Exodus 38 · a question people ask
Why does Exodus list how much metal was used?
The chapter doesn't give a reason. It says who counted and for what: the materials were counted "according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest" (38:21). Much of it had been given freely: "The children of Israel brought a free will offering to the LORD" (35:29), until Moses had them stop, "For the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work, and too much" (36:7). The Bible shows the same care with gifts elsewhere. When Ezra brought gifts to the house of God, "Everything was counted and weighed; and all the weight was written at that time" (Ezra 8:34). Paul, writing of a gift "administered by us" (2 Corinthians 8:20), said they were "Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men" (2 Corinthians 8:21).
The verses
“The children of Israel brought a free will offering to the LORD; every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by Moses.”
“Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman make anything else for the offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work, and too much.”
“These are the amounts of materials used for the tabernacle, even the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.”
“On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites. Everything was counted and weighed; and all the weight was written at that time.”