Two Craftsmen and Their Apprentices
30 Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship; 32 and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 33 in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship. 34 He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.
The call given privately on the mountain is announced to the nation, with one detail added: they can teach.
Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
The appointment made on the mountain Exodus 31:2 is now published. The nation is told who has been chosen and on what authority, which matters in a project funded by everyone: the men handling several tons of donated gold are named publicly before they touch it.
The list of skills is repeated almost word for word, with one addition. He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Oholiab Exodus 35:34.
Teaching is part of the gift. Two men cannot build this tent alone, and the endowment includes the capacity to pass the work on — which is why the next chapter can speak of every wise-hearted man working alongside them Exodus 36:1. A gift that could not be transmitted would have finished with its holders.
settled What this mark means