John Calvin on Exodus 31:6-12

6. 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; Addition in Fr., “Laquelle estoit la premiere en dignite;” which was the highest in dignity. 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 that were wise-hearted; for, if they already excelled in intelligence, what was the object of this new inspiration? Hence it has been commonly supposed, that the special grace of God was only given in aid of that ability which we naturally possess. But rather are we taught by this passage that, when anything grows in us, and our endowments manifest themselves more conspicuously, our progress is only derived from the continued operation of the Spirit. God had already conferred acuteness and intelligence on the artificers 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 thus explained, — Whosoever shall be fit and proper for the work, have therefore been endowed with intelligence, because God has inspired it by His secret influence; but the other exposition is more simple. What follows as to the various parts of the tabernacle has been already treated of elsewhere.

Exodus 35

Exodus 35:20-35

20. And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

20. Egressi sunt universus coetus filiorum Israel a facie Mosis,

21. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

21. Veneruntque vir quem extulit cor suum, qui liberalis fuit spiritu suo: attuleruntque oblationem ad opus tabernaculi conventionis, et ad omne opus ejus, et ad vestes sanctitatis.

22. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought bracelets, and ear-rings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.

22. Venerunt viri et mulieres, quicunque liberalis fuit corde, attulerunt fibulas, et inaures, et annulos, et armillas, quodlibet vas aureum, et omnis vir qui attulit levationem auri Jehovae.

23. And every man with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goat’s hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them

23. Praeterea onmis vir apud quem inveniebatur hyacinthus, purpura, coccus, byssus, et pili caprarum, et pelles arietum rubricatae, et pelles taxorum, haec attulerunt.

24. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass, brought the Lord’s offering: and every man with whom was found shittim-wood, for any work of the service, brought it

24. Omnis tollens levationem argenti et aeris, obtulerunt levationem Jehovae: et omnis apud quem inveniebantur ligna sittim, pro universo opere ministerii attulerunt.

25. And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

25. Praeterea omnis mulier intelligenti corde, manibus suis neverunt, et attulerunt quod nendo operatae fuerant, hyaciuthum, purpuram, coccum et byssum.

26. And all the women, whose hearts stirred them up in wisdom, spun goats’ hair

26. Omnes quoque mulieres quas excitavit cor ipsarum, intelligenter neverunt pilos caprinos.

27. And the rulers brought onyx-stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;

27. Principes quoque attulerunt lapides onychinos, et gemmas inserendas in ephod et pectorali:

28. And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

28. Aromata etiam et oleum pro luminari, et pro oleo unctionis, et pro incenso aromatico.

29. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring, for all manner of work which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

29. Omnis vir et mulier qui liberales fuerunt corde suo ad offerendum pro cuncto opere quod mandaverat Jehova fieri per manum Mosis, obtulerunt filii Israel donum voluntarium Jehovae.

30. And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

30. Tunc ait Moses ad filios Israel, Videte, vocavit Jehova nomine Besaleel filium Uri, filii Hur, de tribu Juda:

31. And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

31. Et implevit cum Spiritu Dei, in sapientia et intelligentia, in scientia et omni artificio,

32. And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

32. Ad excogitandum ingeniosa opera, ut faciat in auro, argento et aere:

33. And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.

33. Et in artificio gemmarum; ut illas includat in artificio ligni, ut faciat quodcunque opus ingeniosum.

34. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

34. Et posuit in corde ejus ut doceat, ipse et Aholiab filius Ahisamach, e tribu Dan.

35. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

35. Replevit eos sapientia cordis, ut faciant omne opus artificis, et phrygionis, et acupictoris, ex hyacintho, et purpura, et vermiculo cocci, et bysso, et textura, facientes omne opus, et excogitantes inventiones.