Ver. 1. And said unto them, These, &c,] He often goes over the same things, as the knife doth the whetstone. Good things must be repeated, sicut in acuendo. It is Moses’s own metaphor. (Deuteronomy 6:7)
Ver. 2. Six days shall work be done.] This duty is so oft inculcated, to show the necessity, excellency, difficulty of well doing it.
Ver. 3. Ye shall kindle no fire,] sc., For the furtherance of the work of the tabernacle: or, at least, that is not of absolute necessity. It might also signify that in the kingdom of heaven we shall be set free from all the fire and scorching heat of affliction.
Ver. 4-7. , &c. Much of this chapter is to be read in the twenty-fifth, and elsewhere. See the notes there.
Ver. 5. [See Trapp on “Ex 35:4”]
Ver. 6. [See Trapp on “Ex 35:4”]
Ver. 7. [See Trapp on “Ex 35:4”]
Ver. 22. And brought bracelets.] Glad they had anything of price to dedicate to God and to seal up their thankfulness for this readmittance into his love and favour. [See Trapp on “Mt 9:10”] Nazianzen put this price upon his Athenian learning, wherein he was very famous, that he had something of value to part with for Christ. These in the text, in token of their true repentance, brought their bracelets and other ornaments, as freely for the service of the tabernacle, as erst they had done to the making of the golden calf.
Ver. 32. And to devise curious works.] “This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.” (Isaiah 28:29) Pliny makes mention of some famous painters, whose rare pieces were Oppidorum opibus venditae: sold for so many towns’ wealth. A certain craftsman set a watch clock upon a ring that Charles V wore upon his finger. King Ferdinand sent to Solyman the Turk, for a present, a wonderful globe of silver of most rare and curious device; daily expressing the hourly passing of the time, the motions of the planets, the change and full of the moon; lively expressing the wonderful conversions of the celestial frame. To which I may well add that admirable invention of printing, a special blessing of God to mankind. Lib. xxiii. Sphinx Philos., p, 90. Turk. Hist., fol. 713.