Exodus 35:30-35

BEZALEEL AND AHOLIAB SET OVER THE WORK.

(30-35) This passage is the sequel to Exodus 31:1, where Bezaleel and Aholiab were designated for their respective offices, and follows closely the order, and even the wording, of that passage. The verbal resemblance is even greater in the original than in the Authorised Version. The only additions made are in Exodus 35:34.

(34) He hath put in his heart that he may teach. — It was essential that the two master-craftsmen should be able to instruct their subordinates, to whom the actual accomplishment of the works which they designed had to be committed. God specially qualified them to act as instructors.

Both he and Aholiab. — Aholiab, though subordinate to Bezaleel, was the director of his own department, that of weaving and embroidery (Exodus 38:23), and had to instruct in it as Bezaleel had in his.

(35) Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart. — See Notes 1 and 2 on Exodus 28:3; and comp. Exodus 31:3.

Of the engraver. — Rather, of the artificer. The word used is a generic one, equally applicable to workers in stone, wood, and metal.

Of the cunning workman. — Rather, of the skilful weaver. (See the last Note on Exodus 26:1.) The “skilful weaver” (khoshêb) was the man who wove a patterned fabric. The ordinary “weaver” (’orêg) wove a plain one. The “embroiderer” (rokêm) adorned a fabric of either kind with the needle.