“See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:”
By name. I have fixed upon and taken into my service, as Isaias xliii. 1.
“And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,”
Spirit. “God, our master, causeth our genius to shew itself.” (Seneca, Ben. iv. 4.)
“To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,”
Brass. Septuagint add, “and violet, and purple, and scarlet spun, and byssus twisted.”
“And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.”
Marble and (or) precious stones. Marble was not used in the tabernacle. (Calmet)
“And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;”
Wisdom. Good artists deserve this title, provided they make things of real use. (Origen, hom. 22. Num.)
“The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, furniture: Heb. vessels”
Vessels. Tables, curtains, &c. (Calmet)
“And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, furniture: Heb. vessels”
Table and (all) the. The Samaritan copy retains the word col, “all,” as well as the Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and one Hebrew manuscript, though the printed editions have rejected it. In a Chaldaic manuscript it is also found. The omission, probably was occasioned by the custom of the Jews, who always fill up their line with the initial letters of the next line; and as coliu followed, the transcriber supposed that col was in that predicament. (Kennicott, dis. 2.) — Most pure gold, always giving light, or kept clean, chap. xxxix. 37.
“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.”
Sabbath. Let not the workmen do any thing for the tabernacle on that day. (Menochius) — God reiterates and insists particularly on this commandment, which begins with the word remember; because men are so apt to forget, or to transgress a precept, which seems to interfere with those worldly concerns and profits, which they love more than God and their own souls. (Haydock)
“And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”
Testimony, to inform men of their duty. — Written, not by Moses, or by any man, but by God himself, or by an angel. (Chap. xxxiv. 1.; Galatians iii. 19.) (Calmet)