9 And the altar H4196 of burnt offering H5930 with all his furniture, H3627 and the laver H3595 and his foot, H3653
And he made H6213 the altar H4196 of burnt offering H5930 of shittim H7848 wood: H6086 five H2568 cubits H520 was the length H753 thereof, and five H2568 cubits H520 the breadth H7341 thereof; it was foursquare; H7251 and three H7969 cubits H520 the height H6967 thereof. And he made H6213 the horns H7161 thereof on the four H702 corners H6438 of it; the horns H7161 thereof were of the same: and he overlaid H6823 it with brass. H5178 And he made H6213 all the vessels H3627 of the altar, H4196 the pots, H5518 and the shovels, H3257 and the basons, H4219 and the fleshhooks, H4207 and the firepans: H4289 all the vessels H3627 thereof made H6213 he of brass. H5178 And he made H6213 for the altar H4196 a brasen H5178 grate H4345 of network H7568 H4639 under the compass H3749 thereof beneath H4295 unto the midst H2677 of it. And he cast H3332 four H702 rings H2885 for the four H702 ends H7099 of the grate H4345 of brass, H5178 to be places H1004 for the staves. H905 And he made H6213 the staves H905 of shittim H7848 wood, H6086 and overlaid H6823 them with brass. H5178 And he put H935 the staves H905 into the rings H2885 on the sides H6763 of the altar, H4196 to bear H5375 it withal; he made H6213 the altar hollow H5014 with boards. H3871 And he made H6213 the laver H3595 of brass, H5178 and the foot H3653 of it of brass, H5178 of the lookingglasses H4759 of the women assembling, H6633 which assembled H6633 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150
And thou shalt make H6213 an altar H4196 of shittim H7848 wood, H6086 five H2568 cubits H520 long, H753 and five H2568 cubits H520 broad; H7341 the altar H4196 shall be foursquare: H7251 and the height H6967 thereof shall be three H7969 cubits. H520 And thou shalt make H6213 the horns H7161 of it upon the four H702 corners H6438 thereof: his horns H7161 shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay H6823 it with brass. H5178 And thou shalt make H6213 his pans H5518 to receive his ashes, H1878 and his shovels, H3257 and his basons, H4219 and his fleshhooks, H4207 and his firepans: H4289 all the vessels H3627 thereof thou shalt make H6213 of brass. H5178 And thou shalt make H6213 for it a grate H4345 of network H4639 of brass; H5178 and upon the net H7568 shalt thou make H6213 four H702 brasen H5178 rings H2885 in the four H702 corners H7098 thereof. And thou shalt put H5414 it under the compass H3749 of the altar H4196 beneath, H4295 that the net H7568 may be even to H5704 the midst H2677 of the altar. H4196 And thou shalt make H6213 staves H905 for the altar, H4196 staves H905 of shittim H7848 wood, H6086 and overlay H6823 them with brass. H5178 And the staves H905 shall be put H935 into the rings, H2885 and the staves H905 shall be upon the two H8147 sides H6763 of the altar, H4196 to bear H5375 it. Hollow H5014 with boards H3871 shalt thou make H6213 it: as it was shewed H7200 thee in the mount, H2022 so shall they make H6213 it.
Thou shalt also make H6213 a laver H3595 of brass, H5178 and his foot H3653 also of brass, H5178 to wash H7364 withal: and thou shalt put H5414 it between the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 and the altar, H4196 and thou shalt put H5414 water H4325 therein. For Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 shall wash H7364 their hands H3027 and their feet H7272 thereat: When they go H935 into the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 they shall wash H7364 with water, H4325 that they die H4191 not; or when they come near H5066 to the altar H4196 to minister, H8334 to burn offering H6999 made by fire H801 unto the LORD: H3068 So they shall wash H7364 their hands H3027 and their feet, H7272 that they die H4191 not: and it shall be a statute H2706 for ever H5769 to them, even to him and to his seed H2233 throughout their generations. H1755
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 31
Commentary on Exodus 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 31
Ex 31:1-18. Bezaleel and Aholiab.
2. See, I have called—Though the instructions about the tabernacle were privately communicated to Moses, it was plainly impossible that he could superintend the work in person, amid the multiplicity of his other duties. A head director or builder was selected by God Himself; and the nomination by such high authority removed all ground of jealousy or discontent on the part of any who might have thought their merits overlooked (compare Mt 18:1).
by name Bezaleel—signifying "in the shadow or protection of God"; and, as called to discharge a duty of great magnitude—to execute a confidential trust in the ancient Church of God, he has his family and lineage recorded with marked distinction. He belonged to the tribe of Judah, which, doubtless for wise and weighty reasons, God all along delighted to honor; and he was the grandson of Hur, a pious patriot (Ex 17:12), who was associated, by a special commission, with Aaron in the government of the people during the absence of Moses. Moreover, it may be noticed that a Jewish tradition affirms Hur to be the husband of Miriam; and if this tradition may be relied on, it affords an additional reason for the appointment of Bezaleel emanating from the direct authority of God.
3-5. I have filled him with the spirit of God—It is probable that he was naturally endowed with a mechanical genius, and had acquired in Egypt great knowledge and skill in the useful, as well as liberal, arts so as to be a first-class artisan, competent to take charge of both the plain and ornamental work, which the building of the sacred edifice required. When God has any special work to be accomplished, He always raises up instruments capable of doing it; and it is likely that He had given to the son of Uri that strong natural aptitude and those opportunities of gaining mechanical skill, with an ultimate view to this responsible office. Notwithstanding that his grand duty was to conform with scrupulous fidelity to the pattern furnished, there was still plenty of room for inventive talent and tasteful exactness in the execution; and his natural and acquired gifts were enlarged and invigorated for the important work.
6. I have given with him Aholiab—He belonged to the tribe of Dan, one of the least influential and honorable in Israel; and here, too, we can trace the evidence of wise and paternal design, in choosing the colleague or assistant of Bezaleel from an inferior tribe (compare 1Co 12:14-25; also Mr 6:7).
all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom—At that period, when one spirit pervaded all Israel, it was not the man full of heavenly genius who presided over the work; but all who contributed their skill, experience, and labor, in rendering the smallest assistance, showed their piety and devotedness to the divine service. In like manner, it was at the commencement of the Christian Church (Ac 6:5; 18:2).
12-17. Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep—The reason for the fresh inculcation of the fourth commandment at this particular period was, that the great ardor and eagerness, with which all classes betook themselves to the construction of the tabernacle, exposed them to the temptation of encroaching on the sanctity of the appointed day of rest. They might suppose that the erection of the tabernacle was a sacred work, and that it would be a high merit, an acceptable tribute, to prosecute the undertaking without the interruption of a day's repose; and therefore the caution here given, at the commencement of the undertaking, was a seasonable admonition.
18. tables of stone, written with the finger of God—containing the ten commandments (Ex 24:12), called "tables of testimony," because God testified His will in them.