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Exodus Chapter
Thirty-one
New King James Version
(NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO
EXODUS 31
In this chapter an account
is given of the persons whom God had chosen
and qualified for the work of
building the tabernacle
and all things relating to it
and for the direction
and oversight thereof
Exodus 31:1 and an
enumeration is made of the several things that were to be wrought
some in one
way
some in another
Exodus 31:7 the law
of the sabbath is repeated
and the violation of it made death
Exodus 31:12 and
the chapter is concluded with observing
that at the close of the above orders
two tables of stone
with the law written upon them by the finger of God
were
given to Moses
Exodus 31:18.
Exodus 31:1 Then the Lord spoke to
Moses
saying:
YLT 1And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses
saying
And the Lord
spake unto Moses
.... After the Lord had given Moses instructions about building a
tabernacle
the model of which he had shown him
and what should be the
furniture of it
who should minister in it
and what clothes they should wear
he acquaints him that he had provided artificers for this service; which would
prevent doubts and objections that might rise up in the mind of Moses
how and
by whom all this should be done; since the children of Israel had not been
brought up
nor used to any curious work in Egypt
out of which they were but
just come:
saying; as follows:
Exodus 31:2 2 “See
I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri
the son of Hur
of the tribe of
Judah.
YLT 2`See
I have called by name Bezaleel
son of
Uri
son of Hur
of the tribe of Judah
See
I have
called by name Bezaleel
.... Had pitched upon
chosen
and distinguished him particularly
from all other men to be the architect or chief master builder of the
tabernacle
and to be the director and overseer of the whole work relating to
it: the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it
""I have
called with a good name Bezaleel";'as if respect was to be had to his name
Bezaleel
as given him by God
and very expressive and significant; whereas the
phrase of calling "by name" does not signify the imposing of a name
upon him
but the singular and personal choice of him to an office: indeed
his
name Bezaleel is very significant
and may be rendered
"in the shadow of
God"; and he was under the shadow
influence
and protection of the Lord
and was called to be concerned in making those things
which were shadows of
good things to come; and he may be considered in all as a type of Christ
who
is the chief and master builder of his church
has the care and oversight of
it
and under whom others work; for except he built the house
they labour in
vain that build it; he was called by name
or eminently chosen to this work
he
took not this honour to himself
but was called of God
as Bezaleel was
and
was hid and abode under the shadow of the Almighty all the while he was
concerned in it
see Psalm 91:1.
the son of Uri
the son of Hur
of the tribe of Judah; Bezaleel's father's name
was Uri
which signifies
"my light"; and his grandfather's name Hur
which has the signification of liberty or freedom; the same that Moses left
with Aaron to judge the people of Israel during his stay in the mount
and is
thought to have been the husband of Miriam; so that his grandfather being
living
he may be supposed to be but a young man: the Jews sayF14Shalshalet
Hakabala
fol. 6. 2. he was but thirteen years of age when he was employed in
this service
but that is not probable; though indeed his antitype
when but
twelve years of age
said
"wist ye not that I must be about my Father's
business?" his Father
whom he calls Uri
my light
Psalm 27:1 he being
the brightness of his Father's glory
and the express image of his person; and
is the Son of God that makes men free
and they are free indeed; and of whom it
is evident that he sprung out of the tribe of Judah
a tribe greatly honoured
of God.
Exodus 31:3 3 And
I have filled him with the Spirit of God
in wisdom
in understanding
in
knowledge
and in all manner of workmanship
YLT 3and I fill him [with] the Spirit of God
in
wisdom
and in understanding
and in knowledge
and in all work
And I have
filled him with the Spirit of God
.... Not with the special
graces of the Spirit
or with spiritual gifts fitting for spiritual service in
the knowledge of spiritual things
and the instruction of men in them
though
no doubt
he might have them; but with the gifts of ingenuity and skill in
manual arts
and mechanical operations
as follows:
in wisdom
and
in understanding
and in all manner of workmanship; these explain
what is meant by the Spirit of God he was filled with; namely
with a
sufficient measure of natural wisdom
knowledge
and understanding in all sorts
of workmanship hereafter mentioned
to qualify him for his office as a director
therein; that is
he had such a share of knowledge of what was to be wrought
such wisdom and understanding in the ingenious and curious manner of working
them
that though he did not work with his own hands
yet could teach
guide
and direct others how to do them: and this was not an ordinary but an
extraordinary gift of knowledge of these things; nor was it owing to a fruitful
invention
nor to long study and contrivance; but it was by the immediate
inspiration of the Spirit of God
which was necessary at this time
the
Israelites being now in a general state of ignorance of all ingenious arts and
sciences
having lived so many years in a state of servitude
and scarce knew
anything but making of bricks: and it may be observed
that God never calls any
to any work or service of his but he qualifies for it: in all this Bezaleel was
a type of Christ
who was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure; and on
whom rested the spirit of wisdom and of counsel
and in whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and who
as God's righteous and faithful
servant as Mediator
dealt wisely and prudently in all his administrations.
