NEW: Please subscribe to my Substack/newsletter at the bottom of the page. Thanks!
Parsha 21:
Ki Tissa (continued)
“When you take” • Exod. 30:11-34:36
f. Bezalel and Oholiab (31:1-11)
1 ADONAI[GN] spoke to Moshe, saying, 2 “Look,[2] I have called out by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of Elohim,[3] with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, 4 to design skillful works in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting precious stones for setting, and in woodcarving, for work in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 HinnehBehold, Look, I have selected Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant; and I have put wisdom in the heart of every skilled craftsman, so that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the Mercy Seat that is on it, all the other furnishings of the Tent — 8 the table and its utensils, the pure lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, the basin and its stand — 10 as well as the finely wobven garments, both the holy garments for Aharon the cohen and the garments for his sons to to serve as cohenim — 11 the anointing oil and the fragrant for the Holy Place: they are to make everything exactly as I have commanded you.”
g. Observance of the Sabbath (31:12-18)
12 ADONAI said to Moshe, 13 “Tell the people of Isra'el, ‘Above all[13] you must keep my ShabbatsSabbaths; for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am ADONAI who sanctifies you. 14 Therefore, you must keep Shabbat, for it is holy to you. Anyone who profanes[14] it must surely be put to death. Anyone who does any [ordinary] work on that day must be cut off from among his people. 15 Work[15a] may be done for six days, but the seventh day is a Shabbat of complete rest, holy[15b] to ADONAI. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.[15c] 16 The people of Isra'el must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it as a perpetual covenant throughout their generations. 17 It is a sign between Me and the people of Isra'el forever; for in six days ADONAI made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he ceased[17] [from working], and was refreshed.’”
(ii) 18 When He had finished speaking with Moshe on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of Elohim.
2. Look: Hebrew רְאֵ֖ה (rə·’êh), to see, look intently, inspect, perceive, observe, consider. [BACK]
3. It is important to understand that being filled with the Spirit of God, Ruach HaKodesh, is not just a “New Testament thing.” The difference is that before the Resurrection of Yeshua, the Ruach was given on a temporary basis for a specific function, and after the Resurrection the indwelling of the Ruach is a permanent condition for the follower of Yeshua. From his chapter, surely we must consider if all of our artistic skills come from God. [BACK]
13. Above all: Hebrew אַךְ (ak), surely (emphatic), most certainly. [BACK]
14. Profain: Hebrew מְחַֽלְלֶ֙יהָ֙ (mə·ḥal·le·hā) to defile, polute, desecrate; to treat as common or ordinary; dishonor, violate; lit. to pierce or wound. Thus, when we violate Shabbat it is as if we caused it physical harm. [BACK]
15a. The age-old question is “What work is prohibited on Shabbat?” Priests, Levites, Rabbis all “work” on Shabbat, but that is HaShem’s work and is therefore exempt. Can I mow my lawn? Cook? Wash dishes? The better question is, why would you want to ignore HaShem’s plea that you just stop everything and spend 24 hours simply enjoying His fellowship? He has promised that if you will set aside just that one day out of the week to spend with Him, He will be there keeping His appointment with you. If the President (assuming it was one worthy of your respect) invited you to spend a day with him, wouldn’t you? Then why not set aside one day for the Emperor of the Cosmos? If you really must have an answer to the question, the Hebrew word for “work” here is מְלָאכָ֔ה (mə·lā·ḵāh), which refers to occupation, business, workmanship, service. How you choose to interpret that is between you and Him. [BACK]
15b. Holy: Hebrew קֹ֖דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš), set apart for a specific purpose. [BACK]
15c. Since ADONAI imposes the death penalty upon anyone who profains (makes common) His holy Shabbat, He must think that observing that one day a week is of critical importance. Maybe it would do well for us to take Him seriously. [BACK]
17. See the notes on Genesis 2:2-3. [BACK]
Other commentaries on Exodus 31
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Pulpit Commentary
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
|
 |
Subscribe to my Substack/newsletter |
ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
