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Matthew Henry

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 31:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 31:4

To devise cunning works ,.... To invent, contrive, and draw patterns, for the weavers particularly, for the making of the curtains of the tabernacle, the vail of the most holy place, the ephod, and the curious girdle of it, which were made of cunning work, curiously wrought by the weaver; and so Jarchi interprets this of the weaving of the work of Chosheb, or cunning work, of the devising of cunning works, or of the knowledge of witty inventions, by Wisdom or the Messiah, see Proverbs 8:12 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 31:5

And in cutting of stones to set them ,.... Not of marble stones, or of any common stones used in building, and the cutting and hewing of them to be laid therein, for of those there was no use in the tabernacle; but of precious stones, and the cutting of them, and setting of them in their ouches or enclosures, as the onyx stones on the shoulders of the high priest, and the twelve precious stones in his breastplate: Bezaleel was taught by the Spirit of God the art of jewelling, and instructed... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 31:4

Cunning works - מחשבת machashaboth , works of invention or genius, in the goldsmith and silversmith line. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 31:5

In cutting of stones, etc. - Every thing that concerned the lapidary's, jeweler's, and carver's art. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:3-6

Artistic excellence. I. ITS FOUNDATION A NATURAL GIFT . God singled out from the mass of the people such as were "wise hearted." A natural foundation was necessary for his spirit to work upon. It is generally allowed, in the case of a poet, that " nascitur, non fit ." But the same is true of all art-genius. Every artist, be he poet, painter, sculptor, musician, or mere designer of furniture, requires to have a something implanted within him from the first, out of which his... read more

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