Exodus 38 - Introduction

These Chapter s, which all belong to P, form the sequel to chs. 25 31, and narrate the execution of the instructions there communicated to Moses. In the main, the narrative is repeated verbatimfrom the instructions in chs. 25 31, with the simple substitution of past tenses for future; in two or three cases, however, a phrase is altered, and there are also some instances of omission or abridgement. Thus a few verses (as Exodus 25:8-9; Exodus 25:15; Exodus 25:22; Exodus 25:40) are omitted, as not needing repetition; others (as Exodus 25:16; Exodus 25:21; Exodus 25:30; Exodus 25:37 b), chiefly relating to the positionor use of the different vessels named, are incorporated in Exodus 40:17-23, the account of the erection of the Tent of Meeting, where they actually belong; and the sections on the Anointing Oil and the Incense (Exodus 30:22-38) are merely referred to briefly in a single verse (Exodus 37:29). There are also, as compared with chs. 25 31, differences in the orderof contents. The relation of chs. 35 40 to chs. 25 31 will appear perhaps most clearly from the following synoptical table:

Chapter s 35 40 Chapter s 25 31 Exodus 35:1-3. Observance of the Sabbath inculcated (v.3 added). Exodus 31:15 (vv.13 14, 16 17 not repeated). Exodus 35:4-9. The people invited to make voluntary offerings. Exodus 25:2-7 (vv.8, 9 not repeated). Exodus 35:10-19. All skilled workmen invited to assist Exodus 35:20-29. Presentation of the offerings Exodus 35:30 to Exodus 36:1. Moses announces to the people the appointment of Bĕẓal"çl and Oholiab, and of other skilled workmen qualified to assist. Exodus 31:2-6 (vv.7 11, the details of things to be made, not repeated). Exodus 36:2-7. Delivery of the offerings to Bě ẓal"çl and Oholiab. The liberality of the people has to be checked. Exodus 36:8-19. The curtains for the Dwelling, the tent over it, and the two outer coverings. Exodus 26:1-11; Exodus 26:14 (vv.9b, 12, 13 not repeated). Exodus 36:20-34. The boards, or -frames," to support the curtains. Exodus 26:15-29 (v.30 not repeated). Exodus 36:35-38. The Veil and Screen. Exodus 26:31-32; Exodus 26:36-37 (vv.33 35 not repeated). Exodus 37:1-9. The Ark and Mercy-seat. Exodus 25:10-14; Exodus 25:17-20 (vv.15, 16, 21, 22 not repeated). Exodus 37:10-16. The Table of Presence-bread. Exodus 25:23-29 (v.30 not repeated). Exodus 37:17-24. The Candlestick. Exodus 25:31-39 (vv.37b, 40 not repeated. Exodus 37:25-28. The Altar of Incense. Exodus 30:1-5 (vv.6 10 not repeated). Exodus 37:29. The Anointing Oil, and the Incense. Exodus 30:22-25; Exodus 30:34-35 (abridged: vv.26 33, 36 38 not repeated). Exodus 38:1-7. The Altar of Burnt-offering. Exodus 27:1-8 a (v.8b not repeated). Exodus 38:8 a. The Bronze Laver (v.8b is new). Exodus 30:18 a (vv.18b 21 not repeated. Exodus 38:9-20. The Court of the Tent of Meeting. Exodus 27:9-19; Exodus 38:21-31. Account of the amount of metal employed. Exodus 39:1-31. Vestments of the priests: Exodus 28:6-43; Exodus 39:2-5. The ephod (v.1 introductory; most of v.3 new. Exodus 28:6-8; Exodus 39:6-7. The two onyx stones on the shoulder-straps, engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. Exodus 28:9-12 (abridged). Exodus 39:8-21. The pouch of judgement, to contain the Urim and Thummim. Exodus 28:15-28 (vv.13, 14 much abridged in Exodus 39:16 a: vv.29, 30 (the Urim and Thummim) not repeated). Exodus 39:22-26. The robe of the ephod. Exodus 28:31-35 a (v.35b not repeated). Exodus 39:27-29. The tunics, turban, caps, drawers, and sashes. Exodus 28:39-40; Exodus 28:42 a (abridged: vv.41, 42b, 43 not repeated). Exodus 39:30-31. The golden plate, on the front of the turban. Exodus 28:36-37 (v.38 not repeated. Exodus 39:32-43. Delivery of the completed work to Moses. Exodus 40:1-8. Moses is commanded to set up the Tent of Meeting, and to arrange the sacred vessels in their places. Exodus 40:9-15. Repetition of command to anoint the Tent of Meeting, and the sacred vessels (Exodus 30:26-29); and to wash, invest, and anoint the priests (Exodus 29:4-9; Exodus 30:30). Exodus 40:16-33. Moses sets up the Tent of Meeting, and arranges the sacred vessels according to the instructions given partly in vv.1 8, partly in chs. Exodus 25-31. See references to chs. 25 31 in the notes on Exodus 40:16-33; Exodus 40:34-38. The cloud takes up its abode on the Tent of Meeting. From a critical point of view, the most noticeable variation is the different position of the Altar of Incense and the Bronze Laver. These, which appeared before in the appendix to chs. 25 29, viz. in ch. 30, are here introduced in accordance with the place which they would naturally hold, viz. in the description of the Dwelling (Exo Exodus 37:25-28), and Court (Exodus 38:8), respectively; the Altar of Incense is mentioned also in ch. 40 (vv.5, 26). If, therefore, chs. 30 31 are rightly assigned to a secondary stratum of P (see p. 328), the same conclusion will follow, as a necessary corollary, for chs. 35 40. There are other indications pointing in the same direction. In the LXX. of chs. 35 40 the orderof the contents in Exodus 36:8 differs remarkably from the Hebrew (see the Table in LOT.37 f. [6 8 40 f.], or McNeile, pp. Exo 224 f.); and the renderings of many of the technical terms of the Hebrew differ from those in chs. 25 31 (see examples in McNeile, p. 226). It is thus difficult to suppose either (1) that the translators of chs. 35 40 had before them the Hebrew text of these Chapter s in its present form, or (2) that these translators were the same as those who translated chs. 1 34; and it becomes probable -that the Heb. text used by the original translators of Exodus did not contain chs. 35 40, and that they were supplied afterwards from a longer Heb. recension of the book, in which these Chapter s had not yet reached their final form" (Swete, Intr. to OT. in Greek, p. 236). These considerations support the conclusion, reached in the first instance upon independent grounds (the relation of these Chapter s to chs. 30, 31), that chs. 35 40 belong to a secondary and posterior stratum of P (P 2 [223] or P3 [224]). This is recognized even by Dillm., who supposes (Nu. Dt. Jos.pp. 635, 688) that the execution of the instructions contained in chs. 25 31 was originally narrated quite briefly in, for instance, Exodus 35:1-5; Exodus 35:20-21; Exodus 36:2-6; Exodus 40:1-2; Exodus 40:34-38 [and Leviticus 8]; and that all the rest of chs. 35 40 is an expansion due to a later hand (or hands). See further Kuen. Hex.pp. 76 80.

[223] Secondary strata of P (see p. xii top; pp. 328f., 378).

[224] Secondary strata of P (see p. xii top; pp. 328f., 378).