Ver. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses.] At “sundry times,” during those forty days, and not all at once, were these directions delivered to Moses.
Ver. 2. The son of Hur.] Of that Hur mentioned in Exodus 17:12 24:14.
Ver. 3. And I have filled him.] God gifts whomsoever he calls to any employment.
Ver. 4. To devise cunning works.] All skill in lawful callings, whether manual or mental, is of God. (Isaiah 28:26)
Ver. 5. And in cutting of stones.] Moses might well doubt where he should find fit workmen among those brick makers for Egypt.
Ver. 6. I have given with him.] Two is better than one; four eyes see more than two: God usually therefore coupleth his agents. [See Trapp on “Mt 10:2”] [See Trapp on “Mt 10:3”] [See Trapp on “Lu 10:1”]
Ver. 12. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying.] See on Exodus 31:1.
Ver. 13. Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep,] q.d., Though this sanctuary work is to be done, yet it shall be no Sabbath day’s work. The good women in the Gospel forbare on the Sabbath to anoint the dead body of our Saviour, “resting according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56) For it is a sign.] And with it an effectual means to convey holiness into the heart.
Ver. 14. :. For it is holy unto you.] Hence the Hebrews gather, but falsely, that only Israel was charged with the Sabbath day, and not the nations of the world: but the Sabbath was kept before Israel was born.
Ver. 15. Whosoever doeth any work.] A certain Indian that had been taught by the English, coming by, and seeing one of the English profaning the Lord’s day by felling of a tree, said to him, Do you not know that this is the Lord’s day in Massachusetts (one of the English plantations), much machete man that is, very wicked man; -why break you God’s day? New England’s Firstfruits.
Ver. 16. For a perpetual covenant.] So the Sabbath is called by way of eminency; as if nothing of God’s covenant were kept, if this were not Philo Judaeus saith, The fourth commandment is a famous precept, and profitable to excite all kind of virtue and piety.
Ver. 17. He rested, and was refreshed.] This is spoken to our apprehensions, and for our imitation.
Ver. 18. Written with the finger of God.] Of the Decalogue, above all other Holy Writ, God seems to say, as Paul, (Philemon 1:19) “Behold, I have written it with mine own hand”; i.e., By mine own power and operation.