Verse 25
After the art of the apothecary - The original, רקח rokeach, signifies a compounder or confectioner; any person who compounds drugs, aromatics, etc.
Verse 30
Thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons - For the reason of this anointing, see Clarke's note on [Exo 29:7]. It seems that this anointing oil was an emblem of Divine teaching, and especially of those influences by which the Church of Christ was, in the beginning, guided into all truth; as is evident from the allusion to it by St. John: "Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. The anointing which ye have received from him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him; [1Jn 2:20], [1Jn 2:27].
Verse 34
Take unto thee sweet spices - The holy perfume was compounded of the following ingredients: Stacte - נטף nataph, supposed to be the same with what was afterwards called the balm of Jericho. Stacte is the gum which spontaneously flows from the tree which produces myrrh. See Clarke's note on [Exo 30:23].
Onycha - שחלת shecheleth, allowed by the best critics to be the unguis odoriferans described by Rumph, which is the external crust of the shell-fish purpura or murex, and is the basis of the principal perfumes made in the East Indies.
Galbanum - חלבנה chelbenah, the bubon gummiferum or African ferula; it rises with a ligneous stalk from eight to ten feet, and is garnished with leaves at each joint. The top of the stock is terminated by an umbel of yellow flowers, which are succeeded by oblong channelled seeds, which have a thin membrane or wing on their border. When any part of the plant is broken, there issues out a little thin milk of a cream color. The gummy resinous juice which proceeds from this plant is what is commonly called galbanum, from the chelbench of the Hebrews.
Pure frankincense - לבנה זקה lebonah zaccah. Frankincense is supposed to derive its name from frank, free, because of its liberal or ready distribution of its odours. It is a dry resinous substance, in pieces or drops of a pale yellowish white color, has a strong smell, and bitter acrid taste. The tree which produces it is not well known. Dioscorides mentions it as gotten in India. What is called here pure frankincense is no doubt the same with the mascula thura of Virgil, and signifies what is first obtained from the tree - that which is strongest and most free from all adventitious mixtures. See Clarke's note on [Exo 30:7].
The Israelites were most strictly prohibited, on the most awful penalties, from making any anointing oil or perfume similar to those described in this chapter. He that should compound such, or apply any of this to any common purpose, even to smell to, [Exo 30:38], should be cut off, that is, excommunicated from his people, and so lose all right, title, and interest in the promises of God and the redemption of Israel. From all this we may learn how careful the Divine Being is to preserve his own worship and his own truth, so as to prevent them from being adulterated by human inventions; for he will save men in his own way, and upon his own terms. What are called human inventions in matters of religion, are not only of no worth, but are in general deceptive and ruinous. Arts and sciences in a certain way may be called inventions of men, for the spirit of a man knoweth the things of a man - can comprehend, plan, and execute, under the general influence of God, every thing in which human life is immediately concerned; but religion, as it is the gift, so it is the invention, of God: its doctrines and its ceremonies proceed from his wisdom and goodness, for he alone could devise the plan by which the human race may be restored to his favor and image, and taught to worship him in spirit and in truth. And that worship which himself has prescribed, we may rest assured, will be most pleasing in his sight. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord; and their destruction by the fire of Jehovah is recorded as a lasting warning to all presumptuous worshippers, and to all who attempt to model his religion, according to their own caprice, and to minister in sacred things without that authority which proceeds from himself alone. The imposition of hands whether of pope, cardinal, or bishop can avail nothing here. The call and unction of God alone can qualify the minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Introduction
Bezaleel appointed for the work of the tabernacle, [Exo 31:1-5]. Aholiab appointed for the same, [Exo 31:6]. The particular things on which they were to be employed, the ark and mercy-seat, [Exo 31:7]. Table, candlestick, and altar of incense, [Exo 31:8]. Altar of burnt-offering and the laver, [Exo 31:9]. Priest's garments, [Exo 31:10]. Anointing oil and sweet incense, [Exo 31:11]. God renews the command relative to the sanctification of the Sabbath, [Exo 31:12-17]. Delivers to Moses the two tables of stone, [Exo 31:18].
