3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze;
3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,
3 These are the offerings I want you to receive from them: gold, silver, bronze;
3 And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze;
3 Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 25:3
Commentary on Exodus 25:1-9
(Read Exodus 25:1-9)
God chose the people of Israel to be a peculiar people to himself, above all people, and he himself would be their King. He ordered a royal palace to be set up among them for himself, called a sanctuary, or holy place, or habitation. There he showed his presence among them. And because in the wilderness they dwelt in tents, this royal palace was ordered to be a tabernacle, that it might move with them. The people were to furnish Moses with the materials, by their own free will. The best use we can make of our worldly wealth, is to honour God with it in works of piety and charity. We should ask, not only, What must we do? but, What may we do for God? Whatever they gave, they must give it cheerfully, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver, 2 Corinthians 9:7. What is laid out in the service of God, we must reckon well bestowed; and whatsoever is done in God's service, must be done by his direction.