奉献的条例

25 耶和华对摩西说: “你去告诉以色列百姓要献礼物给我。你们要为我收下所有甘愿献上的礼物。 你们要收的礼物是金,银,铜, 细麻线,山羊毛,蓝色、紫色和朱红色的线, 染成红色的公羊皮,海狗皮,皂荚木, 灯油,制作膏油和香的香料, 用来镶嵌在以弗得和胸牌上的红玛瑙及其他宝石。 要为我造一座圣所,我好住在他们中间。 你们要照我的指示去造圣幕和里面各样的器具。

造约柜的条例

10 “要用皂荚木做一个柜,长一点一米,宽六十六厘米,高六十六厘米, 11 里外都要包上纯金,要用金子镶柜边。 12 再造四个金环,安在柜的四个脚上,每边两个环。 13 用皂荚木造两根横杠,外面要包上金, 14 然后把横杠穿过柜旁的金环,便于抬柜。 15 横杠穿进环以后,不可再抽出来。 16 把我将要赐给你的两块约版放在柜里。 17 要用纯金造一个施恩[a]座,长一点一米,宽六十六厘米。 18 用纯金在施恩座的两端打造两个基路伯天使, 19 跟施恩座连在一起,一端一个。 20 两个基路伯天使要面对面朝向施恩座,向上展开翅膀,遮盖施恩座。 21 要把施恩座放在柜上面,把我赐给你的约版放在柜里。 22 我就在那里跟你会面,从两个基路伯天使中间的施恩座上,把要传给以色列百姓的一切诫命告诉你。

造供桌的条例

23 “要用皂荚木造一张桌子,长八十八厘米,宽四十四厘米,高六十六厘米。 24 整张桌子都要包上纯金,四周镶上金边, 25 在桌子四周造一个八厘米宽的外框,上面也镶上金边。 26 要造四个金环,安在桌子四角的桌腿上, 27 金环要靠近外框,以便穿横杠抬桌子。 28 两根横杠要用皂荚木制作,外面包金,用来抬桌子。 29 你们要用纯金造桌子上的盘、碟和献酒用的杯和瓶。 30 桌子上要一直摆着供饼,献在我面前。

造灯台的条例

31 “要用纯金造一个灯台,灯台的灯座、灯柱、油杯、花瓣和花苞要用一块纯金打造。 32 灯台的两边要各伸出三个分枝,共六个分枝。 33 每个分枝要伸出三个杏花形状、有花瓣和花苞的杯,六个分枝都是这样。 34 灯台上要有四个杏花形状、有花瓣和花苞的杯。 35 灯台上每一对分枝的相连处要有花苞,三对都是这样。 36 整座灯台,包括一切装饰,都要用一块纯金打造。 37 此外,要为灯台造七个灯盏,放在灯台上面,照亮前面的地方。 38 灯台用的灯剪和灯花盘都要用纯金造。 39 造整座灯台和灯台的器具要用三十四公斤纯金。 40 你务要照着在山上指示你的样式造这些器具。

Footnotes

  1. 25:17 施恩”或译“赎罪”。

The tabernacle

25 The Lord said to Moses: ‘Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. Every person who wants to give can make a gift to me. You must receive their gifts. These are the gifts that you must receive from the people as an offering:

gold, silver and bronze;

blue, purple and red material;

good linen and goat's hair;

red leather from sheep's skins and other good leather;

wood from acacia trees;

olive oil for the lamps;

spices for the special oil and for incense with a nice smell;

onyx and other jewels to fix on the priest's ephod and his breastpiece.[a]

You must tell the Israelites to make a special place to be my home. Then I will live among them. I will show you how to make this tabernacle and everything that you will put inside it. But you must make everything in the way that I tell you.

The Covenant Box

10 The Israelites must use acacia wood to make a big box. It must be 1 metre long, 75 centimetres wide and 75 centimetres high. 11 Cover the wood with gold, both inside and outside. Build up the edges of the box with gold. 12 Make four gold rings and fix them to the four feet of the box. Fix two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 13 Then use acacia wood to make two poles. Cover them with gold too. 14 Push the poles through the rings on the sides of the box. You will use the poles to carry the box. 15 The poles must remain along the side of the box, in the rings. Never remove them. 16 Then put into the box the two flat stones with the words of the covenant on them. I will give those to you.

