Month: February 2021

22 He also made the robe of the ephod woven all of blue,

Zevachim 88b:2

With regard to the priestly vestments, the Sages taught in a baraita: The robe of the high priest was sewn entirely of sky-blue, as it is stated: “He also made the robe of the ephod woven all of sky-blue” (Exo 39:22). With regard to its hem, concerning which it states: “On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of sky blue and purple and scarlet, twined” (Exo 39:24), how were they fashioned? The tailor brings sky-blue yarns, and purple yarns, and scarlet yarns, which are twined together, and fashions them to appear as pomegranates that have not opened their mouths, i.e., they are sewn in the appearance of pomegranates that are not yet ripe enough for the crown on top to open, and as the cones of the helmets that are found on the heads of children.

24 On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.

Yoma 71b:10

The Gemara continues to explain the baraita. That the use of the term twined implies that the thread should be spun from eight strands, from where do we derive this? As it is written: “On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of sky-blue and purple and scarlet, twined” (Exo 39:24); and derive a verbal analogy from the term “twined” used in this verse and the term “twined” from the verse about the curtain: Just as there, with regard to the curtain, there are twenty-four strands, as will be explained, so too here, there are twenty-four strands in total. And since each pomegranate is made of three colors, sky-blue, purple, and scarlet, it must be that each one of them was spun from eight strands.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, GAL 5:22

26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate around the hem of the robe for ministering, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Sotah 9b:22

The verse continues: “To move him [lefa’amo] in Mahaneh Dan.” Rabbi Yitzḥak of the school of Rabbi Ami says: This teaches that the divine presence jangled before him, inspiring him, like a bell [zog], as it is written here: “To move him [lefa’amo] in Mahaneh Dan,” and it is written there with regard to the clothing of the high priest: “A bell [pa’amon] and a pomegranate” (Exo 39:26).

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, MAT 9:20

27 They also made the coats, woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons,

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ROM 3:22

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. ROM 13:14

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. GAL 3:27

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. PHP 2:6-8

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1PE 1:13

28 and the turban of fine linen, and the caps of fine linen, and the linen undergarments of fine twined linen,

Rashi

And the caps means the beauty of the caps—this is equivalent to: the caps.

30 They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, “Holy to the Lord.”

Gittin 20b:1

Isn’t there a need to write it, as the verse states with regard to the frontplate: “Wrote on it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet” (Exo 39:30), and there is no writing here? The Gemara answers: It means that the frontplate was fashioned like the form of gold dinars but not entirely like the form of gold dinars. It was fashioned like the form of gold dinars in that the writing protrudes. But it was not fashioned like the form of gold dinars entirely, as there, in the case of gold dinars, the pressing of the stamp is done from the inside, by pushing back the surrounding area to allow the form to be visible, and here, when fashioning the frontplate, it was done from the outside, by applying pressure to the opposite side so that the letters were pushed outward. Since the letters were carved directly, it was considered to be inscription.

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1CO 1:30

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2CO 5:21

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. TIT 2:14

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, HEB 1:3

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. HEB 7:26

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth. REV 5:10

32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did.

Rashi

The people of Israel did the work according to all that the Lord had commanded.

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. MAT 28:20

John Gill

Teaching them to observe all—All ordinances, not only baptism, but the Lord’s supper; all positive institutions, and moral duties; all obligations, both to God and men; all relative duties that respect the world, or one another, those that are without, and those that are within; and these are to be taught them, and therefore to be insisted on in the ministry of the word; and not merely in order that they may know them, and have the theory of them, but that the may put them into practice.

That I have commanded you—Every thing that Christ has commanded, be it what it will, and nothing else; for Christ’s ministers are not to teach for doctrines the commandments of men; or enjoin that on the churches, which is of their own, or other men’s devising, and was never ordered by Christ.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age—Meaning, not merely to the end of their lives, which would be the end of the age to them; nor to the end of the Jewish age, or state, which was not a great way off, though this is sometimes the sense of this phrase; but to the end of the age to come, the gospel church state, which now took place; or to the end of the present age, the universe: not that the apostles should live to the end of it; but that whereas Christ would have a church and people to the end of the age, and the gospel and the ordinances of it should be administered so long, and there should be gospel ministers till that time; Christ’s sense is, that he would grant his presence to them, his immediate disciples, and to all that should succeed them in future generations, to the end of time: and which is to be understood not of his corporeal presence, which they should not have till then, but of his spiritual presence; and that he would be with them, in a spiritual sense, to assist them in their work, to comfort them under all discouragements, to supply them with his grace, and to protect them from all enemies, and preserve from all evils; which is a great encouragement both to administer the word and ordinances, and attend on them.

