“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base, the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
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Exodus 31:2-11 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base, the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
Parallel Translations
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“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,
to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,
and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.
Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office—
the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
-
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
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;
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,
And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,
And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,
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,
And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.
Show all 3 translations
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'See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship.
And I, behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, 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:
the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the ark-cover that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the Tent;
and the table and its vessels, and the pure candlestick with all its vessels, and the altar of incense;
and the altar of burnt-offering with all its vessels, and the laver and its base;
and the plaited garments, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office;
and the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place; according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.'
Cross-references (62)
- Exodus 35:31 (v3) He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship;
- Isaiah 28:26 (v3) For his God instructs him in right judgment and teaches him.
- 1 Kings 7:14 (vv3–4) He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and…
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (v3) Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. There are various kinds…
- Isaiah 28:6 (v3) and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
Show all 61 cross-references
- Exodus 28:3 (v6) You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him,…
- Exodus 35:10 (v6) “ ‘Let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Yahweh has commanded:
- Exodus 35:30 (v2) Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
- Exodus 35:34–36:1 (v6) He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with wisdom…
- Exodus 36:1 (v2) “Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work…
- 1 Kings 3:9 (v3) Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge…
- Exodus 36:8–37:9 (v7) All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and…
- Exodus 37:10-28 (v8) He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a half. He overlaid…
- Exodus 38:1-8 (v9) He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits, and its height…
- Luke 10:1 (v6) Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he…
- John 3:27 (v2) John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
- Acts 13:2 (v6) As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
- James 1:16-17 (v6) Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with…
- Exodus 4:14-15 (v6) Yahweh’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold,…
- Exodus 35:25-26 (v6) All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the…
- Exodus 37:1-29 (v6) Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its…
- Exodus 37:29 (v11) He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.
- 1 Kings 3:12 (v6) behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you…
- Ezra 5:1-2 (v6) Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied…
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (v6) Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him…
- Exodus 6:26 (v6) These are that Aaron and Moses to whom Yahweh said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.”
- Exodus 25:10-22 (v7) “They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its…
- Exodus 25:23-40 (v8) “You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a half cubits. You…
- Exodus 25:32-35 (v4) There shall be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp…
- Exodus 26:1 (v4) “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall…
- Exodus 26:1-37 (v7) “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall…
- Exodus 27:1-8 (v9) “You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height shall be three…
- Exodus 27:9-19 (v7) “You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen one…
- Exodus 28:1-43 (v10) “Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest’s…
- Exodus 28:9-21 (v5) You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel. Six of their names on the one stone, and the names…
- Exodus 28:15 (v4) “You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of…
- Exodus 30:1-10 (v8) “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood. Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit. It shall…
- Exodus 30:18-21 (v9) “You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the…
- Exodus 30:23-38 (v11) “Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and of…
- Exodus 33:12 (v2) Moses said to Yahweh, “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people;’ and you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have…
- Exodus 33:17 (v2) Yahweh said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
- Exodus 36:8 (v6) All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and…
- Exodus 37:1 (v2) Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its…
- Exodus 39:1-43 (v10) Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron,…
- Exodus 40:11 (v9) You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it.
- Leviticus 8:7-8 (v10) He put the tunic on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of…
- Leviticus 8:13 (v10) Moses brought Aaron’s sons, and clothed them with tunics, and tied sashes on them, and put headbands on them, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Numbers 4:5-14 (v10) When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in with his sons; and they shall take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the…
- 1 Chronicles 2:19-20 (v2) Azubah died, and Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
- 2 Chronicles 2:7 (v4) “Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue, and who knows how…
- 2 Chronicles 2:13-14 (v4) Now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, of Huram my father’s, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan; and his…
- 2 Chronicles 3:1-4 (v6) Then Solomon began to build Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Yahweh appeared to David his father, which he prepared in…
- Proverbs 2:6-7 (v6) For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to…
- Isaiah 45:3-4 (v2) I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your…
- Matthew 10:2-4 (v6) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John,…
- Mark 3:16-19 (v2) Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means,…
- Acts 15:39-40 (v6) Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul…
- James 1:5 (v6) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
- Numbers 4:1-49 (v6) Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their…
- 1 Kings 6:1-8 (v6) In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s…
- Ezekiel 43:1-27 (v6) Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east. Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of…
61 distinct cross-references across this passage (62 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 6, 8, 11 I have chosen and made meet, Exod. 35:30.