Verse 2
I have called by name Bezaleel - That is, I have particularly appointed this person to be the chief superintendent of the whole work. His name is significant, בצלאל betsal-el, in or under the shadow of God, meaning, under the especial protection of the Most High. He was the son of Uri, the son of Hur, the son of Caleb or Chelubai, the son of Esron, the son of Pharez, the son of Judah. See [1Chr 2:5], [1Chr 2:9],[1Chr 2:18], [1Chr 2:19], [1Chr 2:20], and see Clarke's note on [Exo 17:10].
Verse 3
I have filled him with the spirit of God - See Clarke's note on [Exo 28:3].
In wisdom - חכמה, chochmah, from חכם chacham, to be wise, skillful, or prudent, denoting the compass of mind and strength of capacity necessary to form a wise man: hence our word wisdom, the power of judging what is wise or best to be done; from the Saxon, to teach, to advise, and to judge; hence the doom or judgment of the well taught, wise, or prudent man.
Understanding - תבונה tebunah, from בן ban or bun, to separate, distinguish, discern; capacity to comprehend the different parts of a work, how to connect, arrange, etc., in order to make a complete whole.
Knowledge - דעת daath, denoting particular acquaintance with a person or thing; practical, experimental knowledge.
Verse 4
Cunning works - מחשבת machashaboth, works of invention or genius, in the goldsmith and silversmith line.
Verse 5
In cutting of stones, etc. - Every thing that concerned the lapidary's, jeweler's, and carver's art.
Verse 6
In the hearts of all that are wisehearted I have put wisdom - So every man that had a natural genius, as we term it, had an increase of wisdom by immediate inspiration from God, so that he knew how to execute the different works which Divine wisdom designed for the tabernacle and its furniture. Dark as were the heathens, yet they acknowledged that all talents, and the seeds of all arts, came from God. Hence Seneca: Insita nobis omnium artium semina, magisterque ex occulto Deus producit ingenia. In the same way Homer attributes such curious arts to Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, and Vulcan, the god of handicrafts. Ὡς δ' ὁτε τις χρυσον περιχευεται αργυρῳ ανηρ Ιδρις, ὁν Ἡφαιστος δεδαεν και Παλλας Αθηνη Τεχνην παντοιην, χαριεντα δε εργα τελειει.
Odyss., 1. vi., ver. 232.
As by some artist, to whom Vulcan gives
His skill divine, a breathing statue lives;
By Pallas taught, he frames the wondrous mould,
And o'er the silver pours the fusile gold. - Pope.
And all this the wisest of men long before them declared; when speaking of the wisdom of God he says, I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions; [Pro 8:12]. See Clarke's note on [Exo 28:3], to which the reader is particularly desired to refer. There is something remarkable in the name of this second superintendent, אהליאב Aholiab, the tabernacle of the father, or, the father is my tabernacle; a name nearly similar in its meaning to that of Bezaleel, see Clarke's note on [Exo 31:2].
Verse 8
The pure candlestick - Called so either because of the pure gold of which it was made, or the brightness and splendor of its workmanship, or of the light which it imparted in the tabernacle, as the purest, finest oil was always burnt in it.
Verse 9
The altar of burnt-offering - See Clarke's note on [Exo 27:1].
The laver and his foot - The pedestal on which it stood.
Verse 10
Clothes of service - Vestments for the ordinary work of their ministry; the holy garments - those which were peculiar to the high priest.
Verse 11
The anointing oil - See Clarke's note on [Exo 30:23].
Sweet incense - See on [Exo 30:24] (note).
Verse 13
My Sabbaths ye shall keep - See Clarke's note on [Gen 2:3]. See Clarke's note on [Exo 20:8].
Verse 14
Every one that defileth it - By any kind of idolatrous or profane worship.
Shall surely be put to death - The magistrates shall examine into the business, and if the accused be found guilty, he shall be stoned to death.