Setting Up the Lamps

8 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.^(A)’”

³ Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses. ⁴ This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold^(B)—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern^(C) the Lord had shown Moses.

The Setting Apart of the Levites

⁵ The Lord said to Moses: ⁶ “Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.^{(D) 7} To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing^(E) on them; then have them shave their whole bodies^(F) and wash their clothes.^(G) And so they will purify themselves.^{(H) 8} Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil;^(I) then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.^{[a](J) 9} Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting^(K) and assemble the whole Israelite community.^{(L) 10} You are to bring the Levites before the Lord, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them.^{(M) 11} Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering^(N) from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.

¹² “Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls,^(O) using one for a sin offering^(P) to the Lord and the other for a burnt offering,^(Q) to make atonement^(R) for the Levites. ¹³ Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering^(S) to the Lord. ¹⁴ In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.^(T)

¹⁵ “After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering,^(U) they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting.^{(V) 16} They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn,^(W) the first male offspring^(X) from every Israelite woman. ¹⁷ Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal,^(Y) is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.^{(Z) 18} And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.^{(AA) 19} From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons^(AB) to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites^(AC) and to make atonement for them^(AD) so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”

²⁰ Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses. ²¹ The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes.^(AE) Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and made atonement^(AF) for them to purify them.^{(AG) 22} After that, the Levites came to do their work^(AH) at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.

²³ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁴ “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more^(AI) shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,^{(AJ) 25} but at the age of fifty,^(AK) they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. ²⁶ They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work.^(AL) This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”

The Passover

9 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month^(AM) of the second year after they came out of Egypt.^(AN) He said, ² “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover^(AO) at the appointed time.^{(AP) 3} Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,^(AQ) in accordance with all its rules and regulations.^(AR)”

⁴ So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,^{(AS) 5} and they did so in the Desert of Sinai^(AT) at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.^(AU) The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.^(AV)

⁶ But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean^(AW) on account of a dead body.^(AX) So they came to Moses and Aaron^(AY) that same day ⁷ and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?^(AZ)”

⁸ Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”^(BA)

⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body^(BB) or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate^(BC) the Lord’s Passover, ¹¹ but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month^(BD) at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.^{(BE) 12} They must not leave any of it till morning^(BF) or break any of its bones.^(BG) When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.^{(BH) 13} But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people^(BI) for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

¹⁴ “‘A foreigner^(BJ) residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

The Burnt Offering

1 The Lord called to Moses^(A) and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.^(B) He said, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord,^(C) bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.^(D)

³ “‘If the offering is a burnt offering^(E) from the herd,^(F) you are to offer a male without defect.^(G) You must present it at the entrance to the tent^(H) of meeting so that it will be acceptable^(I) to the Lord. ⁴ You are to lay your hand on the head^(J) of the burnt offering,^(K) and it will be accepted^(L) on your behalf to make atonement^(M) for you. ⁵ You are to slaughter^(N) the young bull^(O) before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons^(P) the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar^(Q) at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁶ You are to skin^(R) the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.^{(S) 7} The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood^(T) on the fire. ⁸ Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat,^(U) on the wood^(V) that is burning on the altar. ⁹ You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,^(W) and the priest is to burn all of it^(X) on the altar.^(Y) It is a burnt offering,^(Z) a food offering,^(AA) an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(AB)

¹⁰ “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep^(AC) or the goats,^(AD) you are to offer a male without defect. ¹¹ You are to slaughter it at the north side of the altar^(AE) before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar.^{(AF) 12} You are to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat,^(AG) on the wood that is burning on the altar. ¹³ You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,^(AH) and the priest is to bring all of them and burn them^(AI) on the altar.^(AJ) It is a burnt offering,^(AK) a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

¹⁴ “‘If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon.^{(AL) 15} The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head^(AM) and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.^{(AN) 16} He is to remove the crop and the feathers^[a] and throw them down east of the altar where the ashes^(AO) are. ¹⁷ He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely,^(AP) and then the priest shall burn it on the wood^(AQ) that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

The Grain Offering

2 “‘When anyone brings a grain offering^(AR) to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour.^(AS) They are to pour olive oil^(AT) on it,^(AU) put incense on it^{(AV) 2} and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour^(AW) and oil, together with all the incense,^(AX) and burn this as a memorial^[b] portion^(AY) on the altar, a food offering,^(AZ) an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(BA) 3} The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;^(BB) it is a most holy^(BC) part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.

⁴ “‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven,^(BD) it is to consist of the finest flour: either thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in or thin loaves^(BE) made without yeast and brushed with olive oil.^{(BF) 5} If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle,^(BG) it is to be made of the finest flour mixed with oil, and without yeast. ⁶ Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. ⁷ If your grain offering is cooked in a pan,^(BH) it is to be made of the finest flour and some olive oil. ⁸ Bring the grain offering made of these things to the Lord; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar. ⁹ He shall take out the memorial portion^(BI) from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(BJ) 10} The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;^(BK) it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.^(BL)

¹¹ “‘Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast,^(BM) for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in a food offering presented to the Lord. ¹² You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits,^(BN) but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. ¹³ Season all your grain offerings with salt.^(BO) Do not leave the salt of the covenant^(BP) of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

¹⁴ “‘If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits^(BQ) to the Lord, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire. ¹⁵ Put oil and incense^(BR) on it; it is a grain offering. ¹⁶ The priest shall burn the memorial portion^(BS) of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all the incense,^(BT) as a food offering presented to the Lord.^(BU)

The Fellowship Offering

3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering,^(BV) and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.^{(BW) 2} You are to lay your hand on the head^(BX) of your offering and slaughter it^(BY) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^(BZ) Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash^(CA) the blood against the sides^(CB) of the altar.^{(CC) 3} From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs^(CD) and all the fat^(CE) that is connected to them, ⁴ both kidneys^(CF) with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. ⁵ Then Aaron’s sons^(CG) are to burn it on the altar^(CH) on top of the burnt offering^(CI) that is lying on the burning wood;^(CJ) it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(CK)

⁶ “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering^(CL) to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. ⁷ If you offer a lamb,^(CM) you are to present it before the Lord,^{(CN) 8} lay your hand on its head and slaughter it^(CO) in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. ⁹ From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering^(CP) to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, ¹⁰ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. ¹¹ The priest shall burn them on the altar^(CQ) as a food offering^(CR) presented to the Lord.^(CS)

¹² “‘If your offering is a goat,^(CT) you are to present it before the Lord, ¹³ lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash^(CU) its blood against the sides of the altar.^{(CV) 14} From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, ¹⁵ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.^{(CW) 16} The priest shall burn them on the altar^(CX) as a food offering,^(CY) a pleasing aroma.^(CZ) All the fat^(DA) is the Lord’s.^(DB)

¹⁷ “‘This is a lasting ordinance^(DC) for the generations to come,^(DD) wherever you live:^(DE) You must not eat any fat or any blood.^(DF)’”