Hath filled him with the Spirit of God— What we call genius is, in common language, the gift of nature; that is, the gift of God, the Author of nature. Hence the heathens were wont to ascribe to their gods the extraordinary skill in arts which any man had without a teacher. (See the 22nd Dissertation of Maximus Tyrius.) And this was one reason why they called poets divine, or divinely inspired, ενθεοι. (See Petit Miscellan. Obser. lib. 1:) We have observed before, that any skilful artist was called by the ancients a wise man, σοφος : so Homer says of Margites, "the gods neither made him a ploughman, a ditcher, nor any other sort of wise man, ουτ αλλως τι σοφον ." See Exodus 35:10 and ch. Exodus 28:3 Exodus 31:3. At the same time we have no doubt, but, in the present instance, peculiar and eminent Divine assistance was afforded many of the artists, and particularly the leaders. The cunning workman [חשׁב chosheb] in the 35th verse, signifies an embroiderer who weaves; as רקם rokem, rendered embroiderer, signifies one who embroiders with a needle.
REFLECTIONS.—The workmen are now appointed according to the Divine choice, and qualified for their work; wise to contrive, diligent to execute, and able also to teach others. Note; 1. In the church of God, they who are distinguished in station should be more distinguished for abilities, zeal, and labour. 2. Whoever are truly called to the work of the ministry, God will give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding to know how rightly to divide the word of truth. 3. Whatever learning or abilities we are possessed of, if there be not a communication of them for the instruction of others, they become as useless as the candle under a bushel.