Exodus 31:4 4 to
design artistic works
to work in gold
in silver
in bronze
YLT 4to devise devices to work in gold
and in
silver
and in brass
To devise
cunning works
.... To invent
contrive
and draw patterns
for the weavers
particularly
for the making of the curtains of the tabernacle
the vail of the
most holy place
the ephod
and the curious girdle of it
which were made of
cunning work
curiously wrought by the weaver; and so Jarchi interprets this of
the weaving of the work of Chosheb
or cunning work
of the devising of cunning
works
or of the knowledge of witty inventions
by Wisdom or the Messiah
see Proverbs 8:12.
to work in
gold
and in silver
and in brass; for it is not to be
supposed there were either goldsmiths or brasiers among the Israelites; only
masons and bricklayers
and brickmakers
and such sort of manufacturers; so
that Bezaleel had need of immediate wisdom from the Spirit of God
not only to
devise curious works in these several things as in others
but to teach men how
to work in them
what tools to work with
and how to use them
how to melt
these several metals
and into what forms and shapes to put them
and then to
polish them; as there were some things in the temple to be made of gold
as the
candlestick
others of silver
as the sockets of the tabernacle
and others of
brass
as the altar of burnt offering
and its vessels
with other things.
Exodus 31:5 5 in
cutting jewels for setting
in carving wood
and to work in all manner of
workmanship.
YLT 5and in graving of stone for settings
and in
graving of wood to work in all work.
And in cutting
of stones to set them
.... Not of marble stones
or of any common stones used in
building
and the cutting and hewing of them to be laid therein
for of those
there was no use in the tabernacle; but of precious stones
and the cutting of
them
and setting of them in their ouches or enclosures
as the onyx stones on
the shoulders of the high priest
and the twelve precious stones in his
breastplate: Bezaleel was taught by the Spirit of God the art of jewelling
and
instructed others in it:
and in carving
of timber; or rather
"in cutting timber"F15בהרשת עץ "in fabrefactione
ligni"
Montanus; so Tigurine version. ; for it is the same word as
before
for we have no account of any carved work in the tabernacle; and
therefore this must design the work of carpenters and joiners in cutting the
shittim wood
making planks and boards of it
and of them the sides of the
tabernacle
jointed into sockets; the ark of the testimony
the shewbread
table
and altar of incense
which were of timber
and the workmanship of such
persons:
to work in all
manner of workmanship; in all other manufactories; as spinning
weaving
embroidery
dying various colours
compounding ointment
perfume
&c.
Exodus 31:6 6 “And
I
indeed I
have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach
of the tribe
of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans
that
they may make all that I have commanded you:
YLT 6`And I
lo
I have given with him Aholiab
son of Ahisamach
of the tribe of Dan
and in the heart of every wise-hearted
one I have given wisdom
and they have made all that which I have commanded
thee.
And I
behold
I have given with him Aholiab
the son of Ahisamach
of the tribe of Dan
.... To be a
partner with him
and to assist in the direction and oversight of the work of
the tabernacle; which was done that there might appear to be a sufficiency in
the direction
and that too much honour might not be given to one tribe; and it
is observable
that as Solomon of the tribe of Judah was the builder of the
temple
one of the tribe of Dan also was a principal artificer in it
2 Chronicles 2:14
and it is no unusual thing for two persons to be joined together in matters of
moment and importance
as Moses and Aaron
who were sent to Pharaoh for
Israel's dismission out of the land of Egypt; the apostles of Christ
and
seventy disciples
who were sent out two by two; the two witnesses prophesying
in sackcloth
the two anointed ones standing before the Lord of the whole
earth; and Joshua and Zerubbabel in the rebuilding of the temple: nor is it
unusual for both such persons to be types of Christ
as Moses and Aaron
Joshua
and Zerubbabel
were; and here Bezaleel
as before
and now Aholiab
whose name
signifies "the Father's tent" or "tabernacle"; he being
concerned in the oversight of the tabernacle of God and the building of it
and
his father's name Ahisamach
according to HillerusF16Onomast. Sacr.
p. 735.
signifies
"one supports"
i.e. God; and may be a figure of
Christ
whose human nature is the true tabernacle God pitched
and not man
and
who
as Mediator
is Jehovah's servant
whom he upholds:
and in the
hearts of all that are wise hearted; men of ingenuity
that
had good natural parts and abilities
and minds disposed to curious works
and
able to perform them
under the guidance and direction of others:
I have put
wisdom
that they may make all that I have commanded thee; in the
preceding chapters; these persons were to work under Bezaleel and Aholiab
and
to do as they were ordered and directed by them; and having good natural
abilities
mechanical heads and hearts
and divine wisdom in a large measure
communicated to them
they were greatly qualified for the service of the
tabernacle
and making all things appertaining to it: thus Christ
the
architect and master builder of his church
has wise builders under him
that
work in his house
being qualified with the gifts and graces of his Spirit from
him
see Zechariah 6:12.
Exodus 31:7 7 the
tabernacle of meeting
the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is
on it
and all the furniture of the tabernacle—
YLT 7`The tent of meeting
and the ark of
testimony
and the mercy-seat which [is] on it
and all the vessels of the
tent
The tabernacle
of the congregation
.... That is
they had wisdom given to make that according to the
pattern showed to Moses
and under the direction of the two above persons
to
whom Moses communicated it; and from henceforward
in this and some following
verses
mention is made of the various things wrought by these subordinate
workmen; first the house
and then the furniture of it
as follows:
and the ark of
the testimony
and the mercy seat that is thereupon
and all the furniture of
the tabernacle; of that part of it called the holy of holies; the furniture of
which was only the ark
the mercy seat over that
and the cherubim
overshadowing that
where was the seat of the divine Majesty; this was properly
his apartment
see Exodus 25:10.
Exodus 31:8 8 the
table and its utensils
the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils
the altar of incense
YLT 8and the table and its vessels
and the pure
candlestick and all its vessels
and the altar of the perfume
And the table
and his furniture
.... The shewbread table
with its dishes
spoons
and bowls
Exodus 25:23.
and the pure
candlestick with all his furniture; called "pure"
because made of pure gold
and was to be kept pure and clean by the priests
and in which pure oil olive was burnt
and gave a clear light; its furniture
were its lamps
tongs
and snuff dishes
Exodus 25:31.
and the altar
of incense: made of shittim wood covered with gold
Exodus 30:1.
Exodus 31:9 9 the
altar of burnt offering with all its utensils
and the laver and its base—
YLT 9and the altar of the burnt-offering and all
its vessels
and the laver and its base
And the altar
of burnt offering with all his furniture
.... Which was made of
shittim wood covered with brass; its furniture were its pans
shovels
basins
&c. Exodus 27:1.
and the laver
and his foot; for the priests to wash their hands and feet at
Exodus 30:18.
Exodus 31:10 10 the
garments of ministry
[a] the holy
garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons
to minister as
priests
YLT 10and the coloured garments
and the holy garments
for Aaron the priest
and the garments of his sons
for acting as priests in;
And the clothes
of service
.... Either those the priests ministered in in the time of
service
and which they never wore but when in it
and so might with propriety
be so called
and what they were the following words explain; or else these
were clothes of blue
purple
and scarlet
and coverings of badgers' skins
in
which the ark
the shewbread table
the candlestick
and the golden altar
and
other instruments of the tabernacle were wrapped
as Aben Ezra observes
when
the Israelites journeyed in the wilderness
see Numbers 4:5.
and the holy
garments for Aaron the priest; the breastplate
ephod
and robe
the
broidered coat
mitre
and girdle
Exodus 28:4.
and the
garments of his sons to minister in the priest's office; the bonnets
coats
girdles
and breeches
Exodus 28:40.
Exodus 31:11 11 and
the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all
that I have commanded you they shall do.”
YLT 11and the anointing oil
and the perfume of the
spices for the sanctuary; according to all that I have commanded thee -- they
do.'
And the
anointing oil
and sweet incense for the holy place
.... Of the
composition of both which
see Exodus 30:23.
according to
all that I have commanded thee shall they do: not only make all the
said things
but make them exactly according to the form and pattern given to
Moses
communicated to Bezaleel and Aholiab
whose business it was to see that
all things were done by the workmen agreeably to it.
Exodus 31:12 12 And
the Lord
spoke to Moses
saying
YLT 12And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses
saying
And the Lord
spake unto Moses
.... After he had described to him the place of worship
and
appointed the priests that should minister in it
and ordered the making of all
things appertaining to it
and the workmen that should be concerned therein
he
repeats the law of the sabbath
and puts in mind of the time of worship:
saying: as follows.
