Chapter II

Summary

In a history of the women of Israel, we must not forget those who are mentioned as aiding the holy work of the tabernacle. Proclamation was made throughout the camp, that every man and woman who had a willing heart should bring an offering unto the Lord, either of gold, silver, or brass, blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and oil, and spices, and sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones of all kinds; and that every one who was wise-hearted among them should come and make all that the Lord had commanded, which Moses proceeds to enumerate (see Exod. xxxv. and xxxvi). The congregation then departed to their several tents, but speedily came every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing. “And they came, both men and women, as many who were willing-hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets of gold,” &c. “And all the women who were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom, spun goats' hair. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing.”