Exodus 35:32

Exodus 35:32

And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

a. NLT: He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. YLT: even to devise devices to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Amplified Bible Classic: To devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Septuagint: to labour skillfully in all works of cunning workmanship to form the gold and the silver and the brass,

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: To weave designs, to work with gold, silver, and copper. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,”

a. to devise [Strong: 2803 * chashab khaw-shab' a primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (gen.) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute:--(make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think.]

b. curious works [Strong: 4284 * machashabah makh-ash-aw-baw' or machashebeth {makh-ash-eh'-beth}; from 2803; a contrivance, i.e. (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice):--cunning (work), curious work, device(-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.]

c. to work [Strong: 6213 * `asah aw-saw' a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, + finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be (warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.]

d. in gold [Strong: 2091 * zahab zaw-hawb' from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:-- gold(-en), fair weather.]

e. and in silver [Strong: 3701 * keceph keh'-sef from 3700; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money:--money, price, silver(-ling).]

f. and in brass [Strong: 5178 * nchosheth nekh-o'-sheth for 5154; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver):--brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel.]

1). J. Vernon McGee: Bezaleel is the man God-equipped to make the articles of furniture that are so important in the tabernacle. God gave Bezaleel the ability to pass on his gift to others. The Tabernacle was a beautiful object. It was a jewel in the desert. It was not large, not a great warehouse, only a small building. It has been estimated that about 5 million dollars went into the construction of the tabernacle according to the value of the metals of a few years ago. The value in inflationary times would be even greater. The tabernacle was God’s precious jewel; a picture of His Son Jesus Christ.

2). All of the children of Israel had been slaves under Egyptian dominance and built treasure cities for Pharoah. Most of the Israelites were already craftsmen, males and females,  thoroughly able to accomplish the tasks. Add to that the wisdom of God and you have, after it was finished, a Tabernacle fit for the one true God.   

a). Exodus 1:11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

b). Most of the children of Israel were were craftsmen of one sort or another and it was these who went to work on the Tabernacle and everything that supported it.