Exodus 31:1 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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Exodus 31:3. I have filled him with the Spirit of God. How just to ascribe the glory to God for the powers of genius, seeing he has assuredly disposed the minds of men to the arts and sciences, as much as he allures and draws the soul to piety. It often wounds our feelings to hear the egotisms of our mechanics, who being practical men, despise scientific men, who are notwithstanding the ultimate guides of ingenious artists.

Exodus 31:8. The pure candlestick; because always kept bright and clean, or because made of pure gold.

Exodus 31:13. My sabbaths ye shall keep. This precept seems to be here repeated, to limit the time for doing the forementioned works. Though the work of the tabernacle and its utensils be holy, and for a holy use, yet I will not have it done upon my holy day. Ezekiel 20:12. I the Lord doth sanctify you. I have selected you out of all people, and consecrated you to myself, to my service and worship, a great part whereof is the due observance of the sabbath.

Exodus 31:17. Was refreshed. Which denotes the pleasure or delight God took in reflecting upon his works, beholding that every thing he had made was very good. Genesis 1:31.

Exodus 31:18. Written with the finger of God. By God's own powerful operation, and not by the art of man; or as the Jews say, by the express command and direction of God, by the ministration of an angel. This was not the first writing; the order and power of the alphabet among the Persians, the Goths, and the Hebrews, having one origin, undoubtedly from Noah, proves the contrary.

REFLECTIONS.

There are four reflections to be made on this chapter. First, That God did not leave it to the people to make choice of persons to work in the tabernacle, but named those who were to have the principal direction of this work; that it might appear that every thing relating to the divine service was done by his order and authority. Secondly, We find by this and the following Chapter s, that though the children of Israel had been in a state of oppression in Egypt, there were nevertheless among them some persons of both sexes who had ingenuity and capacity for all kinds of workmanship.

Thirdly, God on this occasion repeated the law concerning the observance of the sabbath, lest those who were to work in the tabernacle might imagine themselves at liberty not to rest on that day. The frequent repetition of this law, and the punishment of death denounced against its transgressors, sufficiently show its great importance. The constant observance of this day of rest served also to remind the Jews that they were the worshippers of the true God, and were by this means to be kept from falling into idolatry.

Lastly, After God had pronounced the law from Mount Sinai, he was pleased to engrave it upon two tables of stone, that it might be preserved to future ages without alteration. It has always been the will of God that men should adhere to his word, and to the revelation he has made of his will, without adding to or diminishing from it, or making the least alteration: and that they should make it the unalterable rule of their faith and practice.

Related Commentaries of Exodus 31:1

Exodus 31:1-18

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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;

7 The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniturea of the tabernacle,

8 And the table and his furniture,b and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,

9 And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture,c 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,

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 doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holyd to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, 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 in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

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.