Exodus 38 Study Notes
General
According to 38:8, what was the bronze basin made from?
Answer: Bronze mirrors belonging to women who ministered at the doorway of the sanctuary tent
The washbasin and its base were made from bronze mirrors given by women who ministered at the doorway of the sanctuary tent (38:8). In the ancient world mirrors were made of polished metal, so these were personal, valuable possessions given up for God's house. The basin held water in which the priests washed hands and feet before they served (30:18-19). The detail fits the whole building account, in which men and women alike with willing hearts gave what they had for the work (35:22). The text does not describe these women's service in detail, though a later passage mentions women serving at the sanctuary doorway in the same way (1 Samuel 2:22).
- Exodus 38:8 (BSB)“Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”The bronze basin and its stand are made from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance.
- Exodus 30:18-19 (BSB)““You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet.”The basin was for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet with water.
- Exodus 35:22 (BSB)“So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.”Both men and women with willing hearts brought their valuables as offerings for the work.
- 1 Samuel 2:22 (BSB)“Now Eli was very old, and he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”A later text also mentions women who served at the entrance of the sanctuary, showing this was a recognized role.
Theological
What does 38:8 record about the source of the bronze basin?
Answer: It was made from bronze mirrors given by women who ministered at the tent's doorway
The laver and its base were fashioned from bronze mirrors given by the women serving at the doorway of the sanctuary tent (38:8). Such polished-metal mirrors were valuable personal goods, surrendered for the washing basin at which the priests cleansed hands and feet before ministering (30:18-19). The detail belongs to the book's picture of willing-hearted giving by men and women alike (35:22). The precise nature of the women's service is not explained here; the same role reappears later in Israel's history (1 Samuel 2:22).
- Exodus 38:8 (BSB)“Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”The bronze basin and its stand are made from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance.
- Exodus 30:18-19 (BSB)““You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet.”The basin was for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet with water.
- Exodus 35:22 (BSB)“So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.”Both men and women with willing hearts brought their valuables as offerings for the work.
- 1 Samuel 2:22 (BSB)“Now Eli was very old, and he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”A later text also mentions women who served at the entrance of the sanctuary, showing this was a recognized role.
General
What does 38:22-23 say about Bezalel and Oholiab?
Answer: Bezalel, a Judahite, made all that God had ordered, with Oholiab, a Danite, working with him
The summary credits Bezalel, grandson of Hur, a Judahite, with making everything God had instructed Moses, and names Oholiab, a Danite, as his partner, skilled at engraving, design, and embroidery (38:22-23). God had appointed Oholiab to help Bezalel and had made every craftsman skillful (31:6). The two leaders were also able to teach others (35:34-35). Workers from different tribes, not only priests, built the sanctuary with the abilities God gave them.
- Exodus 38:22-23 (BSB)“Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses. With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.”Bezalel of Judah made everything the LORD commanded, with Oholiab of Dan working alongside him.
- Exodus 31:6 (BSB)“Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant. I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you:”God Himself had appointed Oholiab of Dan as Bezalel's assistant and gave skill to all the craftsmen.
- Exodus 35:34-35 (BSB)“And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.”Bezalel and Oholiab were given the ability to teach and to do every kind of skilled work.
Theological
How does 38:22-23 summarize the roles of Bezalel and Oholiab?
Answer: Bezalel the Judahite executed all that God had ordered, assisted by Oholiab the Danite, skilled in engraving, design, and embroidery
The closing summary attributes the whole work to Bezalel the Judahite, Uri's son, who carried out everything God had given Moses to do, with Oholiab the Danite as his skilled partner in engraving, design, and embroidery (38:22-23). Both were divinely appointed and gifted (31:6), with the added gift of teaching others (35:34-35). The builders were drawn from lay tribes, equipped by God for the sanctuary's construction.
- Exodus 38:22-23 (BSB)“Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses. With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.”Bezalel of Judah made everything the LORD commanded, with Oholiab of Dan working alongside him.
