Exodus 39 · Adam Clarke
Introduction Bezaleel makes the clothes of service for the holy place, and the holy garments, Exo 39:1 . The ephod, Exo 39:2 . Gold is beaten into plates, and cut into wires for embroidery, Exo 39:3 . He makes the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, Exo 39:4 . The curious girdle, Exo 39:5 . Cuts the onyx stones for the shoulder-pieces, Exo 39:6 . Makes the breastplate, its chains, ouches, rings, etc., Exo 39:7-21 . The robe of the ephod, Exo 39:22-26 . Coats of fine linen, Exo 39:27 . The mitre, Exo 39:28 . The girdle, Exo 39:29 . The plate of the holy crown, Exo 39:30 , Exo 39:31 . The completion of the work of the tabernacle, Exo 39:32 . All the work is brought unto Moses, Exo 39:33-41 . Moses, having examined the whole, finds every thing done as the Lord had commanded in consequence of which he blesses the people, Exo 39:42 , Exo 39:43 . Verse 1 Blue and purple, and scarlet - See this subject largely explained in the notes on Exo 25:4 (note).
Verse 2 Ephod - See this described, Exo 25:7 (note).
Verse 3 They did beat the gold into thin plates - For the purpose, as it is supposed, of cutting it into wires (פתילם) or threads; for to twist or twine is the common acceptation of the root פתל pathal. I cannot suppose that the Israelites had not then the art of making gold thread, as they possessed several ornamental arts much more difficult: but in the present instance, figures made in a more solid form than that which could have been effected by gold thread, might have been required.
Verse 6 Onyx stones - Possibly the Egyptian pebble. See Exo 25:7 , and Exo 28:17 , etc.
Verse 8 Breastplate - See Exo 28:15 (note).
Verse 10 And they set in it four rows of stones - See all these precious stones particularly explained in the notes on Exo 28:17 (note), etc.
Verse 23 As the hole of a habergeon - The habergeon or hauberk was a small coat of mail, something in form of a half shirt, made of small iron rings curiously united together. It covered the neck and breast, was very light, and resisted the stroke of a sword. Sometimes it went over the whole head as well as over the breast. This kind of defensive armor was used among the Asiatics, particularly the ancient Persians, among whom it is still worn. It seems to have been borrowed from the Asiatics by the Norman crusaders.
Verse 30 The holy crown of pure gold - On Asiatic monuments, particularly those that appear in the ruins of Persepolis and on many Egyptian monuments, the priests are represented as wearing crowns or tiaras, and sometimes their heads are crowned with laurel. Cuper observes, that the priests and priestesses, among the ancient Greeks, were styled στεφανοφοροι, or crown-bearers, because they officiated having sometimes crowns of gold, at others, crowns of laurel, upon their heads.
Verse 32 Did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses - This refers to the command given Exo 25:40 ; and Moses has taken care to repeat every thing in the most circumstantial detail, to show that he had conscientiously observed all the directions he had received.
Verse 37 The pure candlestick - See Clarke's note on Exo 25:31 . The lamps to be set in order - To be trimmed and fresh oiled every day, for the purpose of being lighted in the evening. See Clarke's note on Exo 27:21 .