See, I have called by name Bezaleel, &c.— Bezaleel and Aholiab, Exodus 31:5 are particularly chosen (which is the meaning of the phrase calling by name, Isaiah 45:3.) as the principal artists, the chief directors and overseers of the work and the workmen who were under them. For an explanation of the phrase, I have filled him with the Spirit of God, &c. Exodus 31:3 see note on ch. Exodus 28:3. It is not to be questioned, that the arts were carried to a great height at this time in Egypt; in which, no doubt, many of the Israelites were proficients, as having so long continued there: engraving on stones, in particular, being one of the inventions of luxury, abundantly proves the antiquity of the polite arts in Egypt. However, there can be no doubt, from the words of Scripture, that these artificers were peculiarly instructed and assisted by God himself; that God, whose spirit giveth wisdom of every kind unto man. In carving of timber, Exodus 31:5 would be rendered more properly in cutting of timber, or in fabricating of timber (Lignisque fabre-factis, as Houbigant has it); for we read of no carved work in the tabernacle. An able writer observes, "That God would have something so appropriated to himself, especially in the more peculiar place of his worship, as that it was not lawful for any man to imitate the like for any other service or convenience,—appears by many instances; particularly the perfume of the incense, (a confection after the art of the apothecary,) some whereof was beaten very small, and put before the testimony in the tabernacle. The perfume was always smelt before the congregation; yet ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people. And, it is very probable, that, as God did inspire men who were before unskilful to be able to perform all those curious workmanships which he had prescribed to Moses, for his tabernacle, altars, &c. which had never been known before, (I have called Bezaleel, &c.) so he did extinguish all those sciences as soon as the work was finished for which he had designed them; for, after that was done, we find little of those curiosities in practice among that people, nor in any nations where we have many records of magnificent structures, until the building of the temple of Solomon; when they seem to have been recovered, probably by the same means."
Related Commentaries of Exodus 31:2
Exodus 31:2-6
2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel 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 devise 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 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;