INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 31
In this chapter an account is given of the persons whom God had
chosen, and qualified for the work of building the tabernacle, and all
things relating to it, and for the direction and oversight thereof,
Exodus 31:1 and an enumeration is made of the several things that wer... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES,.... After the Lord had given Moses
instructions about building a tabernacle, the model of which he had
shown him, and what should be the furniture of it, who should minister
in it, and what clothes they should wear, he acquaints him that he had
provided artificers for... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE, I HAVE CALLED BY NAME BEZALEEL,.... Had pitched upon, chosen, and
distinguished him particularly from all other men to be the architect
or chief master builder of the tabernacle, and to be the director and
overseer of the whole work relating to it: the Targums of Jonathan and
Jerusalem paraphra... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD,.... Not with the special
graces of the Spirit, or with spiritual gifts fitting for spiritual
service in the knowledge of spiritual things, and the instruction of
men in them, though, no doubt, he might have them; but with the gifts
of ingenuity and skill... [ Continue Reading ]
TO DEVISE CUNNING WORKS,.... To invent, contrive, and draw patterns,
for the weavers particularly, for the making of the curtains of the
tabernacle, the vail of the most holy place, the ephod, and the
curious girdle of it, which were made of cunning work, curiously
wrought by the weaver; and so Jarc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN CUTTING OF STONES TO SET THEM,.... Not of marble stones, or of
any common stones used in building, and the cutting and hewing of them
to be laid therein, for of those there was no use in the tabernacle;
but of precious stones, and the cutting of them, and setting of them
in their ouches or en... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I, BEHOLD, I HAVE GIVEN WITH HIM AHOLIAB, THE SON OF AHISAMACH, OF
THE TRIBE OF DAN,.... To be a partner with him, and to assist in the
direction and oversight of the work of the tabernacle; which was done
that there might appear to be a sufficiency in the direction, and that
too much honour mig... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION,.... That is, they had wisdom given
to make that according to the pattern showed to Moses, and under the
direction of the two above persons, to whom Moses communicated it; and
from henceforward, in this and some following verses, mention is made
of the various thin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE TABLE AND HIS FURNITURE,.... The shewbread table, with its
dishes, spoons, and bowls, Exodus 25:23
AND THE PURE CANDLESTICK WITH ALL HIS FURNITURE; called "pure",
because made of pure gold, and was to be kept pure and clean by the
priests, and in which pure oil olive was burnt, and gave a c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING WITH ALL HIS FURNITURE,.... Which was
made of shittim wood covered with brass; its furniture were its pans,
shovels, basins, c. Exodus 27:1
AND THE LAVER AND HIS FOOT for the priests to wash their hands and
feet at, Exodus 30:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CLOTHES OF SERVICE,.... Either those the priests ministered in
in the time of service, and which they never wore but when in it, and
so might with propriety be so called, and what they were the following
words explain; or else these were clothes of blue, purple, and
scarlet, and coverings of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANOINTING OIL, AND SWEET INCENSE FOR THE HOLY PLACE,.... Of
the composition of both which, see Exodus 30:23
ACCORDING TO ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED THEE SHALL THEY DO: not only
make all the said things, but make them exactly according to the form
and pattern given to Moses, communicated to B... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES,.... After he had described to him the
place of worship, and appointed the priests that should minister in
it, and ordered the making of all things appertaining to it, and the
workmen that should be concerned therein, he repeats the law of the
sabbath, and puts in mind... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK THOU ALSO UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... Notwithstanding all
that has been said and ordered concerning making the tabernacle and
all things belonging to it; yet this was not to be understood to the
violation of the sabbath, or the neglect of that, in which no work was
to be done, no, not any... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL KEEP THE SABBATH THEREFORE,.... Strictly observe it,
according to the rules given concerning it:
FOR IT IS HOLY UNTO YOU; a day that was set apart of God for holy
exercises, peculiarly on their account:
EVERYONE THAT DEFILETH IT; by doing any servile work upon it, or not
observing it in a... [ Continue Reading ]
SIX DAYS MAY WORK BE DONE;.... Allowed to be done by an Israelite, if
he would; for this is not a command to work, but a permission or grant
to do it; and therefore, seeing they had so many days granted them for
their use, it could not be thought hard and unreasonable that God
should claim one day i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL KEEP THE SABBATH,.... On whom
the sabbath of the seventh day was only enjoined, as well as that of
the seventh and of the fiftieth years, being all ceremonial and
shadowy:
TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH THROUGHOUT THEIR GENERATIONS; so long as the
Mosaic dispensation... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS A SIGN BETWEEN ME AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FOR EVER,.... In
like sense as the land of Canaan was given them for an everlasting
possession; and the covenant of circumcision, and the ordinance of the
passover, and the fast on the day of atonement, were for ever; that
is, unto the end of the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE GAVE UNTO MOSES, WHEN HE HAD MADE AN END OF COMMUNING WITH HIM
ON MOUNT SINAI,.... After all those laws, orders, and instructions
before related, which having done, he ceased to converse with him any
longer in that manner he had, and at parting gave him
TWO TABLES OF TESTIMONY; the two table... [ Continue Reading ]