◄ Exodus 31:9 ►
the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand--
Study Bible
the altar of burnt offering
This phrase refers to the central place of sacrifice in the Tabernacle, where offerings were made to atone for the sins of the people. The Hebrew word for altar, "mizbeach," comes from a root meaning "to slaughter," emphasizing its primary function. Historically, the altar was a place of divine encounter, where the Israelites could approach God through sacrifice. It symbolizes Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross, fulfilling the need for continual offerings and providing eternal redemption.

and all its utensils
The utensils associated with the altar were essential for the rituals and sacrifices performed there. These included items like firepans, shovels, basins, forks, and fire-holders, each crafted with precision and purpose. The Hebrew term "keli" denotes tools or instruments, highlighting their role in facilitating worship. These utensils remind us of the detailed care and preparation required in our service to God, reflecting the order and holiness He desires in worship.

the basin
The basin, or "kiyyor" in Hebrew, was used for ceremonial washing by the priests before they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar. This act of washing symbolized purification and readiness to serve God. In a broader spiritual context, it points to the cleansing power of Christ's blood and the sanctification process in the believer's life, emphasizing the need for purity and holiness in approaching God.

with its stand
The stand, or "ken" in Hebrew, provided stability and support for the basin. It signifies the importance of a firm foundation in our spiritual practices. Just as the stand upheld the basin, our faith and actions must be grounded in the truth of God's Word. This imagery encourages believers to build their lives on the solid rock of Christ, ensuring that their service and worship are steadfast and unwavering.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who received the instructions for the tabernacle and its furnishings from God on Mount Sinai.

2. Bezalel and Oholiab
Skilled artisans appointed by God to construct the tabernacle and its furnishings, including the altar of burnt offering and the basin.

3. The Altar of Burnt Offering
A key component of the tabernacle where sacrifices were made to atone for the sins of the people.

4. The Basin
Used by the priests for ceremonial washing, symbolizing purification before entering the presence of God.

5. The Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the presence of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience
God provided specific instructions for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. This highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands in our lives.

Symbolism of Sacrifice and Purification
The altar and basin symbolize the need for atonement and purification. In Christ, we find the ultimate sacrifice and cleansing from sin.

God's Presence Among His People
The tabernacle was a physical representation of God's desire to dwell among His people. Today, believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing God's presence within us.

The Role of Skilled Service
Bezalel and Oholiab were gifted artisans called to serve God with their skills. This encourages us to use our talents for God's glory and the edification of the church.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the construction of the altar of burnt offering and the basin reflect God's desire for order and holiness in worship?

2. In what ways does the sacrificial system of the Old Testament point to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

3. How can we apply the principle of purification, as symbolized by the basin, in our daily spiritual walk?

4. What talents or skills has God given you, and how can you use them to serve Him and others in your community?

5. How does understanding the role of the tabernacle enhance your appreciation of being the temple of the Holy Spirit today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 1
Describes the procedures for burnt offerings, highlighting the significance of the altar in the sacrificial system.

Hebrews 9
Discusses the role of the tabernacle and its furnishings as a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate sacrifice and the new covenant.

1 Kings 7
Details the construction of the temple by Solomon, which included a more permanent altar and basin, showing continuity in worship practices.

John 13
Jesus washes the disciples' feet, symbolizing spiritual cleansing, akin to the priests' use of the basin for purification.
Sermons
Bezaleel and AholiabJ. Orr Exodus 31:1-12
People
Aaron, Ahisamach, Aholiab, Bezaleel, Dan, Hur, Israelites, Moses, Uri
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
Altar, Base, Basin, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offering, Foot, Furniture, Laver, Offering, Offerings, Stand, Utensils, Vessels, Washing-vessel
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 31:1-11

