“And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet , they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
My Notes
What Does Exodus 39:1 Mean?
"As the LORD commanded Moses." This phrase appears repeatedly in the Tabernacle construction narrative — dozens of times across chapters 36-39. Each time a detail is completed, the text notes: as the LORD commanded Moses. The repetition is the construction's quality control: every piece matches the pattern.
The phrase serves as a theological refrain: the workers didn't improvise. They followed the pattern. Every cloth, every garment, every fastener was made according to the blueprint shown on the mountain (25:40). The construction log reads like an inspection report: done as commanded. Done as commanded. Done as commanded.
The blue, purple, and scarlet materials — the finest dyes in the ancient world — show that obedience to the pattern doesn't mean aesthetic poverty. The commanded design includes beauty. The obedient construction includes luxury. Following God's pattern produces something beautiful, not just functional.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How many of your daily decisions match the 'as commanded' pattern?
- 2.What does the repetition of 'as the LORD commanded' teach about faithful obedience?
- 3.How does strict obedience produce beauty rather than restricting it?
- 4.What area of your life needs more 'as commanded' moments?
Devotional
As the LORD commanded Moses. Again. And again. And again. The refrain echoes through the construction narrative like a drumbeat: every piece, every garment, every thread — done exactly as God said. The repetition IS the message: obedience is the construction method.
The phrase appears so many times in chapters 36-39 that it functions as the Tabernacle's quality certificate. Each occurrence is a checkmark: completed as specified. No deviation. No improvement. No creative modification. As commanded. The text doesn't celebrate the builders' innovation. It celebrates their compliance.
The materials — blue, purple, scarlet — are luxurious. The obedience is strict. The combination produces something that is both beautiful and faithful. Following God's pattern exactly doesn't produce an ugly building. It produces a gorgeous one. The beauty comes from the obedience, not despite it.
The repetition teaches patience with obedience: doing exactly what God says, detail by detail, piece by piece, without deviation or shortcut. The Tabernacle wasn't built in a single dramatic gesture. It was built in dozens of 'as commanded' moments, each one faithful, each one specific, each one matching the pattern.
Your life is built the same way: not in one dramatic act of obedience but in dozens of 'as the LORD commanded' moments. Each one small. Each one specific. Each one matching the pattern. The accumulated obedience produces the dwelling place.
How many of your moments match the pattern?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service,.... Jarchi observes that there is no mention made…
Blue and purple, and scarlet - See this subject largely explained in the notes on Exo 25:4 (note).
In this account of the making of the priests' garments, according to the instructions given (ch. 28), we may observe, 1.…
the plaited (?) garments See on Exo 31:10.
as Jehovah commanded Moses so seven times in this chapter (here, and vv.5, 7,…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture