1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
2 See, H7200 I have called H7121 by name H8034 Bezaleel H1212 the son H1121 of Uri, H221 the son H1121 of Hur, H2354 of the tribe H4294 of Judah: H3063
3 And I have filled H4390 him with the spirit H7307 of God, H430 in wisdom, H2451 and in understanding, H8394 and in knowledge, H1847 and in all manner of workmanship, H4399
4 To devise H2803 cunning works, H4284 to work H6213 in gold, H2091 and in silver, H3701 and in brass, H5178
5 And in cutting H2799 of stones, H68 to set H4390 them, and in carving H2799 of timber, H6086 to work H6213 in all manner of workmanship. H4399
6 And I, behold, I have given H5414 with him Aholiab, H171 the son H1121 of Ahisamach, H294 of the tribe H4294 of Dan: H1835 and in the hearts H3820 of all that are wise H2450 hearted H3820 I have put H5414 wisdom, H2451 that they may make H6213 all that I have commanded H6680 thee;
7 The tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and the ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 and the mercy seat H3727 that is thereupon, and all the furniture H3627 of the tabernacle, H168
8 And the table H7979 and his furniture, H3627 and the pure H2889 candlestick H4501 with all his furniture, H3627 and the altar H4196 of incense, H7004
9 And the altar H4196 of burnt offering H5930 with all his furniture, H3627 and the laver H3595 and his foot, H3653
10 And the cloths H899 of service, H8278 and the holy H6944 garments H899 for Aaron H175 the priest, H3548 and the garments H899 of his sons, H1121 to minister in the priest's office, H3547
11 And the anointing H4888 oil, H8081 and sweet H5561 incense H7004 for the holy H6944 place: according to all that I have commanded H6680 thee shall they do. H6213
12 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
13 Speak H1696 thou also unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Verily H389 my sabbaths H7676 ye shall keep: H8104 for it is a sign H226 between me and you throughout your generations; H1755 that ye may know H3045 that I am the LORD H3068 that doth sanctify H6942 you.
14 Ye shall keep H8104 the sabbath H7676 therefore; for it is holy H6944 unto you: every one that defileth H2490 it shall surely H4191 be put to death: H4191 for whosoever doeth H6213 any work H4399 therein, that soul H5315 shall be cut off H3772 from among H7130 his people. H5971
15 Six H8337 days H3117 may work H4399 be done; H6213 but in the seventh H7637 is the sabbath H7676 of rest, H7677 holy H6944 to the LORD: H3068 whosoever doeth H6213 any work H4399 in the sabbath H7676 day, H3117 he shall surely H4191 be put to death. H4191
16 Wherefore the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall keep H8104 the sabbath, H7676 to observe H6213 the sabbath H7676 throughout their generations, H1755 for a perpetual H5769 covenant. H1285
17 It is a sign H226 between me and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 for ever: H5769 for in six H8337 days H3117 the LORD H3068 made H6213 heaven H8064 and earth, H776 and on the seventh H7637 day H3117 he rested, H7673 and was refreshed. H5314
18 And he gave H5414 unto Moses, H4872 when he had made an end H3615 of communing H1696 with him upon mount H2022 Sinai, H5514 two H8147 tables H3871 of testimony, H5715 tables H3871 of stone, H68 written H3789 with the finger H676 of God. H430
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 31
Commentary on Exodus 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 31
Ex 31:1-18. Bezaleel and Aholiab.
2. See, I have called—Though the instructions about the tabernacle were privately communicated to Moses, it was plainly impossible that he could superintend the work in person, amid the multiplicity of his other duties. A head director or builder was selected by God Himself; and the nomination by such high authority removed all ground of jealousy or discontent on the part of any who might have thought their merits overlooked (compare Mt 18:1).
by name Bezaleel—signifying "in the shadow or protection of God"; and, as called to discharge a duty of great magnitude—to execute a confidential trust in the ancient Church of God, he has his family and lineage recorded with marked distinction. He belonged to the tribe of Judah, which, doubtless for wise and weighty reasons, God all along delighted to honor; and he was the grandson of Hur, a pious patriot (Ex 17:12), who was associated, by a special commission, with Aaron in the government of the people during the absence of Moses. Moreover, it may be noticed that a Jewish tradition affirms Hur to be the husband of Miriam; and if this tradition may be relied on, it affords an additional reason for the appointment of Bezaleel emanating from the direct authority of God.
3-5. I have filled him with the spirit of God—It is probable that he was naturally endowed with a mechanical genius, and had acquired in Egypt great knowledge and skill in the useful, as well as liberal, arts so as to be a first-class artisan, competent to take charge of both the plain and ornamental work, which the building of the sacred edifice required. When God has any special work to be accomplished, He always raises up instruments capable of doing it; and it is likely that He had given to the son of Uri that strong natural aptitude and those opportunities of gaining mechanical skill, with an ultimate view to this responsible office. Notwithstanding that his grand duty was to conform with scrupulous fidelity to the pattern furnished, there was still plenty of room for inventive talent and tasteful exactness in the execution; and his natural and acquired gifts were enlarged and invigorated for the important work.
6. I have given with him Aholiab—He belonged to the tribe of Dan, one of the least influential and honorable in Israel; and here, too, we can trace the evidence of wise and paternal design, in choosing the colleague or assistant of Bezaleel from an inferior tribe (compare 1Co 12:14-25; also Mr 6:7).
all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom—At that period, when one spirit pervaded all Israel, it was not the man full of heavenly genius who presided over the work; but all who contributed their skill, experience, and labor, in rendering the smallest assistance, showed their piety and devotedness to the divine service. In like manner, it was at the commencement of the Christian Church (Ac 6:5; 18:2).
12-17. Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep—The reason for the fresh inculcation of the fourth commandment at this particular period was, that the great ardor and eagerness, with which all classes betook themselves to the construction of the tabernacle, exposed them to the temptation of encroaching on the sanctity of the appointed day of rest. They might suppose that the erection of the tabernacle was a sacred work, and that it would be a high merit, an acceptable tribute, to prosecute the undertaking without the interruption of a day's repose; and therefore the caution here given, at the commencement of the undertaking, was a seasonable admonition.
18. tables of stone, written with the finger of God—containing the ten commandments (Ex 24:12), called "tables of testimony," because God testified His will in them.