Bible Commentaries

Exodus 36:2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, [even] every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

Ver. 2. And Moses called Bezaleel.] God qualified them, Moses called them. See Acts 13:1-3. Ministers also must have an outward calling too, [Hebrews 5:4] and be sent ere they preach. [Romans 10:15] And whereas in 1 Corinthians 14:31 it is said, "Ye may all prophecy," the meaning is, All ye that are prophets, may. "But are all prophets?." [1 Corinthians 12:29]

Exodus 36:7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

Ver. 7. And too much.] Thus in outward ordinances of service, and for the making of "a worldly sanctuary," [Hebrews 9:1] they could do and over do. So, John 6:28, "They said unto him, What shall we do that we may work the works of God?" Men would fain have heaven as a purchase. I would swim through a sea of brimstone, said one, that I might come to heaven at last. But what said our Saviour to those questionists in John 6:29? "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." And what said Luther? Walk in the heaven of the promise, but in the earth of the law; that in respect of believing, this of working. Many poor souls can think of nothing but working themselves to life. We must do all righteousness, but rest in none but Christ’s.

Exodus 36:8 And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains [of] fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: [with] cherubims of cunning work made he them.

Ver. 8. And every wise-hearted man.] Let no man look upon this and the following chapter as an idle repetition; nor say, as one said once, Did we not know that all Scripture was divinely inspired, we should be ready to say, Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus. But know that here is set forth a table, index, or inventory, of what Moses and the workmen did in obedience to God’s command, for every particular about the sanctuary. This inventory was taken by Ithamar, at the commandment of Moses, Et sic in archivum Ecclesiae relatum, and so laid up in the charter house of the Church for the use of posterity. See the notes on Exodus 36:1-38, and consider that saying of an ancient, Necessarium et utile est etiam quae scripta sunt scribere, ne leve existimetur quod non frequenter arguitur. ^(a)