who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. HEB 3:2

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” HEB 8:5

33 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its utensils, its hooks, its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases;

Rashi

Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, for they were unable to erect it. Since Moses had done no work in the tabernacle, the Holy One, blessed is he, left for him the task of erecting it, for nobody was able to set it up because of the weight of the frames which no human strength was capable of setting up. Moses, however, succeeded in placing it in position. Moses said to the Holy One, blessed be he, “How is its erection possible by human beings?” God answered him: “You be busy with your hand!” He appeared to be erecting it, but in fact it set itself up and rose of its own accord. That is why Scripture says (Exo 40:17), “the tabernacle was erected”—was erected by itself. This is a Midrash of Rabbi Tanchuma 2:11:11.

35 the ark of the testimony with its poles and the mercy seat;

5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing HEB 9:5, 8

37 the lampstand of pure gold and its lamps with the lamps set and all its utensils, and the oil for the light;

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. MAT 5:14-16

that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, PHP 2:15

42 According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2TI 2:15

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2TI 4:7

43 And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.

Rashi

Then Moses blessed them—He said to them “May it be the will of God that his glory rest upon the work of your hands; ‘let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us’ ” (Psa 90:17) (Sifra, Shemini, Mechilta d’Miluim 2 15). This is part of one of the eleven psalms in “A prayer of Moses” (Psa 90:1) (Bamidbar Rabbah 12:9).

8 He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, EPH 6:14

John Gill

Stand therefore—Keep your ground, do not desert the army, the church of Christ, nor his cause; continue in the station in which you are placed, keep your post, be upon your watch, stand upon your guard.

Having fastened on the belt of truth—By which is meant the gospel, and the several doctrines of it; see (Eph 1:13; 4:15); and to have the loins girt with it, shows, that it should be near and close to the saints, and never departed from; and that it is a means of keeping them close to God and Christ, and of strengthening them against the assaults and attacks of Satan; and is of great use in the Christians’ spiritual conflict with their enemies; the girdle is a part of armour, and so considerable as sometimes to be put for the whole (Isa 5:27); and here it is mentioned in the first place.

And having put on the breastplate of righteousness—In allusion to (Isa 59:17), meaning not works of righteousness done by men, though these are a fence when rightly used against the reproaches and charges of the enemy, as they were by Samuel (1Sa 12:3), but rather the graces of faith and love (1Th 5:8), though faith has another place in the Christian armour, afterwards mentioned; wherefore it seems best to understand this of the righteousness of Christ, which being imputed by God, and received by faith, is a guard against, and repels the accusations and charges of Satan, and is a security from all wrath and condemnation.

10 And they set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle was the first row;

19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,

John Gill

The foundations of the wall of the city—Which were twelve; see (Rev 21:14) were garnished with all manner of precious stones: see (Isa 54:11-12) not that there were all manner of precious stones in every foundation, but in them all there were, and each foundation had its stone peculiar to it, as follows; and which are not applicable to the persons of the apostles, who were not the foundations, but on them their names only were written: and besides, the order of them, as given in the Evangelists and Acts of the Apostles, is not certain, and always the same, to which these several stories may be adjusted; though they are doubtless comparable to them for their preciousness in the sight of God, and Christ, and all the saints; and for the brightness and purity of their doctrine and lives; and for their zeal in the cause of Christ; and for their solidity, and invincible courage and constancy: much less are these precious stones applicable to a set of ministers in the latter day, who are to be useful in the conversion of the Jews in the several parts of the world, where these stones are found, as Brightman thinks, but to Jesus Christ, the one and only foundation: and without entering into the particular virtues and excellencies of these stones, in general, they set forth the worth and preciousness of Christ, who is the pearl of great price; the pleasure and delight had in viewing his excellencies and perfections; his brightness, purity, and glory, and his firmness and durableness, as a foundation. There may be some allusion to the twelve stones in the breastplate of the high priest, on which the names of the tribes of Israel were written.

