Exodus 31: Bezalel and Oholiab, the Sabbath as a sign, and the two tablets
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What happens?
Yahweh names Bezalel of the tribe of Judah, whom he has filled with the Spirit of God, and Oholiab of the tribe of Dan to work with him, to make the Tent of Meeting, its furniture, the priests' garments, the anointing oil and the incense. He then tells Moses to say to the Israelites that they must keep his Sabbaths, as a sign between him and them. When he finishes speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gives him the two tablets of the covenant, written with God's finger.
Who is speaking?
The narrator speaks in verses 1, 12 and 18. God's own words are in 15 of the 18 verses: what Yahweh says to Moses about Bezalel and Oholiab (verses 2 to 11) and about the Sabbath (verses 13 to 17). In verse 13 Yahweh tells Moses what to say to the Israelites, so verses 13 to 17 are his words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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2“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.God speaks
In plain English: "Look, I have called Bezalel by name, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
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3I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,God speaks
In plain English: I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of workmanship,
The Hebrew words: "Spirit of God" is ruach elohim. Ruach can mean spirit, wind or breath. The same two words side by side are in 16 verses of the Bible, among them ("God's Spirit"), ("the Spirit of God") and .
How it is translated: In Exodus this Bible says "spirit" for ruach in 5 of the 10 verses that use it and "wind" in 4.
Good to know: In Yahweh says he has filled the skilled workers with "the spirit of wisdom". Here he says he has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God.
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4to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,God speaks
In plain English: to devise skillful works, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,
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5and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.God speaks
In plain English: to cut stones for setting, to carve wood, and to work in all kinds of workmanship.
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6Behold, 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:God speaks
In plain English: Look, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. In the heart of everyone who is wise-hearted I have put wisdom, so that they may make everything I have commanded you:
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7the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,God speaks
In plain English: the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant (literally: the testimony), the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
Good to know: "Mercy seat" is explained at .
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8the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,God speaks
In plain English: the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
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9the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,God speaks
In plain English: the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
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10the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office—God speaks
In plain English: the finely worked (or: woven) garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons to serve in the priest's office,
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11the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”God speaks
In plain English: the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place. They are to do everything just as I have commanded you."
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12Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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13“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.God speaks
In plain English: "Speak also to the Israelites and say, 'Be sure to keep my Sabbaths (or: However, keep my Sabbaths), for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, so that you may know that I am Yahweh, who makes you holy (or: sets you apart).
The Hebrew words: "Sign" is oth, which the dictionary gives as "a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc." "Most certainly" is ak, which the dictionary gives as "a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only". With the limiting sense, "only" or "however", the verse opens: "However, keep my Sabbaths".
How it is translated: In Exodus this Bible says "sign" or "signs" for it in 13 of the 15 verses that use it and "token" in the other 2. Genesis calls the rainbow () and circumcision () a "token of the covenant", with the same word.
Good to know: gives the reason for the sign: Yahweh made heaven and earth in six days and rested on the seventh. gives the same reason for the Sabbath, and also calls his Sabbaths "a sign between me and them".
Church tradition: Jewish readers and churches keep the Sabbath in different ways today. Jewish readers keep the seventh day, Saturday. Some churches keep Saturday too, and many worship on Sunday, the first day of the week. The text here says "the seventh day" and does not name a day of the week.
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14You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.God speaks
In plain English: Keep the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it (treats it as common) is surely to be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that person (literally: soul) is to be cut off from among his people.
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15Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death.God speaks
In plain English: Work is to be done for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is surely to be put to death.
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16Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.God speaks
In plain English: So the Israelites are to keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
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17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’”God speaks
In plain English: It is a sign between me and the Israelites forever. For in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"
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18When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.
In plain English: When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant (literally: the testimony), stone tablets written with God's finger.
The Hebrew word: "Finger" is etsba. The dictionary gives it as "a finger; by analogy, a toe".
Good to know: The verse says the tablets were "written with God's finger" and says no more about how. has the same word, when the magicians say, "This is God's finger." repeats the phrase about the tablets. This verse does not say which words were written on them. speaks of "the law and the commands that I have written", and says of his covenant, "even the ten commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets."
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