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Exodus 31

World English Bible

WEB

1Yahweh 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. 3I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, 4to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, 5and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. 6Behold, 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: 7the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, 8the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense, 9the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base, 10the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— 11the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.” 12Yahweh 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. 14You 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. 15Six 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. 16Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17It 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.’” 18When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Exodus Chapter 31 presents God's instructions regarding the artisanship and the observance of the Sabbath. The chapter begins with the Lord appointing #Bezalel, the son of Uri, to be the chief craftsman for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. God fills Bezalel with the Spirit of God, granting him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of skills necessary for the work. This emphasizes the importance of divine inspiration in the arts and crafts, showing that God equips individuals for specific purposes in His service. Alongside Bezalel, God also appoints #Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, to assist him, highlighting the collaborative nature of ministry and craftsmanship in fulfilling God's commands. The mention of various materials, such as gold, silver, and bronze, indicates the beauty and value that God desires in the place of worship, reflecting His glory and holiness.

The chapter then shifts focus to the significance of the Sabbath. God commands the Israelites to observe the Sabbath as a sign of the covenant between Him and His people. The Sabbath is a day of rest, reflecting God's own rest on the seventh day of creation. This commandment underscores the importance of rest and worship in the life of believers, reminding them of their dependence on God. The chapter concludes with God giving Moses the two tablets of the covenant, inscribed with the Ten Commandments, further solidifying the relationship between God and Israel. Overall, Exodus 31 highlights God's provision of skilled workers for His sanctuary and the vital role of the Sabbath in maintaining a holy relationship with Him.

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 41:38v3Genesis 41:38 describes Pharaoh recognizing the Spirit of God in Joseph, similar to how God fills Bezalel with His Spirit for craftsmanship in Exodus 31:3. Both instances highlight the empowering presence of God's Spirit in individuals for specific purposes.
  2. Exodus 36:1v1Exodus 36:1 describes Bezalel and Oholiab as skilled craftsmen filled with the Spirit of God to carry out the work of the tabernacle, which is first mentioned in Exodus 31:1-6 where God calls and equips them for this task.
  3. Exodus 37:1v2Exodus 37:1 mentions Bezalel making the Ark, which is a fulfillment of God's earlier appointment of Bezalel in Exodus 31:2-5, where God filled him with the Spirit of God for craftsmanship.
  4. 1 Kings 7:40v21 Kings 7:40 mentions Hiram's completion of the temple furnishings. Exodus 31:2-5 describes Bezalel, who was filled with the Spirit of God to craft the tabernacle items, highlighting the divine inspiration and skill in sacred craftsmanship.
  5. 1 Chronicles 4:23v11 Chronicles 4:23 mentions the potters and those who dwelt among plants and hedges, indicating skilled labor. This connects to Exodus 31:1-5, where God fills Bezalel with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge for craftsmanship.
  6. Ezekiel 20:12v13Ezekiel 20:12 highlights the Sabbath as a sign between God and Israel, which is also established in Exodus 31:13, underscoring the Sabbath's role in sanctification.
  7. Daniel 5:5v18In Daniel 5:5, the fingers of a human hand write on the wall, reminiscent of God's finger writing the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone in Exodus 31:18, symbolizing divine authority and judgment.

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