支起會幕

40 耶和華對摩西說: 「你要在一月一日支起聖幕,即會幕, 把約櫃安置在裡面,用幔子遮掩。 把桌子搬進去,擺好桌上的器具,再把燈臺搬進去,點上燈, 把燒香的金壇放在約櫃前面,掛上聖幕入口的簾子。 要把燔祭壇放在聖幕前面, 洗濯盆放在會幕和祭壇中間,盆裡要有水。 用帷幔在聖幕四周圍成院子,在院子的入口掛上簾子。 你要用膏油抹聖幕和裡面所有的器具,使它們分別出來,成為聖潔之物。 10 要抹燔祭壇和壇上所有器具,使燔祭壇分別出來,成為至聖之物。 11 要抹洗濯盆和盆座,使它們分別出來,成為聖潔之物。 12 要把亞倫父子們叫到會幕入口,用水為他們沐浴, 13 給亞倫穿上聖衣後膏立他,使他分別出來,做聖潔的祭司事奉我。 14 也要把他的兒子們叫來,給他們穿上內袍, 15 用同樣的儀式膏立他們,使他們做祭司事奉我。他們的受膏將使他們永遠做祭司,世代相傳。」

16 摩西照耶和華的吩咐把事情都辦好了。 17 第二年一月一日,聖幕支起來了。 18 摩西支起聖幕,裝上帶凹槽的底座,豎起木板,插上橫閂,立起柱子, 19 在聖幕上面搭起罩棚,鋪上頂蓋,都遵照耶和華的吩咐。 20 他把約版放在約櫃裡,橫杠穿在約櫃的兩旁,施恩座放在約櫃上, 21 把約櫃抬進聖幕,掛起幔子遮掩約櫃,都遵照耶和華的吩咐。 22 他把桌子放在會幕內、遮掩約櫃的幔子外面、聖幕的北側, 23 將獻給耶和華的供餅放在桌上,都遵照耶和華的吩咐。 24 他把燈臺放在會幕內的桌子對面,在聖幕的南側, 25 然後在耶和華面前點燈,都遵照耶和華的吩咐。 26 他把金香壇放在會幕裡、遮掩約櫃的幔子前面, 27 在壇上點燃芬芳的香,都遵照耶和華的吩咐。 28 他掛上聖幕入口的簾子, 29 在會幕,即聖幕入口的前面設立燔祭壇,在壇上獻燔祭和素祭,都遵照耶和華的吩咐。 30 他把洗濯盆放在會幕和祭壇之間,盆裡盛水,供洗濯用。 31 摩西、亞倫及其眾子都在那裡清洗手腳, 32 他們進會幕或走近祭壇的時候,都要先清洗,都遵照耶和華的吩咐。 33 摩西又在聖幕和祭壇的四周用帷幔圍成院子,然後在院子入口掛上簾子。這樣,摩西完成了工作。

耶和華的榮光

34 那時,有雲彩遮蓋會幕,耶和華的榮光充滿了聖幕。 35 摩西不能進會幕,因為雲彩停在上面,耶和華的榮光充滿了聖幕。 36 一路上,雲彩從聖幕升起,他們就出發。 37 雲彩不升起,他們就不出發,一直等到雲彩升起。 38 一路上,白天有耶和華的雲彩停留在聖幕上面,夜間雲中有火光為以色列百姓照明。

40 Then the Eternal One instructed Moses.

The last half of the Book of Exodus offers a picture of the relationship between God and humanity through powerful symbols. The amazing truth of all Scripture is reflected here: God resides in the midst of His people. In every detail of God’s directives—the ethical rules, the people’s offerings, the design of the congregation tent and its furnishings, God’s redemptive acts—God is announcing the central truth: He is present with His covenant people. So the physical elements of this covenant bear witness to deep, spiritual realities. God is in the process of repairing the world from the damage caused by sin and death; but to do so, He needs a people. This is why He chooses Israel and makes them different from everyone else. He needs agents on the ground devoted to liberating a world held hostage to lesser powers and feebler gods. But where will those people be formed and trained to be God’s effective agents? They will be shaped in the crucible of worship and obedience.

Eternal One: When the first day of the first month arrives, erect the sanctuary of the congregation tent. Place the covenant chest in there—as a witness to our agreement—and screen it from sight with the veil. Move the table into place and arrange the utensils on it. Then move the lampstand into place and set up all its lamps. Place the golden altar for incense in front of the covenant chest outside the veil, and install the curtain at the entrance to the congregation tent. Set up the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the congregation tent. Place the basin between the sanctuary of the congregation tent and the altar, and fill it with water. Erect the posts and fabric panels around the courtyard, and hang the panel at the court’s entrance. Anoint the tent and everything in it with the anointing oil. Consecrate it and all its furnishings, so that it will all be holy. 10 Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all its tools, and consecrate the altar so that it will be most holy. 11 Anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it as well. 12 Escort Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the sanctuary of the congregation tent and cleanse them with water. 13 Dress Aaron in the sacred garments, then anoint and sanctify him so that he may serve Me as high priest. 14 Next bring his sons forward and dress them in tunics. 15 Anoint them in the same way that you anointed their father, Aaron, so that they may serve Me as priests. With their anointing, they will enter the priesthood and remain priests forever for all their generations.

