mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 31.xml

<div2 id="Ex.xxxii" n="xxxii" next="Ex.xxxiii" prev="Ex.xxxi" progress="45.99%" title="Chapter XXXI">
<h2 id="Ex.xxxii-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.xxxii-p0.2">CHAP. XXXI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.xxxii-p1">God is here drawing towards a conclusion of what
he had to say to Moses upon the mount, where he had now been with
him forty days and forty nights; and yet no more is recorded of
what was said to him in all that time than what we have read in the
six chapters foregoing. In this, I. He appoints what workmen should
be employed in the building and furnishing of the tabernacle,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.1-Exod.31.11" parsed="|Exod|31|1|31|11" passage="Ex 31:1-11">ver. 1-11</scripRef>. II. He repeats
the law of the sabbath, and the religious observance of it,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.12-Exod.31.17" parsed="|Exod|31|12|31|17" passage="Ex 31:12-17">ver. 12-17</scripRef>. III. He
delivers to him the two tables of the testimony at parting,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.18" parsed="|Exod|31|18|0|0" passage="Ex 31:18">ver. 18</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31" parsed="|Exod|31|0|0|0" passage="Ex 31" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.1-Exod.31.11" parsed="|Exod|31|1|31|11" passage="Ex 31:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.31.1-Exod.31.11">
<h4 id="Ex.xxxii-p1.6">Appointment of Bezaleel and
Aholiab. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxii-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxii-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxii-p2.1">Lord</span>
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
<i>them,</i> 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 thee;   7 The tabernacle of the
congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that
<i>is</i> 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 <i>place:</i> according to all that
I have commanded thee shall they do.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p3">A great deal of fine work God had ordered
to be done about the tabernacle; the materials the people were to
provide, but who must put them into form? Moses himself was learned
in all the learning of the Egyptians, nay, he was well acquainted
with the words of God, and the visions of the Almighty; but he knew
not how to engrave or embroider. We may suppose that there were
some very ingenious men among the Israelites; but, having lived all
their days in bondage in Egypt, we cannot think they were any of
them instructed in these curious arts. They knew how to make brick
and work in clay, but to work in gold and in cutting diamonds was
what they had never been brought up to. How should the work be done
with the neatness and exactness that were required when they had no
goldsmiths or jewellers but what must be made out of masons and
bricklayers? We may suppose that there were a sufficient number who
would gladly be employed, and would do their best; but it would be
hard to find out a proper person to preside in this work. <i>Who
was sufficient for these things?</i> But God takes care of this
matter also.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p4">I. He nominates the persons that were to be
employed, that there might be no contest about the preferment, nor
envy at those that were preferred, God himself having made the
choice. 1. Bezaleel was to be the architect, or master workman,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.2" parsed="|Exod|31|2|0|0" passage="Ex 31:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. He was of the
tribe of Judah, a tribe that God delighted to honour; the grandson
of Hur, probably that Hur who had helped to hold up Moses's hands
(<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.17.1-Exod.17.16" parsed="|Exod|17|1|17|16" passage="Ex 17:1-16"><i>ch.</i> xvii.</scripRef>), and
was at this time in commission with Aaron for the government of the
people in the absence of Moses (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.24.14" parsed="|Exod|24|14|0|0" passage="Ex 24:14"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 14</scripRef>); out of that family
which was of note in Israel was the workman chosen, and it added no
little honour to the family that a branch of it was employed,
though but as a mechanic, or handicraft tradesman, for the service
of the tabernacle. The Jews' tradition is that Hur was the husband
of Miriam; and, if so, it was requisite that God should appoint him
to this service, lest, if Moses himself had done it, he should be
thought partial to his own kindred, his brother Aaron also being
advanced to the priesthood. God will put honour upon Moses's
relations, and yet will make it to appear that he takes not the
honour to himself or his own family, but that it is purely the
Lord's doing. 2. Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan, is appointed next to
Bezaleel, and partner with him, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.6" parsed="|Exod|31|6|0|0" passage="Ex 31:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Two are better than one. Christ
sent forth his disciples who were to rear the gospel tabernacle,
two and two, and we read of his two witnesses. Aholiab was of the
tribe of Dan, which was one of the less honourable tribes, that the
tribes of Judah and Levi might not be lifted up, as if they were to
engross all the preferments; to prevent a schism in the body, God
gives honour to <i>that part which lacked,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.12.24" parsed="|1Cor|12|24|0|0" passage="1Co 12:24">1 Cor. xii. 24</scripRef>. <i>The head cannot say to
the foot, I have no need of thee.</i> Hiram, who was the head
workman in the building of Solomon's temple, was also of the tribe
of Dan, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.2.14" parsed="|2Chr|2|14|0|0" passage="2Ch 2:14">2 Chron. ii. 14</scripRef>. 3.
