Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Bezalel and Oholiab : filled with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, in all kinds of workmanship

Chapter 35 of Exodus tells us of two men chosen by the LORD to be his craftsmen in building the Tabernacle and its coverings and furnishings, and the priestly vestments.

They are Bezalel ben Uri ben Hur of tribe Judah, assisted by Oboliab ben Ahisamach of tribe Dan.

Verse 31 tells us that the LORD has called Bezalel and has filled him "filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship".

Similarly, verse 35 tells us that God has filled both Bezalel and Oholiab "with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skilful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver,".

30 Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, the LORD 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 skilful 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 skilful 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 skilful 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 skilful works.

Exodus 35:30 - 35  World English Bible 

A similar description of the calling of Bezalel ben Uri ben Hur and Oboliab ben Ahisamach is given earlier in Exodus chapter 31, as shown below:

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,
4 to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,
5 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.
6 Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
8 the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
9 the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
10 the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— 11 the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

Exodus 31:1 - 10  World English Bible 

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus Anointed, let us seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, that, like Bezalel and Oholiab, we may have wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, to be skilfull workers in the Kingdom of God.