Exodus 38-39

18 Jun 2026 - Theology

As the Lord Commanded

Ancient Eastern Weddings:

1. Betrothal (Cup of the Covenant) - Genesis 12
2. Groom leaves to prepare the house - Exodus 1-12
3. Arrival of the bridegroom - Exodus 12
4. Bride is consecrated - Exodus 19:10-15
5. Shofar is sounded (bride’s entrance) - Exodus 19:16
6. Gather under the chuppah - Exodus 19:17
7. Presentation of the ketubah - Exodus 20-23
8. Exchange of wedding gifts - Exodus 25-40, Leviticus
9. Consummation of the marriage
10. “Honeymoon” year (Deuteronomy 24:5)

The next chapters continue the instructions for the tabernacle and its instruments. These instructions were first given by the Lord to Moses, and then by Moses to the people.

Exodus 38

Exodus 38:21 - “This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.”

Moses appointed Aaron’s son Ithamar to be the accountant, whose role was to take a record of everything that had been made. Weighing all the silver they gave, Ithamar reports that there are 603,550 households in the community. (26)

Exodus 39

Exodus 39:32 - “Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.”

The people had done all the work as the Lord had commanded (also verse 42). In Exodus 39, the phrase “as the Lord commanded Moses” appears exactly seven times specifically in the first section of the chapter. Each of these seven occurrences marks the completion of a specific part of the high priest’s garments:

1. Exodus 39:1 - concluding the introductory summary of making the finely woven garments
2. Exodus 39:5 - concluding the creation of the Ephod and its woven waistband
3. Exodus 39:7 - concluding the setting of anyx memorial stones on the shoulder pieces
4. Exodus 39:21 - concluding the intricate binding of the Breastpiece to the Ephod
5. Exodus 39:26 - concluding the placement of the golden bells and pomegranates on the hem of the Robe
6. Exodus 39:29 - concluding the weaving of the tunics, turbans, undergarments, and sashes
7. Exodus 39:31 - concluding the creation of the golden holy crown and its blue cord attached to the turban

Rabbinic tradition notes that this deliberate structural design mirrors the seven days of creation from Genesis. This continues the parallel we first saw in Exodus 31.

Exodus 39:43 - “And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.”

Genesis 1:31 - “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…”

Genesis 1:28 - “And God blessed them…”

The Face of the Lord

Rabbi David Fohrman suggests that the Tabernacle looks like a face (from a top-down view), with the functions of its components also lining up with its corresponding function within a face.

• Brain - the Ark of the Covenant (contains the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, which we relate to cognitively)
• Eyes - the Menorah (provides light to see), the Table of Showbread (meant to be looked at)
• Nose - Incense altar
• Mouth - altar in which animal offerings are consumed by fire

There is a priestly blessing in Numbers that Aaron the high priest and his children said upon the completion of the Tabernacle:

Numbers 6:22-27 (NIV) - “The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.””

Could this be the answer to the request of Moses to see the Lord’s face in Exodus 33? While Moses could not see the Divine Essence of the Lord face to face (as one would speak to a friend), the Tabernacle was a container which allowed the Divine Essence to dwell amongst the people (see Exodus 40).

References:

1. The Hebrew - Greek Key Study Bible (KJV Version)
2. The BEMA Podcast, Episode 23: Falling on Joyful Faces
3. The Torah Portion-by-Portion by Rabbi Seymour Rossel (2007)
4. The Tabernacle, the Creation, and the Ideal of an Orderly World
5. Terumah - Is There a Face Hiding in the Tabernacle?