I have chosen and made meet, Exod. 35:30.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–6 Exo 31:2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel…
Exo 31:2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
Ver. 2. The son of Hur.] Of that Hur mentioned in Exo 17:12; Exo 24:14.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 6, 8, 10 He seems to be the same mentioned 1Ch 2:20
He seems to be the same mentioned 1Ch 2:20
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–11 See, I have called by name Bezaleel,.... Had pitched…
See, I have called by name Bezaleel,.... Had pitched upon, chosen, and distinguished him particularly from all other men to be the architect or chief master builder of the tabernacle, and to be the director and overseer of the whole work relating to it: the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it,""I have called with a good name Bezaleel";''as if respect was to be had to his name Bezaleel, as given him by God, and very expressive and significant; whereas the phrase of calling "by name" does not signify the imposing of a name upon him, but the singular and personal choice of him to an office: indeed, his name Bezaleel is very significant, and may be rendered, "in the shadow of God"; and he was under the shadow, influence, and protection of the Lord, and was called to be concerned in making those things, which were shadows of good things to come; and he may be considered in all as a type of Christ, who is the chief and master builder of his church, has the care and oversight of it, and under whom others work; for except he built the house, they labour in vain that build it; he was called by name, or eminently chosen to this work, he took not this honour to himself, but was called of God, as Bezaleel was, and was hid and abode under the shadow of the Almighty all the while he was concerned in it, see Psa 91:1.
the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; Bezaleel's father's name was Uri, which signifies, "my light"; and his grandfather's name Hur, which has the signification of liberty or freedom; the same that Moses left with Aaron to judge the people of Israel during his stay in the mount, and is thought to have been the husband of Miriam; so that his grandfather being living, he may be supposed to be but a young man: the Jews say (n) he was but thirteen years of age when he was employed in this service, but that is not probable; though indeed his antitype, when but twelve years of age, said, "wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" his Father, whom he calls Uri, my light, Psa 27:1 he being the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person; and is the Son of God that makes men free, and they are free indeed; and of whom it is evident that he sprung out of the tribe of Judah, a tribe greatly honoured of God.
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(n) Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 6. 2.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv2–3 See I have called Bezaleel, the grandson of Hur,…
See I have called Bezaleel, the grandson of Hur, probably that Hur who had helped to hold up Moses's hand, chap. xvii, 10-12, and was at this time in commission with Aaron for the government of the people in the absence of Moses. Aholiab of the tribe of Dan. is appointed next to Bezaleel, and partner with him. Hiram, who was the head-workman in the building of Solomon's temple, was also of the tribe of Daniel, 2 Chron. ii, 14.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 Verse 2. I have called by name Bezaleel] That…
Verse 2. I have called by name Bezaleel] That is, I have particularly appointed this person to be the chief superintendent of the whole work. His name is significant, בצלאל betsal-el, in or under the shadow of God, meaning, under the especial protection of the Most High. He was the son of Uri, the son of Hur, the son of Caleb or Chelubai, the son of Esron, the son of Pharez, the son of Judah. See 1Ch 2:5, 1Ch 2:9, 1Ch 2:18-20, and See Clarke on Ex 17:10.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv3, 5, 8, 10 Exo 31:3. And I have filled him with the…
Exo 31:3. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God — And, Exo 31:6, In the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom. Skill in common employments is the gift of God; it is he that puts even this wisdom into the inward parts, Job 38:36. He teacheth the husbandman discretion, Isa 28:26; and the tradesman too, and he must have the praise of it. Although it is probable that the arts were carried to a great height at this period in Egypt; yet, considering the state of slavery in which the Israelites had been held there, and the hard labour to which they had been compelled, it is not to be supposed that many of them had made any proficiency therein, or were qualified for such curious workmanship as had been prescribed. But that God who often chooses the weak things of the world to confound the wise; who took the apostles from their fishing-boats, and from other low occupations, and enabled them to speak fluently and correctly in the languages of all nations to which they were sent to preach; endued the persons here mentioned with the skill requisite for the work to which they were appointed. A late commentator remarks here, “Neither Moses nor Aaron, nor any of Aaron’s sons, were appointed to this service; the honour already conferred must suffice for them, and if they attended to their proper work, they would find that also sufficient. Nor were Moses’s sons appointed; for it was the Lord’s will that his disinterestedness and divine legation should appear illustrious in the obscurity of his posterity.”
