Exodus 39:24-43
They Did Everything as the LORD Commanded
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24They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen on the lower hem of the robe.
25They also made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates,
26alternating the bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe to be worn for ministry, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
27For Aaron and his sons they made tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver,
28as well as the turban of fine linen, the ornate headbands and undergarments of finely spun linen,
29and the sash of finely spun linen, embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
30They also made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and they engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
31Then they fastened to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
32So all the work for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
33Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent with all its furnishings, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, and its posts and bases;
34the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of fine leather, and the veil of the covering;
35the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the mercy seat;
36the table with all its utensils and the Bread of the Presence;
37the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its utensils, as well as the oil for the light;
38the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;
39the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand;
40the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases; the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and tent pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting;
41and the woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.
42The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
43And Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had accomplished it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The craftsmen make the robe with pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and bells of pure gold between them. They make the coats, turbans, caps, undergarments, sashes, and the golden plate for Aaron's turban engraved, “Holy to the LORD.”
The work of the tabernacle is finished. The people of Israel do everything that the LORD commands Moses. They bring the dwelling, tent and furnishings, clasps, frames, bars, pillars, bases, coverings, veil, screen, ark, table, lampstand, altars, basin, court, and priestly garments to Moses.
Moses sees all the work, and they have done it as the LORD commanded. Moses blesses them. The repeated conclusion is not a claim that the workers were perfect in every personal way; it is a statement about the completed work's faithfulness to the instructions.
Completion brings inspection before celebration. The work is examined, received, and blessed. The community can rejoice because it has carried a shared assignment through to the end.
The passage closes the construction account by giving credit to the people who made and brought what God had commanded. Faithful work can be beautiful without becoming a monument to the workers.
Questions
1 What final details are completed for the priestly garments?
AnswerThe workers make the bells and pomegranates, linen garments, sash, and gold plate engraved 'HOLY TO THE LORD.' They fasten the plate to the turban with blue cord.
2 What does Moses find when he inspects the work?
AnswerThe people have completed it as the LORD commanded. Moses sees that their work follows the instructions and blesses them.
3 What standard does Moses use to judge whether the work is ready?
AnswerGod's commands, rather than Moses' personal taste or the workers' enthusiasm. The repeated statement of obedience identifies what makes the completed work faithful.
4 How can we review someone's work without humiliating them?
AnswerBe clear about the task, look at the actual result, and acknowledge what has been done well. If something needs correction, address that detail without attacking the person's worth.
What This Means for Us
The workers do not skip the small parts because the large vision is inspiring. Bells, cords, bases, screens, and garments all belong to the finished dwelling. Careful work often consists of details that will never receive public attention.
Inspection is not an insult to the workers. It helps a community know whether the work is ready and whether the resources were used faithfully. Families can learn to review work without humiliating the person who did it.
Moses blesses the people after seeing that the work is complete. Good leadership recognizes the contributions of others instead of absorbing all the credit.
Prayer
God of faithful work, help us finish what you have entrusted to us with care. Give us humility to accept review, gratitude for every contributor, and leaders who bless rather than claim the work of others. Amen.
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