American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Exodus 31
1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
Reference
People
3
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
Reference
4
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
5
And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
6
And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you;
Reference
People
7
The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,
8
And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,
9
And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,
10
And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,
11
And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you shall they do.
Reference
Holy
Exodus 37:29
12
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
13
Speak you also to the children of Israel, saying, Truly my sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 17:17
Ezekiel 44:24
Nehemiah 9:14
References Lord
Ezekiel 20:12
Ezekiel 20:20
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Leviticus 19:30
Exodus 31:17
Leviticus 20:8
Leviticus 19:3
14
You shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whoever does any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
Reference
Holy
Exodus 16:23
Leviticus 23:3
Exodus 35:2
Parallel theme
Genesis 2:2
Exodus 34:21
Luke 13:14
Luke 23:56
References Lord
Exodus 31:17
16
Why the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
Reference
Covenant
Jeremiah 50:5
17
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Reference
18
And he gave to Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him on mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 4:13
Deuteronomy 5:22
References God
Exodus 8:19
2 Corinthians 3:3
Luke 11:20
References Moses
Exodus 24:12
Summary of Exodus 31
Exodus chapter 31 continues the instructions of God to Moses regarding the tabernacle and the people that would build and maintain it. It introduces Bezalel and Aholiab, explains their abilities for the work, repeats the commandment to keep the Sabbath, and ends with Moses receiving the two tables of the testimony.
God tells Moses that He has chosen Bezalel the son of Uri and grandson of Hur from the tribe of Judah. God has filled him with wisdom and understanding in all areas of craftsmanship. He is to make all the items needed for the tabernacle. God instructs Moses to have him make items of gold, silver, and brass, and precious stones. In addition to wood and other materials, Bezalel is to make items for the construction of the tabernacle and what will be placed in it. God has given him understanding and skill to do the work according to the patterns that Moses receives from Him.
God instructs Moses to bring before him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be a helper to Bezalel. He too is given skill for the work, and the craftsmen are to be assigned tasks of making all the items God has instructed Moses to make. God has given skill to all of the craftsmen who are wise-hearted to do the work of making all the things He has commanded Moses to say.
They are to make the tabernacle, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat, and all the furnishings of the tabernacle. In addition, the table and its vessels, the pure candlestick and its vessels, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and its vessels, the laver and its base, the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons, the anointing oil, and the incense.
God reminds Moses that He has commanded the children of Israel to keep the Sabbath as a sign between Him and them, and that it shall be a perpetual covenant. The Sabbath was commanded to be kept as a holy day. For six days, the people may work, but on the seventh day, they shall rest; it is a day of holiness to the Lord. Those who desecrate the Sabbath shall be put to death and cut off from among the people.
God commands Moses to tell the children of Israel that they shall work for six days but on the seventh day, they shall rest and keep it as a day of holiness to the Lord. Even if the Sabbath falls during the construction of the tabernacle and there is much work to be done, they are still commanded to stop working on the seventh day and not do any work.
They are commanded to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant that distinguishes between the Lord and them. God has made heaven and earth in six days and rested on the seventh day. After speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, the Lord gives him the two tables of the testimony. They are tables of stone written with the finger of God, and contain the testimony that He has given to Israel.
Exodus chapter 31 continues the instructions of God to Moses regarding the tabernacle and the people that would build and maintain it. It introduces Bezalel and Aholiab, explains their abilities for the work, repeats the commandment to keep the Sabbath, and ends with Moses receiving the two tables of the testimony. Exodus chapter 31 transitions from a description of the tabernacle to the people who would carry it out. Bezalel and Aholiab are appointed to lead the skilled work, and other craftsmen are to help them. It also shows that the construction of the tabernacle does not override the commandment to observe the Sabbath.
The chapter ends with Moses receiving the two stone tablets from the Lord on Mount Sinai. They represent the covenant instructions that the Israelites are to follow. The next chapter relates what happens while Moses is on the mountain and how the Israelites turn to idolatry while he is gone.
God tells Moses that He has chosen Bezalel the son of Uri and grandson of Hur from the tribe of Judah. God has filled him with wisdom and understanding in all areas of craftsmanship. He is to make all the items needed for the tabernacle. God instructs Moses to have him make items of gold, silver, and brass, and precious stones. In addition to wood and other materials, Bezalel is to make items for the construction of the tabernacle and what will be placed in it. God has given him understanding and skill to do the work according to the patterns that Moses receives from Him.
God instructs Moses to bring before him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be a helper to Bezalel. He too is given skill for the work, and the craftsmen are to be assigned tasks of making all the items God has instructed Moses to make. God has given skill to all of the craftsmen who are wise-hearted to do the work of making all the things He has commanded Moses to say.
They are to make the tabernacle, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat, and all the furnishings of the tabernacle. In addition, the table and its vessels, the pure candlestick and its vessels, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and its vessels, the laver and its base, the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons, the anointing oil, and the incense.
God reminds Moses that He has commanded the children of Israel to keep the Sabbath as a sign between Him and them, and that it shall be a perpetual covenant. The Sabbath was commanded to be kept as a holy day. For six days, the people may work, but on the seventh day, they shall rest; it is a day of holiness to the Lord. Those who desecrate the Sabbath shall be put to death and cut off from among the people.
God commands Moses to tell the children of Israel that they shall work for six days but on the seventh day, they shall rest and keep it as a day of holiness to the Lord. Even if the Sabbath falls during the construction of the tabernacle and there is much work to be done, they are still commanded to stop working on the seventh day and not do any work.
They are commanded to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant that distinguishes between the Lord and them. God has made heaven and earth in six days and rested on the seventh day. After speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, the Lord gives him the two tables of the testimony. They are tables of stone written with the finger of God, and contain the testimony that He has given to Israel.
Exodus chapter 31 continues the instructions of God to Moses regarding the tabernacle and the people that would build and maintain it. It introduces Bezalel and Aholiab, explains their abilities for the work, repeats the commandment to keep the Sabbath, and ends with Moses receiving the two tables of the testimony. Exodus chapter 31 transitions from a description of the tabernacle to the people who would carry it out. Bezalel and Aholiab are appointed to lead the skilled work, and other craftsmen are to help them. It also shows that the construction of the tabernacle does not override the commandment to observe the Sabbath.
The chapter ends with Moses receiving the two stone tablets from the Lord on Mount Sinai. They represent the covenant instructions that the Israelites are to follow. The next chapter relates what happens while Moses is on the mountain and how the Israelites turn to idolatry while he is gone.