Albert Barnes Commentary Exodus 31:1-11

"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy-seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the Tent, and the table and its vessels, and the pure candlestick with all its vessels, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt-offering with all its vessels, and the laver and its base, and the finely wrought garments, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest`s office, and the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do." — Exodus 31:1-11 (ASV)

(Exodus 35:30–35) This solemn call of Bezaleel and Aholiab is full of instruction. Their work was to be only that of handicraftsmen. Still, it was Yahweh Himself who called them by name to their tasks, and the powers which they were now called upon to exercise in their respective crafts were declared to have been given to them by the Holy Spirit. Thus, every effort of skill, every sort of well-ordered labor, when directed to a right end, is brought into the very highest sphere of association.

There appears to be sufficient reason for identifying Hur, the grandfather of Bezaleel, with the Hur who assisted Aaron in supporting the hands of Moses during the battle with Amalek at Rephidim (Exodus 17:10), and who was associated with Aaron in the charge of the people while Moses was on the mountain (Exodus 24:14). Josephus says that he was the husband of Miriam. It is thus probable that Bezaleel was related to Moses. He was the chief artificer in metal, stone, and wood; he also had to perform the apothecary’s work in the composition of the anointing oil and the incense (Exodus 37:29). He had precedence over all the artificers, but Aholiab appears to have had the entire charge of the textile work (Exodus 35:35; Exodus 38:23).

(Exodus 31:3)

Wisdom, understanding, Knowledge—Or, that “right judgment in all things” for which we especially pray on Whitsunday; the perceptive faculty; and experience, a practical acquaintance with facts.

(Exodus 31:4)

To devise cunning works—Rather, to devise works of skill. The Hebrew phrase is not the same as that rendered cunning work in respect to textile fabrics (Exodus 26:1).

(Exodus 31:10)

And the cloths of service—Rather, And the garments of office; that is, the distinguishing official garments of the high priest. The three kinds of dress mentioned in this verse appear to be the only ones which were unique to the sanctuary. They were:

1. The richly adorned state robes of the high priest (Exodus 39:1 and following).

2. The holy garments of white linen for the high priest, worn on the most solemn occasion in the year (Leviticus 16:4).

3. The garments of white linen for all the priests, worn in their regular ministrations .