Exodus 31

Bezalel and Oholiab

1Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “I have chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri. Uri is the son of Hur. Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God. I have filled Bezalel with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skill. He can make beautiful patterns in gold, silver and bronze. He can cut and set stones. He can work with wood. In fact, he can work in all kinds of crafts. I have also appointed Oholiab, the son of Ahisamak, to help him. Oholiab is from the tribe of Dan.

I have given ability to all the skilled workers. They can make everything I have commanded you to make. Here is the complete list.

“the tent of meeting

the ark where the tablets of the covenant law are kept

the cover for the ark

the table for the holy bread and its things

the pure gold lampstand and everything used with it

the altar for burning incense

the altar for burnt offerings and all its tools

the large bowl with its stand

10 the sacred clothes for Aaron the priest

the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests

11 the anointing oil

the sweet-smelling incense for the Holy Room

“The skilled workers must make them just as I commanded you.”

The Sabbath Day

12 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. 13 He said, “Tell the people of Israel, ‘You must always keep my Sabbath days. That will be the sign of the covenant I have made between me and you for all time to come. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I am the one who makes you holy.

14 “ ‘Keep the Sabbath day. It is holy to you. Those who misuse it must be put to death. Those who do any work on that day must be separated from their people. 15 Do your work in six days. But the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest. You must rest on it. It is set apart for the Lord. Those who work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites must keep the Sabbath day. They must celebrate it for all time to come. It will be a covenant that lasts forever. 17 It will be the sign of the covenant I have made between me and the Israelites forever. The Lord made the heavens and the earth in six days. But on the seventh day he did not work. He rested.’ ”

18 The Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law. They were made out of stone. The words on them were written by the finger of God.