1.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 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.
2.
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
Exo 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 .
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,
Exo 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.
4.
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exo 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. Isa 28:26
5.
And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
Exo 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.
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;
Exo 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 " Mat 10:2 " See Trapp on " Mat 10:3 " See Trapp on " Luk 10:1 "
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 cloths 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.
12.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 31:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Ver. 12. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. ] See on Exodus 31:1 .
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.
Exo 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." Luk 23:56
For it is a sign. ] And with it an effectual means to convey holiness into the heart.
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.
Exo 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.
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.
Exo 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
a New England’s Firstfruits.
16.
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
Exo 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.
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.
Exo 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.
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.
Exo 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, Phm 1:19 "Behold, I have written it with mine own hand"; i.e., By mine own power and operation.