There were others that were employed by and under these in the
several operations about the tabernacle, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.6" parsed="|Exod|31|6|0|0" passage="Ex 31:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Note, When God has work to do he
will never want instruments to do it with, for all hearts and heads
too are under his eye, and in his hand; and those may cheerfully go
about any service for God, and go on in it, who have reason to
think that, one way or other, he has called them to it; for whom he
calls he will own and bear out.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p5">II. He qualifies these persons for the
service (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.3" parsed="|Exod|31|3|0|0" passage="Ex 31:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): <i>I
have filled him with the Spirit of God;</i> and (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.6" parsed="|Exod|31|6|0|0" passage="Ex 31:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>) <i>in the hearts of all that are
wise-hearted I have put wisdom.</i> Note, 1. Skill in common arts
and employments is the gift of God; from him are derived both the
faculty and the improvement of the faculty. It is he that puts even
this <i>wisdom into the inward parts,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.36" parsed="|Job|38|36|0|0" passage="Job 38:36">Job xxxviii. 36</scripRef>. He teaches the husbandman
discretion (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.28.26" parsed="|Isa|28|26|0|0" passage="Isa 28:26">Isa. xxviii.
26</scripRef>), and the tradesman too; and he must have the praise
of it. 2. God dispenses his gifts variously, one gift to one,
another to another, and all for the good of the whole body, both of
mankind and of the church. Moses was fittest of all to govern
Israel, but Bezaleel was fitter than he to build the tabernacle.
The common benefit is very much supported by the variety of men's
faculties and inclinations; the genius of some leads them to be
serviceable one way, of others another way, and <i>all these
worketh that one and the self-same Spirit,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.12.11" parsed="|1Cor|12|11|0|0" passage="1Co 12:11">1 Cor. xii. 11</scripRef>. This forbids pride, envy,
contempt, and carnal emulation, and strengthens the bond of mutual
love. 3. Those whom God calls to any service he will either find,
or make, fit for it. If God give the commission, he will in some
measure give the qualifications, according as the service is. The
work, that was to be done here was to make the tabernacle and the
utensils of it, which are here particularly reckoned up, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.7" parsed="|Exod|31|7|0|0" passage="Ex 31:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>, &amp;c. And for this the
persons employed were enabled to <i>work in gold, and silver, and
brass.</i> When Christ sent his apostles to rear the gospel
tabernacle, he poured out his Spirit upon them, to enable them to
speak with tongues the wonderful works of God; not to work upon
metal, but to work upon men; so much more excellent were the gifts,
as the tabernacle to be pitched was a <i>greater and more perfect
tabernacle,</i> as the apostle calls it, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.11" parsed="|Heb|9|11|0|0" passage="Heb 9:11">Heb. ix. 11</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxxii-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31" parsed="|Exod|31|0|0|0" passage="Ex 31" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxii-p5.9" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.12-Exod.31.18" parsed="|Exod|31|12|31|18" passage="Ex 31:12-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.31.12-Exod.31.18">
<h4 id="Ex.xxxii-p5.10">The Observance of the
Sabbath. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxii-p5.11">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxii-p6">12 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxii-p6.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   13 Speak thou also unto the
children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for
it <i>is</i> a sign between me and you throughout your generations;
that <i>ye</i> may know that I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxii-p6.2">Lord</span> that doth sanctify you.   14 Ye shall