17 Use pure gold to make a lid for the box. Make the lid 1 metre long and 75 centimetres wide. 18 Use gold to make images of two cherubs. Use a hammer to make them the right shape. They will stand at the two ends of the lid. 19 One cherub will stand at one end of the lid, and one cherub will stand at the other end. The two cherubs and the lid must be one piece of gold. 20 The cherubs must look towards each other and watch over the lid. Their wings must touch each other over the top of the lid. 21 Then put the lid on the top of the box. Put the flat stones with the words of the covenant into the box. I will give those to you.

22 I will meet with you there, between the two cherubs that are above the lid. They watch over the Covenant Box. In that place I will give you all my commands for the Israelites.

The table for special bread

23 Use acacia wood to make a table. It must be one 1 metre long, 50 centimetres wide and 75 centimetres high. 24 Cover the wood with gold. Build up the edges of the table with gold. 25 Also, fix an extra piece of wood around its edge. It must be 7 centimetres wide. Build up the edges of this piece with gold.

26 Make four gold rings for the table. Fix them to the four corners, one beside each leg of the table. 27 The rings must be near to the extra piece of wood. They will hold the poles that you will use to carry the table. 28 Use acacia wood to make the poles. Cover them with gold. Use the poles to carry the table. 29 Use pure gold to make plates, big spoons, jars and bowls. You will use these things to pour out drink offerings. 30 Put the Lord's special bread on this table. The bread must always be there for me.

The lampstand

31 Use one piece of pure gold to make a lampstand. Use a hammer to make it the right shape. Use the gold to make its base, its middle pole and the cups to hold the oil. The cups will be like open flowers and closed flowers. 32 Make six branches on the lampstand, three branches on each side of the middle pole. 33 Put three cups in the shape of almond flowers and their leaves on each branch. Each of the six branches of the lampstand will have three cups like that. 34 On the lampstand itself, put four cups in the shape of almond flowers and their leaves. 35 Put one closed flower under the first pair of branches. Put a second closed flower under the second pair of branches. Put the third closed flower under the third pair of branches. So there will be three closed flowers for the six branches on the lampstand. 36 You must make the flowers and the branches from the same piece of pure gold as the lampstand. Use a hammer to make the gold into the right shape.

37 Then make seven lamps and fix them to the lampstand. Fix them so that they light the space in front of the lampstand. 38 Also use pure gold to make small tools and dishes to take care of the lamps. 39 Use 34 kilograms of pure gold to make the lampstand and all the tools to take care of it.

40 Be careful to make all these things like the plan that I have shown you on the mountain.

Footnotes

  1. 25:7 The ephod and the breastpiece were special clothes that the priests wore.

Instruction on the Sanctuary and Its Ministers

Chapter 25

Moses Receives the Command to Establish a Sanctuary. The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel to gather an offering for me. Let each one raise up as an offering what his heart tells him is right. This is what you shall gather from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue, purple, and scarlet cloth, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, sheep skins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, balsam for anointing oil and for fragrant incense, onyx stones and stones for setting in the ephod and the breastplate.

“They are to build a sanctuary for me and I will live in their midst. Build it just as I will show you, following the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture.

10 The Ark of the Covenant.“They are to make an Ark out of acacia wood. It is to be two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.[a] 11 You are to cover it with gold inside and out, and they are to put a gold molding on it. 12 You are to cast four golden rings for it and attach them to its four legs, two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 13 You are to make poles out of acacia wood and cover them with gold. 14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the two sides of the Ark so that you may carry the Ark with them. 15 The poles must remain in the rings of the Ark; they are not to be taken out of them.

16 “You will place the Testimony that I will give you in the Ark.

17 “You shall make a seat[b] of atonement of pure gold. It shall be two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. 18 You will make two cherubim[c] out of gold. Make them as hammered works, placing them on the two sides of the seat of atonement.

19 “Make one cherubim at one end and the other cherubim at the other end. Make the cherubim all of one piece at the two ends of the seat of atonement. 20 The cherubim shall have two wings spread out covering the seat of atonement. They shall be facing each other, and the faces of the cherubim will be turned toward the seat of atonement.

21 “You will place the seat of atonement on top of the Ark and place the Testimony that I will give you inside the Ark.

22 “I will meet you there. I will speak with you from the seat of atonement that is between the two cherubim upon the Ark of Testimony concerning all that I will command the children of Israel.

