Bible Commentaries

Exodus 31:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Ver. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses.] At "sundry times," during those forty days, and not all at once, were these directions delivered to Moses.

Exodus 31:2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

Ver. 2. The son of Hur.] Of that Hur mentioned in Exodus 17:12; Exodus 24:14.

Exodus 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

Ver. 3. And I have filled him.] God gifts whomsoever he calls to any employment.

Exodus 31:4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

Ver. 4. To devise cunning works.] All skill in lawful callings, whether manual or mental, is of God. [Isaiah 28:26]

Exodus 31:5 And in cutting of stones, to set [them], and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

Ver. 5. And in cutting of stones.] Moses might well doubt where he should find fit workmen among those brick makers for Egypt.

Exodus 31:6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

Ver. 6. I have given with him.] Two is better than one; four eyes see more than two: God usually therefore coupleth his agents. {See Trapp on "Matthew 10:2"} {See Trapp on "Matthew 10:3"} {See Trapp on "Luke 10:1"}

Exodus 31:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Ver. 12. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying.] See on Exodus 31:1.

Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it [is] a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that [ye] may know that I [am] the LORD that doth sanctify you.

Ver. 13. Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep,] q.d., Though this sanctuary work is to be done, yet it shall be no Sabbath day’s work. The good women in the Gospel forbare on the Sabbath to anoint the dead body of our Saviour, "resting according to the commandment." [Luke 23:56]

For it is a sign.] And with it an effectual means to convey holiness into the heart.

Exodus 31:14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it [is] holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth [any] work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Ver. 14:. For it is holy unto you.] Hence the Hebrews gather, but falsely, that only Israel was charged with the Sabbath day, and not the nations of the world: but the Sabbath was kept before Israel was born.

Exodus 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh [is] the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth [any] work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Ver. 15. Whosoever doeth any work.] A certain Indian that had been taught by the English, coming by, and seeing one of the English profaning the Lord’s day by felling of a tree, said to him, Do you not know that this is the Lord’s day in Massachusetts (one of the English plantations), much machete man that is, very wicked man; - why break you God’s day? ^(a)

Exodus 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual covenant.

Ver. 16. For a perpetual covenant.] So the Sabbath is called by way of eminency; as if nothing of God’s covenant were kept, if this were not Philo Judaeus saith, The fourth commandment is a famous precept, and profitable to excite all kind of virtue and piety.

Exodus 31:17 It [is] a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Ver. 17. He rested, and was refreshed.] This is spoken to our apprehensions, and for our imitation.

Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Ver. 18. Written with the finger of God.] Of the Decalogue, above all other Holy Writ, God seems to say, as Paul, [Philemon 1:19] "Behold, I have written it with mine own hand"; i.e., By mine own power and operation.