Exodus Chapter 31
From The Open Bible Project
31:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
31:2 "Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
- (a) I have chosen and made meet, Ex 35:30.
31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
- (b) This shows that handicrafts are the gifts of God's spirit, and therefore ought to be esteemed.
31:4 to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
31:5 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship.
31:6 I, behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
- (c) I have instructed them, and increased their knowledge.
31:7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
31:8 the table and its vessels, the pure lampstand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
- (d) So called, because of the cunning and art used in them, or because the whole was beaten out of the piece.
31:9 the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
31:10 the finely worked garments--the holy garments for Aaron the priest--the garments of his sons to minister in the priest's office,
31:11 the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do."
- (e) Which was only to anoint the Priests and the instruments of the tabernacle, not to burn.
31:12 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
31:13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.
- (f) Though I command that these works be done, yet I do not want you to break my Sabbath days.
31:14 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
- (g) God repeats this point because the whole keeping of the law stands in the true use of the sabbath, which is to stop working and so obey the will of God.
31:15 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death.
31:16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.'"
- (h) From creating his creatures, but not from governing and preserving them.
31:18 He gave to Moses, when he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets, written with God's finger.
- (i) By which he declared his will to his people.
