Exodus 39

Exodus 39: The priestly clothing is made

Synopsis

The last few chapters described the building of the Tabernacle. In this chapter, the Israelites create the clothes that will be worn by the priests: the Ephod, the Breastpiece, and other priestly garments.

Once all of the work is completed, the Israelites bring the Tabernacle to Moses, for inspection, and he is pleased with the work they have done:

The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them. (verses 42–43)

Thoughts

The one thing I find interesting in this chapter is that the Israelites brought the Tabernacle to Moses, instead of bringing Moses to the Tabernacle! Think about everything they had built/made, as outlined in verses 32–41:

So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses. Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of hides of sea cows and the shielding curtain; the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the atonement cover; the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the oil for the light; the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent; the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs for the courtyard; all the furnishings for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting; and the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when serving as priests.

This is a lot of stuff, so I’m just not sure why they brought it all to Moses, instead of bringing Moses to the stuff.