Exodus 31
Big idea: God names the builders and signs the covenant. Bezalel of Judah is called by name and filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of workmanship — the first person in Scripture said to be filled with God's Spirit, and it is for craftsmanship. Oholiab of Dan is appointed with him, and wisdom is put in the hearts of all who are wise-hearted so that everything commanded can be made. Then the speech closes where it must: 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. And Moses is handed two tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
Chapter 31 ends with two stone tablets written by God's own finger. Chapter 32 has Moses carry them down a mountain and smash them at the bottom.
31:1–11 — Filled with the Spirit of God — to make things
Yahweh tells Moses: I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of workmanship — to devise skilful works in gold, silver and bronze, to cut stones for setting and carve wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. And I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan with him; and in the hearts of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded: the tent, the ark, the mercy seat, all the furniture, the table and its vessels, the lampstand, the altars, the basin, the finely worked garments for Aaron and his sons, the anointing oil and the sweet incense.
1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, 4 to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, 5 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. 6 Behold, I myself 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: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, 8 the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base, 10 the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— 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.”
31:12–18 — A sign between me and you
Yahweh tells Moses to speak to the children of Israel: 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. Keep the sabbath, for it is holy to you; everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death, and whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. The children of Israel shall keep the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant — a sign between me and the children of Israel forever, for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh he rested and was refreshed. And when he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, tablets of stone, written with God's finger.
12 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 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. 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. 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. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 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.’” 18 When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).