keep the sabbath therefore; for it <i>is</i> holy unto you: every
one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever
doeth <i>any</i> work therein, that soul shall be cut off from
among his people.   15 Six days may work be done; but in the
seventh <i>is</i> the sabbath of rest, holy to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxii-p6.3">Lord</span>: whosoever doeth <i>any</i> work in the
sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.   16 Wherefore
the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the
sabbath throughout their generations, <i>for</i> a perpetual
covenant.   17 It <i>is</i> a sign between me and the children
of Israel for ever: for <i>in</i> six days the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxii-p6.4">Lord</span> made heaven and earth, and on the seventh
day he rested, and was refreshed.   18 And he gave unto Moses,
when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two
tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of
God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p7">Here is, I. A strict command for the
sanctification of the sabbath day, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.13-Exod.31.17" parsed="|Exod|31|13|31|17" passage="Ex 31:13-17"><i>v.</i> 13-17</scripRef>. The law of the sabbath
had been given them before any other law, by was of preparation
(<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.16.23" parsed="|Exod|16|23|0|0" passage="Ex 16:23"><i>ch.</i> xvi. 23</scripRef>); it
had been inserted in the body of the moral law, in the fourth
commandment; it had been annexed to the judicial law (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.23.12" parsed="|Exod|23|12|0|0" passage="Ex 23:12"><i>ch.</i> xxiii. 12</scripRef>); and here it is
added to the first part of the ceremonial law, because the
observance of the sabbath is indeed the hem and hedge of the whole
law; where no conscience is made of that, farewell both godliness
and honesty; for, in the moral law, it stands in the midst between
the two tables. Some suggest that it comes in here upon another
account. Orders were now given that a tabernacle should be set up
and furnished for the service of God with all possible expedition;
but lest they should think that the nature of the work, and the
haste that was required, would justify them in working at it on
sabbath days, that they might get it done the sooner, this caution
is seasonably inserted, <i>Verily,</i> or <i>nevertheless, my
sabbaths you shall keep.</i> Though they must hasten the work, yet
they must not make more haste than good speed; they must not break
the law of the sabbath in their haste: even tabernacle-work must
give way to the sabbath-rest; so jealous is God for the honour of
his sabbaths. Observe what is here said concerning the sabbath
day.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p8">1. The nature, meaning, and intention, of
the sabbath, by the declaration of which God puts an honour upon
it, and teaches us to value it. Divers things are here said of the
sabbath. (1.) <i>It is a sign between me and you</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.13" parsed="|Exod|31|13|0|0" passage="Ex 31:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), and again, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.17" parsed="|Exod|31|17|0|0" passage="Ex 31:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. The institution of the
sabbath was a great instance of God's favour to them, and a sign
that he had distinguished them from all other people; and their
religious observance of the sabbath was a great instance of their
duty and obedience to him. God, by sanctifying this day among them,
let them know that he sanctified them, and set them apart for
himself and his service; otherwise he would not have revealed to
them his holy sabbaths, to be the support of religion among them.
Or it may refer to the law concerning the sabbath, <i>Keep my
sabbaths, that you may know that I the Lord do sanctify you.</i>
Note, If God by his grace incline our hearts to keep the law of the
fourth commandment, it will be an evidence of a good work wrought
in us by his Spirit. If we sanctify God's day, it is a sign between
him and us that he has sanctified our hearts: hence it is the
character of the blessed man that he <i>keepeth the sabbath from
polluting it,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.56.2" parsed="|Isa|56|2|0|0" passage="Isa 56:2">Isa. lvi.
