Exodus 38

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 38

1¶ And he made the altar of burnt offering [of] shittim wood: five cubits [was] the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; [it was] foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

2And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.

3And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, [and] the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he [of] brass.

4And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it.

5And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, [to be] places for the staves.

6And he made the staves [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass.

7And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards.

8And he made the laver [of] brass, and the foot of it [of] brass, of the lookingglasses of [the women] assembling, which assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

9¶ And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court [were of] fine twined linen, an hundred cubits:

10Their pillars [were] twenty, and their brasen sockets twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets [were of] silver.

11And for the north side [the hangings were] an hundred cubits, their pillars [were] twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets [of] silver.

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

13And for the east side eastward fifty cubits.

14The hangings of the one side [of the gate were] fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

15And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, [were] hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

16All the hangings of the court round about [were] of fine twined linen.

17And the sockets for the pillars [were of] brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets [of] silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters [of] silver; and all the pillars of the court [were] filleted with silver.

18And the hanging for the gate of the court [was] needlework, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits [was] the length, and the height in the breadth [was] five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.

19And their pillars [were] four, and their sockets [of] brass four; their hooks [of] silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets [of] silver.

20And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, [were of] brass.

21¶ This is the sum of the tabernacle, [even] of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, [for] the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

22And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses.

23And with him [was] Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen.

24All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy [place], even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.

25And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation [was] an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

26A bekah for every man, [that is], half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty [men].

27And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

28And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them.

29And the brass of the offering [was] seventy talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels.

30And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the brasen altar, and the brasen grate for it, and all the vessels of the altar,

31And the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Bezaleel and Aholiab completed the tabernacle's external structures and furnishings as commanded. This included the brazen altar for burnt offerings, the brazen laver, and the extensive court with its hangings, pillars, and sockets. The chapter concludes with a detailed accounting of the gold, silver, and brass contributed by the congregation and used in the construction, overseen by Ithamar.

Medium Summary

Exodus 38 meticulously details the construction of the tabernacle's external components and their associated furnishings, executed by Bezaleel and Aholiab. The brazen altar for burnt offerings was crafted from shittim wood overlaid with brass, complete with its vessels and a brass grate. Following this, the brazen laver was uniquely fashioned from the lookingglasses of the women who assembled at the tabernacle door. The chapter then describes the extensive court of the tabernacle, enclosed by hangings of fine twined linen supported by pillars with brass sockets and silver hooks. The gate of the court was an intricate work of needlework in blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen. Finally, a precise accounting of the precious metals is provided: gold for the holy place, silver from the census for sockets and fittings, and brass for the altar, its vessels, and the court's pins and sockets.

Long Summary

Exodus 38 provides a detailed inventory and description of the construction of the tabernacle's external elements and their associated furnishings, all carried out according to the LORD's command to Moses. Bezaleel, assisted by Aholiab, meticulously crafted these items. The chapter begins with the brazen altar of burnt offering, made of shittim wood overlaid with brass, measuring five cubits square and three cubits high, featuring horns, various brass vessels, and a brass grate with rings for staves. Next, the brazen laver and its foot were fashioned, notably from the lookingglasses contributed by the women who gathered at the tabernacle entrance. The text then elaborates on the construction of the tabernacle court, specifying its dimensions and materials. The court's hangings, made of fine twined linen, extended one hundred cubits on the south and north sides, and fifty cubits on the west and east sides, with specific measurements for the gate area. These hangings were supported by numerous pillars, twenty on the long sides and ten on the short, with brass sockets, silver hooks, and silver fillets. The gate of the court itself was a twenty-cubit-long hanging of intricate needlework in blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, supported by four pillars with brass sockets and silver fittings. All the pins for both the tabernacle and the court were made of brass. The chapter concludes with a precise accounting of the materials used, overseen by Ithamar, son of Aaron. Twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels of gold were used for the holy place. One hundred talents and 1,775 shekels of silver were collected from the census of 603,550 men, with this silver primarily used for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the veil, as well as for pillar hooks and overlays. Seventy talents and 2,400 shekels of brass were utilized for the sockets of the tabernacle door, the brazen altar and its vessels, and all the sockets and pins of the court. This comprehensive record underscores the precision and abundance of the materials dedicated to the tabernacle's construction.

Core Concepts

  • Brazen AltarThe primary altar for burnt offerings, constructed of shittim wood overlaid with brass, featuring horns and a brass grate for its vessels. It was central to the sacrificial system.
  • Brazen LaverA basin made of brass, fashioned specifically from the lookingglasses of the women who ministered at the tabernacle door. It was used for ritual washing by the priests.
  • Tabernacle CourtThe outer enclosure of the tabernacle, defined by hangings of fine twined linen supported by pillars with brass sockets and silver fittings. It demarcated the sacred space.
  • Material ContributionsA detailed accounting of the gold, silver, and brass offered by the congregation for the tabernacle's construction. This highlights the collective effort and the value placed on the sacred work.
  • Skilled CraftsmanshipThe chapter explicitly names Bezaleel and Aholiab as the chief artisans endowed with divine skill to execute all the commanded work. Their expertise was crucial for the intricate construction.
  • Census and SilverThe silver collected from the census of all men aged twenty and above was specifically used for the casting of the sockets for the sanctuary and the veil. This linked the people's contribution directly to the tabernacle's foundation.
  • Divine CommandmentThe entire construction process, including the specific designs and materials, is repeatedly stated as being "according to the commandment of Moses" or "all that the LORD commanded Moses." This emphasizes adherence to divine instruction.