- Exodus 31:6 (BSB)“Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant. I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you:”God Himself had appointed Oholiab of Dan as Bezalel's assistant and gave skill to all the craftsmen.
- Exodus 35:34-35 (BSB)“And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.”Bezalel and Oholiab were given the ability to teach and to do every kind of skilled work.
General
Which description fits the altar Bezalel built at the start of Exodus 38?
Answer: A hollow wooden altar covered with bronze, with horns on its four corners and a bronze grate
Bezalel made the large altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood, square in shape, with a horn rising from each corner as part of the altar itself, and he covered it with bronze (38:1-2). He made its pots, shovels, bowls, forks, and firepans of bronze, set a bronze mesh grate beneath its ledge, and gave it rings and poles for carrying (38:3-7). He built it with boards so it was hollow, as God had instructed (38:7; 27:8). This altar stood in the courtyard, and on it Israel offered a lamb every morning and another at twilight (29:38-39). Hebrews teaches that these repeated sacrifices could never remove sin, whereas Christ offered a single sacrifice that avails for all time (Hebrews 10:11-12).
- Exodus 38:1-2 (BSB)“Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.”Bezalel builds the square altar for burnt offerings, with horns of one piece with it, and covers it with bronze.
- Exodus 27:8 (BSB)“Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.”The altar was to be hollow and built just as Moses had been shown on the mountain.
- Exodus 29:38-39 (BSB)“This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar, each day: two lambs that are a year old. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight.”This altar received Israel's regular offerings, a lamb every morning and another at twilight.
- Hebrews 10:11-12 (BSB)“Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”The repeated sacrifices of the old priesthood could never remove sin, in contrast with Christ's single sacrifice.
Theological
What does 38:1-7 describe about the altar for burnt offerings?
Answer: An acacia-wood altar overlaid with bronze, hollow, with corner horns of one piece with it and a bronze mesh grate
The bronze altar is built exactly to the prescribed design: square, of acacia wood, horns of a piece with it, overlaid with bronze (38:1-2), with bronze utensils, a bronze mesh grate beneath its ledge, rings and bronze-covered poles, and a hollow construction of boards (38:3-7; 27:8). It was the altar of Israel's continual burnt offering, morning and twilight (29:38-39). Hebrews contrasts these daily, repeated sacrifices, which could never remove sin, with the once-for-all offering of Christ, who then sat down at God's right hand (Hebrews 10:11-12).
- Exodus 38:1-2 (BSB)“Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.”Bezalel builds the square altar for burnt offerings, with horns of one piece with it, and covers it with bronze.
- Exodus 27:8 (BSB)“Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.”The altar was to be hollow and built just as Moses had been shown on the mountain.
- Exodus 29:38-39 (BSB)“This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar, each day: two lambs that are a year old. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight.”This altar received Israel's regular offerings, a lamb every morning and another at twilight.
- Hebrews 10:11-12 (BSB)“Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”The repeated sacrifices of the old priesthood could never remove sin, in contrast with Christ's single sacrifice.
General
According to 38:25-26, how was the silver for the tabernacle collected?
Answer: Each counted man aged twenty or more paid half a shekel, and 603,550 men were counted
The silver came from those counted in the census: every man twenty years old or older paid a beka, equal to half a shekel, and the text gives the number of men as 603,550 (38:25-26). God had commanded this payment as a ransom for each counted man's life (30:12), and everyone paid the same amount, rich and poor alike (30:15). Numbers 1:46 gives the same total for the men counted. The half shekel reminded every Israelite that his life belonged to God and needed to be redeemed. The New Testament says believers are redeemed, not with silver or gold, but by the costly blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).
- Exodus 38:25-26 (BSB)“The silver from those numbered among the congregation totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel— a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.”The silver came from a half shekel paid by each man twenty or older who was counted, 603,550 men in all.
- Exodus 30:12 (BSB)““When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.”Each counted man was to pay the LORD a ransom for his life so that no plague would come on them.
- Exodus 30:15 (BSB)“In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less.”The rich were not to pay more and the poor not less than the half shekel.