The first was jasper—It was laid with a jasper stone, of which see (Rev 4:3). On this stone, in the breastplate, Benjamin’s name was written.

The second sapphire—Its colour is azure, or sky blue; it is transparent, and exceeding hard. Schroder says there are very good ones found in the borders of Bohemia and Silesia; but those which are brought from Pegu are most valuable: on this stone Issachar’s name was engraven.

The third chalcedony—It is of a misty grey colour, clouded with blue, yellow, or purple; the best is that which has a pale cast of blue; it is very much like the common agate; and the Hebrew word “cadcod,” is rendered agate in (Isa 54:12) though it is thought to answer to the carbuncle in the breastplate, on which was written the name of Levi. And Pliny speaks of carbuncles, called “charcedonies,” which R. Leo Mutinensis says had their name in memory of the city of Carthagena. There is a precious stone mentioned in the Targum of Jonathan, called “cadcodin,” which answers to the diamond in the breastplate, on which Zebulun’s name was written; and in the Jerusalem Targum it is called “cadcedana,” and answers to the emerald, which had Judah’s name on it, and seems to be put for “chalcodin” and “chalcedana,” which agrees with the name of this stone.

The fourth emerald—Of which see (Rev 4:3). The best of this sort are the eastern ones. Schroder says they are found in Cyprus, Britain, and other places, but not so good as the rest. On this stone Judah’s name was written.

20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

John Gill

The fifth onyx—Which is partly of the sardian, and partly of the onyx stone, which resembles a man’s nail, from whence it has its name; it is reddish, bordering on white; it may be thought to answer to the onyx in the breastplate, on which was written the name of Joseph.

The sixth sardius—The same with the sardine stone (Rev 4:3), of a blood colour, and what is commonly called a carnelian: it is found in Sardinia, from whence it has its name, and in Bohemia and Silesia, though those of Babylon are the best. This was Reuben’s stone.

The seventh chrysolite—A stone of a dusky green colour, with a cast of yellow; by its name it should have the colour of gold. Schroder says it is found in Bohemia, and that it is the same the moderns call the topaz. Some think it answers to “tarshish” in the breastplate, rendered “beryl,” on which was the name of Asher.

The eighth beryl—A stone of a pale green colour, thought to be the diamond of the ancients: it may answer to the “ligure” in the breastplate, which the Targum on (Son 5:14) calls “birla,” and had the name of Dan on it.

The ninth topaz—A stone very hard and transparent, of a beautiful yellow, or gold colour: the topaz of Ethiopia was counted the best (Job 28:19). Some say it is so called from the island “Topazus”; on this stone Simeon’s name was engraven.

The tenth chrysoprase—A stone of a green colour, inclining to that of gold, from whence it has its name; for this is the agate in the breastplate, which was Naphtali’s stone.

The eleventh jacinth—Or “hyacinth”: a stone of a purple, or violet colour, from whence it has its name; though what the moderns so call is of a deep reddish yellow, pretty near a flame colour. Zebulun’s stone was the diamond.

The twelfth amethyst—A stone of a violet colour, bordering on purple: it has been thought a preservative from drunkenness, from whence it seems to have its name. On this stone was written the name of Gad. Agreeably to this account of John’s, the Jews speak of the tabernacle above being built on twelve precious stones; and sometimes they say, that the holy blessed God will found Jerusalem with ten kind of precious stones, and which they mention, and several of which are the same with these.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. REV 21:19-21

John Gill

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls—Denoting the purity and preciousness of Christ, by whom the saints enter, and of the saints who enter in thereat, as well as of the place into which they enter.

Each of the gates made of a single pearl—The pearl of great price, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only gate, door, and way into this happy state: this shows that this account cannot be taken literally, but mystically, for no such pearl was ever known, large enough to make a gate of.

