Exodus 39-40 (Contemporary English Version)

Exodus 39

Making the Priestly Clothes

(Exodus 28.1-14)

 ¹Beautiful priestly clothes were made of blue, purple, and red wool for Aaron to wear when he performed his duties in the holy place. This was done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

    ^2-3The entire priestly vest was made of fine linen, woven with blue, purple, and red wool. Thin sheets of gold were hammered out and cut into threads that were skillfully woven into the vest. ^4-5It had two shoulder straps to support it and a sash that fastened around the waist. ⁶Onyx ^[a] stones were placed in gold settings, and each one was engraved with the name of one of Israel's sons. ⁷Then these were attached to the shoulder straps of the vest, so the LORD would never forget his people. Everything was done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Breastpiece

(Exodus 28.15-30)

 ⁸The breastpiece was made with the same materials and designs as the priestly vest. ⁹It was nine inches square and folded double ¹⁰with four rows of three precious stones: A carnelian, a chrysolite, and an emerald were in the first row; ¹¹a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond were in the second row; ¹²a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst were in the third row; ¹³and a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper ^[b] were in the fourth row. They were mounted in a delicate gold setting, ¹⁴and on each of them was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. ^15-18Two gold rings were attached to the upper front corners of the breastpiece and fastened with two braided gold chains to gold settings on the shoulder straps. ¹⁹Two other gold rings were attached to the lower inside corners next to the vest, ²⁰and two more near the bottom of the shoulder straps right above the sash. ²¹To keep the breastpiece in place, a blue cord was used to tie the two lower rings on the breastpiece to those on the vest. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

   

The Clothes for the Priests

(Exodus 28.31-43)

 ²²The priestly robe was made of blue wool ²³with an opening in the center for the head. The material around the collar was bound so as to keep it from raveling. ^24-26Along the hem of the robe were woven pomegranates ^[c] of blue, purple, and red wool with a bell of pure gold between each of them. This robe was to be worn by Aaron when he performed his duties. ^27-29Everything that Aaron and his sons wore was made of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool, including their robes and turbans, their fancy caps and underwear, and even their sashes that were embroidered with needlework.

    ³⁰" Dedicated to the LORD" was engraved on a narrow strip of pure gold, ³¹which was fastened to Aaron's turban. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

   

The Work Is Completed

(Exodus 35.10-19)

 ³²So the people of Israel finished making everything the LORD had told Moses to make. ³³Then they brought it all to Moses: the sacred tent and its equipment, including the hooks, the framework and crossbars, and its posts and stands; ³⁴the covering of tanned ram skins and fine leather; the inside curtain; ³⁵the sacred chest with its carrying poles and the place of mercy; ³⁶the table with all that goes on it, including the sacred bread; ³⁷the lampstand of pure gold, together with its equipment and oil; ³⁸the gold-covered incense altar; the ordination oil and the sweet-smelling incense; the curtain for the entrance to the tent; ³⁹the bronze altar for sacrifices with its bronze grating, its carrying poles, and its equipment; the large bronze bowl with its stand; ⁴⁰the curtain with its posts and cords, and its pegs and stands that go around the courtyard; everything needed for the sacred tent; ⁴¹and the finely woven priestly clothes for Aaron and his sons.

    ^42-43When Moses saw that the people had done everything exactly as the LORD had commanded, he gave them his blessing.

   

Exodus 40

The LORD's Tent Is Set Up

 ¹The LORD said to Moses:

    ²Set up my tent on the first day of the year ^{[d] 3}and put the chest with the Ten Commandments behind the inside curtain ^[e] of the tent. ⁴Bring in the table and set on it those things that are made for it. Also bring in the lampstand and attach the lamps to it. ⁵Then place the gold altar of incense in front of the sacred chest and hang a curtain at the entrance to the tent. ⁶Set the altar for burning sacrifices in front of the entrance to my tent. ⁷Put the large bronze bowl between the tent and the altar and fill the bowl with water. ⁸Surround the tent and the altar with the wall of curtains and hang the curtain that was made for the entrance. ⁹Use the sacred olive oil to dedicate the tent and everything in it to me. ¹⁰Do the same thing with the altar for offering sacrifices and its equipment ¹¹and with the bowl and its stand. ¹²Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent and have them wash themselves. ¹³Dress Aaron in the priestly clothes, then use the sacred olive oil to ordain him and dedicate him to me as my priest. ¹⁴Put the priestly robes on Aaron's sons ¹⁵and ordain them in the same way, so they and their descendants will always be my priests.

    ¹⁶Moses followed the LORD's instructions. ¹⁷And on the first day of the first month ^[f] of the second year, the sacred tent was set up. ¹⁸The posts, stands, and framework were put in place, ¹⁹then the two layers of coverings were hung over them. ²⁰The stones with the Ten Commandments written on them were stored in the sacred chest, the place of mercy ^[g] was put on top of it, and the carrying poles were attached. ²¹The chest was brought into the tent and set behind the curtain in the most holy place. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses. ²²The table for the sacred bread was put along the north wall of the holy place, ²³after which the bread was set on the table. ²⁴The lampstand was put along the south wall, ²⁵then the lamps were attached to it there in the presence of the LORD. ²⁶The gold incense altar was set up in front of the curtain, ²⁷and sweet-smelling incense was burned on it. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

    ²⁸The curtain was hung at the entrance to the sacred tent. ²⁹Then the altar for offering sacrifices was put in front of the tent, and animal sacrifices and gifts of grain were offered there. ³⁰The large bronze bowl was placed between the altar and the entrance to the tent. It was filled with water, ³¹then Moses and Aaron, together with Aaron's sons, washed their hands and feet. ³²In fact, they washed each time before entering the tent or offering sacrifices at the altar. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

    ³³Finally, Moses had the curtain hung around the courtyard.

   

The Glory of the LORD

 ³⁴Suddenly the sacred tent was covered by a thick cloud and filled with the glory of the LORD. ³⁵And so, Moses could not enter the tent. ³⁶Whenever the cloud moved from the tent, the people would break camp and follow; ³⁷then they would set up camp and stay there, until it moved again. ³⁸No matter where the people traveled, the LORD was with them. Each day his cloud was over the tent, and each night a fire could be seen in the cloud.