Study notes

Exodus 31

Introducing ExodusWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

19:1–31:18 Section

God made a covenant with the Israelites on Mount Sinai. It was called the Mount Sinai covenant.

In it, he showed himself to be their Lord and King. The Israelites were the people he ruled over. They were to serve him in the ways he explained in the covenant.

God explained these ways clearly in the Ten Commandments. He also explained many other rules they were to obey. These rules taught the Israelites how to live together after being freed from slavery. The rules also taught them how to worship only God.

The rules included instructions about priests, the holy tent and sacrifices. All together these rules were called the Law of Moses.

God spoke with Moses from the thick cloud that covered Mount Sinai. The people heard God speak. They were very afraid of God. So Moses was the go-between between God and the people.

The Israelites agreed to be faithful to God’s covenant. If they served God faithfully, God promised to do many things for them. He would make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. In this way they would show all other people groups the truth about who God is.

The Israelites sacrificed animals to God. Moses sprinkled the people with the blood of animals. Then the leaders of the people ate a meal before God. God gave Moses a written copy of the covenant on stone tablets. All of these actions were part of putting the covenant into effect.

31:1–11

God gave instructions for the tabernacle complex and for those who would serve in it. He also chose and empowered those who would do the work.

31:6

God gave detailed and remarkable instructions. He also provided skilled craftsmen who could complete the work exactly as he commanded.

In this way, God supplied what his people needed to obey him. This idea is similar to a prayer by Augustine in his book Confessions: “Give what you command, and command what you will” (10.29). Augustine meant that God must give people the ability to do what he requires.

31:11

The main idea of this whole section (25:1–40:38) is clear. God wanted to meet his people’s need for a visible sign of his presence. They needed something they could see that reminded them that he was with them.

However, this had to be done exactly as God commanded. God set the way his people were to approach him. He determines the terms by which people come to him, not human beings.

31:12–18

The Sabbath was understood to be the unique sign of the covenant (31:13, 16, 17; see also 20:8–11; Isaiah 58:13–14; Jeremiah 17:21–27; Nehemiah 13:15–22). The Sabbath also played an important role in God’s plan to make his people holy. Holy refers to being set apart for God’s special use and sharing his character (Exodus 31:13, 14, 15).

By resting on the Sabbath, the people showed that they belonged to him. They stopped their own work on that day (31:15, 17).

This rest was also a practical way to show trust in God. It showed that they depended on him to provide what they needed (see 20:8–11 and study notes).

31:14–15

It is very important to learn that we find life in God only by coming to him in his way.

This truth is made clear by the death penalty for disobedience (see also Numbers 15:32–36). This does not mean that God’s people must punish these sins in the same way. But at the beginning, God needed to make this truth clear (see Acts 5:1–11).

If people do not understand this spiritual lesson, ritual obedience will not help them. Ritual obedience means simply following religious rules. It has no value without true faith and trust in God (see Colossians 2:16–19).

31:18

  • Normally, each party to a covenant received a written copy of the terms of the covenant. So it may be that the two stone tablets were identical, one being God’s copy and the other the people’s copy, to be kept together in the ark of the covenant.

  • finger of God: See 34:28.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources