Exodus Chapter 31 — The Skilled Artisans and the Sabbath
God chooses Bezalel and Oholiab as lead craftsmen for the Tabernacle and emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath as a lasting sign of His covenant.
1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,
4to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,
5and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.
6Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
7the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
8the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
9the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
10the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office—
11the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
12The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
13“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly 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.
14You 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 therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15Six days shall work be done, but on 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.
16Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’ ”
18When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Exodus 31:3
“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,”
This verse highlights that God provides the specific talents and spiritual empowerment needed for sacred work.
Exodus 31:13
“Most certainly 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.”
It establishes the Sabbath as a distinct marker of the relationship and sanctification between God and His people.
Exodus 31:18
“When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.”
This concludes the long dialogue on the mountain with the physical delivery of the Law in the form of the Ten Commandments.
Chapter Summary
In Exodus Chapter 31, the Lord identifies Bezalel and Oholiab as the primary artisans responsible for constructing the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings. God specifies that He has filled these men with His Spirit, granting them the wisdom, skill, and knowledge necessary for intricate work in gold, silver, bronze, wood, and stone. Other skilled workers are also appointed to assist in making the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Covenant, the furniture, and the priestly garments. Following these instructions, God reinforces the commandment regarding the Sabbath, describing it as a perpetual sign and a covenant between Him and the children of Israel. He warns that the Sabbath must be kept holy as a day of solemn rest, mirroring His own rest after the six days of creation. The chapter concludes with God giving Moses the two tablets of the covenant—stone tablets written with the finger of God—atop Mount Sinai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bezalel and Oholiab were skilled artisans appointed by God to lead the construction of the Tabernacle. Bezalel was from the tribe of Judah, and Oholiab was from the tribe of Dan, and both were filled with divine wisdom for their work.
The text explains that God gave him divine wisdom, understanding, and knowledge specifically for craftsmanship. This enabled him to design and work with various materials like gold, silver, stone, and wood for the Tabernacle's sacred items.
God designates the Sabbath as a perpetual sign of the covenant between Him and Israel. It serves as a reminder that the Lord is the one who sanctifies His people and that He rested after the six days of creation.
They are the stone tablets of the covenant, commonly known as the Ten Commandments. The text states they were written with the finger of God and given to Moses as he finished his time with God on Mount Sinai.
Study Note
The phrase 'written with God's finger' is a vivid anthropomorphism used to emphasize the direct divine origin and authority of the stone tablets.
Related Chapters
Exodus 20
The Sabbath commandment was first formally introduced in the Ten Commandments in this earlier chapter.
Genesis 2
Exodus 31 references the seven-day creation cycle and divine rest established at the beginning of the Bible.
Exodus 35
This later chapter recounts the actual commencement of the Tabernacle work by Bezalel and Oholiab.
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