Exodus 36:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,

NIV: They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.

NASB: They received from Moses every contribution which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him voluntary offerings every morning.

CSB: They took from Moses’s presence all the contributions that the Israelites had brought for the task of making the sanctuary. Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.

NLT: Moses gave them the materials donated by the people of Israel as sacred offerings for the completion of the sanctuary. But the people continued to bring additional gifts each morning.

KJV: And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.

NKJV: And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.

Exodus 36:2–7 describes the Israelites' willingness to work under Oholiab and Bezalel (Exodus 35:30, 34). These are the men assigned to supervise construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9). The people's enthusiasm creates a flood of donations. Moses eventually asks them to stop contributing because the project already has more than enough material.

Israel responds to the call for donations with enthusiasm. The people are so eager to donate that Moses must command the people to stop giving. Working under Bezalel, skilled workers begin following God's instructions for crafting the tabernacle (Exodus 25—31). Most of these descriptions repeat the exact wording from God's command, rephrased as what Israel actually did.

After renewing the covenant (Exodus 34), Moses is passing along the Lord's commands regarding the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9). This began with a call for materials and recently included the appointment of Bezalel and Oholiab to supervise the project (Exodus 35). This and following chapters (Exodus 37—39) record Israel following those original instructions very closely. The text is virtually identical to the written designs recorded earlier (Exodus 25—31).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.