23 The Table of the Bread Offered to God.“You are to make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high. 24 Cover it with pure gold and place a molding of gold upon it. 25 Make a frame one handbreath wide and place a molding of gold around it. 26 You shall also make four golden rings for it and place them at the four corners that are on its four legs. 27 Place the rings alongside the borders to hold the poles used in carrying the table.

28 “Make the poles out of acacia wood, cover them in gold, and carry the table with them. 29 Also make dishes and plates and flagons and jars out of pure gold to pour out libations. 30 Set the bread of the Presence on the table before me always.

31 The Golden Lampstand.“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out.

“Its base and shaft; its bowls and knobs and flowers shall be of one piece. 32 Six of the branches of the lampstand shall come out of its sides, three from one side of the lampstand and three from the other side of the lampstand. 33 On one branch there shall be three cups shaped like almond blossoms, with bud and flower. Also there shall be three cups shaped like almond blossoms, with bud and flower, on the next branch—and similarly for all six branches that rise out of the lampstand.

34 “On the shaft of the lampstand there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms with their bud and flower. 35 One bud shall be under the first set of two branches coming out of it, and one bud under the second set of two branches coming out of it, and one bud under the third set of two branches coming out of it, for there are six branches coming out of it. 36 The buds and their respective branches must be one piece with the lampstand, and the whole made from one piece of pure gold that has been beaten into shape.

37 “You shall then make seven lamps for the lampstand and set them on the lampstand to shed light in front of it. 38 Its snuffers and their trays are to be made of pure gold.

39 “Use a talent[d] of pure gold for making the lampstand and all of its accessories.

40 “See that you make them according to the model that I have shown you on the mountain.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 25:10 The Ark is a rectangular chest. A cubit measures about 20 inches.
  2. Exodus 25:17 Seat: Hebrew, kapporet, from the root kaphar, “to cover” but also “to make expiation, wipe away.” The rites of the great “day of expiation” were performed on this seat of the Ark (see Lev 16:11-16; Heb 9:5).
  3. Exodus 25:18 The cherubim correspond to the Babylonian karibu, half animals, half human beings, who guarded the gates of temples and palaces. The two at the ends of the atonement cover on the Ark of the Covenant have been regarded as representations of supernatural beings that are ministers of God. Yahweh sits between the cherubim (1 Sam 4:4; 2 Sam 6:2; 2 Ki 19:15; Pss 80:2; 99:1). Solomon will place two cherubim in the holiest room of the temple, beside the Ark (1 Ki 6:23-28). The chariot of God is drawn by four cherubim (Ezek 1; 10). See also Gen 3:24; Ps 18:11.
  4. Exodus 25:39 A talent weighed over 75 pounds.

Offerings for the Tabernacle(A)

25 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts(B) them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn(C) and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[a];(D) acacia wood;(E) olive oil(F) for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;(G) and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod(H) and breastpiece.(I)

“Then have them make a sanctuary(J) for me, and I will dwell(K) among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern(L) I will show you.

The Ark(M)

10 “Have them make an ark[b](N) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.[c] 11 Overlay(O) 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(P) on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.(Q) 14 Insert the poles(R) into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. 15 The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.(S) 16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law,(T) which I will give you.

17 “Make an atonement cover(U) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim(V) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim(W) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing(X) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark(Y) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law(Z) that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim(AA) that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet(AB) with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.(AC)

The Table(AD)

23 “Make a table(AE) of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.[d] 24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. 25 Also make around it a rim a handbreadth[e] wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 26 Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. 27 The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 28 Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold(AF) and carry the table with them. 29 And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings.(AG) 30 Put the bread of the Presence(AH) on this table to be before me at all times.

The Lampstand(AI)

31 “Make a lampstand(AJ) of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.(AK)

37 “Then make its seven lamps(AL) and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. 38 Its wick trimmers and trays(AM) are to be of pure gold. 39 A talent[f] of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. 40 See that you make them according to the pattern(AN) shown you on the mountain.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 25:5 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals
  2. Exodus 25:10 That is, a chest
  3. Exodus 25:10 That is, about 3 3/4 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide and high or about 1.1 meters long and 68 centimeters wide and high; similarly in verse 17
  4. Exodus 25:23 That is, about 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide and 2 1/4 feet high or about 90 centimeters long, 45 centimeters wide and 68 centimeters high
  5. Exodus 25:25 That is, about 3 inches or about 7.5 centimeters
  6. Exodus 25:39 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms