This chapter gives us an account of the finishing of the work of the
tabernacle.
The last thing prepared was the holy garments.
The ephod, and its curious girdle, ver. 1 - 5.
The onyx stones for the shoulders, ver. 6, 7.
The breast - plate with the precious stones in it, ver. 8 - 21.
The robe of the ephod, ver. 22 - 26.
The coats, bonnets and breeches for the inferior priests, ver. 27 - 29.
And the plate of the holy crown, ver. 30, 31.
A summary account of the whole work, ver. 32 - 43.
1: The priests garments are called here clothes of service - Those
that wear robes of honour must look upon them as clothes of service; for
those upon whom honour is put, from them service is expected.
Holy garments were not made for men to sleep in, but to do service in,
and then they are indeed for glory and beauty. These also were shadows
of good things to come, but the substance is Christ. He is our great high
priest; he put upon him the clothes of service when he undertook the
work of our redemption; arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the
Spirit, which he received not by measure; charged himself with all God's
spiritual Israel, bare them on his shoulder, carried them in his
bosom, and presented them in the breast - plate of judgment unto his
Father. And, lastly, he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord,
consecrated his whole undertaking to the honour of his Fathers holiness.
And all true believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with
which all their clothes of service must be made, is the righteousness of
saints: and holiness to the Lord must be so written upon their
foreheads, that all who converse with them may see they bear the image of
God's holiness.
32: Thus was all the work finished - In not much more than five
months. Though there was a great deal of fine work, such as used to be
the work of time, embroidering, and engraving, not only in gold, but in
precious stones, yet they went through with it in a little time, and with
the greatest exactness imaginable. The workmen were taught of God, and
so were kept from making blunders, which would have retarded them. And the
people were hearty and zealous in the work, and impatient till it was
finished. God had prepared their hearts, and then the thing was
done suddenly, (2Ch 29:36).
43: And Moses did look upon all the work - Piece by Piece, and
behold they had done it according to the pattern shewed him - For the same
that shewed him the pattern, guided their hand in the work. And
Moses blessed them - He not only praised them, but prayed for them:
he blessed them as one having authority. We read not of any wages
Moses paid them for their work, but his blessing he gave them. For
though ordinarily the labourer be worthy of his hire, yet in this case, they
wrought for themselves. The honour and comfort of God's tabernacle among
them would be recompence enough. And they had their meat from heaven on
free - cost, for themselves and their families, and their raiment waxed not
old upon them; so that they neither needed wages, nor had reason to expect
any. But indeed this blessing in the name of the Lord was wages enough for
all their work. Those whom God employs he will bless, and those whom he
blesseth, they are blessed indeed. The blessing he commands is life
for evermore.