Exodus 31, Skilled Craftsmen

YHWH continues giving Moses instruction on building the temple.

Exodus 31: 1-11, Spirit-skilled craftsmen

Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.

    

"Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent-- the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand-- and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests,  and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. 

    

"They are to make them just as I commanded you."

 

The "Spirit of God" will make these craftsmen into magnificent artists.  The beauty, the artistry of the tabernacle is important.  (If a Christian wanted to emphasize the value of art within human nature, this might be a good place to start.)

This is the sixth occurrence of "YHWH said to Moses."  The seventh set of instructions will be about the seventh day....

Exodus 31: 12-17, Sabbath

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, `You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. 

    

"`Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.

    

"The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'"

The Sabbath Rest (the fourth of the Ten Commandments) is once again emphasized. Even with all the work to be done on the tabernacle, the workers are still to rest on the Sabbath.

Exodus 31: 18, Tablets

When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

This verse prepares us for the next chapter.  Moses is still on Mount Sinai while the people wait below.  It is not clear here what is on the tablets but tradition has that it is the Ten Commandments.

Commentators point out that, unlike the Hollywood images, the two tablets were likely two copies of the Ten Commandments.  This was traditional in the Ancient Near East -- one copy went to one party of a treaty and another copy to the other party.  In this case, both copies will be kept in the tabernacle.