Exodus-Chapter-35

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Exodus Chapter 35”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Exodus 35 stands at a pivotal moment in the Torah’s narrative. Israel has just emerged from the crisis of the Golden Calf, and the covenantal relationship is being rebuilt. The chapter opens with Moshe gathering the entire community, not for rebuke, but for renewed purpose. What follows is a remarkable shift from rupture to reconstruction, from spiritual failure to communal creativity. The people are invited to participate in something larger than them-selves: the building of a sacred space that reflects their restored relationship with אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim.

This chapter is not merely about ‘architecture’ or ‘craftsmanship’. It is about the transformation of a nation. It shows how a community can redirect its ‘energy’, ‘generosity’, and ‘skill toward holiness’. It also highlights the balance between sacred time (Shabbat) and sacred space (the Mishkan), and the importance of voluntary contribution in spiritual life.

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Let us read Exodus Chapter 35, verses 1 to 35: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below chapter 35 you will find my commentary on same.

1. “And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said unto them: ‘These are the words which יְהוָה - the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. 2. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a Sabbath of solemn rest to יְהוָה - the LORD; whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death. 3. Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the Sabbath day’. 4. And Moses spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: ‘This is the thing which יְהוָה - the LORD commanded, saying: 5. Take ye from among you an offering unto יְהוָה - the LORD, whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, יְהוָה - the LORD’s offering: ‘gold’, and ‘silver’, and ‘brass’; 6. and ‘blue’, and ‘purple’, and ‘scarlet’, and fine linen, and ‘goats’ hair’; 7. and ‘rams’ skins dyed red’, and ‘sealskins’, and ‘acacia-wood’; 8. and ‘oil for the light’, and ‘spices for the ‘anointing oil’, and for the ‘sweet incense’; 9. and ‘onyx stones’, and ‘stones to be set’, for ‘the ephod, and for ‘the breastplate’. 10. And let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that יְהוָה - the LORD hath commanded: 11. the Tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12. the ark, and the staves thereof, the ark-cover, and the veil of the screen; 13. the table, and its staves, and all its vessels, and the showbread; 14. the candlestick also for the light, and its vessels, and its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15. and the altar of incense, and its staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the Tabernacle; 16. the altar of burnt-offering, with its grating of brass, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base; 17. the hangings of the court, the pillars thereof, and their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18. the pins of the Tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords; 19. the plaited garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office’. 20. And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and brought יְהוָה - the LORD’s offering, for the work of the tent of meeting, and for all the service thereof, and for the holy garments. 22. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought nose-rings, and ear-rings, and signet-rings, and girdles, all jewels of gold; even every man that brought an offering of gold unto יְהוָה - the LORD. 23. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and sealskins, brought them. 24. Every one that did set apart an offering of silver and brass brought יְהוָה - the LORD’s offering; and every man, with whom was found acacia-wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25. And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. 26. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair. 27. And the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; 28. and the spice, and the oil, for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29. The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering unto יְהוָה - the LORD; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which יְהוָה - the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses to be made. 30. And Moses said unto the children of Israel: ‘See, יְהוָה - the LORD hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31. And He hath filled him with the spirit of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. 32. And to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 33. and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of skilful workmanship. 34. And He hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35. Them hath He filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the craftsman, and of the skilful workman, and of the weaver in colours, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any workmanship, and of those that devise skilful works’”.

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Let us now look at this Chapter’s commentary.

Verses 1-3: (Moshe Assembles the Entire Community). The chapter begins with Moshe gathering ‘kol adat b’nei Yisrael’ the entire assembly. This phrase emphasizes unity. After the fragmentation caused by the Golden Calf, the Torah stresses collective presence. Before any instructions about building the Mishkan, Moshe reiterates the laws of Shabbat. This ordering is deliberate: even the holiest construction cannot override the sanctity of rest. The message is that human creativity must operate within Divine boundaries. The Mishkan is important, but time dedicated to spiritual stillness is even more foundational.

Verses 4-9: (The Call for Voluntary Offerings). Moshe invites the people to bring offerings, but only from those whose hearts move them. This is a striking contrast to the Golden Calf episode, where contributions were driven by anxiety and impatience. Here, generosity is rooted in inner willingness. The Torah lists ‘materials’, ‘metals’, ‘fabrics’, ‘skins’, ‘wood’, ‘oils’, ‘spices, and ‘stones’ each representing different aspects of human capacity. The diversity of materials mirrors the diversity of the people themselves. Every person can contribute something unique.

Verses 10-19: (Skilled Artisans and the Spirit of Wisdom). Moshe calls for ‘kol chacham lev’ everyone who is wise-hearted. Wisdom here is not theoretical knowledge but the ability to translate intention into action. The Mishkan requires ‘artisanship’, ‘precision’, and ‘creativity’. The Torah’s detailed listing of the Mishkan’s components underscores that holiness is not abstract; it is built through disciplined craftsmanship. The sacred emerges from human skill aligned with Divine purpose.

Verses 20-29: (The People Respond with Enthusiasm). The community disperses, and then returns with overwhelming generosity. Men and women alike bring materials, ‘jewelry’, ‘fabrics’, and ‘crafted items’. The text highlights women who spun goat hair, emphasizing that spiritual contribution is not limited to public leadership but includes quiet, skilled labour. The repeated phrase “whose heart stirred them” shows that the Mishkan is a collective expression of voluntary devotion. This is a powerful corrective to the earlier misuse of gold for the Golden Calf. The same hands that once shaped an idol now shape holiness.

Verses 30-35: (Bezalel and Oholiav): Leadership Rooted in Ability and Character Moshe identifies Bezalel as Divinely endowed with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. These three qualities reflect the ability to conceive, plan, and execute. Oholiav is appointed alongside him, showing that sacred work is collaborative. The Torah emphasizes that these artisans are not only skilled but also able to teach others. Leadership in sacred work requires both ‘mastery’ and the ‘ability to elevate others’. The chapter closes by affirming that their talents are not accidental; they are expressions of Divine gifting channelled through human effort.

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My Closing Message:

Exodus 35 offers a profound vision of communal renewal. After a moment of national failure, the people are not defined by their past mistakes, but by their capacity to rebuild. The chapter teaches that holiness is created through ‘willing hearts’, ‘skilled hands’, and a ‘shared purpose’. It reminds us that sacred work is not imposed, it is invited. And it shows that a community becomes strong when each person contributes their unique gifts.

May the study of this chapter continue to illuminate the power of collective effort, the dignity of craftsmanship, and the beauty of a ‘heart moved toward our beloved יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu’.

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“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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