Exodus 31:13 13 “Speak
also to the children of Israel
saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep
for
it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations
that you
may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.
YLT 13`And thou
speak unto the sons of Israel
saying
Only
My sabbaths ye do keep
for it [is] a sign between Me and you
to
your generations
to know that I
Jehovah
am sanctifying you;
Speak thou also
unto the children of Israel
.... Notwithstanding all that has been said
and ordered concerning making the tabernacle and all things belonging to it;
yet this was not to be understood to the violation of the sabbath
or the neglect
of that
in which no work was to be done
no
not any relating to the
tabernacle and the vessels of it; and though that was to be made
and
everything belonging to it
as soon as possible
yet the sabbath was to be
observed
and not broken on that account; and this the people of Israel were
told of:
saying; verily
or
"nevertheless"F17אך
"veruntamen"
Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine version
Fagius
Vatablus
Drusius
Cartwright
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. :
my sabbaths ye
shall keep not sabbaths of years
as the seventh year and the fiftieth year
but of weeks
expressed by the plural number
because there are many of them in
course throughout the year
no less than fifty two; and so the apostle uses the
same number
Colossians 2:16 and
so do Heathen writersF18"Metuentem sabbata" Juvenal.
Satyr. 14. :
for it is a
sign between me and you
throughout your generations; a token of
the covenant between them
of his being their God and they his people in a
peculiar sense; seeing they observed the same day as a day of rest now
on
which he had rested at the finishing of the works of creation
which other
nations of the world did not observe; of his sanctifying and separating them
from all other people; for this was not a sign between him and other nations
but between him and the people of Israel only; and was to be observed
throughout their ages
as long as their civil and church state lasted
but not
through others:
that ye
may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you; had separated
and distinguished them from the rest of the nations of the world; but if this
law had been given to all nations
it could not have been a distinguishing sign
of them from others; nor could it be known hereby that God had separated them
to himself above all people; and this was done that it might be known
not only
by them
for the word "ye" is not in the text
but by others
the
nations of the world
as Jarchi; that they were a distinct people
having
distinct laws from all others
and particularly this.
Exodus 31:14 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 on
it
that person shall be cut off from among his people.
YLT 14and ye have kept the sabbath
for it [is]
holy to you
he who is polluting it is certainly put to death -- for any who
doeth work in it -- that person hath even been cut off from the midst of his people.
Ye shall keep
the sabbath therefore
.... Strictly observe it
according to the rules given concerning
it:
for it is holy
unto you; a day that was set apart of God for holy exercises
peculiarly
on their account:
everyone that
defileth it; by doing any servile work upon it
or not observing it in a
religious way:
shall surely be
put to death; by the hand of the civil magistrate; if the law of the Jewish
sabbath is now in force
the sanction continues
and the violation of it ought
to be punished by a judge with death:
for whosoever
doeth any work therein; so much as to kindle a fire
and dress any food
by boiling or
roasting
or any other way:
that soul shall
be cut off from among his people; that is
shall die by
the hand of the civil magistrate
it being but another phrase for being put to
death; though the Jewish writers
particularly Jarchi
understand the former
phrase
"put to death"
as to be done by a civil magistrate
when
there are witnesses and full proof of the case; but this of "cutting
off" by the hand of God
by immediate punishment from heaven
when it was
done secretly
and there was no proof to be made of it.
Exodus 31:15 15 Work
shall be done for six days
but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest
holy
to the Lord.
Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day
he shall surely be put to
death.
YLT 15`Six days is work done
and in the seventh
day [is] a sabbath of holy rest to Jehovah; any who doeth work in the
sabbath-day is certainly put to death
Six days may
work be done;.... Allowed to be done by an Israelite
if he would; for this is
not a command to work
but a permission or grant to do it; and therefore
seeing they had so many days granted them for their use
it could not be
thought hard and unreasonable that God should claim one day in seven for his
own use and service
and oblige them to refrain from work on it:
but in the
seventh is the sabbath of rest; from worldly labour
and
was typical of spiritual rest here
and eternal rest hereafter:
holy to the
Lord; separated from other days
and entirely devoted to the worship
and service of God
and to be kept holy to the Lord in all holy and religious
exercises
as hearing and reading the word
praying
praising
&c.
whosoever doeth
any work in the sabbath day
he shall surely be put to death; the Targum of
Jonathan adds
by casting stones
and so we find that the first transgressor of
this law we read of was stoned to death
Numbers 15:35.
