Exodus 38:21 - Meaning and Application

Here we have a brief account, which Moses ordered the Levites to keep, of the gold, silver, and bronze brought in for the tabernacle and how it was used. Ithamar, Aaron’s son, was assigned to prepare this record, and this smaller task trained him for larger ones, as Exodus 38:21 shows. Bezaleel and Aholiab were to bring in the account (Exodus 38:22, Exodus 38:23), and Ithamar was to review it and present it to Moses.

This was the record. First, all the gold came as a freewill offering. Each person gave what he was able and willing to give, and the total came to 29 talents and 730 shekels extra. Some estimate that as about 150,000 pounds in today’s value. From this gold, all the golden furnishings and vessels were made.

Second, the silver was collected by a tax. Each man paid half a shekel, a kind of poll tax, and the total came to 100 talents and 1,775 shekels extra (Exodus 38:25, Exodus 38:26). This silver was used to make the sockets that held the boards of the tabernacle in place and supported them, so they served as the foundation of the tabernacle (Exodus 38:27). The silver was worth about 34,000 pounds in our money.

It is worth noticing that the gold was gathered by voluntary gifts, while the silver came by a required payment. Either way can be used to cover public needs, as long as there is no unfairness. Third, the bronze, though less valuable, was still very useful, not only for the bronze altar, but also for the sockets of the court, which were likely made of wood in other tents. But the promise says, “Instead of wood, I will bring bronze” (Isaiah 60:17).

See how generous the people were, and how faithful the workers were. Their good example should be followed in both respects.