Why does Moses stop the offerings, and how are the tabernacle’s coverings and frame made?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The workers report that the people are giving more than necessary, so Moses orders men and women to stop; the offerings are sufficient and more than sufficient. The account then describes the joined curtains and skin coverings, standing boards, sockets, bars, veil and entrance hanging.

Chapter breakdown

Why does Moses stop the offerings, and how are the tabernacle’s coverings and frame made? The workers report that the people are giving more than necessary, so Moses orders men and women to stop; the offerings are sufficient and more than sufficient. The account then describes the joined curtains and skin coverings, standing boards, sockets, bars, veil and entrance hanging.

Beseleel, Ooliab and every wise man given wisdom and understanding by the Lord make the things required for the sanctuary’s uses, as commanded. Moses calls them, the skilled men given wisdom and those who freely offered themselves for the work. He gives them all Israel’s offerings. While they work earnestly, the people offer their vows each morning. The workers come to Moses and report that the people offer more than necessary. Moses has a crier proclaim that neither man nor woman should offer more for the sanctuary. They stop giving because what was offered is sufficient and too much.

The wise-of-heart men make ten curtains of twisted fine linen, violet, purple and scarlet twice dyed, with varied embroidered work. Each is twenty-eight cubits long and four wide, all the same size. Five are joined together and the other five likewise. Violet loops are made on both sides of one curtain’s edge and similarly on the other, so the loops meet and join. Fifty gold rings catch the loops and make the curtains one tabernacle.

Eleven goats’ hair curtains cover the roof, each thirty cubits long and four wide, all the same measure. Five are joined separately and the other six separately. Fifty loops are made on one curtain’s edge and fifty on the other. Fifty brass buckles join the roof into one covering. A cover of red-dyed rams’ skins is made, with another of violet skins above it.

Standing setim boards are made, each ten cubits long and one and a half wide. Each has two mortises so boards can be joined; all are made this way. Twenty boards stand on the south side with forty silver sockets. Two sockets go beneath each board at the two sides of the corners, where the side mortises end in the corners. The north side also has twenty boards and forty silver sockets, two beneath each board.

The west side, looking toward the sea, has six boards and two others at the back corners. They join from bottom to top into one joint, with the same arrangement at both corners. The total is eight boards with sixteen silver sockets, two under each board.

Five setim bars hold the boards on one side, five join those on the other, and five are made for the west side toward the sea. Another bar runs along the middle of the boards from corner to corner. The boards are covered with gold, and silver sockets are cast for them. Their rings are gold, for the bars to pass through; the bars are covered with gold plates.

The veil is violet, purple, scarlet and fine twisted linen, with varied embroidery. Four setim pillars and their heads are covered with gold, with silver sockets cast for them. The entrance hanging is violet, purple, scarlet and fine twisted linen, made by an embroiderer. Five pillars and their heads are covered with gold, with their sockets cast in brass.

The story inside

The work proceeds after Moses delivers the offerings to the skilled and willing workers. Morning gifts continue until the workers report an excess; Moses’ public instruction stops both men and women from giving more because enough and too much have been offered. The account then follows the construction: ten equal linen curtains are joined in groups of five through loops and fifty gold rings. Eleven equal goats’ hair curtains form groups of five and six with fifty loops on the joining edges and fifty brass buckles, followed by the two skin covers. The standing boards, mortises and silver sockets form the named sides and back corners. Bars and gold rings join the boardwork. The embroidered veil and entrance hanging finish this chapter’s list, with four gold-covered setim pillars and silver sockets for the veil, and five gold-covered pillars with brass sockets for the entrance. (Exodus 36:1–38.)

Lessons worth keeping

1
The reason for stopping gifts is explicit. The workers report more than is necessary, and Moses orders both men and women to stop. The account says the offerings suffice and are too much; it supplies no further use for the surplus. (36:3–7.)
2
The joins have different stated counts. The linen curtains have violet loops with no number given here and fifty gold rings. The goats’ hair curtains have fifty loops on each joining edge and fifty brass buckles. Both sets become a joined whole. (36:8–18.)
3
The frame and hangings retain their distinct fittings. Boards have two mortises and silver sockets; gold rings receive gold-covered bars. The veil’s four setim pillars have silver sockets, while the entrance’s five pillars have brass sockets. (36:20–38.)

