Exodus 31

Exodus 31:2

CAlled by name: Bezaleel] The Israelites in Egypt were not bred and brought up in any ingenuous Arts, but in base drudgery, like slaves; they were therefore much unfit to take in hand so curious a piece of worke as the Tabernacle, and the appurtenances to it. But that defect is recompenced with great advantage, by Divine inspiration, whereby Bezaleel and Aholiab were indowed with wisdome, to devise and act with dexteritie to make most curious works.

of Hur] This Hur it is like was the same who is mentioned, Chap. 17. 14. & 24. 14. the sonne of Caleb, the sonne of Hezron, 1 Chronicles 2:18. There was another Caleb, the sonne of Jephunneh, who with Joshua, was one of the faithfull searchers and reporters of the Land of Canaan; and incouraged the people to attempt the Conquest of it; when the other Spies had discouraged them with report of terrible untruths, both concerning the Land it selfe, and the inhabitants, Numbers 14:6-7.

Exodus 31:3

Spirit of God] God speaks of himselfe, both in the first and third Person, and it is as if he had said, with my Spirit.

workmanship] Not only that knowledge which is Divine is from God, but that which is humane, even the skill of Husbandry also, Isaiah 28:26. And though Handy-crafts be acquired by naturall understanding, and voluntary industry, yet they may be infused by God, and improved by him to a miraculous proficiency, and therefore Gods blessing in such things is to be intreated before-hand, and thankfully acknowledged afterwards.

Exodus 31:6

• wise hearted] Such as had indowments in an inferiour degree to those of Bezaleel and Aholiab, (who were to these Master-workmen) to be their ministeriall Assistants. Chap. 35. 10. & Chap. 36. 1.

Exodus 31:7

furniture] Hebr. vessels.

Exodus 31:8

pure Candlesticks] Made of pure gold, beaten out of one peece, and curiously kept by the care of the Priests.

Exodus 31:10

and the cloaths] The sonnes of Cohath were to carry the holy Utensils, or furniture of the Tabernacle, when it was removed, but they might not touch them upon paine of death, untill Aaron and his sons had covered them with clothes made for that purpose, Numbers 4:12. 15.

Exodus 31:13

Verily my Sabbaths] Or, notwithstanding; as the Geneva hath it: or, nverthelesse, as others read. Though these works may appertaine to the solemnitie of my service, and I would not have them put off, yet I will not require such hast in them, as to suffer my Sabbaths to be violated for them.

for it is a signe] Because by the solemne observation of the Sabbath, as hallowed and sanctified by God for an holy and thankfull memoriall of the creation; they professed themselves Gods people in especiall manner, though the reason were generall, and concerned all men, as much as them, and God in calling them to an holy communion with him in the celebration of the Sabbath; (whereby as they glorifie him, so he sanctifieth them;) it will not follow, as some thence inferre, that the Sabbath is a mutable ceremony, because it is called a signe; for so is the Rain-bow, which yet shall last to the worlds end, as a signe or token of Gods Covenant, not to destroy the world as he did before; nor is it now abolished, because it was made with the Jewes in the Old Testament: for the reason reacheth also unto Christians, for he is the Lord that sanctifieth them, as well as the Jewes, and we are to remember his creation of the world and rest as much as they, which he urgeth, vers. 17. And if it be taken for a distinctive signe, so is the holy observation of the Sabbath unto Christians, whereby they are manifestly discerned from the prophane, who for the most part are carelesse of the Sabbath.

that doth sanctifie you] That is consecrate you unto my selfe, for my holy service and worship, and give you grace to hallow my Sabbaths, and to walke in holinesse of life, for example and imitation unto others.

Exodus 31:14

keepe the Sabbath] God repeateth this. God so presseth the observation of the Sabbath, in this Chapter and elsewhere (as Exodus 20:8. Deuteronomy 5:12. Isa. 58. 13, 14. Jer. 17. 21, 22. Ezekiel 20:12.) because the Sabbath is to the rest of the commandements, (as the border about Mount Sinai) to preserve them from violation; for whosoever maketh a conscience to keep the Sabbath, will make a conscience of the rest: and accordingly on the contrary, mens breaking out into manifold transgressions of the Law are called and complained of by the name of violation or profanation of the Sabbath, vers. 14. which sometimes was punished with death by the Magistrate, Numb. 15. or (if the Magistrate neglect his dutie) by Divine Justice.

