Exodus 35

35:1–40:38 Much of the report of the building of the Tabernacle reiterates what was said in 25:1–31:18. There is a change from the imperative mood to the indicative, and there are certain changes in the order. This repetition underlines the point that the work was done exactly as God had commanded (see 40:16). The people had tried to secure God’s presence in their own way with the gold calf, and the result was disaster. Now they were doing it in God’s way, resulting in blessing (40:34-38).35:4–36:7 Unlike the creation of the gold calf, where Aaron demanded that one type of material (earrings) be given (see study note on 32:2-4), the people were again invited to bring a variety of gifts (35:4-9) as their hearts were stirred and their spirits were moved (35:21). Perhaps because the variety of gifts meant that everyone could bring something and because the giving was voluntary, the people gave too much and had to be commanded to stop (36:4-7).