Exodus 36:5

A rare example and notable to see the people so ready to serve God with their goods.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough, &c.--By the calculations which the practised eyes of the workmen enabled them to make, they were unanimously of the opinion that the supply already far exceeded the demand and that no more contributions were required. Such a report reflects the highest honor on their character as men of the strictest honor and integrity, who, notwithstanding they had command of an untold amount of the most precious things and might, without any risk of human discovery, have appropriated much to their own use, were too high principled for such acts of peculation. Forthwith, a proclamation was issued to stop further contributions [Exo 36:6].

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 5. The people bring much more than enough] With what a liberal spirit do these people bring their free-will offerings unto the Lords! Moses is obliged to make a proclamation to prevent them from bringing any more, as there was at present more than enough! Had Moses been intent upon gain, and had he not been perfectly disinterested, he would have encouraged them to continue their contributions, as thereby he might have multiplied to himself gold, silver, and precious stones. But he was doing the Lord's work, under the inspiration of the Divine Spirit, and therefore he sought no secular gain. Indeed, this one circumstance is an ample proof of it. Every thing necessary for the worship of God will be cheerfully provided by a people whose hearts are in that worship. In a state where all forms of religion and modes of worship are tolerated by the laws, it would be well to find out some less exceptionable way of providing for the national clergy than by tithes. Let them by all means have the provision allowed them by the law; but let them not be needlessly exposed to the resentment of the people by the mode in which this provision is made, as this often alienates the affections of their flocks from them, and exceedingly injures their usefulness. See Clarke on Ge 28:22, in fine, where the subject is viewed on all sides.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

5. bring] are bringing.

There follows now (Exo_36:8 to Exo_39:31) an enumeration and full description of the things made, repeated for the most part verbally—with of course the necessary change of tense—from chs. 25–28, 30, 31 (for ch. 29, see Leviticus 8). The order is in certain cases different: thus the Dwelling (Exo_36:8-38) is made before the articles (the Ark, &c.), which it is to contain (Exo_37:1-24): and the altar of incense then follows immediately (Exo_37:25-29), instead of coming, as in chs. 25–31, in the appendix (Exo_30:1-10). See further above, pp. 377, 378.

8–19 (Exo_26:1-14). The curtains forming the Dwelling (vv. 8–13); the tent over it (vv. 14–18); and the two protective coverings above this (v. 19). Mutatis mutandis, the text agrees almost verbally with Exo_26:1-14, except in the Heb. idiom for ‘one to another’ in vv. 10, 12, 13 (so v. 22), and in the omission of the clauses relating to the erection of the Dwelling in Exo_26:9 b, 12, 13 (without, however, their being introduced in Exo_40:17 ff.).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And they spake unto Moses, saying,.... One in the name of the rest:

the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make; they had taken an estimate of what was to be done, and of what was necessary for the doing of it, and of what the people brought for this service; and they found there was a great deal more brought than would be wanted, and therefore they thought proper to advise Moses of it, that no more might be brought: it is hard to say which is most to be wondered at, the great liberality of the people in contributing so freely and bountifully, and continuing to do so without being urged, or even asked; or the honesty of the workmen, one and all, who might have gone on to have received the gifts of the people by the hands of Moses, and what was superfluous might have converted to their own use; but instead of this, they agree as one man to let Moses know how the state of things was, and prevent the people from making any more contributions.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The craftsmen told Moses ... commanded us to do."

The can be stated as an indirect quote. AT: "The craftsmen told Moses that the people were bringing much more than enough for doing the work that Yahweh has commanded them to do" (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)

The craftsmen told Moses

"The men working on the sanctuary told Moses"

translationWords

Moses

Yahweh

command

sacrifice

holy place

gift

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

מדי העבדה means more than is sufficient for the needs of the work.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.