The Skilled Craftsmen

31 (A)Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the (B)son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have (C)filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of [a]craftsmanship, to create [b]artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in [c]bronze, and in the cutting of stones [d]for settings, and in the carving of wood, so that he may work in all kinds of [e]craftsmanship. And behold, I Myself have [f]appointed with him (D)Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are [g]skillful I have put [h]skill, so that they may make everything that I have commanded you: (E)the tent of meeting, (F)the ark of testimony, (G)the [i]atoning cover that is on it, and all the furniture of the tent, (H)the table and its [j]utensils, the (I)pure gold lampstand with all its [k]utensils, and (J)the altar of incense, (K)the altar of burnt offering with all its [l]utensils, and (L)the basin and its stand, 10 the [m](M)woven garments as well: the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, with which to [n]carry out their priesthood; 11 (N)the anointing oil also, and the (O)fragrant incense for the Holy Place, they are to make them according to everything that I have commanded you.”

The Sign of the Sabbath

12 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Now as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘(P)You must keep My Sabbaths; for this is (Q)a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 Therefore you are to keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. (R)Everyone who profanes it must be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 (S)For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a (T)Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; (U)whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 So the sons of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to [o]celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a permanent covenant.’ 17 (V)It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; (W)for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

18 When He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses (X)the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, (Y)written by the finger of God.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 31:3 Or workmanship
  2. Exodus 31:4 Lit devices
  3. Exodus 31:4 Or copper
  4. Exodus 31:5 Lit to fill in (for a setting)
  5. Exodus 31:5 Or workmanship
  6. Exodus 31:6 Lit given
  7. Exodus 31:6 Lit wise of heart
  8. Exodus 31:6 Lit wisdom
  9. Exodus 31:7 Also called mercy seat; i.e., where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement
  10. Exodus 31:8 Or vessels
  11. Exodus 31:8 Or vessels
  12. Exodus 31:9 Or vessels
  13. Exodus 31:10 Or service garments
  14. Exodus 31:10 Lit minister as priests
  15. Exodus 31:16 Lit perform

Bezalel and Oholiab(A)

31 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel(B) son of Uri, the son of Hur,(C) of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge(D) and with all kinds of skills(E) to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab(F) son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan,(G) to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers(H) to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting,(I) the ark of the covenant law(J) with the atonement cover(K) on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table(L) and its articles, the pure gold lampstand(M) and all its accessories, the altar of incense,(N) the altar of burnt offering(O) and all its utensils, the basin(P) with its stand— 10 and also the woven garments(Q), both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil(R) and fragrant incense(S) for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded(T) you.”

The Sabbath

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.(U) This will be a sign(V) between me and you for the generations to come,(W) so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.(X)

14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death;(Y) those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work(Z) is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest,(AA) holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath,(AB) celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign(AC) between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.(AD)’”(AE)

18 When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai,(AF) he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone(AG) inscribed by the finger of God.(AH)