Exodus 38 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Exodus 38 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

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

• Chapter 40 verse 2 tells us the Tabernacle was finished and erected for the first time 1 year after the Israelites left Egypt.

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:

• When Moses relayed God’s instructions regarding the Tabernacle to the Israelites, the people were camped at Mount Sinai.

OUTLINE:

• MAKING THE BRONZE ALTAR AND THE BRONZE BASIN (38:1-7):

  • Bezalel made the Altar of Burnt Offering which was to sit in the court of the Tabernacle.

  • It was made of acacia wood and overlayed with bronze.

  • The altar was 5 cubits long, 5 cubits wide, and 3 cubits tall.

  • Bezalel made the utensils for the altar (pots, shovels, basins, etc) out of bronze.

  • A ring was attached to each corner of the altar so it could be carried with poles.

  • Bezalel also made the bronze basin and its stand “from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.”

• MAKING THE OUTER COURT OF THE TABERNACLE (38:8-20):

  • The north side of the outer boundary of the court of the Tabernacle was made with 100 cubits of fine twined linen and 20 bronze pillars.

  • The south side was the same as the north side.

  • The west and east side were constructed of 50 cubits of linen and 10 pillars of bronze.

  • The east side included a 20-cubit screen/gate for entering the Tabernacle complex.

• SUMMARY OF THE METALS USED IN THE TABERNACLE (38:21-31):

  • The shekel, mina, and talent were weight measurements (like our lbs, kg, and grams). A talent weighed approximately 66 lbs/30.2 kg and was divided into 60 minas. Each mina was divided into 60 shekels.

  • 29 talents of gold and 730 shekels were used in the Tabernacle.

  • 100 talents and 1,775 shekels of silver were used for the project.

• APPLICATION:

  • The actions of the women who gave up their mirrors for the creation of the bronze basin are worthy of mimicking.

  • In giving up their mirrors, they were taking their eyes off themselves turning them towards the things of God.

  • We could probably all spend less time in front of the mirror and more time reflecting on ways to contribute to the service of the Lord.