John Calvin Commentary Exodus 35
John Calvin Commentary
Exodus 35
John Calvin Commentary
Exodus 35
"Take ye from among you an offering unto Jehovah; whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Jehovah`s offering: gold, and silver, and brass," — Exodus 35:5 (ASV)
Take ye from among you an offering. I have introduced a passage from chapter 35, in which Moses again requires what he had before instructed; but he goes into more detail and treats at greater length the parts of the tabernacle. In the former passage he employed a verb, where he here uses a noun, “willing or voluntary of heart.” There is, however, no ambiguity in the meaning; since in both places God requires a cheerful zeal, so that they may not only contribute abundantly, but willingly. He will afterwards use a different form of expression, namely, that they did their duty, whose heart roused, or stirred them up, so as to distinguish them from the indifferent and slow (Exodus 35:21).
"And let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Jehovah hath commanded:" — Exodus 35:10 (ASV)
And every wise-hearted among you. Thus he denominates the artificers, who excelled in shrewdness of intellect. After having commanded them individually to supply the materials from their private resources, he now exhorts others to contribute their labor and skill for shaping and joining them together. He then briefly enumerates the parts of the Tabernacle, a longer explanation of which can be found in chapter 26.
This is, therefore, a kind of summary of all those things about which he previously spoke more fully, since it was necessary to spur them on anew to perform what they had been clearly instructed to do. For we know that instruction is very often coldly received without the addition of exhortations.
It might indeed seem strange,133 how so much wealth could be possessed by a miserably pillaged people, long driven to servile work. However, it can be inferred from the abundance described here that they were incredibly enriched at their departure from Egypt by the booty God gave them.
The kingdom of Egypt was very wealthy, and its people, as we know, had always been devoted to pleasures and luxuries. What, then, they had accumulated by their rapacity over many years flowed away from them by the secret influence of God, when the Egyptians suddenly became lavish in their giving.
But, just as He had blinded the Egyptians so that they profusely gave all they had, so He now directed the minds and hearts of His people, so that, mindful of so great a benefit, they would willingly expend, at His command, what they had obtained by His mere grace.
133 "Particular stress is laid on the contrast, which the condition of the Israelitish nation at that time presents to the splendor and speedy completion of the tent. That tent was certainly splendid, but, in point of fact, exceedingly simple in its construction. If we compare it with the monuments of Egyptian architecture, its relative simplicity must strike us in a much greater degree. As to the materials that were required for it, it admits of proof that the Israelites might well have been possessed of them at that time. The wilderness even might supply them with many of these things. With respect to other things, the metals, precious stones, etc, we must keep in view the condition of a people that had just come out of Egypt. History describes that country as having mercantile transactions with Asia, even from the earliest times. The people had acquired property, in part at least, in Egypt; the description in "Particular stress is laid on the contrast, which the condition of the Israelitish nation at that time presents to the splendor and speedy completion of the tent. That tent was certainly splendid, but, in point of fact, exceedingly simple in its construction. If we compare it with the monuments of Egyptian architecture, its relative simplicity must strike us in a much greater degree. As to the materials that were required for it, it admits of proof that the Israelites might well have been possessed of them at that time. The wilderness even might supply them with many of these things. With respect to other things, the metals, precious stones, etc, we must keep in view the condition of a people that had just come out of Egypt. History describes that country as having mercantile transactions with Asia, even from the earliest times. The people had acquired property, in part at least, in Egypt; the description in Exodus 32, leaves us no doubt as to the possessions, and even wealth, that they had gained there. They had not gone out of Egypt empty-handed, but richly provided with silver and gold, , leaves us no doubt as to the possessions, and even wealth, that they had gained there. They had not gone out of Egypt empty-handed, but richly provided with silver and gold, 12:36. — “Havernick, Introd. to Pentat. Edin., 1850, pp. 284-285.. — “Havernick, Introd. to Pentat. Edin., 1850, pp. 284-285.
"And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses." — Exodus 35:20 (ASV)
And all the congregation of the children of Israel. There is no reason why anyone should be surprised that the order of the narrative is changed, since it plainly appears from many passages that the order of time is not always observed by Moses. Thus he appears here to connect the fall of the people with the preceding injunctions, both with respect to the building of the tabernacle and the rest of the religious service of God. But I have shown292 on good grounds that the tabernacle was built before the people fell into idolatry. Therefore, Moses now supplies what had been previously omitted, though I have followed the thread of the narrative to make it less difficult.
