Exodus 31:1-11

Exodus 31:1-11

[1] And the LORD  spake  unto Moses,  saying,  [2] See,  I have called  by name  Bezaleel  the son  of Uri,  the son  of Hur,  of the tribe  of Judah:  [3] And I have filled  him with the spirit  of God,  in wisdom,  and in understanding,  and in knowledge,  and in all manner of workmanship,  [4] To devise  cunning works,  to work  in gold,  and in silver,  and in brass,  [5] And in cutting  of stones,  to set  them, and in carving  of timber,  to work  in all manner of workmanship.  [6] And I, behold, I have given  with him Aholiab,  the son  of Ahisamach,  of the tribe  of Dan:  and in the hearts  of all that are wise  hearted  I have put  wisdom,  that they may make  all that I have commanded  [7] The tabernacle  of the congregation,  and the ark  of the testimony,  and the mercy seat  that is thereupon, and all the furniture  of the tabernacle,  [8] And the table  and his furniture,  and the pure  candlestick  with all his furniture,  and the altar  of incense,  [9] And the altar  of burnt offering  with all his furniture,  and the laver  and his foot,  [10] And the cloths  of service,  and the holy  garments  for Aaron  the priest,  and the garments  of his sons,  to minister in the priest's office,  [11] And the anointing  oil,  and sweet  incense  for the holy  place: according to all that I have commanded  thee shall they do. 

What does Exodus 31:1-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Chapter31summarizes what God required for His people to approach Him. God appointed the men who would be responsible for interpreting Moses" instructions about the tabernacle and constructing it. He filled them with His Spirit so they would make choices consistent with His will ( Exodus 31:3).
Bezalel ("In the shadow of God") was evidently Miriam"s grandson. [1] Oholiab ("The Father is my tent") was his assistant. God endowed both men with natural ability as well as with the Holy Spirit to do the work He had appointed for them (cf. Acts 6:3).
"Though they were skilled, the narrative emphasizes clearly that they were to do the work of building the tabernacle by means of the skills that the Spirit of God would give them. There is an important parallel here with God"s work of Creation in Genesis 1. Just as God did his work of Creation by means of his Spirit ( Genesis 1:2 to Genesis 2:3), so also Israel was to do their work of building the tabernacle by God"s Spirit.
"The parallels between God"s work in Creation and Israel"s work on the tabernacle are part of the Pentateuch"s larger emphasis on the importance of the work of God"s Spirit among his people.... It is of interest here to note that the two key characters in the Pentateuch who provide a clear picture of genuine obedience to God"s will, Joseph and Joshua , are specifically portrayed in the narrative as those who are filled with the Spirit of God ( Genesis 41:38; Deuteronomy 34:9)." [2]