Exodus 36:38

And 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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

36:1-38 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? Mt 1:23. This is the sum of the ministry of reconciliation, 2Co 5:18,19. This was the design of the tabernacle of witness, a visible testimony of the love of God to the race of men, however they were fallen from their first state. And this love was shown by Christ's taking up his abode on earth; by the Word being made flesh, Joh 1:14, wherein, as the original expresses it, he did tabernacle among us.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes to Exodus 26.

See the notes to Exodus 25.

For Exodus 38:1-7 and Exodus 38:9-20 see the notes to Exodus 27.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

37. made an hanging for the … door—Curtains of elaborately wrought needlework are often suspended over the entrance to tents of the great nomad sheiks, and throughout Persia, at the entrance of summer tents, mosques, and palaces. They are preferred as cooler and more elegant than wooden doors. This chapter contains an instructive narrative: it is the first instance of donations made for the worship of God, given from the wages of the people's sufferings and toils. They were acceptable to God (Php 4:18), and if the Israelites showed such liberality, how much more should those whose privilege it is to live under the Christian dispensation (1Co 6:20; 16:2).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Whereas the pillars are said to be overlaid with gold, Exodus 36:37, that hence appears to be a syncedochial expression, in regard the tops and knobs of the pillars were wholly overlaid with gold, and the rest of the pillars adorned with divers golden girdles or hoops; for that place is in all reason to be explained by this, as coming after it, and containing the execution of that prescript, and that more particularly than is there expressed.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle,.... Did the part assigned him, what he was fittest for, and most skilful in: particularly some

made ten curtains, &c. which were properly the tabernacle, and were made first, and then the several things appertaining to it; and from hence, to the end of the chapter Exodus 36:9, is only an account of the making of the tabernacle, its curtains, coverings, boards, sockets, and bars, the vail for the most holy place, and the hangings for the tabernacle, exactly as they are ordered to be made; see Gill on Exodus 26:1 &c. to end of chapter: and it may be observed, that throughout the account of the various articles, it is all along said "he" did this and the other; either referring to Moses, by whose orders they were done, or to Bezaleel, the chief director of the work, or to each and everyone of the artificers severally concerned.

Geneva Study Bible

And 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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

38. their chapiters and their fillets with gold] For ‘chapiters’ we should now say capitals; the ‘fillets’ (see on Exodus 27:10) were bands of metal surrounding the pillars just below the chapiters. In Exodus 26:37 the chapiters and fillets are not mentioned; and the five acacia-wood pillars are to be entirely overlaid with gold. As Di. points out, by the partial gilding a gradation would be obtained: (a) the pillars at the entrance to the Most Holy place overlaid entirely with gold (v. 36, Exodus 26:32); (b) the pillars at the entrance to the Tent overlaid only at the top with gold (Exodus 36:38); (c) the pillars at the entrance to the Court (like those of the Court generally, Exodus 27:17, Exodus 38:17) overlaid only at the top with silver (Exodus 38:19).

Exodus 36:38

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Exodus 36:8-38:20. Execution of the Work. - Preparation of the dwelling-place: viz., the hangings and covering (Exodus 36:8-19, as in Exodus 26:1-14); the wooden boards and bolts (Exodus 36:20-34, as in Exodus 26:15-30); the two curtains, with the pillars, hooks, and rods that supported them (Exodus 36:35-38, as in Exodus 26:31-37). As these have all been already explained, the only thing remaining to be noticed here is, that the verbs עשׂה in Exodus 36:8, ויחבּר in Exodus 36:10, etc., are in the third person singular with an indefinite subject, corresponding to the German man (the French on).