Divine Principle Bible

Exodus 36–40

Exodus chapters 36 through 40 with devotional commentary in the same style as the earlier sections, completing the book of Exodus.

Exodus 36

36:1Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. 36:2And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: 36:3And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. 36:4And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; 36:5And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. 36:6And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 36:7For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

Comment on 36:1–7: I as God of Divine Principle say that when hearts are truly restored, the people do not need to be forced into attendance. They bring more than enough. Heaven rejoices when willing offering overflows into abundance for the sacred work.

36:8And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them. 36:9The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size. 36:10And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another. 36:11And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 36:12Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another. 36:13And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle. 36:14And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them. 36:15The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size. 36:16And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 36:17And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second. 36:18And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one. 36:19And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that. 36:20And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up. 36:21The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half. 36:22One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 36:23And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward: 36:24And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons. 36:25And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards, 36:26And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 36:27And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. 36:28And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 36:29And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners. 36:30And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets. 36:31And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 36:32And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward. 36:33And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other. 36:34And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. 36:35And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work. 36:36And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver. 36:37And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework; 36:38And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.

Comment on 36:8–38: Heaven’s pattern is now executed in history. What was revealed on the mountain is being embodied by obedient hands on earth. Restoration advances when revelation becomes actual structure.

God of Original Ideal Commentary

I as God of Divine Principle say that Exodus 36 is the chapter where the people’s willing heart becomes concrete accomplishment. It is not enough to admire the divine pattern. The pattern must be built. The tabernacle materials, measures, curtains, boards, bars, veil, and entrance all show that heavenly order is now taking visible shape.

This chapter also shows a beautiful providential sign: the offerings become more than enough. Earlier, the people misused gold to make an idol. Now they offer in such abundance for God’s dwelling that Moses must restrain them. This is restoration in substance, where fallen misuse is reversed into holy participation.

Exodus 37

37:1And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it: 37:2And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 37:3And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it. 37:4And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 37:5And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 37:6And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 37:7And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; 37:8One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 37:9And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.

Comment on 37:1–9: I as God of Divine Principle say that the ark and mercy seat stand again at the center. God’s word and God’s meeting place are not human inventions. They must be prepared exactly according to heavenly design.

37:10And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof: 37:11And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about. 37:12Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about. 37:13And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof. 37:14Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. 37:15And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table. 37:16And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold. 37:17And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: 37:18And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: 37:19Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. 37:20And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers: 37:21And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it. 37:22Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold. 37:23And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold. 37:24Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof. 37:25And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. 37:26And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about. 37:27And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal. 37:28And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 37:29And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

Comment on 37:10–29: The table, lampstand, altar, oil, and incense show that provision, light, prayer, and consecration must all surround the place of God’s presence. A holy dwelling requires holy functions.

God of Original Ideal Commentary

I as God of Divine Principle say that Exodus 37 focuses on the inner holy furnishings. Here the center is prepared: the ark, the mercy seat, the table, the lampstand, the incense altar, the anointing oil, and the incense. These are not decorations. They express the order of God’s indwelling life among the people.

The ark signifies testimony and meeting. The table signifies constant provision. The lampstand signifies light that does not go out. The incense altar signifies prayerful approach. Thus this chapter reveals that restoration is not only external structure, but the preparation of the central environment where truth, light, offering, and communion are maintained.

Exodus 38

38:1And 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. 38:2And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass. 38:3And 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. 38:4And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it. 38:5And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves. 38:6And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass. 38:7And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards. 38:8And 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.

Comment on 38:1–8: I as God of Divine Principle say that approach to God still begins at altar and cleansing. Sacrifice and washing remain necessary because fallen humanity must be purified before entering deeper attendance.

38:9And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits: 38:10Their pillars were twenty, and their brasen sockets twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. 38:11And 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. 38:12And 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. 38:13And for the east side eastward fifty cubits. 38:14The hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 38:15And 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. 38:16All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen. 38:17And 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. 38:18And 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. 38:19And 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. 38:20And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.

Comment on 38:9–20: The court defines the realm of holy approach. God’s dwelling is open by grace, yet still ordered by boundaries, entrance, and preparation. Restoration is disciplined access, not confusion.

38:21This 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. 38:22And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses. 38:23And 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. 38:24All 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. 38:25And 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: 38:26A 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. 38:27And 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. 38:28And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them. 38:29And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels. 38:30And 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, 38:31And 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.

