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Exodus 31

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Appointment of the Tabernacle Craftsmen 1–11

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And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
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See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: ​
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and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, ​
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to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
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and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship.
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And I, behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee: ​
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the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy-seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the Tent,
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and the table and its vessels, and the pure candlestick with all its vessels, and the altar of incense,
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and the altar of burnt-offering with all its vessels, and the laver and its base,
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and the finely wrought garments, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office,
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and the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do. ​

The Sign of the Sabbath and the Tables of Testimony 12–18

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And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
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Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you. ​
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Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. ​
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Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
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Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. ​
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It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. ​
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And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Exodus 31

Verse 2

I have called by name Bezaleel — The name Betsal'el is probably 'in the shadow of God'. He is 'of the tribe of Judah', the son of Uri, son of Hur. Moses repeats the call to the people in Ex 35:30, and Ex 36:1 records that Bezaleel and Aholiab wrought with 'every wise hearted man'. His brasen altar still stood in Solomon's day (2 Chr 1:5).

Verse 3

filled him with the spirit of God — Male, to fill, with ruach, spirit. The gifts named are chokmah (wisdom), tevunah (understanding), daat (knowledge) and melachah (workmanship, work). These three words appear together only here, Ex 35:31, 1 Kgs 7:14 and Prov 2:6: 'the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding'.

Verse 6

in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom — Aholiab (Oholiab, tent of the father) of Dan joins Bezaleel of Judah. 'Wise hearted' is chakam leb, and the LORD himself says he has put (nathan, given) wisdom in their hearts. Ex 35:34 adds that he has put it in the heart of both men 'that he may teach'.

Verse 11

the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place — These close the list of what the craftsmen are to make (vv.7–11). The oil is the shemen mishchah (Ex 30:22–33). 'Sweet incense' is qetoret of sammim, spices, compounded of 'sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum' (Ex 30:34). Anyone who makes the like 'to smell thereto' is cut off (Ex 30:38).

Verse 13

a sign between me and you — Oth, sign, is the word rendered 'token' for the rainbow (Gen 9:13) and for circumcision (Gen 17:11). 'Keep' is shamar, to guard. The purpose is 'that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you' (qadash); Ezek 20:12 repeats the line, 'a sign between me and them'.

Verse 14

cut off from among his people — Chalal, defileth, is to profane; 'work' is melachah, the word of v.3. The penalty is death, and the soul (nephesh) 'cut off' (karath). A man found gathering sticks on the sabbath was brought 'without the camp' and stoned (Num 15:32–36). Ex 35:2 repeats the command.

Verse 16

to observe the sabbath throughout their generations — 'Observe' is asah, to do or make, the verb of v.17, 'the LORD made heaven and earth': Israel is to make the sabbath as he made the world. Berith olam, perpetual covenant, is also the 'everlasting covenant' of the rainbow (Gen 9:16) and of Abraham (Gen 17:7).

Verse 17

was refreshed — Naphash, to draw breath, is the verb behind nephesh, soul or life. It is used of the stranger and the servant who 'may be refreshed' on the seventh day (Ex 23:12). The verse looks back to creation: 'in six days the LORD made heaven and earth' (Gen 1; 2:2), and Ex 20:11 gives the same ground for the sabbath.

Verse 18

written with the finger of God — Etsba is a finger. The tables are 'two tables of testimony, tables of stone', given when the LORD 'had made an end of communing' (kalah). Moses later brings them down 'written on both their sides' (Ex 32:15) and Deut 9:10 repeats the phrase. Christ says, 'with the finger of God cast out devils' (Luke 11:20).