Exodus 35-38

Not much to report at this point. Chapters 35, 36, 37, and 38 almost exclusively deal with the construction of the tabernacle, and therefore each detail is basically a repetition of the instructions given back in Chapters 25-30. In fact, my commentary notes that these last chapters of Exodus may be summed up by the simple declaration: "The workmen did all according to God's prescription."

The one thing I did find new and interesting, though, was in Chapter 38 when Moses mentions certain "women that watched at the door of the tabernacle" (Exodus 38:8). I referred to my commentary for clarification, and it appears that it was a custom for very pious and devout women to simply "watch" or pray and adore at the entrance to the tabernacle, thus worshipping God over and above what was required of them. We see evidence of this custom in the New Testament when the child Jesus is presented at the Temple and Luke tells us of a woman named Anna who "was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day" (Luke 2:37). Thus a tradition which established itself very early on (almost immediately upon the construction of the tabernacle) and continued with the construction of the Temple, even today can be seen in the practice of Eucharistic adoration. Anna is described as "serving night and day," just as men and women during adoration can spend entire nights with the Divine Presence of our Lord. These women mentioned in Exodus are excellent examples for us of faithful and passionate followers of God, giving their all for Him by simply offering their presence at His dwelling place.