Exodus 35:35 - Exposition

Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart — i.e; "with talent or genius." Of the engraver . Rather, "of the artificer ," a general term, under which working in metal, Gem-engraving, and wood-carving are included. And of the cunning workman . Rather, "and of the skilful weaver." This clause seems to apply to Aholiab ( Exodus 38:23 ), the preceding one to Bezaleel. And of the embroiderer . This also applies to Aholiab (1.s.c.). And of the weaver — i.e; "the ordinary, weaver," who wove a cloth all of one colour. The "skilful weaver" produced a patterned fabric. (See Exodus 26:1 .) The methods of working here spoken of are, all of them, such as were well known in Egypt at the time, and which, consequently, it would have been quite natural for some of the Israelites to have learnt. We are not to suppose that God supernaturally communicated to Bezaleel and Aholiab the technical knowledge required in their occupations, but only that he gave them genius and artistic skill, so that both their designs, and their execution of them, were of unusual excellence.