Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
Then wrought Bezaleel ... Here is an illustrious example of zeal and activity in the work of the Lord. No unnecessary delay was allowed to take place; and from the moment the first pole was stuck in the ground, until the final completion of the sacred edifice, he and his associates laboured with all their energies both of mind and body engaged in the work. And what was the mainspring of their arduous and untiring diligence? They could be actuated by none of the ordinary motives that give impulse to human industry-by no desire for the acquisition of gain-no ambition for honour-no view of gratifying a mere love of power in directing the labours of a large body of men. They felt the stimulus-the strong irresistible impulse of higher and holier motives-obedience to the authority; zeal for the glory, and love to the service, of God.
The words, Then wrought, etc., have been variously rendered. Then-literally, and wrought Bezaleel. Some connect this with the preceding chapter, as a part of a general summary, and thus avoid the anachronism that appears in the arrangement of our version of Bezaleel and Aholiab engaging in the tabernacle work before they were called by Moses. The Arabic version reads, 'Let Bezaleel, and Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man, work, etc.