John Calvin Commentary Exodus 31:6

"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:" — Exodus 31:6 (ASV)

And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab. It is no matter of surprise that the principal workman should be chosen from the tribe of Judah; ²⁹¹ why a companion should be given him from the tribe of Dan can hardly be accounted for, unless its obscurity more highly illustrated the grace of God.

A kind of contradiction at first sight appears when it is added immediately afterwards that God had put wisdom in the hearts of all who were wise-hearted; for, if they already excelled in intelligence, what was the object of this new inspiration? Therefore, it has been commonly supposed that the special grace of God was only given to aid the ability we naturally possess.

But this passage teaches us instead that when anything grows in us, and our endowments manifest themselves more conspicuously, our progress is derived solely from the continued operation of the Spirit. God had already conferred acuteness and intelligence on the craftsmen in question. Yet their dexterity was only, as it were, the seed, and He now promises that He will give them more than had previously appeared.

I know that the words may be explained in this way: Whoever is fit and proper for the work has therefore been endowed with intelligence because God has inspired it by His secret influence; but the other exposition is more simple. What follows concerning the various parts of the tabernacle has already been treated elsewhere.

²⁹¹ Addition in Fr., “Laquelle estoit la premiere en dignite;” which was the highest in dignity.., “Laquelle estoit la premiere en dignite;” which was the highest in dignity.