Exodus 35:28
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 35:28
28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
Chapter Context
Exodus 35 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of righteousness, love, holiness. Written during the Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Egypt was the dominant superpower with a complex polytheistic religion and a god-king pharaoh.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-35: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Exodus and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Exodus 35:28
28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
Analysis
Animal skins—rams' skins dyed red (עֹרֹת אֵילִם מְאָדָּמִים, orot eilim me'addamim) and badgers' skins (עֹרֹת תְּחָשִׁים, orot techashim)—provided durable, protective coverings. Red-dyed rams' skins evoke sacrifice and substitution, while the outer skins' plain appearance concealed inner glory, paralleling Isaiah 53:2's description of the Suffering Servant with 'no beauty that we should desire him.' These humble materials protecting sacred space teach that spiritual realities often hide behind ordinary appearances.
Historical Context
Acquiring and processing animal skins required significant labor: slaughtering, skinning, treating, and dyeing. The red dye for rams' skins added cost and time. The willingness to bring processed skins, not just raw hides, shows dedicated effort.
Reflection
- How do the plain outer coverings concealing inner glory illustrate Christ's incarnation and humble appearance?
- What does the use of animal skins in God's dwelling teach about the necessity of death and covering for approaching God?