Exodus 35:4-9

The Request For The Freewill Offerings of the People (Exodus 35:4).

This passage can be analysed as:

a Yahweh has commanded that they make a willing offering to Yahweh (Exodus 35:4 a)

b List of requirements: precious metals, cloth, wood, oil and spices, jewels, and especially oil and spices and the stones for the ephod and the breastpouch (Exodus 35:5).

c Every skilled (‘wise-hearted') man among then was to come and make all that Yahweh has commanded - tent, ark, veil, table, lampstand, oil, incense altar, anointing oil, incense, screen, brazen altar, laver, hangings of the court, pegs, priestly garments (Exodus 35:10).

d All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh's offering, for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, and earrings, and signet-rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man that offered an offering of gold to Yahweh. (Exodus 35:20).

d Every man, with whom was found bluey-violet, and purpley-red, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and dolphin skins, brought them. Every one who offered an offering of silver and bonze brought Yahweh's offering; and every man, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it (Exodus 35:23).

c And all the women who were skilled (‘wise-hearted') span with their hands, and brought what they had spun, the bluey-violet, and the purpley-red, the scarlet, and the fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in skilfulness spun the goats' hair.' (Exodus 35:25).

b And the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastpouch; and the spice, and the oil; for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense (Exodus 35:27).

a The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering to Yahweh; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring, for all the work which Yahweh had commanded to be made through Moses. (Exodus 35:29).

Thus in ‘a' the command came out for freewill offerings, and in the parallel freewill offerings are brought. In ‘b we are told what was required, and in the parallel what the rulers brought is listed. In ‘c' the skilled men came and made what Yahweh commanded, while in the parallel it was the skilled women. In ‘d' the details can be switched around as we like between the two. The point is that the people departed and then brought their gifts.

Exodus 35:4

‘And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh commanded, saying, “Take from among you an offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Yahweh's offering: gold, and silver, and bronze, and bluey violet, and purpley-red, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and dolphin skins, and acacia wood, and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastpouch.'

Compare here Exodus 25:3 to which this is very similar. A list of requirements for constructing the Dwellingplace are given, and the people told to make their offering to Yahweh from a willing heart. God wants nothing that is not willingly given. But he who gives to God will not lose by it. It included the precious metals, the different dyed cloth and skins, the acacia wood, the oil and spices, and the jewels required for the ephod and breastpouch. For more detailed exposition see on Exodus 25:1.