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv2–8 By name. I have fixed upon and taken into…
By name. I have fixed upon and taken into my service, as Isaias xliii. 1.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv3, 6 I have filled him with the spirit of God--It…
I have filled him with the spirit of God--It is probable that he was naturally endowed with a mechanical genius, and had acquired in Egypt great knowledge and skill in the useful, as well as liberal, arts so as to be a first-class artisan, competent to take charge of both the plain and ornamental work, which the building of the sacred edifice required. When God has any special work to be accomplished, He always raises up instruments capable of doing it; and it is likely that He had given to the son of Uri that strong natural aptitude and those opportunities of gaining mechanical skill, with an ultimate view to this responsible office. Notwithstanding that his grand duty was to conform with scrupulous fidelity to the pattern furnished, there was still plenty of room for inventive talent and tasteful exactness in the execution; and his natural and acquired gifts were enlarged and invigorated for the important work.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 6, 10 3. Filled him with the spirit of God —…
3. Filled him with the spirit of God — There is no need of explaining this as equivalent merely to the phrase “a divine spirit,” or translating “a spirit of God.” The Holy Spirit of God is intended, which quickened all Bezaleel’s mental faculties, and enriched him with such a degree of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge that he was recognized as divinely gifted with the required qualifications for all manner of workmanship which the construction and erection of the tabernacle called for.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 2. called by name] i.e. specially chosen: cf. Isa_45:3-4…
2. called by name] i.e. specially chosen: cf. Isa_45:3-4 (of Cyrus).
Bĕẓal’çl] i.e. ‘In the shadow (i.e. protection, Num_14:9 RVm.) of God’; cf. the Ass. name Ina-ṣilli-Bel, ‘In the shadow of Bel’ (cited by Bä.). There are no sufficient grounds for identifying the Ḥur here with the Ḥur of Exo_17:10, Exo_24:14. The whole series Ḥur, Uri, Bĕẓal’çl occurs again in 1Ch_2:19 f., in the ‘family’ of Caleb, one of the three leading clans of Judah; but the relation of the two series of names to each other is uncertain: 1Sa_30:14 appears to shew that even in David’s time the Caleb-clan was not yet actually part of Judah (comp. the writer’s Genesis, p. 327; and DB., EB., s.v. Caleb).
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In v. 6 Oholiab is associated with Bĕẓal’çl; but Bĕẓal’çl is evidently regarded as the constructor in chief: he always takes the first place (Exo_36:1-2; cf. Exo_38:22 f.), and is often mentioned alone (Exo_37:1, and implicitly in vv. 10, 17, 25, &c.).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10 (2) I have called by name.—It is a high…
(2) I have called by name.—It is a high honour to be called of God by name. He thus calls only those whom He appoints to some great work, as Moses (Exo_3:4; Exo_33:12), Samuel (1Sa_3:10), and Cyrus (Isa_45:3-4).
Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur.—Hur, the grandfather of Bezaleel, is generally supposed to be identical with the Hur who supported Moses’s hands (Exo_17:12), and was left joint regent with Aaron when Moses went up into Mount Sinai (Exo_24:14). There is, however, no evidence of this beyond the identity of the name.
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Of the tribe of Judah.—Descended from Judah through Pharez, Hezron, and Caleb (1Ch_2:5; 1Ch_2:18-20).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 I have called by name. God "calls by name"…
I have called by name. God "calls by name" only those whom he appoints to some high office, as Moses, (Exo_3:4 Exo_33:12) Cyrus, (Isa_45:3, Isa_45:4) and here Bezaleel and Aholiab. He honours us highly in even condescending to "know us by name," still more in "calling" us. Bezaleel is traced to Judah in Chronicles through five ancestors Uri, Hur, Caleb, Hezron, and Pharez, Judah"s son by Tamar. The genealogy, though less contracted than most of those in Exodus, probably contains two or three omissions. The son of Hur. Hur, the grandfather of Bezaleel, is thought to be the person mentioned in Exo_17:10, and Exo_24:14.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v6 In the hearts of all that are wise hearted…
Exo_31:6
In the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom.
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The danger of accomplishments
There are persons who doubt whether what are called accomplishments, whether in literature or in the fine arts, can be consistent with deep and practical seriousness of mind. I am not speaking of human learning; this also many men think inconsistent with simple uncorrupted faith. They suppose that learning must make a man proud. This is of course a great mistake; but of it I am not speaking, but of an over-jealousy of accomplishments, the elegant arts and studies, such as poetry, literary composition, painting, music, and the like; which are considered, not indeed to make a man proud, but to make him trifling. Of this opinion, how far it is true and how far not true, I am going to speak. Now, that the accomplishments I speak of have a tendency to make us trifling and unmanly, and therefore are to be viewed by each of us with suspicion as far as regards himself, I am ready to admit, and shall presently make clear. I allow that in matter of fact, refinement and luxury, elegance and effeminacy, go together. Antioch, the most polished, was the most voluptuous city of Asia. But the abuse of good things is no argument against the things themselves; mental cultivation may be a Divine gift, though it is abused. An acquaintance with the elegant arts may he a gift and a good, and intended to be an instrument of Gods glory, though numbers who have it are rendered thereby indolent, luxurious, and feeble-minded. But the account of the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, from which the text is taken, is decisive on this point. How, then, is it that what in itself is of so excellent, and, I may say, Divine a nature, is yet so commonly perverted? Now the danger of an elegant and polite education is that it separates feeling and acting; it teaches us to think, speak, and be affected aright, without forcing us to practise what is right. I will take an illustration of this from the effect produced upon the mind by reading what is commonly called a romance or novel. Such works contain many good sentiments (I am taking the better sort of them); characters, too, are introduced, virtuous, noble, patient under suffering, and triumphing at length over misfortune. But it is all fiction; it does not exist out of a book which contains the beginning and end of it. We have nothing to do; we read, are affected, softened, or roused, and that is all; we cool again--nothing comes of it. Now observe the effect of this. God has made us feel in order that we may go on to act in consequence of feeling; if, then, we allow our feelings to be excited without acting upon them, we do mischief to the moral system within us, just as we might spoil a watch, or other piece of mechanism, by playing with the wheels of it. We weaken its springs, and they cease to act truly. For instance, we will say we have read again and again of the heroism of facing danger, and we have glowed with the thought of its nobleness. Now, suppose at length we actually come into trial, and, let us say, our feelings become roused, as often before, at the thought of boldly resisting temptations to cowardice, shall we therefore do our duty, quitting ourselves like men? rather, we are likely to talk loudly, and then run from the danger. And what is here instanced of fortitude is true in all cases of duty. The refinement which literature gives is that of thinking, feeling, knowing and speaking right, not of acting right; and thus, while it makes the manners amiable, and the conversation decorous and agreeable, it has no tendency to make the conduct, the practice of the man virtuous. The case is the same with the arts last alluded to--poetry and music. These are especially likely to make us unmanly, if we are not on our guard, as exciting emotions without insuring correspondent practice, and so destroying the connection between feeling and acting; for I here mean by unmanliness the inability to do with ourselves what we wish--the saying fine things and yet lying slothfully on our couch, as if we could not get up, though we ever so much wished it. And here I must notice something besides in elegant accomplishments, which goes to make us over-refined and fastidious, and falsely delicate. In books everything is made beautiful in its way. Pictures are drawn of complete virtue; little is said about failures, and little or nothing of the drudgery of ordinary, every-day obedience, which is neither poetical nor interesting. True faith teaches us to do numberless disagreeable things for Christs sake, to bear petty annoyances, which we find written down in no book. And further still, it must be observed, that the art of composing, which is a chief accomplishment, has in itself a tendency to make us artificial and insincere. For to be ever attending to the fitness and propriety of our words, is (or at least there is the risk of its being) a kind of acting; and knowing what can be said on both sides of a subject is a main step towards thinking the one side