- Numbers 1:46 (BSB)“And all those counted totaled 603,550.”The census in Numbers records the same total of men counted.
- 1 Peter 1:18-19 (BSB)“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.”Believers are redeemed not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ.
Theological
What does 38:25-26 record about the origin of the sanctuary silver?
Answer: A half-shekel payment from every counted man twenty or older, 603,550 men
The silver derived from the census: a beka, half a shekel, from every counted male twenty and upward, totaling 603,550 men (38:25-26). This was the ransom money commanded in 30:12, identical for rich and poor (30:15), a standing confession that each life belonged to God and required atonement. Numbers 1:46 records the same total. Peter draws the contrast between perishable silver and gold and the priceless blood of Christ, the unblemished Lamb, by which believers are actually redeemed (1 Peter 1:18-19).
- Exodus 38:25-26 (BSB)“The silver from those numbered among the congregation totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel— a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.”The silver came from a half shekel paid by each man twenty or older who was counted, 603,550 men in all.
- Exodus 30:12 (BSB)““When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.”Each counted man was to pay the LORD a ransom for his life so that no plague would come on them.
- Exodus 30:15 (BSB)“In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less.”The rich were not to pay more and the poor not less than the half shekel.
- Numbers 1:46 (BSB)“And all those counted totaled 603,550.”The census in Numbers records the same total of men counted.
- 1 Peter 1:18-19 (BSB)“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.”Believers are redeemed not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ.
General
True or False: The courtyard's way in was on its eastern side, facing the sunrise, and was closed off with an embroidered curtain.
Answer: True
This is true. The courtyard's eastern side faced the sunrise, and the way in was there, with a section of hangings on each side of it (38:13-15). The gateway itself was a curtain with needlework of blue, purple, and red yarn on fine linen, the same height as the other hangings (38:18). This matched God's instructions for the gate (27:13-16). Later, Moses and the priestly family camped on this east side, in front of the entrance, to guard the sanctuary (Numbers 3:38).
- Exodus 38:18 (BSB)“The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high,”The courtyard's entrance curtain is embroidered in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn with fine linen.
- Exodus 38:13-15 (BSB)“And the east side, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits long. The curtains on one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. And the curtains on the other side were also fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases as well.”The east side, toward the sunrise, holds the entrance, with hangings on either side of it.
- Exodus 27:13-16 (BSB)“The east side of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, is to be fifty cubits wide. Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases, and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.”The instructions had placed the courtyard gate on the east side with an embroidered curtain.
- Numbers 3:38 (BSB)“Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.”Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons later camped on the east side, before the entrance, guarding the sanctuary.
Theological
True or False: The courtyard's entrance lay on its east side and was screened by an embroidered curtain (38:13-18).
Answer: True
This is true. The courtyard's east side, facing the sunrise, held the entrance, flanked by hangings on each side (38:13-15), and the entrance was screened by a needlework curtain of blue, purple, and red on fine twisted linen, matching the height of the court hangings (38:18; compare 27:13-16). The priestly family later encamped on the east before this entrance, keeping charge of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:38).
- Exodus 38:18 (BSB)“The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high,”The courtyard's entrance curtain is embroidered in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn with fine linen.
- Exodus 38:13-15 (BSB)“And the east side, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits long. The curtains on one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. And the curtains on the other side were also fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases as well.”The east side, toward the sunrise, holds the entrance, with hangings on either side of it.
- Exodus 27:13-16 (BSB)“The east side of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, is to be fifty cubits wide. Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases, and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.”The instructions had placed the courtyard gate on the east side with an embroidered curtain.
- Numbers 3:38 (BSB)“Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.”Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons later camped on the east side, before the entrance, guarding the sanctuary.
General
What materials were used for the courtyard's posts, according to 38:17?
Answer: Bronze bases, with silver hooks, bands, and caps on the posts
The courtyard was an open enclosure around the tent, made of hangings of fine twisted linen held up by posts (38:9-16). The posts stood on bronze bases, and their hooks, bands, and the covering on their tops were silver (38:17). The linen hangings, bronze bases, and silver hooks and post bands follow the instruction God had given for the courtyard (27:9, 17). Gold was used for the furnishings inside the tent, while the courtyard used bronze and silver.