Exodus 31:16 16 Therefore
the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath
to observe the Sabbath
throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
YLT 16and the sons of Israel have observed the
sabbath; to keep the sabbath to their generations [is] a covenant age-during
Wherefore the
children of Israel shall keep the sabbath
.... On whom the sabbath
of the seventh day was only enjoined
as well as that of the seventh and of the
fiftieth years
being all ceremonial and shadowy:
to observe the
sabbath throughout their generations; so long as the Mosaic
dispensation lasted
and their civil polity and church state continued
even
until the Messiah came
when all those Jewish shadows
rites
and ceremonies
fled away and disappeared:
for a perpetual
covenant; just in the same sense as circumcision was
Genesis 17:13.
Exodus 31:17 17 It
is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in
six days the Lord
made the heavens and the earth
and on the seventh day He rested and was
refreshed.’”
YLT 17between Me and the sons of Israel it [is] a
sign -- to the age; for six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth
and in
the seventh day He hath ceased
and is refreshed.'
It is a sign
between me and the children of Israel for ever
.... In like sense as the
land of Canaan was given them for an everlasting possession; and the covenant
of circumcision
and the ordinance of the passover
and the fast on the day of
atonement
were for ever; that is
unto the end of the Jewish world and state
at the coming of Christ
when a new world and state of things began
see Genesis 17:8.
for in six days
the Lord made heaven and earth
and on the seventh day he rested
and was
refreshed; which is to be understood figuratively after the manner of men
who ceasing from toil and labour find rest and refreshment; but not really and
properly
for as not labour
and weariness
and fatigue
so neither rest nor
refreshment can be properly said of God; but this denotes his cessation from
the works of creation
though not of providence
and of the delight and
pleasure he takes in a view of them; this is observed
not as the foundation of
this law
and the reason of its being made
but as an illustration of it
and
as an argument
showing the reasonableness of it
and the similarity of it with
what God himself had done
and therefore the enjoining of it could not
reasonably be objected to. See Gill on Exodus 20:11.
Exodus 31:18 18 And
when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai
He gave Moses two
tablets of the Testimony
tablets of stone
written with the finger of God.
YLT 18And He giveth unto Moses
when He finisheth
speaking with him in mount Sinai
two tables of the testimony
tables of stone
written by the finger of God.
And he gave
unto Moses
when he had made an end of communing with him on Mount Sinai
.... After all
those laws
orders
and instructions before related
which having done
he
ceased to converse with him any longer in that manner he had
and at parting
gave him
two tables of
testimony; the two tables of the law
which is a testimony of the will of
God
and contained the duty of the Israelites both towards God and man
and are
reducible to these two
love to God
and love to our neighbour: five of the
commands of the decalogue were written on one table
and five on the other; or
it may be rather four on one table
the first being the largest
and containing
the duty owing to God
and six on the other
which regard the duty of men one
to another; so Orpheus the Heathen poet
speaking of the law of Moses
calls it
διπλακα θεσμονF19De
Deo
"prope finem". . "Tables of stone"; the Targum of
Jonathan will have them to be of the sapphire stone
from the throne of glory;
the paraphrast seems to have respect to Exodus 24:10 and
with as little appearance of truth
says their weight was forty seahs; it is
more probable they were of marble stone
of which there were great quantities
in Mount Sinai. Dr. Shaw saysF20Travels
p. 443. that part of Mount
Sinai
which lies to the westward of the plain of Rephidim
consists of a hard
reddish marble like "porphyry"
but is distinguished from it by the
representations of little trees and bushes
which are dispersed all over it.
The naturalists call this sort of marble "embuscatum"
or "bushy
marble"; some think Sinai had its name from thenceF21See
Buxtorf. in voce סנה. . This may denote the firmness
stability
and duration of the law
not as in the hands of Moses
from which
these tables were cast and broke
but as in the hands of Christ
and laid up in
him the ark of the covenant
the fulfilling end of the law for righteousness:
and it may also figure the hardness of man's heart
which is destitute of
spiritual life
obdurate and impenitent
stupid
senseless and ignorant
stubborn and inflexible
and not subject to the law of God
and on which no
impressions can be made but by the power and grace of God:
written with
the finger of God: by God himself
and not by an angel
or by any creature or
instrument: and it is by the finger of God
the Spirit
grace
and power of
God
that the laws of God are put into the inward part
and written on the
heart
to which the apostle refers
2 Corinthians 3:3.
This account is given by way of transition to what is recorded in the next
chapter.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New
King James Version (NKJV)
a.
Exodus 31:10 Or
woven garments