“A pearl is a hard, white, shining body, usually roundish, found in a shell fish resembling an oyster, but is three or four times the size of the common oyster; and which ordinarily yields ten or twelve pearls, and sometimes more. Those of the largest size that have been known are that of Cleopatra, valued by Pliny at centies H S, or at 80,000 pound sterling; and that brought in 1574 to Philip the Second, of the size of a pigeon’s egg, worth 14,400 ducats; and that of the Emperor Rudolph, mentioned by Boetius, called “la peregrina,” or the incomparable, of the size of a muscade pear, and weighing 30 carats; and that mentioned by Tavernier, in the hands of the emperor of Persia in 1633, bought of an Arab for 32,000 tomans, which, at three pounds nine shillings the toman, amounts to 110,400 pounds sterling.”

But what is one of these pearls to make a gate of, for a wall which was an hundred and forty four cubits high? (Rev 21:17). The Jews say, that the holy blessed God will bring precious stones and “pearls” of thirty cubits by thirty and place them “in the gates of Jerusalem,” as it is said (Isa 54:12) which must be understood also not in a literal but mystical sense: and L’Empereur makes mention of an ancient commentary on (Psa 87:1) which says, that the holy blessed God will make a gate at the east (of the temple), and in it two doors, each of one pearl. So R. Joshua ben Levi says, that there are in paradise two gates of agates or diamonds; some render the word rubies.

And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass—Denoting the preciousness and delightfulness of the saints’ conversation one with another; and the purity and cleanness of it, there being no mire and filth of sin in these streets; and the sincerity and openness of it, each one walking in his uprightness; which will be seen and known of all, as clearly as anything can be beheld in a transparent glass. So the Jews say of paradise, that the ground is paved with precious stones, the lustre of which may be compared to the light of burning torches.

15 And they made on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. JOH 10:28

While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. JOH 17:12

who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1PE 1:5

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: JUD 1:1

21 And they bound the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it should lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece should not come loose from the ephod, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” MAT 16:24

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 1CO 1:25, 27

EXO 38

28 And of the 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the pillars and overlaid their capitals and made fillets for them.

Rashi

And overlaid their capitals—The tops of the pillars with them (the 1775 shekels of silver), for it is said with regard of all of them (v. 19) “And overlaid their capitals, and their fillets of silver.”

Bekhorot 5a:15

If we say that it is derived from the verse itself that Kontrokos mentioned (Exo 38:27), then the derivation would be as follows: In addition to the one hundred talents, additional silver coins are mentioned here that equal seventy-one maneh, as it is stated: “And of the 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the pillars” (Exo 38:28), which is equal to one talent, or sixty maneh, plus an additional eleven maneh, and the verse counted them only using the value of small coins, i.e., shekels, and not in talents. And if it is so that a maneh of the sanctuary was of equal value to a common maneh, then the verse should have expressed this value using larger coins, writing: 101 talents and eleven maneh.

29 The bronze that was offered was seventy talents and 2,400 shekels;

Bekhorot 5a:18

Rather, the principle that a maneh of the sanctuary is double the value of a common maneh is derived from here: “The bronze that was offered was seventy talents and 2,400 shekels” (Exo 38:29). The Gemara explains: Aside from the seventy talents mentioned, there are an additional ninety-six maneh here, which is equivalent to one talent and an additional thirty-six maneh, and the verse counts them only using the value of small coins. Learn from it that a maneh of the sanctuary was double the amount of a standard maneh, and that is why the number of shekels mentioned did not equal a full talent.

EXO 39

Making the Priestly Garments

1 From the blue and purple and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Rashi

From the blue and purple . . .—But there is no mention of linen here. From this fact I derive that these were not identical with the garments of the priests, for there was linen in the garments of the priests. But these were the cloths with which they covered up the holy vessels at the time of removing and packing up the articles in the tabernacle when they set out on their journeyings which indeed had no linen in them.

12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

John Gill

He entered once for all into the holy places, . . . but by means of his own blood—Which shows the truth of his human nature, and the virtue of its blood, as in union with his divine person; by which he opened the way into the holiest of all, as the surety of his people, and gives them boldness and liberty to follow him there; he carried his blood not in a basin, as the high priest carried the blood of goats and calves, but in his veins; and by it, having been shed by him, he entered not into the Holy Place made with hands, but into heaven itself; and that not every year, as the high priest, but “once” for all, having done his work.

Not by means of the blood of goats and calves—With which the high priest entered into the Holy Place, within the vail, on the Day of Atonement, (Lev 16:14-15) for Christ was not an high priest of the order of Aaron, nor could the blood of these creatures take away sin, nor would God accept of such sacrifices any longer.