- Exodus 38:17 (BSB)“The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.”The courtyard posts stand on bronze bases, with silver hooks, bands, and caps.
- Exodus 27:17 (BSB)“All the posts around the courtyard shall have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases.”The instruction for the courtyard specified silver bands and hooks and bronze bases, which 38:17 carries out.
- Exodus 27:9 (BSB)“You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits long on one side,”The courtyard hangings were to be of finely spun linen.
Theological
According to 38:17, how were the courtyard posts furnished?
Answer: Set in bronze sockets, fitted with silver hooks, bands, and capitals
The courtyard enclosure was formed of fine twisted linen hangings on posts (38:9-16), each post set in a bronze base and fitted with silver hooks, bands, and capitals (38:17); the linen, the bronze bases, and the silver hooks and post bands follow what 27:9 and 27:17 prescribed. The metals are graded: gold within the tent, bronze and silver in the court.
- Exodus 38:17 (BSB)“The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.”The courtyard posts stand on bronze bases, with silver hooks, bands, and caps.
- Exodus 27:17 (BSB)“All the posts around the courtyard shall have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases.”The instruction for the courtyard specified silver bands and hooks and bronze bases, which 38:17 carries out.
- Exodus 27:9 (BSB)“You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits long on one side,”The courtyard hangings were to be of finely spun linen.
General
According to 38:24, where did the gold used in the sanctuary come from?
Answer: From the gifts the people had waved before the LORD as an offering
All the gold used in building the sanctuary came from the people's wave offering (38:24), the gifts the people had presented to the LORD. When the call for materials went out, men and women whose hearts were willing brought brooches, earrings, rings, and all sorts of gold jewelry (35:22). They gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing more (36:5-7). The gold was a freely given gift, the kind of cheerful giving God loves (2 Corinthians 9:7).
- Exodus 38:24 (BSB)“All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary totaled 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.”The gold used for the sanctuary work came from the wave offering.
- Exodus 35:22 (BSB)“So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.”Willing-hearted men and women brought all kinds of gold jewelry as a wave offering to the LORD.
- Exodus 36:5-7 (BSB)“and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD has commanded us to do.” After Moses had given an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp: “No man or woman should make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing more, since what they already had was more than enough to perform all the work.”The people gave so generously that they had to be restrained from bringing more.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 (BSB)“Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.”Paul teaches that God loves a cheerful giver who gives freely, not under compulsion.
Theological
What does 38:24 identify as the source of the sanctuary gold?
Answer: The wave offering presented by the people
The gold for the sanctuary work came from the people's wave offering (38:24), the freewill gifts of willing-hearted men and women who brought their jewelry to the LORD (35:22). The response was so great that the people had to be restrained from giving (36:5-7). In contrast with the census silver, which was a fixed payment required of each counted man, the gold was entirely voluntary, the kind of uncompelled, glad giving that pleases God (2 Corinthians 9:7).
- Exodus 38:24 (BSB)“All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary totaled 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.”The gold used for the sanctuary work came from the wave offering.
- Exodus 35:22 (BSB)“So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.”Willing-hearted men and women brought all kinds of gold jewelry as a wave offering to the LORD.
- Exodus 36:5-7 (BSB)“and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD has commanded us to do.” After Moses had given an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp: “No man or woman should make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing more, since what they already had was more than enough to perform all the work.”The people gave so generously that they had to be restrained from bringing more.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 (BSB)“Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.”Paul teaches that God loves a cheerful giver who gives freely, not under compulsion.
General
According to 38:21, who directed the Levites who recorded the tabernacle's inventory?
