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The story in exodus 31






 Exodus 31 details God's selection and empowerment of craftsmen to build the Tabernacle, reaffirms the importance of the Sabbath, and concludes with Moses receiving the stone tablets of the covenant.

The Divine Craftsmen

God names and empowers the specific individuals who will lead the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

 1. Bezalel and Oholiab: God calls Bezalel, son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, by name and fills him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill, intelligence, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship. He is given the ability to work in gold, silver, bronze, and to cut and set stones and to carve wood. He is also given the ability to design intricate artistic work.

 2. His Assistant: God also names Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as Bezalel's assistant.

 3. Empowerment: God emphasizes that He has given wisdom to all who are skillful, so they can make everything He has commanded. This includes the Tent of Meeting, the Ark, the mercy seat, all the furnishings, the priestly garments, the anointing oil, and the incense. This shows that the work is not merely a human endeavor but a divinely inspired project.

The Sign of the Sabbath

Amidst the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle, God re-emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath.

1. A Perpetual Sign: God commands the Israelites to keep the Sabbath, stating it is a sign between Him and them throughout their generations. It is a sign that the LORD is the one who sanctifies them.

 2.  Consequences for Disobedience: The command is strict: "You shall surely keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you." Anyone who profanes the Sabbath must be put to death. Anyone who works on it will be cut off from his people. The Israelites are to do work for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. This reiterates the sanctity of the Sabbath and its role as a permanent part of the covenant.

The Tablets of the Covenant

The chapter concludes with Moses on Mount Sinai receiving the divine law.

 1. Two Tablets of Stone: After God finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gives him two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone written with the finger of God. This marks the completion of the instructions for the Tabernacle and its service, and the culmination of Moses's time on the mountain.


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