God’s Provision of the Skilled Workers

31 The Lord also spoke to Moses: “Look, I have appointed by name Bezalel(A) son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft(B) to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every craft. I have also selected Oholiab[a] son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be with him. I have put wisdom in the heart of every skilled artisan[b] in order to make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat that is on top of it, and all the other furnishings of the tent(C) the table with its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, the basin with its stand— 10 the specially woven[c] garments, both the holy garments for the priest Aaron and the garments for his sons to serve as priests, 11 the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary. They must make them according to all that I have commanded you.”(D)

Observing the Sabbath

12 The Lord said to Moses, 13 “Tell the Israelites: You must observe my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am the Lord who consecrates you.(E) 14 Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people.(F) 15 Work may be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest,(G) holy to the Lord. Anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a permanent covenant. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”

The Two Stone Tablets

18 When he finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God.(H)

Footnotes

  1. 31:6 LXX, Syr read Eliab
  2. 31:6 Lit everyone wise of heart
  3. 31:10 Hb obscure

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