2</scripRef>. The Jews, by observing one day in seven, after six
days' labour, testified and declared that they worshipped the God
who made the world in six days, and rested the seventh; and so
distinguished themselves from other nations, who, having first lost
the sabbath, which was instituted to be a memorial of the creation,
by degrees lost the knowledge of the Creator, and gave that honour
to the creature which was due to him alone. (2.) <i>It is holy unto
you</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.14" parsed="|Exod|31|14|0|0" passage="Ex 31:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>),
that is, "It is designed for your benefit as well as for God's
honour;" <i>the sabbath was made for man.</i> Or, "It shall be
accounted holy by you, and shall so be observed, and you shall look
upon it a sacrilege to profane it." (3.) It is the <i>sabbath of
rest, holy to the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.15" parsed="|Exod|31|15|0|0" passage="Ex 31:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. It is separated from common use, and designed for
the honour and service of God, and by the observance of it we are
taught to rest from worldly pursuits and the service of the flesh,
and to devote ourselves, and all we are, have, and can do, to God's
glory. (4.) It was to be observed <i>throughout their
generations,</i> in every age, <i>for a perpetual covenant.</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.16" parsed="|Exod|31|16|0|0" passage="Ex 31:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. This was to
be one of the most lasting tokens of that covenant which was
between God and Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p9">2. The law of the sabbath. They must keep
it (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.13-Exod.31.14 Bible:Exod.31.16" parsed="|Exod|31|13|31|14;|Exod|31|16|0|0" passage="Ex 31:13,14,16"><i>v.</i> 13, 14,
16</scripRef>), keep it as a treasure, as a trust, observe it and
preserve it, keep it from polluting it, keep it up as a sign
between God and them, keep it and never part with it. The Gentiles
had anniversary-feasts, to the honour of their gods; but it was
peculiar to the Jews to have a weekly festival; this therefore they
must carefully observe.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p10">3. The reason of the sabbath; for God's
laws are not only backed with the highest authority, but supported
with the best reason. God's own example is the great reason,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.17" parsed="|Exod|31|17|0|0" passage="Ex 31:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. As the work
of creation is worthy to be thus commemorated, so the great Creator
is worthy to be thus imitated, by a holy rest, the seventh day,
after six days' labour, especially since we hope, in further
conformity to the same example, shortly to rest with him from all
our labours.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p11">4. The penalty to be inflicted for the
breach of this law: "Every one that <i>defileth the sabbath,</i> by
doing <i>any work therein</i> but works of piety and mercy,
<i>shall be cut off from among his people</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.14" parsed="|Exod|31|14|0|0" passage="Ex 31:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>); <i>he shall surely be put to
death.</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.15" parsed="|Exod|31|15|0|0" passage="Ex 31:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>.
The magistrate must cut him off the sword of justice if the crime
can be proved; if it cannot, or if the magistrate be remiss, and do
not do his duty, God will take the work into his own hands, and cut
him off by a stroke from heaven, and his family shall be rooted out
of Israel." Note, The contempt and profanation of the sabbath day
is an iniquity to be punished by the judges; and, if men do not
punish it, God will, here or hereafter, unless it be repented
of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxii-p12">II. The delivering of the two tables of
testimony to Moses. God had promised him these tables when he
called him up into the mount (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.24.12" parsed="|Exod|24|12|0|0" passage="Ex 24:12"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 12</scripRef>), and now, when he was
sending him down, he delivered them to him, to be carefully and
honourably deposited in the ark, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.18" parsed="|Exod|31|18|0|0" passage="Ex 31:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. 1. The ten commandments which
God had spoken upon Mount Sinai in the hearing of all the people
were now written, <i>in perpetuam rei memoriam—for a perpetual
memorial,</i> because that which is written remains. 2. They were
written in <i>tables of stone,</i> prepared, not by Moses, as it
should seem (for it is intimated, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.24.12" parsed="|Exod|24|12|0|0" passage="Ex 24:12"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 12</scripRef>, that he found them ready
written when he went up to the mount), but, as some think, by the
ministry of angels. The law was written in <i>tables of stone,</i>
to denote the perpetual duration of it (what can be supposed to
last longer than that which is written in stone, and laid up?), to
denote likewise the hardness of our hearts; one might more easily
write in stone than write any thing that is good in our corrupt and
sinful hearts. 3. They were written <i>with the finger of God,</i>
that is, by his will and power immediately, without the use of any
instrument. It is God only that can write his law in the heart; he
<i>gives a heart of flesh,</i> and then, by his Spirit, which is
the <i>finger of God,</i> he writes his will in the <i>fleshly
tables of the heart,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.3" parsed="|2Cor|3|3|0|0" passage="2Co 3:3">2 Cor. iii.
3</scripRef>. 4. They were written in two tables, being designed to
direct us in our duty both towards God and towards man. 5. They are
called <i>tables of testimony,</i> because this written law
testified both the will of God concerning them and his good-will
towards them, and would be a testimony against them if they were
disobedient. 6. They were delivered to Moses, probably with a
charge, before he laid them up in the ark, to show them publicly,
that they might be <i>seen and read of all men,</i> and so what
they had heard with the hearing of the ear might now be brought to
their remembrance. Thus <i>the law was given by Moses, but grace
and truth came by Jesus Christ.</i></p>
</div></div2>