Answer: Ithamar, one of Aaron's sons
At Moses' command the Levites drew up a record of what went into the tabernacle, working under the oversight of Ithamar, Aaron's son the priest (38:21). Ithamar was one of the four sons of Aaron chosen to serve as priests (28:1). Later he would also oversee two groups of Levites, the Gershonites and the Merarites, in their duties caring for and carrying parts of the tabernacle (Numbers 4:28, 33). Keeping a careful account of the offerings shows that the gifts given to God were handled honestly.
- Exodus 38:21 (BSB)“This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”The inventory of the tabernacle is recorded by the Levites under Ithamar son of Aaron.
- Exodus 28:1 (BSB)““Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.”Ithamar is named among the sons of Aaron set apart to serve as priests.
- Numbers 4:28 (BSB)“This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”Ithamar later directs the Gershonite Levites in their tabernacle duties.
- Numbers 4:33 (BSB)“This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.””Ithamar also directs the Merarite Levites, who handled the frames and bases.
Theological
Whom does 38:21 name as overseeing the Levites' record of the tabernacle materials?
Answer: Ithamar, the priest who was Aaron's son
The accounting of the tabernacle was carried out at Moses' order by Levites supervised by Ithamar, Aaron's son (38:21). Ithamar belongs to the priestly line set apart in 28:1, and in Numbers he supervises the Gershonite and Merarite Levites in their tabernacle duties (Numbers 4:28, 33). A public, supervised reckoning of the people's gifts reflects accountability in handling what was consecrated to God.
- Exodus 38:21 (BSB)“This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”The inventory of the tabernacle is recorded by the Levites under Ithamar son of Aaron.
- Exodus 28:1 (BSB)““Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.”Ithamar is named among the sons of Aaron set apart to serve as priests.
- Numbers 4:28 (BSB)“This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”Ithamar later directs the Gershonite Levites in their tabernacle duties.
- Numbers 4:33 (BSB)“This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.””Ithamar also directs the Merarite Levites, who handled the frames and bases.
General
True or False: Most of the census silver was cast into bases for the sanctuary frames and for the veil's posts.
Answer: True
This is true. The main portion of the silver was cast into the sockets for the sanctuary frames and the veil's posts, and the rest went to make the hooks, caps, and bands for the posts (38:27-28). God had said the tabernacle frames and the veil's posts would stand on silver bases (26:19, 32). This was exactly the use God had given for the atonement money: it was to be spent on the tabernacle's service, a lasting reminder before the LORD (30:16). The tent literally rested on the silver each man paid to ransom his life.
- Exodus 38:27-28 (BSB)“The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base. With the 1,775 shekels of silver he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them.”The census silver is cast into the bases of the sanctuary and the veil, and made into hooks, caps, and bands.
- Exodus 26:19 (BSB)“with forty silver bases under the twenty frames—two bases for each frame, one under each tenon.”The frames of the tabernacle were to stand on silver bases.
- Exodus 26:32 (BSB)“Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.”The posts holding the veil were to stand on silver bases.
- Exodus 30:16 (BSB)“Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.””The atonement money was to be used for the service of the sanctuary as a memorial before the LORD.
Theological
True or False: According to 38:27-28, the bulk of the census silver went into sockets for the sanctuary frames and the veil posts.
Answer: True
This is true. The bulk of the silver was cast into the sockets for the sanctuary frames and the veil posts, and the remainder formed hooks, capitals, and bands (38:27-28), in keeping with the silver bases prescribed for the frames and the veil posts (26:19, 32). The ransom money thus fulfilled its appointed purpose, applied to the tabernacle's service as a memorial before the LORD for the atonement of the people's lives (30:16).
- Exodus 38:27-28 (BSB)“The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base. With the 1,775 shekels of silver he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them.”The census silver is cast into the bases of the sanctuary and the veil, and made into hooks, caps, and bands.
- Exodus 26:19 (BSB)“with forty silver bases under the twenty frames—two bases for each frame, one under each tenon.”The frames of the tabernacle were to stand on silver bases.
- Exodus 26:32 (BSB)“Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.”The posts holding the veil were to stand on silver bases.
- Exodus 30:16 (BSB)“Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.””The atonement money was to be used for the service of the sanctuary as a memorial before the LORD.