Thus securing an eternal redemption—For us, from sin, Satan, the law, and death, to which his people were in bondage, and which he obtained by paying a ransom price for them; which was not corruptible things, as silver and gold but his precious, blood: in the original text it is, “having found eternal redemption”; there seems to be an allusion to (Job 33:24). This was what was sought for long ago by the, Old Testament saints, who were wishing, waiting, and longing for this salvation; it is a thing very precious and difficult to find; it is to be had nowhere but in Christ, and when found in him, is matter of great joy to sensible sinners; God found it in him, and found him to be a proper person to effect it; and Christ has found it by being the author of it: this is called an eternal redemption, because it extends to the saints in all ages; backwards and forwards; it includes eternal life and happiness; and such as are sharers in it shall never perish, but shall be saved with an everlasting salvation; it is so called in opposition to the carnal expiations of the high priests, and in distinction from temporal redemptions, deliverances, and salvations. Remarkable is the paraphrase of Jonathan ben Uzziel on (Gen 49:18).

“Jacob said, when he saw Gideon the son of Joash, and Samson the son of Manoah, who should be redeemers; not for the redemption of Gideon am I waiting, nor for the redemption of Samson am I looking, for their redemption is a temporal redemption; but for your redemption am I waiting and looking, O Lord, because your redemption is ‘an everlasting redemption’:”

another copy reads, for the redemption of Messiah the son of David; and to the same purpose is the Jerusalem paraphrase on the place.

25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, HEB 9:12, 25

John Gill

Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly—Or at all again; which shows the perfection of his sacrifice, for justice was satisfied, the law fulfilled, sin done away, and complete salvation obtained at once; which lies against the errors of the Socinians, who say he offers himself now in heaven; and of the Papists, who pretend to offer the body of Christ daily in their mass.

As the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own—Not his own, nor other men’s, but the blood of goats and calves; but Christ entered into heaven with his own blood, he having been altar, priest, and sacrifice: the high priest went into the most holy places every year, but Christ has entered into heaven once for all, where he sits down and continues, having done his work effectually.

3 And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design.

Yoma 72a:6

But couldn’t one say the gold should be made as a thread of six strands, like the other colors? Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said that the verse states: “And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into cords to work into the sky-blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, the work of a skilled craftsman” (Exo 39:3). “Cord” implies a strand that is doubled over and can be twisted into a cord; “cords” is in the plural, meaning at least two of these. Accordingly, there are four strands here.

Yoma 72a:7

Rav Ashi said: This can be seen from that fact that the verse states with regard to the gold strands: “To work into the sky-blue and purple” (Exo 39:3), indicating that the gold strands should be combined with the other colors. What should we do? If we make four gold threads of two strands each and combine each one with each of the colors, then there would be eight. If we make two gold threads of two strands each, and two gold threads of one strand each, it says: “And you shall make,” indicating that all its makings should be the same. Perforce, one strand of gold should be combined with each of the colors, producing a total of twenty-eight strands.

5 And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. MAT 28:20

John Gill

Teaching them to observe all—All ordinances, not only baptism, but the Lord’s supper; all positive institutions, and moral duties; all obligations, both to God and men; all relative duties that respect the world, or one another, those that are without, and those that are within; and these are to be taught them, and therefore to be insisted on in the ministry of the word; and not merely in order that they may know them, and have the theory of them, but that the may put them into practice.

That I have commanded you—Every thing that Christ has commanded, be it what it will, and nothing else; for Christ’s ministers are not to teach for doctrines the commandments of men; or enjoin that on the churches, which is of their own, or other men’s devising, and was never ordered by Christ.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age—Meaning, not merely to the end of their lives, which would be the end of the age to them; nor to the end of the Jewish age, or state, which was not a great way off, though this is sometimes the sense of this phrase; but to the end of the age to come, the gospel church state, which now took place; or to the end of the present age, the universe: not that the apostles should live to the end of it; but that whereas Christ would have a church and people to the end of the age, and the gospel and the ordinances of it should be administered so long, and there should be gospel ministers till that time; Christ’s sense is, that he would grant his presence to them, his immediate disciples, and to all that should succeed them in future generations, to the end of time: and which is to be understood not of his corporeal presence, which they should not have till then, but of his spiritual presence; and that he would be with them, in a spiritual sense, to assist them in their work, to comfort them under all discouragements, to supply them with his grace, and to protect them from all enemies, and preserve from all evils; which is a great encouragement both to administer the word and ordinances, and attend on them.

