Exodus 31

Exodus 31:1-11

God here concludes what he had to say to Moses. 1. He appoints what workmen should be employed in the building and furnishing of the tabernacle, vers. 1—11. 2. He repeats the law of the Sabbath, and the religious ably. outlier of it, vers. 12—17. 3. He delivers him the two tables of the testimony at parting, vers. 18.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. ‘See, I have called by name Bezaelet the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 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. 4. To devote cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass. 5. And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. 6. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiah the son of Ahifamach, 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: 7. The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy-seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle. 8. And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense. 9. And the altar of burnt-offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot. 10. And the clothes of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office. 11. And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place according to all that I have commanded thee, shall they do.

The work was described in the former chapter, the workmen now are divinely appointed also. They had not in their long servitude, we may be sure, been ever engaged in such curious acts, as were required for the furniture of the tabernacle; but God, who appoints the persons, qualifies them for the work. The chief persons are Bezaelet and Aholiah, and they are furnished with abilities for the service, and with assistants under them to execute their commands. Learn, (1.) When God hath work to do, he will find instruments, and let them for their employment. (2.) All skill and excellence in every business in the gift of God, and should be acknowledged to his glory. (3.) When we admire the instruments God makes use of, we must beware of affording too much to the man, and too little to his maker. (4.) They who are employed in the service of the tabernacle, under a divine call, may wish comfort and confidence enter upon it. He who calls them to the work, will support and own them in it.

12. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses saying, 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. 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 doth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from amongst his people. 15. Six days may work be done, but in the seventh of the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doth any work in the Sabbath-days he shall surely be put to death. 16. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Exodus 31:12-17

Before Child

1. 12—17. The Sabbath is again strictly enjoined. It was the distinguishing badge of their separation from the rest of the world. As long as they religiously observed it, it was a sign of God’s favour to them, and a constant evidence of their obedience to him. Next to the repeated warnings against idolatry, we find no injunctions so frequent as those which regard the Sabbath. These indeed have the most immediate connection with each other, nothing being so effectual to preform them from turning to false gods, as the strict and religious observance of that day, which was devoted to the worship of the true God. And as it was the means of sanctifying them, it hath still the same gracious tendency to us; nor doth any thing conduce more to the sanctification of our hearts and lives, than the careful observance of this holy day; whilst, on the contrary, the neglect of it is the most evident proof of a mind attempted from God, and the inlet to every abomination which naturally flows from forgetfulness of him. The breach of the Sabbath was, among the Jews, punished with death: our laws too make it penal, and many who have been brought to an ignominious death, have controlled this to be the beginning of their rains. But though men elude human penalties, and with impunity continue in pleasure, business, idleness, gaming, the service of their faith, and indulgence of their appetites, to profane these sacred hours, the time approaches, when a judge shall sit upon the throne, with whom there is no respect of persons; when every Sabbath-breaker will find, to his unutterable sorrow, that the wages of his sin is everlasting death.

2. ¶ And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, a two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18

Moses is now dismissed, and the tables of the covenant given him to lay up in the ark, for a perpetual remembrance. The stones on which the commandments were written, fully represent the hardness of men’s hearts; and the finger of God, that Almighty Grace, which can, even on such hearts as ours, infernise his holy law. The stones indeed, however durable, were quickly broken; but if the fleshly tables of our hearts bear the divine impression, the writing shall never be obliterated: it is an everlasting covenant, which God, who makes with us, will keep us from breaking.