And the LORD said to Moses,
The sabbath is the hem and hedge of the whole law: where no conscience is made of it, farewell both godliness and honesty. God repeats it here with jealous care because the urgency of tabernacle-work might tempt them to break it, but even sacred work must yield to sabbath rest.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 31:12-18
And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... After he had described to him the place of worship, and appointed the priests that should minister in it, and ordered the making of all things appertaining to it, and the workmen that should be concerned therein, he repeats the law of the sabbath, and puts in mind of the time of worship: saying: as follows.
The people's zeal for the tabernacle exposed them to a deadly temptation: they might think sacred work justifies breaking the sabbath, that building God's house without rest would be an acceptable offering. This caution came at exactly the right moment.
AI summary