The Ark^(A)

¹⁰ “Have them make an ark^[a](B) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.^{[b] 11} Overlay^(C) it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. ¹² Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings^(D) on one side and two rings on the other. ¹³ Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.^(E)

⁷ “Aaron must burn fragrant incense^(A) on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. ⁸ He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.^(B)

²³ “Take the following fine spices:^(A) 500 shekels^[a] of liquid myrrh,^(B) half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon,^(C) 250 shekels^[b] of fragrant calamus,^{(D) 24} 500 shekels^(E) of cassia^(F)—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin^[c] of olive oil. ²⁵ Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.^(G) It will be the sacred anointing oil.^{(H) 26} Then use it to anoint^(I) the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, ²⁷ the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, ²⁸ the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. ²⁹ You shall consecrate them^(J) so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.^(K)

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,^(A) during the time of King Herod,^(B) Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?^(C) We saw his star^(D) when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem^(E) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.^(G) Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts^(H) of gold, frankincense and myrrh.