as good as the other. With these thoughts before us, it is necessary to look back to the Scripture instances which I began by adducing, to avoid the conclusion that accomplishments are positively dangerous and unworthy a Christian. But St. Luke and St. Paul show us that we may be sturdy workers in the Lords service, and bear our cross manfully, though we be adorned with all the learning of the Egyptians; or, rather, that the resources of literature and the graces of a cultivated mind may be made both a lawful source of enjoyment to the possessor, and a means of introducing and recommending the truth to others; while the history of the Tabernacle shows that all the cunning arts and precious possessions of this world may be consecrated to a religious service, and be made to speak of the world to come. I conclude, then, with the following cautions, to which the foregoing remarks lead. First, we must avoid giving too much time to lighter occupations; and next, we must never allow ourselves to read works of fiction or poetry, or to interest ourselves in the fine arts for the mere sake of the things themselves; but keep in mind all along that we are Christians and accountable beings, who have fixed principles of right and wrong, by which all things must be tried, and have religious habits to be matured within them, towards which all things are to be made subservient. If we are in earnest we shall let nothing lightly pass by which may do us good, nor shall we dare to trifle with such sacred subjects as morality and religious duty. We shall apply all we read to ourselves; and this almost without intending to do so, from the mere sincerity and honesty of our desire to please God. We shall be suspicious of all such good thoughts and wishes, and we shall shrink from all such exhibitions of our principles as fall short of action. Of all such as abuse the decencies and elegancies of moral truth into a means of luxurious enjoyment, what would a prophet of God say? (Eze_33:30-32; 2Ti_4:2-4; 1Co_16:13). (J. H. Newman, D. D.)
The wise hearted ones
Who are the wise hearted ones?
1. They are those who prove themselves as having ability to do useful work. Work done, and well done, though it be in itself of trifling value, is the determination of wisdom.
2. The wise hearted are they who reach beyond present ability to perform. No true workman is satisfied to simply repeat his last job.
3. The wise hearted are they who, at Christs call, enter His kingdom, there to labour under the influence of the purest, strongest motives. (C. R. Seymour.)
Grace and genius
I. Natural gifts are often discovered by grace.
II. Natural gifts are directed by grace.
III. Natural gifts are heightened by grace.
IV. Natural gifts are sanctified by grace. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)
The method of Providence
God would have everything built beautifully. What an image of beauty have we seen this Tabernacle to be through and through, flushed with colours we have never seen, and bright with lights that could not show themselves fully in the murkiness of this air! He would make us more beautiful than our dwelling-place. He would not have the house more valuable than the tenant. He did not mean the worshipper to be less than the Tabernacle which He set up for worship. Are we living the beautiful life--the life solemn with sweet harmonies, broad in its generous purpose, noble in the sublimity of its prayer, like God in the perpetual sacrifice of its life? Not only will God build everything beautifully; His purpose is to have everything built for religious uses. His meaning is that the form shall help the thought, that images appealing to the eye shall also touch the imagination and graciously affect the whole spirit, and subdue into tender obedience and worship the soul and heart of man. What is the Tabernacle for? For worship. What is the meaning of it? It is a gate opening upon heaven. Why was it set up? To lift us nearer God. If we fail to seize these purposes, if we fail of magnifying and glorifying them so as to ennoble our own life in the process, we have never seen the Tabernacle. Herein is it for ever true that we may have a Bible but no revelation; a sermon but no Gospel; we may be in the church, yet not in the sanctuary; we may admire beauty, and yet live the life of the drunkard and the debauchee. In all His building--and God is always building--He qualifies every man for a particular work in connection with the edifice. The one man wants the other man. The work stands still till that other man comes in. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Various kinds of inspiration
