Exodus 31:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 31:1-11

A great deal of fine work God had ordered to be done about the tabernacle; the materials the people were to provide, but who must put them into form? Moses himself was learned in all the learning of the Egyptians, nay, he was well acquainted with the words of God, and the visions of the Almighty; but he knew not how to engrave or embroider. We may suppose that there were some very ingenious men among the Israelites; but, having lived all their days in bondage in Egypt, we cannot think they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 31:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... After the Lord had given Moses instructions about building a tabernacle, the model of which he had shown him, and what should be the furniture of it, who should minister in it, and what clothes they should wear, he acquaints him that he had provided artificers for this service; which would prevent doubts and objections that might rise up in the mind of Moses, how and by whom all this should be done; since the children of Israel had not been brought up, nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 31:2

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 31:3

And I have filled him with the Spirit of God ,.... Not with the special graces of the Spirit, or with spiritual gifts fitting for spiritual service in the knowledge of spiritual things, and the instruction of men in them, though, no doubt, he might have them; but with the gifts of ingenuity and skill in manual arts, and mechanical operations, as follows: in wisdom, and in understanding, and in all manner of workmanship ; these explain what is meant by the Spirit of God he was filled... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 31:2

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 1 Chronicles 2:5 , 1 Chronicles 2:9 , 1 Chronicles 2:18 , 1 Chronicles 2:19 , 1... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 31:3

I have filled him with the spirit of God - See Clarke's note on Exodus 28:3 . In wisdom - חכמה , chochmah , from חכם chacham , to be wise, skillful, or prudent, denoting the compass of mind and strength of capacity necessary to form a wise man: hence our word wisdom, the power of judging what is wise or best to be done; from the Saxon, to teach, to advise, and to judge; hence the doom or judgment of the well taught, wise, or prudent man. Understanding - תבונה tebunah ,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 31:2

Verse 2 2.See, I have called by name Bezaleel. In the remainder of this work we shall follow the course of the history to the end of Deuteronomy, where the death of Moses himself is recorded. Although God had omitted nothing which related to the form of the tabernacle, but had accurately prescribed every thing that was to be done, still the actual difficulty of the work might have overwhelmed both Moses and the whole people with despair; for this was no ordinary work, or one on which the most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:1-11

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:2

I have called by name . God "calls by name" only those whom he appoints to some high office, as Moses ( Exodus 3:4 ; Exodus 33:12 ), Cyrus ( Isaiah 45:3 , Isaiah 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,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:3

The Spirit of God . There is no article in the Hebrew, any more than in Genesis 1:1 ; and some would therefore translate "a Divine Spirit"; but no change is needed. Ruakh elohim contains in itself the idea of singularity, since God has but one Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the medium of communication whereby God the Father bestows all gifts upon us. In wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge . By the first of these terms is meant the power to invent and originate; by the second... read more

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