Exodus 31

The Skilled Craftsmen

1 ¹Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "See, I have called by name Bezalel, the ²son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

3 "I have ³filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,

4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze,

5 and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship.

6 "And behold, I Myself have appointed with him ⁴Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful * I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

7 ⁵the tent of meeting, and ⁶the ark of testimony, and ⁷the mercy seat upon it, and all the furniture of the tent,

8 ⁸the table also and its utensils, and the ⁹pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, and ¹⁰the altar of incense,

9 ¹¹the altar of burnt offering also with all its utensils, and ¹²the laver and its stand,

10 the ¹³woven garments as well, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, with which to carry on their priesthood;

11 ¹⁴the anointing oil also, and the ¹⁵fragrant incense for the holy place, they are to make them according to all that I have commanded you."

The Sign of the Sabbath

12 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

13 "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, '¹⁶You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is ¹⁷a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

14 'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. ¹⁸Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.

15 '¹⁹For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a ²⁰sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; ²¹whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death.

16 'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.'

17 "²²It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; ²³for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed."

18 When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses ²⁴the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, ²⁵written by the finger of God.

Exodus 31 Commentary

Chapter 31

Bezaleel and Aholiab are appointed and qualified for the work of the tabernacle. (1-11) The observance of the sabbath. (12-17) Moses receives the tables of the law. (18)

Verses 1-11 The Israelites, who had been masons and bricklayers in Egypt, were not qualified for curious workmanship; but the Spirit who gave the apostles utterance in divers tongues, miraculously gave Bezaleel and Aholiab the skill that was wanting. The honour which comes from God, is always attended with a work to be done; to be employed for God is high honour. Those whom God calls to any service, he will find or make fit for it. The Lord gives different gifts to different persons; let each mind his proper work, diligently remembering that whatever wisdom any one possesses, the Lord put it in the heart, to do his commandments.

Verses 12-17 Orders were now given that a tabernacle should be set up for the service of God. But they must not think that the nature of the work, and the haste that was required, would justify them in working at it on sabbath days. The Hebrew word /shabath/ signifies rest, or ceasing from labour. The thing signified by the sabbath is that rest in glory which remains for the people of God; therefore the moral obligation of the sabbath must continue, till time is swallowed up in eternity.

Verse 18 The law was written in tables of stone, to show how lasting it is: to denote likewise the hardness of our hearts; one might more easily write on stone, than write any thing good on our corrupt natural hearts. It was written with the finger of God; by his will and power. God only can write his law in the heart: he gives a heart of flesh; then, by his Spirit, which is the ( 2 Corinthians. 3:3 )

Cross References

• 1. Ex 35:30-36:1
• 2. 1 Chronicles 2:20
• 3. Exodus 35:31; 1 Kings 7:14; 1 Corinthians 12:4-8
• 4. Exodus 35:34
• 5. Exodus 36:8-38
• 6. Exodus 37:1-5
• 7. Exodus 37:6-9
• 8. Exodus 37:10-16
• 9. Exodus 37:17-24; Leviticus 24:4
• 10. Exodus 37:25-29
• 11. Exodus 38:1-7
• 12. Exodus 38:8
• 13. Exodus 39:1
• 14. Exodus 30:23-32
• 15. Exodus 30:34-38
• 16. Exodus 20:8
• 17. Exodus 31:17; Ezekiel 20:12, 20
• 18. Exodus 31:15; Exodus 35:2; Numbers 15:32, 35; John 7:23
• 19. Exodus 20:9-11; Exodus 23:12; Exodus 34:21; Exodus 35:2; Leviticus 23:3; Deuteronomy 5:12-14
• 20. Genesis 2:2; Exodus 16:23; Exodus 20:8; Exodus 35:2, 3
• 21. Exodus 31:14
• 22. Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12
• 23. Genesis 1:31; Genesis 2:2, 3; Exodus 20:11
• 24. Exodus 24:12; Exodus 34:29; Deuteronomy 4:13; Deuteronomy 5:22; Deuteronomy 9:10
• 25. Exodus 32:15, 16; Exodus 34:1, 28; Deuteronomy 9:10

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "workmanship"
• [b]. Lit "devise devices"
• [c]. Or "copper"
• [d]. Lit "to fill in (for a setting)"
• [e]. Or "workmanship"
• [f]. Lit "given"
• [g]. Lit "wise of heart"
• [h]. Lit "wisdom"
• [i]. Lit "propitiatory"
• [j]. Or "vessels"
• [k]. Or "vessels"
• [l]. Or "vessels"
• [m]. Or "service garments"
• [n]. Lit "minister as priests"
• [o]. Lit "do"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 31

In this chapter an account is given of the persons whom God had chosen, and qualified for the work of building the tabernacle, and all things relating to it, and for the direction and oversight thereof, Ex 31:1-6 and an enumeration is made of the several things that were to be wrought, some in one way, some in another, Ex 31:7-11 the law of the sabbath is repeated, and the violation of it made death, Ex 31:12-17 and the chapter is concluded with observing, that at the close of the above orders, two tables of stone, with the law written upon them by the finger of God, were given to Moses, Ex 31:18.