The Craftsmen (1-11)

The Lord then told Moses that He had called, by name, Bezalel from the tribe of Judah, to oversee the construction of the Tabernacle. He was a man of ability, intelligence, knowledge, and craftsmanship. For the first time in the Scripture, a person was said to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and the person who was declared so was not a religious leader. We learn much about what happens when a person is filled with the Spirit. They are endued from God with:

• empowered potential

• the ability to think things through

• the experience of know-how 

• mastery of their craft (1-3) 

Yahweh also appointed Oholiab from Dan to assist in the leadership of building the Tabernacle and its associated furnishings, utensils, oils, incense, and clothing for the priests. 

Not only did Yahweh provide leadership, but He gave power to all craftsmen—able men with faculty and aptness to make, in holy detail, what Yahweh had commanded (4-6). 

Yahweh equipped the craftsmen to be equal to the task of the grand design of the worship center.  

None of these artisans were to be innovative; they were to construct the Tabernacle precisely as God had instructed Moses (7-11).

The Sabbaths (12-17)

Interestingly, Yahweh reiterated His Sabbath concerns. He told Moses that, above all, they were to keep the Sabbath or make the Sabbath day a holy day, a sanctified day, a day absent of work. The command was aimed at making certain Israel kept the Sabbath during the construction of the Tabernacle. Neither Israel’s sense of the importance of the endeavor nor its sense of urgency to complete it should interfere with Sabbath’s rhythm.  

The Sabbath was a sign between Yahweh and His people. The sign pointed to Yahweh’s desire for His people to know Him and join Him in sanctifying the relationship with the Sabbath (12-13).

Those who profaned or began a campaign to discontinue or make the Sabbath common and unnecessary were to experience death. Those who refused to keep it were to fall outside of Yahweh’s family nation (14). 

Six days’ work for profit was permitted, but one day a week was to be given fully to rest in holy relationship with Yahweh (15). 

Sabbath-keeping was to be a generational and eternal event, a sign pointing toward Yahweh’s rest on the seventh day and His desire to rest and be refreshed with and in His people (16-17). 

The Tablets (18)

Once Yahweh had finished speaking, He gave Moses two tablets, and on these two tablets were written God’s Law by His own finger (18).

Back in chapter 24, Moses left the 73 men sitting at the dinner table. The 73 went down the mountain to the people. Moses returned to the camp. This verse is the transition verse where Moses made his way back down to the people to witness what had lapsed in his absence.