Exodus 31
The Lord chooses Bezalel and Oholiab to do the work
(Also in Exodus 35:30 – 36:1)
1The Lord said to Moses: 2‘I have chosen Bezalel to do the work. He is the son of Uri and Uri is the son of Hur from the Judah tribe. 3I have given Bezalel wisdom and I have made him clever so that he can do many things well. 4He knows how to draw beautiful pictures and he can make things from gold, silver and bronze. 5He can make jewellery from gemstones and he can work with wood and do many things. 6I have chosen Oholiab to help him. He is the son of Ahisamak from the Dan tribe. I have also made the other artisans clever so that they can do everything that I tell you. 7They must make the tent where I will appear to you, the covenant box in which the 10 commandments must be kept and the lid on it, which is the place of mercy, and they must make everything that must be in the tent. 8They must also make the table and everything for the table, the lamp-stand of pure gold and everything with it, the incense-altar, 9the burnt-offering altar and everything with it, the wash basin and its stand, 10the priestly clothes for Aaron and the priestly clothes for his sons. 11They must also make the anointing-oil and the incense for the tent of the Lord. It pleases Me. They must do it all, as I have told you.’
The Sabbath day
12The Lord said to Moses: 13‘Tell the Israelites: You must always celebrate the Sabbath day. You must do it because this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. If your descendants see that you do this, they will know that I am the Lord who has chosen you to belong to Me. 14This is why you must celebrate the Sabbath day. It must be a holy day for you. Anyone who works on this day must die. Yes, you must cut off from his people anyone who works on the Sabbath day. 15You must work for 6 days, but the 7th day is the Sabbath day to honour the Lord. This is the day when you must all rest because this day is consecrated to Me. You must kill anyone who works on the Sabbath day. 16On the Sabbath day the Israelites must do what I have said. Your descendants must always celebrate the Sabbath day. 17It will always be a sign of the covenant that I have made with the Israelites. I made heaven and earth in 6 days, but on the 7th day I did not work. I rested.’
18When the Lord had finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the 2 stones on which He had written the 10 commandments. They were flat stones and God wrote the 10 commandments on them with his finger.
English Bible for the Deaf © Bible Society of South Africa 2019. Used with permission. All rights reserved.