1 From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses. |
2 They1 39:2 Or He ; also in verses 7, 8 and 22 made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. |
3 They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen-the work of a skilled craftsman. |
4 They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached to two of its corners, so it could be fastened. |
5 Its skillfully woven waistband was like it-of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the LORD commanded Moses. |
6 They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings and engraved them like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. |
7 Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses. |
8 They fashioned the breastpiece-the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. |
9 It was square-a span2 39:9 That is, about 9 inches (about 22 centimeters) long and a span wide-and folded double. |
10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; |
11 in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire3 39:11 Or lapis lazuli and an emerald; |
12 in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; |
13 in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper.4 39:13 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. |
14 There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes. |
15 For the breastpiece they made braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. |
16 They made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and fastened the rings to two of the corners of the breastpiece. |
17 They fastened the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, |
18 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. |
19 They made two gold rings and attached them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. |
20 Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. |
21 They tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod-as the LORD commanded Moses. |
22 They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth-the work of a weaver- |
23 with an opening in the center of the robe like the opening of a collar,5 39:23 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. and a band around this opening, so that it would not tear. |
24 They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe. |
25 And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates. |
26 The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the LORD commanded Moses. |
27 For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen-the work of a weaver- |
28 and the turban of fine linen, the linen headbands and the undergarments of finely twisted linen. |
29 The sash was of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn-the work of an embroiderer-as the LORD commanded Moses. |
30 They made the plate, the sacred diadem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD . |
31 Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the LORD commanded Moses. |
32 So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses. |
33 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; |
34 the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of hides of sea cows6 39:34 That is, dugongs and the shielding curtain; |
35 the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the atonement cover; |
36 the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; |
37 the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the oil for the light; |
38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent; |
39 the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; |
40 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs for the courtyard; all the furnishings for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting; |
41 and the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when serving as priests. |
42 The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. |
43 Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them. |
39 This chapter gives us an account of the finishing of the work of the tabernacle.
The onyx stones for the shoulders, Exo 39:6-7.
The breast - plate with the precious stones in it, Exo 39:8-21.
The robe of the ephod, Exo 39:22-26.
The coats, bonnets and breeches for the inferior priests, Exo 39:27-29.
And the plate of the holy crown, Exo 39:30-31.
39:1 The priests garments are called here clothes of service - Those that wear robes of honour must look upon them as clothes of service; for those upon whom honour is put, from them service is expected.Holy garments were not made for men to sleep in, but to do service in, and then they are indeed for glory and beauty. These also were shadows of good things to come, but the substance is Christ. He is our great high priest; he put upon him the clothes of service when he undertook the work of our redemption; arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which he received not by measure; charged himself with all God's spiritual Israel, bare them on his shoulder, carried them in his bosom, and presented them in the breast - plate of judgment unto his Father. And, lastly, he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrated his whole undertaking to the honour of his Fathers holiness.And all true believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the righteousness of saints: and holiness to the Lord must be so written upon their foreheads, that all who converse with them may see they bear the image of God's holiness.
39:32 Thus was all the work finished - In not much more than five months. Though there was a great deal of fine work, such as used to be the work of time, embroidering, and engraving, not only in gold, but in precious stones, yet they went through with it in a little time, and with the greatest exactness imaginable. The workmen were taught of God, and so were kept from making blunders, which would have retarded them. And the people were hearty and zealous in the work, and impatient till it was finished. God had prepared their hearts, and then the thing was done suddenly, Ch2 29:36.
39:43 And Moses did look upon all the work - Piece by Piece, and behold they had done it according to the pattern shewed him - For the same that shewed him the pattern, guided their hand in the work. And Moses blessed them - He not only praised them, but prayed for them: he blessed them as one having authority. We read not of any wages Moses paid them for their work, but his blessing he gave them. For though ordinarily the labourer be worthy of his hire, yet in this case, they wrought for themselves. The honour and comfort of God's tabernacle among them would be recompence enough. And they had their meat from heaven on free - cost, for themselves and their families, and their raiment waxed not old upon them; so that they neither needed wages, nor had reason to expect any. But indeed this blessing in the name of the Lord was wages enough for all their work. Those whom God employs he will bless, and those whom he blesseth, they are blessed indeed. The blessing he commands is life for evermore.