. The same blessing belongs to every soul who does his part and opens heart and purse in free-will offerings to help purchase property for a school where youth are educated to go forth as missionaries, as the people gave until the leaders said it is enough and to bring no more offerings. Everyone was invited to contribute willingly of varied materials and gifts for the construction and furnishing of the sanctuary, and through that giving and labor the people learned to cooperate with Him and with one another. That cooperation helped prepare His temple in the soul.