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Christianity

Exodus 31Bezalel and the Sabbath Sign

Summary

Exodus 31 names the craftsmen for the Tabernacle. God fills Bezalel of the tribe of Judah with the spirit of God, wisdom and skill in gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, and appoints Aholiab of Dan to assist him. Then God reaffirms the Sabbath as a perpetual sign between himself and Israel, recalling that he made heaven and earth in six days and rested on the seventh. God gives Moses two tablets of stone written with the finger of God.

Key verse

“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.”

Exodus 31:16

Themes

  • Gifted Craft
  • Spirit and Skill
  • Sabbath Covenant
  • Rest

Text

1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2

See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

4

To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5

And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

6

And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

7

The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,

8

And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,

9

And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,

10

And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office,

11

And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

12

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

13

Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

14

Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

15

Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

16

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

17

It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

18

And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

  • Judaism

    Exodus 31 (JPS 1917): Veshamru

    Exodus 31:16 to 17 forms the prayer Veshamru, recited in Jewish Sabbath services and in the Sabbath day kiddush. Rabbinic tradition also connected this chapter with the categories of work forbidden on the Sabbath.

  • Islam

    Surah An-Nahl (16): The Sabbath Appointed

    Quran 16:124 says the Sabbath was appointed for those who differed concerning it, acknowledging it as a law given to Israel while not making it binding on Muslims, whose weekly congregational day is Friday.

  • Christianity

    1 Kings 7: Hiram the Craftsman

    1 Kings 7:13 to 14 describes Hiram, filled with wisdom, understanding and skill to work in brass, who made the bronze work for Solomon's Temple, a counterpart to Bezalel in the Tabernacle.

Questions about Exodus 31

Who was Bezalel in the Bible?

Bezalel, son of Uri of the tribe of Judah, was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle. Exodus 31:3 says God filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom, understanding and knowledge for every kind of craftsmanship.

Why is the Sabbath called a sign?

Exodus 31:13 and 31:17 call it a sign between God and Israel for ever, marking them as his people and recalling that God rested on the seventh day of creation.