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 placed wisdom within every skilled craftsman[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 Aaron the priest 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 Yahweh who sets you apart.(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) dedicated 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 perpetual 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. Exodus 31:6 LXX, Syr read Eliab
  2. Exodus 31:6 Lit every person skilled of heart
  3. Exodus 31:10 Hb obscure

Craftsmen for the Tent

31 The Lord told Moses, “Look, I’ve called[a] Uri’s son Bezalel, grandson of Hur from Judah’s tribe and I’ve filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of craftsmanship to create plans[b] for work in gold, silver, and bronze, and for cutting stones to set them, for carving wood, and for doing all kinds of craftsmanship. Along with him I’m appointing Ahisamach’s son Oholiab from the tribe of Dan, and I’ve given wisdom[c] to all who are skilled[d] so they can make everything that I’ve commanded you, including the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the Mercy Seat[e] that is on it, all the furnishings of the tent— the table and its furnishings, the lamp stand of pure gold,[f] all its furnishings, the altar of incense, the altar for burnt offerings, its furnishings, the basin, its base, 10 the woven garments, the holy garments of Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons as they serve as priests, 11 the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them in accordance with everything that I commanded you.”

12 The Lord told Moses, 13 “You are to tell the Israelis: ‘You are to certainly observe my Sabbaths because it’s a sign between me and you from generation to generation, so you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 You are to observe the Sabbath, because it’s holy for you. Whoever profanes it is certainly to die; indeed, whoever does work on it is to be cut off from among his people. 15 Work may be done for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does work on the Sabbath is certainly to die. 16 The Israelis are to keep the Sabbath to make the Sabbath observance a perpetual covenant from generation to generation. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the Israelis, because the Lord made the heavens and the earth in six days, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

18 When he finished speaking with Moses[g] on Mount Sinai, he gave him[h] the two Tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone written by the finger of God.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 31:2 Lit. called by name
  2. Exodus 31:4 Lit. to devise devices
  3. Exodus 31:6 Or ability
  4. Exodus 31:6 Lit. wise of heart
  5. Exodus 31:7 Or atonement cover
  6. Exodus 31:8 Lit. the pure lamp stand
  7. Exodus 31:18 Lit. him
  8. Exodus 31:18 Lit. to Moses