John Trapp
Exodus 35

Verse 1

Exodus 35:1 And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These [are] the words which the LORD hath commanded, that [ye] should do them.

And said unto them, These, &c. He often goes over the same things, as the knife doth the whetstone. Good things must be repeated, sicut in acuendo. It is Moses's own metaphor (Deut. 6:7).

Verse 2

Exodus 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

Six days shall work be done. This duty is so oft inculcated, to show the necessity, excellency, difficulty of well doing it.

Verse 3

Exodus 35:3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

Ye shall kindle no fire, sc., For the furtherance of the work of the tabernacle: or, at least, that is not of absolute necessity. It might also signify that in the kingdom of heaven we shall be set free from all the fire and scorching heat of affliction.

Verses 4-7

Exodus 35:4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This [is] the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,

Exodus 35:5 'Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;

Exodus 35:6 'blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair;

Exodus 35:7 'ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood;

Much of this chapter is to be read in the twenty-fifth, and elsewhere. See the notes there.

Verse 22

Exodus 35:22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, [and] brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered [offered] an offering of gold unto the LORD.

And brought bracelets. Glad they had anything of price to dedicate to God and to seal up their thankfulness for this readmittance into his love and favour. See the note on Matt. 9:10. Nazianzen put this price upon his Athenian learning, wherein he was very famous, that he had something of value to part with for Christ. These in the text, in token of their true repentance, brought their bracelets and other ornaments, as freely for the service of the tabernacle, as erst they had done to the making of the golden calf.

Verse 32

Exodus 35:32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

And to devise curious works. "This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working" (Isa. 28:29). Pliny¹ makes mention of some famous painters, whose rare pieces were Oppidorum opibus venditae: sold for so many towns' wealth. A certain craftsman set a watch clock upon a ring that Charles V wore upon his finger.² King Ferdinand sent to Solyman the Turk, for a present, a wonderful globe of silver of most rare and curious device; daily expressing the hourly passing of the time, the motions of the planets, the change and full of the moon; lively expressing the wonderful conversions of the celestial frame.³ To which I may well add that admirable invention of printing, a special blessing of God to mankind.