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And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
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“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
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and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill and understanding and knowledge in all kinds of workmanship,
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to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, in silver, and in bronze;
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to cut stones for setting, and to carve wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.
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And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of every skillful man I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
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the tent of meeting, the ark for the testimony, the mercy seat that is upon it, and all the furnishings of the tent,
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the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense,
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the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, the basin and its stand,
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the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for ministering as priests,
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the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”
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And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
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“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: Surely you shall keep My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
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You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
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Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death.
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Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
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It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”
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And when He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
🛠️🕊️⏳ Summary of Exodus 31 – Anointed Craftsmen & the Importance of the Sabbath
Exodus 31 contains two main sections:
- The appointment of craftsmen filled with the Holy Spirit to make the Tabernacle, and
- The reaffirmation of the Sabbath command as a sign of God’s holiness and covenant with Israel.
1. Bezalel and Oholiab Called (verses 1–11)
- The LORD chose Bezalel the son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, and filled him with the Spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, and skill in craftsmanship and design.
- The LORD also appointed Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan as his helper.
- They were to make all the furnishings for worship, including:
The Tabernacle,
The Ark of the Covenant,
The table, lampstand, altars, priestly garments, anointing oil, and holy incense.
- This shows that craftsmanship and creativity are gifts of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.
2. The Command to Keep the Sabbath (verses 12–17)
- The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between the LORD and Israel, throughout their generations.
- Anyone who profanes the Sabbath is to be put to death—showing the holiness of that day.
- The Sabbath is a reminder that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.
- Keeping the Sabbath means acknowledging the LORD as Creator and Redeemer.
3. The Stone Tablets from God (verse 18)
- The LORD gave Moses the two tablets of the law, written by the finger of God Himself on Mount Sinai.
- This is a confirmation that the law came directly from the LORD.
📖 Main Lessons
- Spiritual work is not only for pastors—craftsmen, artists, and skilled workers may also be filled with the Spirit to serve God.
- God chooses and equips each person according to his calling.
- The Sabbath is a holy time of rest, not merely a day off, but a moment of fellowship with God.
- Keeping the Sabbath is an act of obedience and an identity of God’s people.
- The word of God was written by Him Himself—it carries full authority.
✨ Spiritual Meaning
- Bezalel is an example that work done by hand can also be worship—whatever is done for God is not lowly.
- The Holy Spirit equips people for creative, technical, and spiritual service.
- The Sabbath is not a burden, but a gift from God for the refreshment of body and soul, and a reminder that life does not depend on work alone, but on the LORD.
- In Christ, we receive true rest (Hebrews 4:9–10)—the Sabbath in a deeper sense: rest from striving to save ourselves.
