Chapter 31
The Choice of Craftsmen for the Tabernacle. 1 The Lord spoke to Moses and said to him, 2 “Behold, I have chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God[a] so that he possesses wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and is expert in every kind of craft 4 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 to know how to cut stones for settings and how to carve wood. He is expert in every craft. 6 And behold, I have sent Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan to him. I have also given all skillful men their ability, so that they may make all that I have commanded you to make: 7 the meeting tent, the Ark of Testimony, the seat of atonement over it, and all the accessories of the tent, 8 the table with its accessories, the pure lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offerings with all of its accessories, the basin and its base, 10 the finely crafted vestments, the sacred vestments for Aaron and the vestments for his sons, for their priestly ministry, 11 the oil of anointing, and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary. They shall produce all that I have commanded you.”
12 The Sabbath.[b] The Lord said to Moses, 13 “Say to the children of Israel, ‘You shall observe my Sabbaths, for the Sabbath is a sign between me and you for all your generations, so that you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
14 “ ‘Therefore, you shall observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever works on that day shall be cut off from his people. 15 Six days you shall work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of sacred rest for you, holy to the Lord. Whoever works on the Sabbath shall be put to death. 16 The children of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, celebrating the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 This is a perpetual sign between me and the children of Israel, for the Lord made the heavens and the earth in six days, but on the seventh he ceased and rested.’ ”
18 Moses Receives the Tablets of the Law. When the Lord had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of Testimony, the stone tablets, written with the finger of God.
Footnotes
- Exodus 31:3 Filled him with the Spirit of God: the Master Craftsman himself provides his ministers with gifts that enable them to design and construct places of worship. Here the Spirit of God filled Bezalel and others with the ability to build the meeting tent as his dwelling among the children of Israel.
- Exodus 31:12 This section is a departure from the preceding text concerning official worship, but inserted here lest the people forget the importance of rest from work (i.e., setting aside a day that is holy unto the Lord).