     5272   craftsmen

Exodus 31:2-11

     6641   election, responsibilities

Library
The Flood-Tide of Power.
God's Highest Ideal. A flood-tide is a rising tide. It flows in and fills up and spreads out. Wherever it goes it cleanses and fertilizes and beautifies. For untold centuries Egypt has depended for its very life upon the yearly flood-tide of the Nile. The rich bottom lands of the Connecticut Valley are refertilized every spring by that river's flood-tide. The green beauty and rich fruitage of some parts of the Sacramento Valley, whose soil is flooded by the artificial irrigation-rivers, are in sharp …
S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power

The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
Now the sanctifying of the Sabbath consists in two things--First, In resting from all servile and common business pertaining to our natural life; Secondly, In consecrating that rest wholly to the service of God, and the use of those holy means which belong to our spiritual life. For the First. 1. The servile and common works from which we are to cease are, generally, all civil works, from the least to the greatest (Exod. xxxi. 12, 13, 15, &c.) More particularly-- First, From all the works of our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Gifts and Talents.
"And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him."--Judges iii. 10. We now consider the Holy Spirit's work in bestowing gifts, talents, and abilities upon artisans and professional men. Scripture declares that the special animation and qualification of persons for work assigned to them by God proceed from the Holy Spirit. The construction of the tabernacle required capable workmen, skilful carpenters, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and masters in the arts of weaving and embroidering. Who will furnish Moses …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Thy Name: My Name
'I have called thee by thy name.'--ISAIAH xliii. 1. 'Every one that is called by My name.'--ISAIAH xliii. 7. Great stress is laid on names in Scripture. These two parallel and antithetic clauses bring out striking complementary relations between God and the collective Israel. But they are as applicable to each individual member of the true Israel of God. I. What does God's calling a man by his name imply? 1. Intimate knowledge. Adam naming the creatures. Christ naming His disciples. 2. Loving friendship. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prophets and Apostles.
The work of the Holy Spirit in apostles and prophets is an entirely distinctive work. He imparts to apostles and prophets an especial gift for an especial purpose. We read in 1 Cor. xii. 4, 8-11, 28, 29, R. V., "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.... For to one is given through the Spirit wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; and to another workings …
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
BY REV. W. J. TOWNSEND, D.D. The Temple of Solomon was the crown of art in the old world. There were temples on a larger scale, and of more massive construction, but the enormous masses of masonry of the oldest nations were not comparable with the artistic grace, the luxurious adornments, and the harmonious proportions of this glorious House of God. David had laid up money and material for the great work, but he was not permitted to carry it out. He was a man of war, and blood-stained hands were …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Preface to the Commandments
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God,' &c. Exod 20: 1, 2. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is, I am the Lord thy God.' The preface to the preface is, God spake all these words, saying,' &c. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation. Other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the holy prophets (Luke 1: 70), but here God spake in his own person. How are we to understand that, God spake, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Exposition of the Moral Law.
1. The Law was committed to writing, in order that it might teach more fully and perfectly that knowledge, both of God and of ourselves, which the law of nature teaches meagrely and obscurely. Proof of this, from an enumeration of the principal parts of the Moral Law; and also from the dictate of natural law, written on the hearts of all, and, in a manner, effaced by sin. 2. Certain general maxims. 1. From the knowledge of God, furnished by the Law, we learn that God is our Father and Ruler. Righteousness …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
(at Feast-Time at Jerusalem, Probably the Passover.) ^D John V. 1-47. ^d 1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [Though every feast in the Jewish calendar has found some one to advocate its claim to be this unnamed feast, yet the vast majority of commentators choose either the feast of Purim, which came in March, or the Passover, which came in April. Older commentators pretty unanimously regarded it as the Passover, while the later school favor the feast …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Of the Trinity and a Christian, and of the Law and a Christian.
EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. These two short treatises were found among Mr. Bunyan's papers after his decease. They probably were intended for publication, like his 'Prison Meditations' and his 'Map of Salvation,' on a single page each, in the form of a broadside, or handbill. This was the popular mode in which tracts were distributed; and when posted against a wall, or framed and hung up in a room, they excited notice, and were extensively read. They might also have afforded some trifling profit to aid …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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