Comment on 38:21–31: Heaven’s work is holy, but it is not disorderly. The accounting of materials shows responsibility, transparency, and faithful stewardship. Sacred work must still be honest in substance.

God of Original Ideal Commentary

I as God of Divine Principle say that Exodus 38 turns attention to the altar of burnt offering, the laver, the surrounding court, and the accounting of the tabernacle materials. This teaches that holiness is not vague emotion. It is built with actual materials, measured responsibility, and a clear order of service.

The accounting matters because restoration must include integrity. What is offered to God must be handled with faithfulness. Thus this chapter shows both the public place of sacrifice and cleansing, and the careful stewardship needed for the construction of the holy realm.

Exodus 39

39:1And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. 39:2And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 39:3And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. 39:4They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. 39:5And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses. 39:6And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel. 39:7And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. 39:8And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 39:9It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled. 39:10And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. 39:11And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 39:12And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 39:13And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. 39:14And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes. 39:15And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold. 39:16And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate. 39:17And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate. 39:18And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it. 39:19And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward. 39:20And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. 39:21And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Comment on 39:1–21: I as God of Divine Principle say that the holy garments are not about display but representation. The priest bears the tribes before God in memory, responsibility, and judgment. The mediator carries the people upon shoulder and heart.

39:22And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 39:23And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend. 39:24And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. 39:25And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates; 39:26A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses. 39:27And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 39:28And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, 39:29And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses. 39:30And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 39:31And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses. 39:32Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. 39:33And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, 39:34And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering, 39:35The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, 39:36The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread, 39:37The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, 39:38And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, 39:39The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, 39:40The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, 39:41The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office. 39:42According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. 39:43And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

Comment on 39:22–43: Completion is blessed when the work matches the command. Restoration reaches a milestone when the people can present before the central figure something done faithfully according to heaven’s word.

God of Original Ideal Commentary

I as God of Divine Principle say that Exodus 39 shows the finishing of the holy garments and the completion of the tabernacle work. Repeatedly the chapter says, “as the LORD commanded Moses.” This repetition is not accidental. It emphasizes that the blessing rests upon exact obedience.

The final verse is important: Moses inspects the work, sees that it conforms to the command, and blesses the people. In providential life, blessing follows faithful accomplishment. When the people’s labor has become aligned with the heavenly pattern, the central figure can recognize it and pronounce blessing.

Exodus 40

40:1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 40:2On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 40:3And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 40:4And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 40:5And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. 40:6And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 40:7And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. 40:8And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. 40:9And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. 40:10And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. 40:11And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. 40:12And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. 40:13And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 40:14And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 40:15And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

Comment on 40:1–15: I as God of Divine Principle say that after building comes setting in order and sanctifying. A holy structure must be arranged, anointed, and staffed before it can truly function as God’s dwelling place.

40:16Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. 40:17And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. 40:18And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. 40:19And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. 40:20And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: 40:21And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses. 40:22And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. 40:23And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. 40:24And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 40:25And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. 40:26And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: 40:27And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses. 40:28And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. 40:29And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses. 40:30And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. 40:31And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: 40:32When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. 40:33And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

Comment on 40:16–33: The words “as the LORD commanded Moses” culminate here in completed order. The sanctuary is not merely built; it is established for use, service, and divine indwelling. So Moses finished the work.

40:34Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 40:35And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 40:36And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 40:37But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 40:38For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Comment on 40:34–38: This is the climax of Exodus. I as God of Divine Principle say that when the people obey, build, sanctify, and complete their responsibility, God can finally dwell among them. The cloud and fire show living guidance, presence, and glory for the journey ahead.

God of Original Ideal Commentary

I as God of Divine Principle say that Exodus 40 is the great culmination of the book. Deliverance from Egypt, covenant at Sinai, judgment after failure, renewal of the covenant, and the building of the tabernacle all move toward this moment: the glory of the LORD filling the sanctuary.

This ending reveals the purpose of restoration. God does not save merely to free people from bondage. He saves in order to dwell among them, guide them, sanctify them, and lead them through history. The cloud by day and fire by night show that once God’s dwelling is established, the people are no longer meant to move by human impulse alone, but by heaven’s living direction.