The sum of this account is that whatever was necessary for the building of the tabernacle was liberally contributed. It must be observed that they had departed from the presence of Moses: for we gather from this circumstance that, having individually retired to their tents, they had considered by themselves what they should give. Hence their liberality is deserving of greater praise because it was premeditated; for it often happens that when a person has been bountiful from sudden impulse, he afterwards repents of it.
When it is added that they came, every one, it is a question whether he means that the minds of the whole people were prompt and cheerful in giving, or whether he indirectly rebukes the stinginess and sordidness of those who contemptibly neglected their duty. However we interpret it, Moses repeats what we have seen previously, that the offerings were not extorted by force or necessity, but that they proceeded from voluntary and cordial feelings.
I thus interpret the words, They came, every one, as his heart stirred each of them up, as if he were saying that they were not compelled by any law imposed upon them, but that each one was his own lawgiver, from his own goodwill.
This passage is absurdly twisted by the Papists as proof of free will; as if people were incited by themselves to act rightly and well. For Moses, even while praising their spontaneous feelings, does not mean to exclude the grace of the Spirit, by which alone our hearts are inclined to holy inclinations; but this stirring up is contrasted with the unwillingness by which ungodly people are withheld and restrained.
Therefore, those whom the Spirit rules, He does not drag unwillingly by a violent and external impulse, as it is called, but He so works within them on their will that believers stir themselves up, and they voluntarily follow His guidance.
So, when it is added, whose spirit was liberal in himself,293 the beginning of good works is not ascribed to people, nor is even their cooperation praised as if they cooperated independently of God, but only the internal impulse of their minds and the sincerity of their desires.
292 See See vol. 2, p. 143, and , and note..
293 “Every one, whom his spirit made willing.” — A..V..
"And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, [and] brought brooches, and ear-rings, and signet-rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man that offered an offering of gold unto Jehovah." — Exodus 35:22 (ASV)
And they came, both men and women. Specific mention is made of the women, not only for their generosity but also for their labors, which, as it soon afterwards appears, God designed to use in the work of the sanctuary. Moses emphasizes the fervor of their pious desires because they did not hold back their ornaments. People, and especially women, are generally so fond of these that they would rather endure cold, hunger, or thirst than part with them.294 It was, therefore, a sign of extraordinary zeal for them to give up their rings and bracelets, which many are very reluctant to part with, even when they are dying of hunger.
Furthermore, the contribution of those who gave brass, iron, shittim-wood, and rams’ skins is also praised. This ensured that the poor would not doubt that, although their ability might not match their desires, the offering they willingly presented in their poverty was no less acceptable to God than when the rich man, out of his abundance, gave what was a hundred times more valuable.
294 Addition in Fr., “Pour s’en defaire;” to deprive themselves of them.., “Pour s’en defaire;” to deprive themselves of them.
"And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, Jehovah hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah." — Exodus 35:30 (ASV)
See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel. This was a great stimulus to encourage them, when they clearly saw that God presided over the work. A conspicuous proof of this was the new and extraordinary power with which Bezaleel and Aholiab were endowed. For although they had previously been noble and excellent artisans, there is no doubt that they were further endowed with higher gifts, even to a miracle. Therefore, it is not without reason that he directs the people to pay attention to this unexpected exertion of God’s power, since it was exactly as if He had stretched out His hand from heaven for the advancement of the work. For this reason also, the tribe of each of them is mentioned, because of the conspicuous excellence of the grace, the memory of which was fitting to celebrate in all generations.
Now, as God conferred this honor on the architects of the visible sanctuary, so He declares that their names will be glorious in heaven, who, being equipped with the illustrious gifts of the Spirit, faithfully employ their labors in the building of His spiritual temple (Daniel 12:3).
By “the wisdom of heart,” both in the men and women, which is so often mentioned here, understand activity of mind. For the heart is not only called the seat of the affections, but also the power and faculty of the intellect. Thus, in Deuteronomy 29:4, it is said, Yet the Lord hath not given you a heart to understand.295
295 “To perceive.” — A..V. See . See ante, , vol. 1, p. 390, and , and vol. 2, p. 441..
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