Who is appointed to make the sanctuary’s things, and why must Israel keep the sabbath?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

God calls Beseleel, fills him with his spirit for the work, gives him Ooliab as companion and puts wisdom in every skilled man to make what he commands. Israel must keep the sabbath as a lasting sign that the Lord sanctifies them, recalling his six days of making heaven and earth and his seventh-day rest.

Chapter breakdown

Who is appointed to make the sanctuary’s things, and why must Israel keep the sabbath? God calls Beseleel, fills him with his spirit for the work, gives him Ooliab as companion and puts wisdom in every skilled man to make what he commands. Israel must keep the sabbath as a lasting sign that the Lord sanctifies them, recalling his six days of making heaven and earth and his seventh-day rest.

The Lord tells Moses he has called Beseleel by name: son of Uri, son of Hur, of Juda’s tribe. He fills Beseleel with the spirit of God, wisdom, understanding and knowledge in every kind of work, to devise work in gold, silver, brass, marble, precious stones and different woods. He gives him Ooliab, son of Achisamech of Dan’s tribe, as companion. He puts wisdom in every skilled man’s heart so they may make everything he has commanded Moses.

Their work includes the tabernacle of the covenant, ark of the testimony, propitiatory above it and all the tabernacle’s vessels; the table and its vessels, the most pure candlestick and its vessels, the altars of incense and holocaust and all their vessels, and the washing basin with its foot. They make the holy garments for Aaron the priest and his sons to serve about the sacred things, the anointing oil and the incense of spices in the sanctuary. They are to make all that the Lord has commanded.

The Lord tells Moses to speak to Israel: they must keep his sabbath because it is a sign between him and them through their generations, so they may know he is the Lord who sanctifies them. It is holy to them. Whoever profanes it is put to death; the soul of whoever does any work on it perishes from among his people.

Work is done for six days, but the seventh is the sabbath, rest holy to the Lord. Anyone doing work that day dies. Israel is to keep and celebrate it through its generations. It is an everlasting covenant and perpetual sign between the Lord and Israel: in six days he made heaven and earth, and on the seventh he ceased from work.

When the Lord finishes these words on Mount Sinai, he gives Moses two stone tables of testimony, written with the finger of God.

The story inside

The chapter moves from the people appointed for work to the command about rest and the delivery of the tables. Beseleel’s family and tribe are named, and God fills him with his spirit and the knowledge needed for work in the named materials. Ooliab is appointed as companion, while every skilled man receives wisdom to make all the commanded things. The list names the sanctuary, furnishings, garments, oil and incense. The next speech commands Israel to keep the sabbath, with its holy status, sign, penalties and continuing observance. Its stated reason recalls the Lord’s six days of creation and seventh-day cessation from work. After these words on Sinai, Moses receives the two stone tables written with God’s finger. The chapter gives the commission and commands, rather than a record of completed construction or weekly compliance. (Exodus 31:1–18.)

Lessons worth keeping

1
The appointments are stated precisely. Beseleel is the one said to be filled with the spirit of God. Ooliab is given as companion, and wisdom is placed in every skilled man’s heart so they can make what God commands. (31:2–6.)
2
The work list stays tied to the command. It includes the tabernacle and vessels, furnishings, washing basin, Aaron’s and his sons’ garments, anointing oil and incense. The chapter says they shall make all the commanded things; it does not yet report their completion. (31:7–11.)
3
The sabbath is a continuing sign with a stated reason. Israel keeps it to know the Lord sanctifies them, and the six-workday, seventh-rest-day rule recalls the Lord making heaven and earth in six days and ceasing on the seventh. The penalties for profaning it or working remain explicit. (31:13–17.)

Test your recall

Why is wisdom put in the skilled men’s hearts? So they make all the things God commands. Who is specifically filled with the spirit of God? Beseleel; Ooliab is his appointed companion. Why does Israel keep the sabbath as a sign? To know the Lord sanctifies them. What creation pattern explains it? Six days making heaven and earth, then cessation from work on the seventh. What does Moses receive when the words end?

Show answer

Two stone tables of testimony written with God’s finger. (31:3, 6, 13, 17–18.)

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 9454–9460
Exodus Chapter 31 Beseleel and Ooliab are appointed by the Lord to make the tabernacle, and the things belonging thereto. The observation of the sabbath day is again commanded. And the Lord delivereth to Moses two tables written with the finger of God.
Lines 9461–9478
31:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 31:2. Behold, I have called by name Beseleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Juda, 31:3. And I have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and understanding, and knowledge in all manner of work, 31:4. To devise whatsoever may be artificially made of gold, and silver, and brass, 31:5. Of marble, and precious stones, and variety of wood. 31:6. And I have given him for his companion Ooliab, the son of Achisamech, of the tribe of Dan. And I have put wisdom in the heart of every skilful man, that they may make all things which I have commanded thee,
Lines 9479–9493
31:7. The tabernacle of the covenant, and the ark of the testimony, and the propitiatory, that is over it, and all the vessels of the tabernacle, 31:8. And the table and the vessels thereof, the most pure candlestick with the vessels thereof, and the altars of incense, 31:9. And of holocaust, and all their vessels, the laver with its foot, 31:10. The holy vestments in the ministry for Aaron the priest, and for his sons, that they may execute their office, about the sacred things: 31:11. The oil of unction, and the incense of spices in the sanctuary, all things which I have commanded thee, shall they make.
Lines 9494–9504
31:12. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 31:13. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: See that you keep my sabbath; because it is a sign between me and you in your generations that you may know that I am the Lord, who sanctify you. 31:14. keep you my sabbath: for it is holy unto you: he that shall profane it, shall be put to death: he that shall do any work in it, his soul shall perish out of the midst of his people.
Lines 9505–9515
31:15. Six days shall you do work: in the seventh day is the sabbath, the rest holy to the Lord. Every one that shall do any work on this day, shall die. 31:16. Let the children of Israel keep the sabbath, and celebrate it in their generations. 31:17. It is an everlasting covenant, and a perpetual sign between me and the children of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and in the seventh he ceased from work.
Lines 9516–9519
31:18. And the Lord, when he had ended these words in Mount Sinai, gave to Moses two stone tables of testimony, written with the finger of God.