Exodus 25
Expanded Bible
Gifts for the Lord
25 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] to bring me ·gifts [tribute]. Receive for me the ·gifts [tribute] ·each person wants [L from each one whose heart moves them] to give. 3 ·These are the gifts [This is the tribute] that you should receive from them: gold, silver, bronze; 4 blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread; fine linen, goat hair, 5 ·sheepskins [or ramskins] that are dyed red; ·fine leather [or sea cow/porpoise hide]; acacia wood; 6 olive oil to burn in the lamps; spices for sweet-smelling incense, and the special olive oil ·poured on a person’s head to make him a priest [L for anointing; Ps. 133]; 7 onyx stones, and other jewels to be put on the ·holy vest [ephod; 28:6–14] and the ·chest covering [breastpiece; 28:15–30].
8 “The people must build a ·holy place [sanctuary] for me so that I can live among them. 9 Build this ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] and ·everything in it [all its furniture] by the ·plan [pattern] I will show you [C every detail reflects a heavenly reality].
The Ark of the Covenant
10 “·Use acacia wood and build an Ark [L They will make an Ark of acacia wood; C the Ark, considered the footstool of God’s throne, was a powerful symbol of God’s presence; 1 Sam. 4] ·forty-five inches [L two and a half cubits] long, ·twenty-seven inches [L a cubit and a half] wide, and ·twenty-seven inches [L a cubit and a half] high. 11 ·Cover the Ark [L Overlay it] inside and out with pure gold, and put a gold ·strip [molding] all around it. 12 ·Make [Cast] four gold rings for the Ark and attach them to its four feet, two rings on ·each [one side and two rings on the other] side. 13 Then make poles from acacia wood and ·cover [cast; overlay] them with gold. 14 Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the Ark, and use these poles to carry it. 15 These poles must always stay in the rings of the Ark. Do not take them out. 16 Then put in the Ark the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony] which I will make with you [C a reference to the tablets of the Ten Commandments].
17 “Then make the ·lid of the Ark [mercy seat; atonement cover] of pure gold. Make it ·forty-five inches [L two and a half cubits] long and ·twenty-seven inches [L one and a half cubits] wide. 18 ·Then hammer gold to make two creatures with wings [Make two cherubim of hammered gold], and put one on each end of the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover]. 19 Attach one ·creature [cherub] on one end of the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] and the other ·creature [cherub] on the other end. Make them to be one piece with the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] at the ends. 20 The ·creatures’ [cherubim’s] wings should be spread upward, covering the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover], and the ·creatures [cherubim] are to face each other across the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover]. 21 Put this ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] on top of the Ark, and put in the Ark the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony] which I will make with you. 22 I will meet with you there, above the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] between the two ·winged creatures [cherubim] on the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony]. There I will give you all my commands for the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel].
The Table
23 “Make a table out of acacia wood, ·thirty-six inches [L two cubits] long, ·eighteen inches [L one cubit] wide, and ·twenty-seven inches [L one and a half cubits] high. 24 ·Cover [Overlay] it with pure gold, and put a gold ·strip [molding] around it. 25 Make a ·frame [rim] ·three inches [L a handbreadth] high ·that stands up all around the edge, and put a gold ·strip [molding] around it. 26 Then make four gold rings. Attach them to the four corners of the table where the four legs are. 27 Put the rings close to the ·frame [rim] around the top of the table, because they will hold the poles for carrying it. 28 Make the poles out of acacia wood, ·cover [overlay] them with gold, and carry the table with these poles. 29 Make the plates and bowls for the table, as well as the jars and cups, out of pure gold. They will be used for pouring out the drink offerings [Ezra 1:9–11; Dan. 1:2; 5:1–4]. 30 On this table put the ·bread that shows you are in my presence [Bread of Presence] so that it is always there in front of me.
The Lampstand
31 “Hammer pure gold to make a ·lampstand [L menorah]. Its base, ·stand [shaft], flower-like cups, buds, and petals must all be joined together in one piece [C its tree shape suggests that the Tabernacle represented Eden where God and humans lived in harmony]. 32 The lampstand must have six branches going out from its sides—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Each branch must have three cups shaped like almond flowers on it. Each cup must have a bud and a petal. Each of the six branches going out from the lampstand must be the same. 34 And there must be four more cups made like almond flowers on the lampstand itself. These cups must also have buds and petals. 35 Put a bud under each pair of branches that goes out from the lampstand. Each of the six branches going out from the lampstand must be the same. 36 The branches, buds, and lampstand must be made of one piece, hammered out of pure gold.
37 “Then make seven ·small oil lamps [L lamps for it] and put them on the lampstand so that they give light to the area in front of it. 38 The ·wick trimmers [snuffers] and trays must be made of pure gold. 39 Use ·seventy-five pounds [L one talent] of pure gold to make the lampstand and everything with it. 40 Be very careful to make them by the ·plan [pattern] I showed you on the mountain [25:9].
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