Following the restoration of the covenant, Moses announced God's directions for the construction of the tabernacle. In building it the Israelites were to work only six days a week. They were to rest on the Sabbath (35:2-3).
Moses invited the people to bring their contributions for the construction (35:4-19; cf. 25:1-9). These materials would have been the Israelites' own goods. Some were items the Egyptians had given to them when they left Egypt and possessions they had obtained from traders they had met during their travels since leaving Egypt.
The people began to bring what the builders needed (35:20-29). Moses again recognized Bezalel and Oholiab as skillful artisans whom God had gifted and appointed to lead the construction work (35:30-36:2). This provision by God inspired the people to give even more, so much so that Moses had to tell the people to stop giving (31:3-7). The people proved their commitment to the covenant and to Yahweh by their generous contributions to the project that He had ordered.541
