Exodus 31:3-5 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, I have filled him with the spirit of God. It is probable that he was naturally endowed with a mechanical genius, and had acquired in Egypt great knowledge and skill in the useful as well as liberal arts, so as to be a first-class artisan, competent to take charge of both the plain and ornamental work which the building of the sacred edifice required. When God has any special work to be accomplished, He always raises up instruments capable of doing it; and it is likely that He had given to the son of Uri that strong natural aptitude, and those opportunities of gaining mechanical skill with an ultimate view to this responsible office. Notwithstanding his grand duty was to conform with scrupulous fidelity to the pattern furnished, there was still plenty of room for inventive talent and tasteful exactness in the execution; and his natural and acquired gifts were enlarged and invigorated for the important work. His tribe-the tribe of Judah-was renowned in Israel for the many mechanics and artificers of note it had produced (1 Chronicles 4:14; 1 Chronicles 4:23).