Who can read these words as they ought to be read? How it makes ministers of God by the thousand! We have thought that Aaron was a religious man because of his clothing and because of many peculiarities which separated him from other men; but the Lord distinctly claims the artificer as another kind of Aaron. Who divides life into sacred and profane? Who introduces the element of meanness into human occupation and service? God claims all things for Himself. Who will say that the preacher is a religious man, but the artificer is a secular worker? But let us claim all true workers as inspired men. We know that there is an inspired art. The world knows it; instinctively, unconsciously, the world uncovers before it. There is an inspired poetry, make it of what measure you will. The great common heart knows it, says, That is the true verse; how it rises, falls, plashes like a fountain, flows like a stream, breathes like a summer wind, speaks the thoughts we have long understood, but could never articulate! The great human heart says, That is the voice Divine; that is the appeal of heaven. Why should we say that inspiration is not given to all true workers, whether in gold or in thought, whether in song or in prayer, whether in the type or in the magic eloquence of the burning tongue? Let us enlarge life, and enlarge Providence, rather than contract it, and not, whilst praying to a God in the heavens, have no God in the heart. You would work better if you realized that God is the Teacher of the fingers, and the Guide of the hand. Labour is churched and glorified. Art turns its chiselled and flushed features towards its native heaven. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Gifts from God as well as graces
God gave the plan clearly, graphically, distinctly, to Moses; but it needed men raised up specially by the Spirit of God to execute the plan, and to give it practical development. And we learn from this fact that a gifted intellect is as much the creation of the Spirit of God as a regenerate heart. Gifts are from God as truly as graces; it needs the guidance of Gods good Spirit to enable a man to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them; and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship; just as it does to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. We thus see that God gives light to the intellect as well as grace to the heart; and we may, perhaps, from this learn a very humbling, but a very blessed truth--that the man with a gifted intellect is as much summoned to bow the knee, and to thank the Fountain and the Author of it, as the man that has a sanctified heart feels it his privilege to bow his knee, and to bless the Holy Spirit that gave it, for this his distinguishing grace and mercy. (J. Cumming, D. D.)
Spiritual gifts
1. Prize them inestimably.
2. Covet them earnestly.
3. Seek for them diligently.
4. Ponder them frequently.
5. Wait for them patiently.
6. Expect them hopefully.
7. Receive them joyfully.
8. Enjoy them thankfully.
9. Improve them carefully.
10. Retain them watchfully.
11. Plead for them manfully.
12. Hold them dependently.
13. Grasp them eternally. (Biblical Museum.)
Genius and industry
A friend of Charles Dickens, a man who had given promise of a noble career as an author, but who, through indolence, had failed in doing any permanent work, called upon him one morning, and, after bewailing his ill-success, ended by sighing, Ah, if I only were gifted with your genius! Dickens, who had listened patiently to the complaint, exclaimed at once in answer, Genius, sir! I do not know what you mean. I had no genius save the genius for hard work! However his enthusiastic admirers may dispute this, certain it is that Dickens trusted to no such uncertain light as the fire of genius. Day in and day out, by hard work, he elaborated the plot, characters, and dialogue of his imperishable stories. Whole days he would spend to discover suitable localities, and then be able to give vividness to his description of them, while, sentence by sentence, his work, after apparent completion, was retouched and revised. The great law of labour makes no exception of the gifted or ignorant. Whatever the work may be, there can be no success in it without diligent, unceasing, persevering labour.
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3, 6, 10 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to Moses.
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I have filled Bezalel with my Spirit
Yahweh speaks of giving Bezalel his Spirit as if Bezalel were a container and God's Spirit were a liquid. AT: "I have given my Spirit to Bezalel" (See: Metaphor)
for all kinds of craftsmanship
The abstract noun "craftsmanship" can be translated as "making crafts" or "making things." AT: "for making all kinds of crafts" or "so that he can make all kinds of things" (See: Abstract Nouns)
translationWords
filled with the Holy Spirit
wise
know
gold
silver
bronze
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3, 6, 11 31:3 I have filled him with the Spirit of…
31:3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God: This is one of the earliest references to being filled with the Spirit as an expression of divine empowerment for activities that are clearly beyond normal human abilities (see also Gen 41:38; Num 11:17; Judg 6:34; 14:19; 1 Sam 10:6; 16:13; Joel 2:28-29; Mic 3:8).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.