Exodus 35:22
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.
So all who had willing hearts,

God received the Tabernacle offerings from hearts moved by gratitude, faith, and devotion. Israel’s worship was not meant to be mere external compliance; the Lord desired a people who freely responded to His grace and presence.

1Ch 29:9 And the people rejoiced at the willing response…
1Ch 29:17 I know, my God, that You test the heart…
2Co 9:7 Each one should give what he has decided…

both men and women,

Every part of the covenant community shared in supporting the construction of God’s dwelling place. Women as well as men brought valuable possessions, showing that service to the Lord involved the whole nation and that each willing contributor had a meaningful place in the work.

Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel…
Act 5:14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord.…
Deu 31:12 Assemble the people—men, women, children…

came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry.

Much of this gold may have come from the treasures Israel carried out of Egypt (Exodus 12:35–36). The people now surrendered personal adornments for the holy purpose of furnishing the Tabernacle. The contrast with the golden calf is striking: gold once misused for idolatry was now willingly consecrated for worship of the true God.

Isa 3:18-23 In that day the Lord will take away their finery…
Ezk 16:11-13 I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets…
Gen 35:4 So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods…

And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

The gold was openly dedicated to the Lord as His possession and for His service. Israel acknowledged that its wealth had ultimately come from God and belonged to Him. Such giving anticipates the call for believers to offer themselves wholly to God as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).

Lev 8:27 He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons…
Lev 9:21 but he waved the breasts and the right thigh…
Num 8:11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who conveyed God's instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle.

2. Israelites
The people of God who were called to contribute to the building of the Tabernacle.

3. Tabernacle
The portable sanctuary that the Israelites built as a place of worship and dwelling for God's presence.

4. Willing Givers
Men and women who voluntarily offered their possessions for the construction of the Tabernacle.

5. Gold Jewelry
Items such as brooches, earrings, rings, and necklaces that were offered as contributions.
Teaching Points
Willingness in Giving
The Israelites' willingness to give their valuable possessions teaches us the importance of a willing heart in our offerings to God.

Sacrificial Giving
The act of giving gold jewelry, which was precious, reminds us that true giving often involves sacrifice.

Community Participation
The collective effort of the Israelites highlights the power of community in achieving God's purposes.

Heart Over Quantity
The emphasis is on the willingness of the heart rather than the quantity or value of the gift.

Obedience to God's Call
The Israelites' response to God's call through Moses demonstrates obedience and trust in God's plan.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the willingness of the Israelites to give their gold jewelry teach us about the nature of true giving?

2. How can we apply the principle of sacrificial giving in our own lives today?

3. In what ways does the community aspect of giving in Exodus 35:22 inspire us to participate in our local church or community projects?

4. How does the concept of giving from the heart, as seen in this passage, relate to Jesus' teaching on giving in the New Testament?

5. Reflect on a time when you felt called to give or serve. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Corinthians 9:7
This verse emphasizes the importance of giving willingly and cheerfully, which aligns with the spirit of the Israelites' contributions.

1 Chronicles 29:9
The joy of the people in giving willingly for the construction of the Temple under King David mirrors the willingness of the Israelites in Exodus.

Mark 12:41-44
The account of the widow's offering highlights the value of giving from the heart, regardless of the amount, similar to the willing offerings in Exodus.

Romans 12:1
The call to present our bodies as living sacrifices connects to the idea of offering our best to God, as the Israelites did with their gold.

Hebrews 13:16
Encourages believers to do good and share with others, reflecting the communal spirit of giving seen in Exodus 35.
The New StartJ. Orr
People
Aaron, Ahisamach, Aholiab, Bezaleel, Dan, Hur, Israelites, Moses, Shoham, Uri
Places
Sinai
Topics
Alike, Armlets, Articles, Bracelets, Brooches, Dedicating, Ear-ring, Earrings, Ear-rings, Finger-rings, Girdles, Gold, Golden, Goods, Heart, Hearted, Hearts, Jewelry, Jewels, Kinds, Moved, Necklace, Neck-ornaments, Nose-ring, Nose-rings, Objects, Offered, Offering, Ornaments, Pins, Presented, Ready, Rings, Seal-ring, Signet, Signet-rings, Sorts, Tablets, Utensils, Wave, Waved, Wave-offering, Willing, Willing-hearted, Women
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 35:22

     4333   gold
     5176   ring
     5591   treasure
     5707   male and female
     5915   ornaments
     7480   wave offering
     8262   generosity, human
     8436   giving, of possessions

Exodus 35:20-29

     7366   freewill offering

Exodus 35:21-22

     5840   eagerness

Exodus 35:21-24

     7459   tabernacle, in OT

Exodus 35:22-23

     5212   arts and crafts

Library
An Old Subscription List
'And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work....' --EXODUS xxxv. 21. This is the beginning of the catalogue of contributions towards the erection of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. It emphasises the purely spontaneous and voluntary character of the gifts. There was plenty of compulsory work, of statutory contribution, in the Old Testament system of worship. Sacrifices and tithes and other things
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix xvii. The Ordinances and Law of the Sabbath as Laid Down in the Mishnah and the Jerusalem Talmud.
The terribly exaggerated views of the Rabbis, and their endless, burdensome rules about the Sabbath may best be learned from a brief analysis of the Mishnah, as further explained and enlarged in the Jerusalem Talmud. [6476] For this purpose a brief analysis of what is, confessedly, one of the most difficult tractates may here be given. The Mishnic tractate Sabbath stands at the head of twelve tractates which together from the second of the six sections into which the Mishnah is divided, and which
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Gifts and Talents.
"And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him."--Judges iii. 10. We now consider the Holy Spirit's work in bestowing gifts, talents, and abilities upon artisans and professional men. Scripture declares that the special animation and qualification of persons for work assigned to them by God proceed from the Holy Spirit. The construction of the tabernacle required capable workmen, skilful carpenters, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and masters in the arts of weaving and embroidering. Who will furnish Moses
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Early Battles
Six months of joyous service amongst the Welsh miners was cut short by a telegram announcing to the sisters the serious illness of Mrs. Lee. Taking the news to their Divisional Commander, they were instructed to Headquarters. It was found that the illness was due to shock. The income from investments of the little estate left by Mr. Lee had dwindled; it now had disappeared altogether. Captain Lucy faced the matter with her usual practical decision. 'Mother, darling, there are two ways out. Either
Minnie L. Carpenter—The Angel Adjutant of "Twice Born Men"

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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