Exodus 31:14-18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 31:18

Verse 18 18And he gave unto Moses. It must be observed, that, after the voice of God had been heard from the midst of the fire, and He had delivered the Ten Commandments, and the form of the tabernacle had been described, and the work had been already finished by the artificers, though its dedication had not yet taken place, Moses was again withdrawn from the sight and intercourse of men, that he might be taught apart by himself to be a faithful interpreter of the Law. For although God had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:12-18

The Sabbath. If this prohibition to work upon the Sabbath is introduced, as probably it is, lest the people, in their zeal for the service of the sanctuary, should be tempted to infringe upon the holy day, it has certain obvious sides of instruction turned towards ourselves. We cannot but see in it the high honour which God puts upon his Sabbath . 1. It is the one command of the Decalogue to which reference is made in the conclusion of this series of instructions. This implies its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:13-17

1. That the sabbath was to be a sign between God and Israel, a "distinguishing badge," a "sacramental bond" (Cook); and 2. That its desecration was to be punished with death ( Exodus 31:15 ). These were supplementary points of so much importance as to furnish ample reason against their announcement being delayed. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:13-17

Covenant signs. To each covenant which he has made with man, God has attached some special sign or signs. And each sign has been significant, has set before the mind of those to whom it was given some great religious truth. I. THE FIRST COVENANT SIGN WAS THE RAINBOW . God had destroyed by a deluge the whole human race, except eight persons. It pleased him, after this, to enter into a covenant with Noah and his sons ( Genesis 9:8 , Genesis 9:9 ), and through them with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:14

Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death . To defile the sabbath was to do any unnecessary servile work upon it. Works of mercy, works of necessity, and works connected with religious observance were not prohibited. (See Matthew 12:1-7 ; 10-12.) The penalty of death for breaking the sabbath seems to moderns over-severe; but the erection of sabbath-observance into the special sacramental sign that Israel was in covenant with God made non-observance an offence of the gravest... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:15

The sabbath of rest . Rather, "a sabbath." There were other sabbaths besides that of the seventh day ( Exodus 23:11 ; Le Exodus 25:2-12 ; etc.). By the expression, "a sabbath of rest"—literally, "a rest of resting"—the idea of completeness is given. Perhaps the best translation would be—"in the seventh is complete rest." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:16

For a perpetual covenant . The sabbath is itself a covenant— i.e; a part of the covenant between God and Israel ( Exodus 24:4 )—and it is, also, a sign of covenant— i.e; a perceptible indication that the nation has entered into a special agreement with God, and undertaken the observance of special laws. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:17

It is a sign . See above, Exodus 31:13 . For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth . See the comment on Exodus 20:11 . And was refreshed . Literally," and took breath." The metaphor is a bold one, but not bolder than others which occur in holy scripture ( Psalms 44:23 ; Psalms 78:65 ). It does but carry out a little further the idea implied in God's "resting." We cannot speak of any of God's acts or attributes without anthropomorphisms. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:18

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 31:18

When he had made an end of communing . Literally, "when he had finished speaking." Two tables . Rather, " the two tables"— i.e; the tables promised when he went up into the mount ( Exodus 24:12 ). Of stone . Stone was the ordinary material on which Egyptian documents were engraved, both at the time of the Exodus, and before and after. They were, however, for the most part, either inscribed upon the natural rock, or engraved on the walls of temples or tombs. Inscriptions upon slabs... read more

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