3. they (the workmen)
received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had
brought, &c.--It appears that the building was begun after the
first few contributions were made; it was progressively carried on, and
no necessity occurred to suspend operations even for the shortest
interval, from want of the requisite materials.
they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning,
&c.--Moses, in common with other Oriental magistrates, had his morning
levees for receiving the people (see on
Ex 18:13);
and it was while he was performing his magisterial duties that the
people brought unto him freewill offerings every morning. Some who had
nothing but their manual labor to give would spend a great part of the
night in hastening to complete their self-imposed task before the early
dawn; others might find their hearts constrained by silent meditations
on their beds to open their coffers and give a part of their hoarded
treasure to the pious object. All whose hearts were touched by piety,
penitence, or gratitude, repaired with eager haste into the presence of
Moses, not as heretofore, to have their controversies settled, but to
lay on his tribunal their contributions to the sanctuary of God
(2Co 9:7).
JFB.
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