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 1CO 11:23

John Gill

For I received from the Lord—The apostle observes to them the rule, use, and end of the Lord’s supper; his view in it is, to correct the disorders among them, and to bring them to a strict regard to the rule which had such a divine authority stamped upon it; and to observe to them, that in that supper all equally ate and drank; and that the end of it was not a paschal commemoration, but a remembrance of Christ, and a declaration of his sufferings and death. The divine authority of the Lord’s supper is here expressed; it was not only instituted by him as Lord, having all power and authority in and over his churches, to appoint what ordinances he pleases; but the plan and form of administration of it were received from him by the apostle. This was not a device of his, nor an invention of any man’s, nor did he receive the account from men, no not from the apostles; but he had it by revelation from Christ, either when he appeared to him at his first conversion, and made him a minister of the gospel; or when he was caught up into the third heaven, and heard things unspeakable and unutterable.

What I also delivered to you—For whatever he received from Christ, whether a doctrine or an ordinance, he faithfully delivered to the churches, from whom he kept back nothing that was profitable, but declared the whole counsel of God to them: now this he refers the Corinthians to, as a sure rule to go by, and from which they should never swerve; and whatever stands on divine record as received from Christ, and delivered by his apostles, should be the rule of our faith and practice, and such only.

That the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed—Or delivered; as he was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God the Father, and as he was by himself, who voluntarily gave himself up into the hands of men, justice and death, for our offences; and so the Arabic version reads it here, “in the night when he delivered up himself”; as he did in the garden to Judas and his company: it was in the night when he came in search of him with officers, and a band of soldiers, and when he betrayed him and delivered him into their hands; and that same night, a little before, our Lord instituted and celebrated the ordinance of the supper with his disciples. The time is mentioned partly with regard to the Passover it followed, which was killed in the evening and ate the same night in commemoration of God’s sparing the firstborn of Israel, when at midnight he destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt, and so was a night to be observed in all generations; and because this feast was to be a supper, and therefore it is best to observe it in the evening, or decline of the day. The circumstance of Judas’ betraying him is mentioned, not only because it was in the night, and a work of darkness; but being in the same night he instituted the supper, shows the knowledge he had of his death by the means of the betrayer, and his great love to his disciples, his church and people, in appointing such an ordinance in remembrance of him, and his death, when he was just about to leave them.

Took bread—From off the table, out of the dish, or from the hands of the master of the house; an emblem of his body, and of his assumption of human nature; of his taking upon him the nature of the seed of Abraham, of that body which his Father prepared for him, in order to its being broken; or that he might in it endure sufferings and death for his people.

and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. REV 1:13

EXO 37

16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 2TI 2:20

Making the Lampstand

17 He also made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work. Its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were of one piece with it.

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. MAT 5:15

that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, PHP 2:15

For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. HEB 9:2

22 Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole of it was a single piece of hammered work of pure gold.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1CO 9:27

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. COL 3:5

23 And he made its seven lamps and its tongs and its trays of pure gold.

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. REV 1:12, 20

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: “The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” REV 2:1

From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, REV 4:5

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” REV 5:5

Making the Altar of Incense

25 He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit, and its breadth was a cubit. It was square, and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it.

You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? MAT 23:19

9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. LUK 1:9-10

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. HEB 7:25

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. HEB 13:10

you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1PE 2:5

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne,

4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. REV 8:3-4

29 He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.

For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. JOH 3:34

21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,

22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2CO 1:21-22

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. HEB 5:7

20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. 1JN 2:20, 27

EXO 38

Making the Altar of Burnt Offering

1 He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. Five cubits was its length, and five cubits its breadth. It was square, and three cubits was its height.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. JOH 6:37

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ROM 8:3-4

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ROM 12:1

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, HEB 3:1

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. HEB 9:14

The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. REV 21:16

4 And he made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its ledge, extending halfway down.

Zevachim 62a:12

The Gemara asks: But isn’t it written: “And he made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its ledge, extending halfway down” (Exo 38:4), which indicates that the ledge was on the side of the altar and not on top of it? The Gemara answers: Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: There were two entities called ledge. One was a slight protrusion above the midway point of the altar for aesthetic purposes, and one was an indentation on top of the altar for the benefit of the priests, to ensure that they would not slip off the top of the altar.

