30 (A)Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all [a]craftsmanship; 32 to create [b]designs for working in gold, in silver, and in [c]bronze, 33 and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. 34 He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and (B)Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 (C)He has filled them with [d]skill to perform every work of an engraver, of a designer, and of an embroiderer, in violet, purple, and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs.

The Tabernacle Underwritten

36 “Now Bezalel, Oholiab, and every [e]skillful person in whom the Lord has put [f]skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work [g]in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with everything that the Lord has commanded.”

Then Moses called Bezalel, Oholiab, and every [h]skillful person in [i]whom the Lord had put [j]skill, (D)everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it. They received from Moses every [k]contribution which the sons of Israel had brought to perform [l]the work [m]in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him [n]voluntary offerings every morning. And all the [o]skillful people who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from [p]the work which they were performing, and they said to [q]Moses, “(E)The people are bringing much more than enough for the [r]construction work which the Lord commanded us to [s]perform.” So Moses issued a command, and circulated a [t]proclamation throughout the camp, saying, “No man or woman is to perform work any longer for the [u]contributions of the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing any more. (F)For the [v]material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 35:31 Or work
  2. Exodus 35:32 Lit devices
  3. Exodus 35:32 Or copper
  4. Exodus 35:35 Lit wisdom of heart
  5. Exodus 36:1 Lit man wise of heart
  6. Exodus 36:1 Lit wisdom
  7. Exodus 36:1 Or connected with the service of; lit of the service of
  8. Exodus 36:2 Lit man wise of heart
  9. Exodus 36:2 Lit whose heart
  10. Exodus 36:2 Lit wisdom
  11. Exodus 36:3 Or uplifted offering
  12. Exodus 36:3 Lit it for the work
  13. Exodus 36:3 Lit of the service of
  14. Exodus 36:3 Or freewill offering
  15. Exodus 36:4 Lit wise
  16. Exodus 36:4 Lit his
  17. Exodus 36:5 Lit Moses, saying,
  18. Exodus 36:5 Lit service for the work
  19. Exodus 36:5 Lit perform it
  20. Exodus 36:6 Lit voice
  21. Exodus 36:6 Or uplifted offering
  22. Exodus 36:7 Lit work

Moses introduces Bezalel and Oholiab

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites: “Look, the Lord has chosen Bezalel, Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson from the tribe of Judah. 31 The Lord has filled him with the divine spirit that will give him skill, ability, and knowledge for every kind of work. 32 He will be able to create designs, do metalwork in gold, silver, and copper, 33 cut stones for setting, carve wood, do every kind of creative work, 34 and have the ability to teach others. Both he and Oholiab, Ahisamach’s son from the tribe of Dan, 35 have been given the skill to do every kind of work done by a gem cutter or a designer or a needleworker in blue, purple, and deep red yarns and in fine linen or a weaver or anyone else doing work or creating designs.

36 “Let Bezalel, Oholiab, and every other skilled worker whom the Lord has given skill, ability, and knowledge for the work of building the sanctuary do all that the Lord has commanded.”

Moses then called together Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the Lord had given skill and who was eager to come and do the work. Moses gave them all the gift offerings that the Israelites had contributed to the work on the sanctuary. They kept bringing him spontaneous gifts, morning after morning.

Finally, all the skilled workers building the sanctuary left their work that they were doing one by one to come and say to Moses, “The people are contributing way too much material for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.”

So Moses issued a command that was proclaimed throughout the camp: “Every man and woman should stop making gift offerings for the sanctuary project.” So the people stopped bringing anything more because what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work.