Exodus 31:16

perpetuall Covenant] For the worke of creation must be kept in minde by an holy memoriall, even to the worlds dissolution, and in every age, God must have an holy tribute of time for his solemn service, and that in the proportion of one to sixe: and this is of great use, not only for Gods glory, but for mans salvation.

Exodus 31:17

• in sixe dayes.] * Gen. 31. and Chap. 2. 2.

rested] From creating any more kinds of creatures; but for individuall soules he createth them still, and in works of preservation his providence still worketh, John 5:17.

refreshed] Not that God was weary by his worke, though in a figurative sense he sometimes assumes a wearinesse unto himselfe, as Esa. 43. 24. but that we might be more apprehensive of his rest, for our imitation, the phrase is fitted to our condition as many others of like kinde, and in the next verse, God is said to have a finger, whereas indeed, he is a spirit, and hath neither humane parts nor passions. See Annot. on Genesis 6:6. & Annot. 2. on the 18. verse of this Chapter.

Exodus 31:18

Testimony] The Tables of the Law, whereby he declared his will to his people. See Annot. on Exodus 16:34.

tables of stone] * Deuteronomy 9:10. They were made in probabilitie like the cover of a Booke, to open and shut: and on the one side were engraven the foure Commandements, containing mans dutie to God (commonly called the first Table.) And in the other the sixe Commandements of mans dutie to his neighbour, called also commonly the second Table: the Tables were of stone, betokening the hardnesse of mans heart, whither from the Originall, they were to be transcribed, to make impression in such hard matter, as would require a pen of iron, Job 19:24. and withall to note the durablenesse of that Law, which was therein ingraven. And it is like also the first Tables were Gods owne worke, both for matter and forme: for the stony Tables were of his making, and the words in them of his own engraving. Chap. 32. vers. 16. Deuteronomy 4. vers. 13. & 9. 10. And when Moses in a pang of zealous indignation against the peoples Idolatry had thrown them down and broken them, Chap. 32. vers. 19. hee was commanded after that to make up the breach, by hewing two Tables of stone like unto the first; yet the Lord himselfe was the Scribe: he made the Writing as at the first, and graved on the Tables the same words, Exodus 34:1.

Deuteronomy 10:1. But it seemeth, Exodus 34:27. that Moses wrote, for there the Lord saith unto him: Write thou thse words: for after the tenour of these words, I have made a Covenant with thee, and with Israel.

And in the next vrse, the words are: And he was there with the LORD (fortie dayes, and fortie nights: he did neither eat bread, nor drinke water:) and he wrote upon the Tables the words of the Covenant, the ten Commandements. Answer. First, it is plaine (by sundry fore-cited places) that the Lord (and not Moses) wrote on the Tables, both those of the first and second making. Secondly, for this place (it being somewhat obscure) it is to be expounded by such as are cleare, even those fore-cited, and so taking that clause of Moses his fasting by way of parenthesis, the word [He] may be referred to the Lord, not to Moses. Thirdly, for Moses his writing, it is not to be limited to the ten Commandements, on the Tables of Stone; but to be extended to the whole Law, whereof he was to have a written Copy, for the better information both of the Priests and people, Deuteronomy 4:14. For those Tables of Stone, were laid up in the Arke, by Gods especiall appointment, Deuteronomy 10:2.

And the Arke was in the Holy of Holies; where neither the inferiour Priests, nor the people might come: therefore it was necessary there should be written Copies for more generall instruction, and that it was so, is plaine by the 17. of Deuteronomy, where the King is commanded to write him a Copie of the Law in a Booke out of that which is before the Priests, and Levites. Deuteronomy 17:18.

The Priests and Levites then had a Copy, and that Copy was according to the writing by God commanded to Moses, Exodus 34:27.

finger of God] That is, by the power, or Spirit of God, as appeareth by Matthew 12:28. Luke 11:20. compared: for (in a literall sense) God hath neither finger, nor hand, nor flesh, nor bloud, as we have: for he is a pure Spirit, without any parts or composition at all. But the Holy Ghost in such expressions ascribing unto God a finger and other parts; as also anger, and hate, and repentance, refreshing, and other humane affections, and passions, therein cometh downe to mans carnall capacity, for his better instruction; which otherwise would not be apprehensive enough of what he would have imparted to man which (for this particular) is that this writing was made without any humane ministery, and by an operation meerely divine.