16 Moses did exactly as the Eternal One instructed him.

17 The congregation tent was erected on the first day of the first month of the second year after the exodus from Egypt. 18 Moses raised it. He began by laying down the bases, installing the frame panels, attaching the crossbars, and erecting the posts. 19 He covered the frame of the tent with the tent fabric and then covered that with other layers they made. He did this exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him.

20 He then placed the stone tablets—as a witness to their agreement—inside the covenant chest. He slid the poles through the rings on the chest and covered the chest with the seat of mercy, where sins are atoned. 21 He carried the covenant chest into the congregation tent and hung the veil to screen it from sight exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. 22 He then placed the table on the northern end of the sanctuary of the congregation tent outside of the veil. 23 He arranged the bread on the table before the Eternal exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. 24 He took the lampstand into the sanctuary of the congregation tent and set it up on the southern end, directly opposite the table. 25 He lit the lamps before the Eternal One, exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. 26 He put the golden altar in front of the veil within the sanctuary 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. 28 He hung the screen at the entrance of the congregation tent. 29 He put the altar for burnt offering in front of the entrance to the sanctuary of the congregation tent, inside the courtyard. He offered burnt offerings and grain offerings on it exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. 30-31 He put the basin between the sanctuary and the altar for burnt offerings and filled it with water so Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons could wash their hands and feet and cleanse themselves. 32 When they went into the congregation tent and when they came near the altar, they washed themselves exactly as the Eternal One had instructed Moses. 33 Moses then raised the posts and panels that enclosed the courtyard around the congregation tent and altar. He put up the screen at the court entrance. Moses completed the work.

The congregation tent faces the rising sun in the east. Its orientation along with the bronze and gold objects all around create a brilliant sight every morning.

34 At that moment, a cloud blanketed the congregation tent, and the glory of the Eternal filled the sanctuary. 35 Moses could not even go into the congregation tent because the cloud had enveloped it, and the glory of the Eternal filled the sanctuary. 36 Through all their wanderings in the desert, whenever the cloud lifted up from the congregation tent, the Israelites would break camp and set out. 37 But when the cloud covered the tent, they remained where they were and did not set out until once again the cloud lifted. 38 Through all their wanderings, the cloud of the Eternal stood over the congregation tent during the day and at night fire was lit for all the community of Israel to see.

Setting Up the Tabernacle

40 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Set up(A) the tabernacle, the tent of meeting,(B) on the first day of the first month.(C) Place the ark(D) of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. Bring in the table(E) and set out what belongs on it.(F) Then bring in the lampstand(G) and set up its lamps. Place the gold altar(H) of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

“Place the altar(I) of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; place the basin(J) between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. Set up the courtyard(K) around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.

“Take the anointing oil and anoint(L) the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings,(M) and it will be holy. 10 Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate(N) the altar, and it will be most holy. 11 Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.

12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting(O) and wash them with water.(P) 13 Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments,(Q) anoint him and consecrate(R) him so he may serve me as priest. 14 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics.(S) 15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.(T) 16 Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded(U) him.

17 So the tabernacle(V) was set up on the first day of the first month(W) in the second year. 18 When Moses(X) set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames,(Y) inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. 19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering(Z) over the tent, as the Lord commanded(AA) him.

20 He took the tablets of the covenant law(AB) and placed them in the ark,(AC) attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover(AD) over it. 21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain(AE) and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded(AF) him.

22 Moses placed the table(AG) in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain 23 and set out the bread(AH) on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded(AI) him.

24 He placed the lampstand(AJ) in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle 25 and set up the lamps(AK) before the Lord, as the Lord commanded(AL) him.

26 Moses placed the gold altar(AM) in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded(AN) him.

28 Then he put up the curtain(AO) at the entrance to the tabernacle. 29 He set the altar(AP) of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings,(AQ) as the Lord commanded(AR) him.

30 He placed the basin(AS) between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, 31 and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash(AT) their hands and feet. 32 They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar,(AU) as the Lord commanded(AV) Moses.

33 Then Moses set up the courtyard(AW) around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain(AX) at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.

The Glory of the Lord

34 Then the cloud(AY) covered the tent of meeting, and the glory(AZ) of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory(BA) of the Lord filled the tabernacle.(BB)

36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;(BC) 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud(BD) of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.