Exodus · chapter 31 of 40
Updated on
Exodus 31 tells how God calls Bezalel of the tribe of Judah and Oholiab of Dan by name and fills them with his Spirit and skill to build the tabernacle. It then repeats the sabbath command as a lasting sign of the covenant, and when he finishes speaking with Moses on Sinai he gives him the two tablets of the testimony written by the finger of God.
Exodus 25 to 30 hold the plans of the tabernacle, and now God names those who will carry them out. Exodus 31 closes the instructions with a reminder: even the holiest work must stop on the day of rest. The chapter ends just before one of Israel's darkest moments, the golden calf of chapter 32.
The Lord tells Moses that he has called by name Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and every kind of skill to design works in gold, silver and bronze, to cut stones and carve wood. With him will be Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, and God has put wisdom in all the craftsmen to make everything he has commanded: the tent of meeting, the ark, the mercy seat, the furniture, the altar, the basin, the garments, the oil and the incense.
Then God tells Moses to say to the Israelites that they must keep his sabbaths, because they are a sign between him and them throughout the generations, so that they may know he is the one who sanctifies them. Whoever profanes it will be cut off from his people. Six days work is done, but the seventh is a day of solemn rest. The Israelites will keep it as a lasting covenant, for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth and on the seventh he rested and was refreshed.
The chapter ends with a short sentence: when God finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone written by the finger of God.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
God calls Bezalel by name and fills him with his Spirit, with wisdom and skill. Art and manual work are also gifts of the Spirit and are put at the service of worship.
The sabbath is a sign between God and the Israelites from generation to generation, so that they know he is the one who sanctifies them. Keeping it was a confession that God owns time and sets his people apart.
The sabbath is a lasting sign because the Lord made heaven and earth in six days and rested on the seventh. The people's rest imitates their Creator's and reminds them that life is not sustained by work alone.
God gives Moses the two tablets of the testimony, written by his own finger. The law that upholds the covenant is not a human invention but the word of God put in writing.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: The tribe of Judah; he was the son of Uri, son of Hur. — Exodus 31:2
Answer: With the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill. — Exodus 31:3
Answer: Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. — Exodus 31:6
Answer: A sign for all generations that the Lord is the one who sanctifies them. — Exodus 31:13
Answer: He was to be cut off from his people. — Exodus 31:14
Answer: The two tablets of the testimony, of stone, written with the finger of God. — Exodus 31:18
Exodus 31 teaches that the Spirit of God shows himself not only in the spectacular but in skill for carving, weaving and building. Those who serve in music, sound, kitchen, cleaning, art or church administration can know that their work is the Spirit's work and is offered to God.
The sabbath, in turn, reminds us that we are creatures who need rest. Christians understand the day of rest in different ways, but all can learn to stop working, trust God's provision and receive rest as a gift. In a small group you can talk about which habits help us truly rest and set aside time for God and family.
Exodus 31 ends with Moses receiving the stone tablets while below the people wait. Chapter 32 will show how quickly the promise made at Sinai is broken, when Israel makes a golden calf.
It is one of the first times the Bible says someone was filled with the Spirit of God, and it refers to the artistic and technical ability to build the tabernacle. It shows that the Spirit equips for concrete tasks in the service of God and his people.
It is a way of speaking of God in human images. It expresses that the work of creation was complete and good, and that the people's rest shares in that rest. It does not mean God grew tired.
Christians hold different views: some keep the seventh day, others the first day as the Lord's day and a day of rest, and others see it fulfilled in Christ as spiritual rest. All can learn from the text that rest and worship are a gift from God.