God’s Artisans: Bezalel and Oholiab

Exodus 31

YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, “Look, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom and understanding, with knowledge and all kinds of skills, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut stones for setting, to carve wood, and to work in all kinds of crafts. Look, I have appointed Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, with him. In the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base, the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they are to do.”

The Sabbath

YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, You must declare to the children of Israel, ‘Y’all must observe my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and y’all throughout y’all’s generations, that y’all may know that I am YHWH who sanctifies y’all. Y’all must observe the Sabbath because it is holy to y’all. Everyone who profanes it must be put to death-death. For whoever does any work on it, that life must be cut off from among their people. Work is to be done for six days, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to YHWH. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death-death. Therefore the children of Israel are to keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’”

When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.