7 And he put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it with them. He made it hollow, with boards.

Rashi

Hollow, with boards—Signifies hollow, similar to, “and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow” (Jer 52:21).

Hollow, with boards—The boards of acacia wood were placed on all sides, and the hollow space was in the middle.

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” ACT 9:15

but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1CO 1:24

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1CO 2:2

Making the Bronze Basin

8 He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.

Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” JOH 13:10

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, TIT 3:5

but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. HEB 9:10

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 1JN 3:7

and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood REV 1:5

12 And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their ten pillars, and their ten bases; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.

Zevachim 59b:10

Rabbi Yosei said back to him: But isn’t it already stated: “And the hangings of the court and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar” (Num 4:26)? This verse juxtaposes the tabernacle with the altar to teach that just as the tabernacle was ten cubits high, so too, the altar was ten cubits high. And another verse states: “The hangings were fifteen”

14 The hangings for one side of the gate were fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and three bases.

Zevachim 60a:1

“Cubits for one side” (Exo 38:14), which indicates that the height of the hangings surrounding the courtyard of the tabernacle was fifteen cubits. And what is the meaning when the verse states: “And the height five cubits” (Exo 27:18)? It is referring to the height of the hangings from the upper edge of the altar and above; the hangings surrounding the courtyard were five cubits higher than the altar.

26 a beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone who was listed in the records, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men.

Bekhorot 5a:10

Additionally, Kontrokos asked Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai: With regard to the collection of silver by Moses for the tabernacle, you find that the total amount is 201 talents and eleven maneh, as it is written that they amassed: “A beka a head (that is, half a shekel, of the shekel of the sanctuary) . . . for 603,550 men” (Exo 38:26), which totals 301,775 shekels. This sum equals 201 talents and eleven maneh, as each talent contains 1,500 shekels, or sixty maneh, and each maneh contains twenty-five shekels.

27 The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil; a hundred bases for the hundred talents, a talent a base.

Bekhorot 5a:11

But with regard to the giving of the silver to the tabernacle you find only one hundred talents, as it is written: “The hundred talents of silver were for casting” (Exo 38:27). Now, was Moses your teacher a thief, or was he a gambler, or was he not expert in accounting? He gave half of the money for the tabernacle and took half for himself, and he did not return even a complete half to the tabernacle.

EXO 35

Construction of the Tabernacle

30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;”

Berakhot 55a:11

With regard to Bezalel’s appointment, Rabbi Yitzḥak said: One may only appoint a leader over a community if he consults with the community and they agree to the appointment, as it is stated: “Then Moses said to the people of Israel, ‘See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah’ ” (Exo 35:30). The Lord said to Moses: Moses, is Bezalel a suitable appointment in your eyes? Moses said to Him: Master of the universe, if he is a suitable appointment in your eyes, then all the more so in my eyes. The Holy One, blessed be he, said to him: Nevertheless, go and tell Israel and ask their opinion. Moses went and said to Israel: Is Bezalel suitable in your eyes? They said to him: If he is suitable in the eyes of the Holy One, blessed be he, and in your eyes, all the more so he is suitable in our eyes.

Rashi

Hur was the son the Miriam (Sotah 11b; cf. Rashi on Exo 24:14).

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 1CO 3:10

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1CO 12:4, 11

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. JAS 1:17

EXO 36

1 Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. MAT 28:20

And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. LUK 1:6

a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. HEB 8:2

4 so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing,

Sanhedrin 69b:18

The Gemara asks: Rather, from where do we derive that in earlier generations men fathered children at the age of eight? From here, as it is written: “Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses” (Exo 38:22). And it is written: “When Azubah died, Caleb took for himself Ephrath, who bore him Hur. Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezalel (1Ch 2:19–20). And when Bezalel made the tabernacle how old was he? He must have been at least thirteen years old, as it is written: “So that all the craftsmen who carried out every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he did” (Exo 36:4), and one who is less than thirteen is not called a man. And it is taught in a baraita: In the first year following the exodus from Egypt Moses made the tabernacle; in the second year he erected the tabernacle and sent out the spies.

