Exodus 31
God appoints a lead artisan
Artisans get their skills from God
1The Lord told Moses, 2“Listen, I have done something unique for Bezalel [1] in the tribe of Judah. He’s Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson. 3I put the Spirit of God in him. He has know-how and skill. And he has the ability to put it to practice in all kinds of creative work with his hands. 4He’s a master artisan. He can work with gold, silver, and bronze. 5He can cut gems and place them in elegant settings. He can sculpt wood, too. When you need a master artisan, he’s your man.Artisan to-do list
6I’ve assigned him an associate: Oholiab. [2] He’s Ahisamach’s son, from the tribe of Dan. Others have the gift of making things with their hands, too. I gave those gifts to them so they would be able to help you with everything I’ve told you to make:7Tent worship center,
Box that holds the Ten Commandments,
Lid for the box, which is where I’ll meet with you,
All furnishings inside the tent worship center;
8Table and utensils,
Golden lampstand and fittings,
Incense altar;
9Altar for burnt offerings and utensils,
Wash bowl and stand;
10Sacred dress uniform for Aaron the priest and for his sons who also serve as priests;
11Anointing oil;
Aromatic incense.
Have the artisans make everything I’ve told you to make for the Sacred Room.”
Rest on the Sabbath
12The Lord told Moses, 13“Though I’ve given you this work to do, you still need to rest on the Sabbath. When you do this, you’re showing your commitment to me—now and in the generations to come. Doing this also confirms that you know I’m your LORD and that you’re sacred to me. 14So respect the Sabbath. It’s a sacred day for you. Anyone who dishonors that day should be executed. People who work on the Sabbath should be banished from their families. 15You’ve got six days to get your work done. The seventh day is the Sabbath. It’s a day for absolute rest. The Sabbath is sacred to the LORD. Anyone who works on the Sabbath has to die. 16People of Israel need to honor the Sabbath from one generation to the next. It’s an agreement we’ve made with each other. 17Keeping the Sabbath is a sign, like a signature on a contract. It’s a permanent reminder of the agreement Israel has with me. In six days the LORD made everything on earth and in the sky. He rested on the seventh, and it was refreshing.”Two stone tablets
18When the LORD finished talking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses two stone tablets of the Agreement, inscribed at the hands of God.Footnotes
131:2
Bezalel went on to make the box that held the Ten Commandments as well as the lid that covered it and the twin cherubim that sat on top (Exodus 37:1).
231:6
Oholiab worked in metal and fabric. He cut designs into metal and was an expert tailor who could work with expensive dyed thread and fine linen.
Discussion Questions
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Maps/Guides
Tent worship center
Camped at Sinai
Mt. Sinai
