Exodus 31:6-11

The Appointment of Bezalel's Assistants (Exodus 31:6).

a Yahweh has appointed with Bezalel, Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, and has put wisdom within the hearts in the hearts of all who are wise-hearted so that they might make all that Yahweh has commanded (Exodus 31:6).

b Namely, the Tent of Meeting and the Ark of the Testimony, and the Mercy-seat which is on it, and all the furniture of the tent, and the Table and its vessels, and the pure lampstand with all its vessels, and the altar of incense, and the altar of whole burnt offering with all its vessels, and the laver and its accompaniment (Exodus 31:7)

b And the finely wrought garments, and the holy garments for Aaron the Priest, and the garments of his sons to minister in the priests' office, and the anointing oil and the incense of sweet spices for the Holy Place (Exodus 31:10 a).

a They must do according to all that Yahweh has commanded them (Exodus 31:11 b).

Exodus 31:6 a

“And I, behold I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.”

Chief assistant to Bezalel was to be Oholiab, a Danite. See Exodus 38:23. He was a skilled engraver and embroiderer. His name is foreign and probably means ‘a father is my tent'. It probably signifies a ruler whose tent is a father to his clan. It was a very apt name in view of the task that lay ahead. But note that he is not strictly ‘called by name'. He is appointed.

Exodus 31:6 (6b-11)

“And in the hearts of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you, the Tent of Meeting, and the Ark of the Testimony, and the Mercy-seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the Tent, and the table and its vessels, and the pure lampstand with all its vessels, and the altar of incense, and the altar of whole burnt offering with all its vessels, and the laver and its base, and the finely wrought garments, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office, and the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the Holy Place. They shall do in accordance with all that I have commanded you.”

Under Bezalel and Oholiab are a body of skilled and highly trained men. It should be noted that had these men not done their apprenticeships and qualified in their particular careers they would not have been chosen for this sacred task. They are ‘wise-hearted', that is, skilled and trained. It behoves all God's people to seek to fit themselves for His service by proper training, and become wise hearted. But in this time of special need Yahweh will give them more wisdom, enablement for the supreme task that they have been given.

These chosen men will therefore produce all that has been described from 25:1 onwards. Note that the altar of incense and the laver are included in the list. Their placing as described earlier (coming later than the other furniture in the Dwellingplace) was to distinguish the furniture which indicated God's activity towards His people from that which indicated the response of the people towards God, but they are of ‘equal' importance in overall worship, and are here given their functional place. The order given here is in general followed in Exodus 36:1 to Exodus 38:23.