Shabbat 96b:13

The Gemara asks: And perhaps they were not in a straight line but staggered. That would enable the weavers to sit adjacent to each other without disturbing each other’s task. And furthermore, did they borrow from each another? Wasn’t the following taught in a baraita of the Sage Luda? The verse states: “So that all the craftsmen who performed every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each one from the task he was doing” (Exo 36:4). From that verse it is derived: Each performed the labor from his own task, and they would not perform the labor from their friends’ task. Each person had his own tools and did not need to borrow from others.

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? MAT 24:45

And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?” LUK 12:42

5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing very much, more than is enough for the work of the articles which the Lord had commanded to do.”

Rashi

More than is enough for the work means more than is sufficient for the needs of the work.

2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 2CO 8:2-3

For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. PHP 2:21

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. PHP 4:17-18

6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing,

Rosh Hashanah 34a:17

As for the concern that one might think the verse means: You shall merely carry the trumpet by hand and not sound it, you cannot in any event say that, as that tanna derives by verbal analogy between the root avara used here and the same root avara that is found with regard to Moses. It is written here: “Then you shall make proclamation [veha’avarta] with the blast of the trumpet,” and it is written elsewhere: “So So Moses gave command, and they caused to be proclaimed [vaya’aviru] throughout the camp” (Exo 36:6). Just as there, with regard to Moses, they proclaimed with a sound, so too here, the proclamation must be with a sound.

Shabbat 96b:1

GEMARA: With regard to the main issue, the Gemara asks: After all, throwing is a subcategory of carrying out. Where is the primary category of prohibited labor of carrying out itself written in the law? Isn’t it necessary to clarify the primary category before discussing the subcategory? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: As the verse said: “So Moses gave command, and they passed a proclamation throughout the camp, ‘No man or woman should perform any more work to contribute to the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing” (Exo 36:6). According to Rabbi Yoḥanan, Moses commanded the people to cease bringing contributions in order to prevent them from bringing their contributions on the Sabbath. He then explains: Where was Moses sitting? He was in the camp of the Levites, and the Levites’ camp was the public domain. And he said to Israel: Do not carry out and bring objects from the private domain, your camp, to the public domain, the camp of the Levites.

7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

Rashi

For the material they had was sufficient to do all the work—And the work of contributing was sufficient for all workers at the tabernacle, to do all the work connected with the tabernacle to make it and more.

And more—Heb. וְהוֹתֵר, like “and he hardened (וְהַכְבֵּד) his heart” (Exo 8:11); “striking (וְהַכּוֹת) the Moabites” (2KI 3:24).

Shabbat 49b:9

Rav Yosef said to Abaye: I cannot reach a conclusion relying solely on a count because there is another instance of the term labor, whose meaning is not clear to me. The reason I am uncertain is because it is written with regard to the tabernacle: “For the labor they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more” (Exo 36:7). The question arises whether or not this mention of labor is included in the count of thirty-nine instances, i.e., whether or not it refers to actual labor. And if it does, that verse with regard to Joseph should be understood in accordance with the opinion of the one who said that the expression, to do his labor, is a euphemism. It means that it was to attend to his needs and engage in relations with Potiphar’s wife that he entered.

Shabbat 96b:2

The Gemara asks: And how do you know that he was standing and commanding the people on the Sabbath? Perhaps he was standing during the week, and Moses commanded the cessation of contributions because the labor of the tabernacle was completed, since all the necessary material was already donated, as it is written: “For the material they had was sufficient for them to perform all the work, and there was extra” (Exo 36:7). Rather, derive this by means of a verbal analogy between passing mentioned in this context and passing mentioned with regard to the Day of Atonement.

13 And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 1CO 12:20

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. EPH 2:20-22

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1PE 2:4-5

35 He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. MAT 27:51

by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, HEB 10:20

EXO 37

Making the Ark

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.

Rashi

Bezalel made—Because he gave himself over to the work more than the other wise men it is called after his name. His name alone is associated with the act (Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel 10).

Making the Table

10 He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. JOH 1:14, 16

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. COL 1:27