35:1–40:38 Much of the report of the building of the Tabernacle reiterates what was said in 25:1–31:18. There is a change from the imperative mood to the indicative, and there are certain changes in the order. This repetition underlines the point that the work was done exactly as God had commanded (see 40:16). The people had tried to secure God’s presence in their own way with the gold calf, and the result was disaster. Now they were doing it in God’s way, resulting in blessing (40:34-38).

35:4–36:7 Unlike the creation of the gold calf, where Aaron demanded that one type of material (earrings) be given (see study note on 32:2-4), the people were again invited to bring a variety of gifts (35:4-9) as their hearts were stirred and their spirits were moved (35:21). Perhaps because the variety of gifts meant that everyone could bring something and because the giving was voluntary, the people gave too much and had to be commanded to stop (36:4-7).

What does it mean to be in a relationship with God, the ultimate being in the universe? How does one establish that relationship? What is that relationship like, and what does it take to stay in it? These are questions that people around the world have been asking since the beginning of time. The book of Exodus provided the ancient Israelites with answers to such questions, revealing not only what was required of them in a relationship with God, but also what God had graciously done to make that relationship possible. Setting The Exodus occurred sometime between 1450 and 1250 BC, when Egypt was arguably the greatest military and cultural power in the world. During Egypt’s 18th dynasty (1550–1295 BC) the pharaohs built an empire beyond Egypt’s borders, extending its control far into the north, up the Canaanite coast, and far to the south along the Nile. This imperial thrust seems to have fueled a megalomaniacal building program. As the house of the pharaoh grew in power, so the god of the royal house, Amon-Re, gained dominance. The land remained staunchly polytheistic, but worship of Amon-Re seems to have surpassed devotion to all other gods. It was during this period that...

The Book of Exodus Purpose To recount the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt and the establishment of their covenant and worship practices Author Moses, according to tradition Date Records events that likely occurred in either 1526–1446 BC or 1350–1270 BC Setting Begins with the Hebrews in slavery in Egypt and ends with the covenant people of God en route to the Promised Land