Exodus 36 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Exodus 36 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• God delivered the Israelites from slavery in approximately 1491 B.C.

• Exodus 36 occurred after God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, which would place these events approximately 4-6 months after the Hebrews left Egypt (19:1; 32:34).

CHARACTERS:

• Moses – Moses was selected by God to lead the Israelites to Canaan. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses communicated God’s words to the people.

• Israelites (Hebrews) – The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God granted them freedom after several hundred years in slavery in Egypt.

• Bezalel and Oholiab – Two men specially gifted with the Spirit of God to help in the construction of the Tabernacles and the holy items within it.

WHERE:

• Moses and the Israelites were camped at Mount Sinai but were preparing to depart per God’s instructions.

OUTLINE:

• NO MORE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE TABERNACLE (36:1-7):

  • Moses gathered Bezalel, Oholiab, and all the craftsmen and commissioned them to begin work on the Tabernacle.

  • As they worked, the Israelites continued bringing contributions (see Ex 35) until the craftsman had more than enough.

  • The people were so generous in their freewill offerings that Moses had to command them to stop.

• THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE (36:8-38):

  • The craftsmen made the Tabernacle from 10 curtains of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn.

  • Each curtain was 28 cubits long and 4 cubits wide.

  • The curtains were connected in the middle with 50 clasps of gold.

  • 11 curtains of goats’ hair covered the Tabernacle, each 30 x 4 (cubits).

  • These curtains were connected to each other with bronze clasps.

  • The Tabernacle also included a covering of tanned animal skins.

  • The tabernacle walls were made of a series of frames each 10 x 1.5.

  • There were 20 frames for the north and south side and 8 frames on the west side.

  • Each frame was placed on 2 bases of silver (48 frames = 96 bases).

  • 5 crossbars of acacia wood ran along the walls on each side of the structure.

  • The frames and the crossbars were all overlayed with gold.

  • A veil of blue, scarlet, purple yarn, and fine linen was created to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

  • The veil had depictions of cherubim woven into it and was hung on 4 pillars overlayed with gold.

  • A veil to cover the entrance of the tent was made of the same yarns and linens and was supported by 5 pillars covered with gold which had bronze bases.

DIAGRAM OF THE TABERNACLE: