Chapter 38

1 The altar of burnt offering. 8 The laver of brass. 9 The court. 21 The sum of that the people offered.

1. The altar of burnt offering. Verses 1–8 deal with the furniture for the court (see on chs. 27:1–5; 30:18).

8. The lookingglasses. Not mentioned previously, these were of highly polished bronze, circular or oval in form. Such mirrors were used by the women of Egypt, as in most Oriental lands, from very early times. Inasmuch as there seems to have been no command by Moses that this should be done, the women must have offered them in a spirit of commendable, consecrated self-denial. These mirrors were no doubt highly valued, and their dedication to God therefore an excellent example of sacrificial devotion (see Matt. 26:6–13).

These pious women esteemed the higher adornment of the spirit more than they did that the outward appearance (1 Peter 3:1–5). Their gift testified that they loved God more than they loved themselves.

9. He made the court. For vs. 9–20, see on ch. 27:9–19.

23. Engraver. Inasmuch as Aholiab was skilled in textiles the word “engraver,” which suggests work in metals, should be translated “fabricator” or “craftsman.”

24. All the gold. “All the gold” would weight a little more than2,204 lb. (1000 kg.). This would make a cube of gold about 142/3 in. (37.25 cm.) on a side. Gold was abundant in Egypt, being imported from Ethiopia. Much gold also came into the land of the Pharaohs as tribute from subject nations.

25. The silver. The weight of the silver would be about 7,582 lb. (3440 kg.) The “hundred sockets” (v. 27) compare exactly with the total number of “sockets” listed in ch. 26:19, 21, 25, 32.

29. The brass. That is, bronze. Its weight would be about 5,337 lb. (2421 kg.). To this must be added the value of the precious stones, the spices, the woodwork, the cloth, the various animal skins. This speaks well for the liberality of the people (see Ps. 105:37).

When the Hebrews left Egypt they “borrowed” treasure from the Egyptians (see on Ex. 3:22; 12:35, 36). Considerable wealth had also no doubt recently come to the Israelites from the defeated Amalekites (ch. 17:8–13).