Test your recall

Why does Moses stop further gifts? The workers report more than necessary, and the offerings already suffice. What makes the linen curtains one tabernacle? Their aligned violet loops caught by fifty gold rings. What joins the goats’ hair covering? Fifty brass buckles through the edge loops. How many boards and sockets are at the back? Eight boards and sixteen silver sockets. How do the veil and entrance supports differ?

Show answer

Four setim pillars with silver sockets for the veil; five pillars with brass sockets for the entrance. (36:4–7, 11–18, 27–30, 35–38.)

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 10024–10028
Exodus Chapter 36 The offerings are delivered to the workmen, the curtains, coverings, boards, bars, veil, pillars, and hanging are made.
Lines 10029–10052
36:1. Beseleel therefore, and Ooliab, and every wise man, to whom the Lord gave wisdom and understanding, to know how to work artificially, made the things that are necessary for the uses of the sanctuary, and which the Lord commanded. 36:2. And when Moses had called them, and every skilful man, to whom the Lord had given wisdom, and such as of their own accord had offered themselves to the making of the work, 36:3. He delivered all the offerings of the children of Israel unto them. And while they were earnest about the work, the people daily in the morning offered their vows. 36:4. Whereupon the workmen being constrained to come, 36:5. Said to Moses: The people offereth more than is necessary. 36:6. Moses therefore commanded proclamation to be made by the crier’s voice: Let neither man nor woman offer any more for the work of the sanctuary. And so they ceased from offering gifts, 36:7. Because the things that were offered did suffice, and were too much.
Lines 10053–10072
36:8. And all the men that were wise of heart, to accomplish the work of the tabernacle, made ten curtains of twisted fine linen, and violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, with varied work, and the art of embroidering: 36:9. The length of one curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth four: all the curtains were of the same size. 36:10. And he joined five curtains, one to another, and the other five he coupled one to another. 36:11. He made also loops of violet in the edge of one curtain on both sides, and in the edge of the other curtain in like manner, 36:12. That the loops might meet one against another, and might be joined each with the other. 36:13. Whereupon also he cast fifty rings of gold, that might catch the loops of the curtains, and they might be made one tabernacle.
Lines 10073–10089
36:14. He made also eleven curtains of goats’ hair, to cover the roof of the tabernacle: 36:15. One curtain was thirty cubits long, and four cubits broad: all the curtains were of one measure. 36:16. Five of which he joined apart, and the other six apart. 36:17. And he made fifty loops in the edge of one curtain, and fifty in the edge of another curtain, that they might be joined one to another. 36:18. And fifty buckles of brass wherewith the roof might be knit together, that of all the curtains there might be made one covering. 36:19. He made also a cover for the tabernacle of rams’ skins dyed red; and another cover over that of violet skins.
Lines 10090–10110
36:20. He made also the boards of the tabernacle of setim wood standing. 36:21. The length of one board was ten cubits; and the breadth was one cubit and a half. 36:22. There were two mortises throughout every board, that one might be joined to the other. And in this manner he made for all the boards of the tabernacle. 36:23. Of which twenty were at the south side southward, 36:24. With forty sockets of silver, two sockets were put under one board on the two sides of the corners, where the mortises of the sides end in the corners. 36:25. At that side also of the tabernacle, that looketh towards the north, he made twenty boards, 36:26. With forty sockets of silver, two sockets for every board.
Lines 10111–10121
36:27. But against the west, to wit, at that side of the tabernacle, which looketh to the sea, he made six boards, 36:28. And two others at each corner of the tabernacle behind: 36:29. Which were also joined from beneath unto the top, and went together into one joint. Thus he did on both sides at the corners: 36:30. So there were in all eight boards, and they had sixteen sockets of silver, to wit, two sockets under every board.
Lines 10122–10136
36:31. He made also bars of setim wood, five to hold together the boards of one side of the tabernacle, 36:32. And five others to join together the boards of the other side; and besides these, five other bars at the west side of the tabernacle towards the sea. 36:33. He made also another bar, that might come by the midst of the boards from corner to corner. 36:34. And the boards themselves he overlaid with gold casting for them sockets of silver. And their rings he made of gold, through which the bars might be drawn: and he covered the bars themselves with plates of gold.
Lines 10137–10150
36:35. He made also a veil of violet, and purple, scarlet and fine twisted linen, varied and distinguished with embroidery: 36:36. And four pillars of setim wood, which with their heads he overlaid with gold, casting for them sockets of silver. 36:37. He made also a hanging in the entry of the tabernacle of violet, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen, with the work of an embroiderer. 36:38. And five pillars with their heads, which he covered with gold, and their sockets he cast of brass.