8 And all the wise-hearted ones among the doers of the work make the tabernacle; ten curtains of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, 'with' cherubs, work of a designer, he hath made them. 9 The length of the one curtain 'is' eight and twenty by the cubit, and the breadth of the one curtain four by the cubit; one measure 'is' to all the curtains. 10 And he joineth the five curtains one unto another, and the 'other' five curtains he hath joined one unto another; 11 and he maketh loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain, at the end, in the joining; so he hath made in the edge of the outmost curtain, in the joining of the second; 12 fifty loops he hath made in the one curtain, and fifty loops hath he made in the end of the curtain which 'is' in the joining of the second; the loops are taking hold one on another. 13 And he maketh fifty hooks of gold, and joineth the curtains one unto another by the hooks, and the tabernacle is one.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 36:8-13
Chapter Contents
The making of the tabernacle The liberality of the people restrained.
The readiness and zeal with which these builders set about their work, the exactness with which they performed it, and the faithfulness with which they objected to receive more contributions, are worthy of our imitation. Thus should we serve God, and our superiors also, in all things lawful. Thus should all who are in public trusts abhor filthy lucre, and avoid all occasions and temptations to covetousness. Where have we the representation of God's love towards us, that we by love dwell in him and he in us, save in Emmanuel? John 1:14, wherein, as the original expresses it, he did tabernacle among us.