Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Exodus
Book: Exodus
Chapter: 31
Overview:
Bezaleel and
Aholiab are appointed and qualified for the work
of the
Tabernacle.
(1-11) The observance of the
Sabbath.
(12-17)
Moses receives the
Tables of the
Law.
(18)
1-11 The Israelites, who had been masons and bricklayers in
Egypt, were not qualified for curious workmanship; but the
Spirit who gave the apostles utterance in divers
Tongues,
miraculously gave
Bezaleel and
Aholiab the skill that was
wanting. The honour which comes from
God, is always attended
with a work to be done; to be employed for
God is high honour.
Those whom
God calls to any service, he will find or make fit
for it. The
Lord gives different
Gifts to different persons; let
each mind his proper work, diligently remembering that whatever
Wisdom any one possesses, the
Lord Put it in the
Heart, to do
his
Commandments.
12-17 Orders were now given that a
Tabernacle should be set up
for the service of
God. But they must not think that the nature
of the work, and the haste that was required, would justify them
in working at it
On Sabbath days. The
Hebrew Word /shabath/
signifies
Rest, or ceasing from labour. The thing signified
By
the
Sabbath is that
Rest in
Glory which remains for the people
of
God; therefore the moral obligation of the
Sabbath must
continue, till time is swallowed up in eternity.
18 The
Law was written in
Tables of
Stone, to show how lasting
it is: to denote likewise the hardness of our hearts; one might
more easily write
On Stone, than write any thing good
On our
corrupt natural hearts. It was written with the finger of
God;
By his will and power.
God only can write his
Law in the
Heart:
he gives a
Heart of
Flesh; then,
By his
Spirit, which is the
finger of
God, writes his will in the
Heart, 2Co 3:3.