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removed when conversing with theLord. It is to this that the apostle refers (2
Corinthians 3:7) when he contrasts the Old Testamentglory on the face of Moses,
which "was to be done away" at any rate at the death of Moses - andwhich was
connected with what, after all, was "the ministration of death," with "the ministration
of theSpirit" and its exceeding and enduring glory. Moreover, the veil with which
Moses had to cover hisface was symbolical of the veil covering the Old Testament,
which is only "done away in Christ" (2Corinthians 3:13, 14).
Everything was now ready for the construction of the Tabernacle and of all requisite
for its services.We can understand how, especially in view of the work before them,
the Sabbath rest should nowbe once more enjoined. (Exodus 35:2, 3) Then a
proclamation was made for voluntary contributionsof all that was needful, to which
the people responded with such "willing offerings" (35:29), that soonnot only
"sufficient" but "too much" "for all the work" was gathered. (Exodus 36:5-7) The
amount ofgold and silver actually used is expressly mentioned in Exodus 38:24-26.
The sum total of the goldamounts in present value to at least 131,595l., and that of the
silver to about 75,444l., or bothtogether to 207,039l., And it must be borne in mind,
that this sum does not indicate the wholeamount offered by Israel - only that actually
employed. In regard to the silver, either less of it wasoffered or none at all may have
been required, since the 75,444l. in silver represent the exact amountof the "ransom
money" (Exodus 30:12) which every Israelite had to pay on their being first
numbered(38:26). Nor was it only gold, silver, and other material which the people
brought. All "wise-hearted"men and women "whose heart the Lord stirred up" - that
is, all who understood such work, andwhose zeal was kindled by love for God's
sanctuary - busied themselves, according to their ability,under the direction of
Bezaleel, the grandson of Hur, and Aholiab, of the tribe of Daniel But whatchiefly
impresses us in the sacred narrative is the evidence of spiritual devotion, which
appeared alikein the gifts and in the labor of the people.
"And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as Jehovah
had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." (Exodus
39:43)
Under such willing hands, the whole work was completed within an almost incredibly
short period.On comparing Exodus 19:1, which fixes the arrival of Israel at Mount
Sinai as in the third month (ofthe first year), with Exodus 40:2, which informs us that
the Tabernacle was ready for setting up "onthe first day of the first month" (of the
second year), we find that an interval of nine months hadelapsed. From this, however,
must be deducted twice forty days, during which Moses was on themount, as well as
the days when Israel prepared for the covenant, and those when it was ratified andthe
law given, and also the interval between Moses' first and second stay on the mountain.
Thus thewhole of the elaborate work connected with the Tabernacle and its services
(^)