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Three Annual Festivals

14 “Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor. 15 First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib,[a] for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering.

16 “Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest,[b] when you bring me the first crops of your harvest.

“Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest[c] at the end of the harvest season, when you have harvested all the crops from your fields. 17 At these three times each year, every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the Lord.

18 “You must not offer the blood of my sacrificial offerings together with any baked goods containing yeast. And do not leave the fat from the festival offerings until the next morning.

19 “As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the Lord your God.

“You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

A Promise of the Lord’s Presence

20 “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. 21 Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion. 22 But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you. 23 For my angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely. 24 You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars.

25 “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I[d] will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. 26 There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives.

27 “I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run. 28 I will send terror[e] ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. 30 I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. 31 And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea,[f] and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River.[g] I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you.

32 “Make no treaties with them or their gods. 33 They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry.”

Israel Accepts the Lord’s Covenant

24 Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.”

Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar.

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”

Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”

Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. 10 There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. 11 And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.” 13 So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God.

14 Moses told the elders, “Stay here and wait for us until we come back. Aaron and Hur are here with you. If anyone has a dispute while I am gone, consult with them.”

15 Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. 16 And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. 17 To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. 18 Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Offerings for the Tabernacle

25 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them:

gold, silver, and bronze;
blue, purple, and scarlet thread;
fine linen and goat hair for cloth;
tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather;
acacia wood;
olive oil for the lamps;
spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;
onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece.

“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.

Plans for the Ark of the Covenant

10 “Have the people make an Ark of acacia wood—a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.[h] 11 Overlay it inside and outside with pure gold, and run a molding of gold all around it. 12 Cast four gold rings and attach them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 13 Make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 Insert the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it. 15 These carrying poles must stay inside the rings; never remove them. 16 When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant,[i] which I will give to you.

17 “Then make the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—from pure gold. It must be 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.[j] 18 Then make two cherubim from hammered gold, and place them on the two ends of the atonement cover. 19 Mold the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold. 20 The cherubim will face each other and look down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they will protect it. 21 Place inside the Ark the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you. Then put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. 22 I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant.[k] From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel.

Plans for the Table

23 “Then make a table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.[l] 24 Overlay it with pure gold and run a gold molding around the edge. 25 Decorate it with a 3-inch border[m] all around, and run a gold molding along the border. 26 Make four gold rings for the table and attach them at the four corners next to the four legs. 27 Attach the rings near the border to hold the poles that are used to carry the table. 28 Make these poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 29 Make special containers of pure gold for the table—bowls, ladles, pitchers, and jars—to be used in pouring out liquid offerings. 30 Place the Bread of the Presence on the table to remain before me at all times.

Plans for the Lampstand

31 “Make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. Make the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece—the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals. 32 Make it with six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side. 33 Each of the six branches will have three lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 34 Craft the center stem of the lampstand with four lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 35 There will also be an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extend from the center stem. 36 The almond buds and branches must all be of one piece with the center stem, and they must be hammered from pure gold. 37 Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward. 38 The lamp snuffers and trays must also be made of pure gold. 39 You will need 75 pounds[n] of pure gold for the lampstand and its accessories.

40 “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.

Footnotes

  1. 23:15 Hebrew appointed time in the month of Abib. This first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of March and April.
  2. 23:16a Or Festival of Weeks. This was later called the Festival of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1). It is celebrated today as Shavuot (or Shabuoth).
  3. 23:16b Or Festival of Ingathering. This was later called the Festival of Shelters or Festival of Tabernacles (see Lev 23:33-36). It is celebrated today as Sukkot (or Succoth).
  4. 23:25 As in Greek and Latin versions; Hebrew reads he.
  5. 23:28 Often rendered the hornet. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  6. 23:31a Hebrew from the sea of reeds to the sea of the Philistines.
  7. 23:31b Hebrew from the wilderness to the river.
  8. 25:10 Hebrew 2.5 cubits [115 centimeters] long, 1.5 cubits [69 centimeters] wide, and 1.5 cubits high.
  9. 25:16 Hebrew Place inside the Ark the Testimony; similarly in 25:21. The Hebrew word for “testimony” refers to the terms of the Lord’s covenant with Israel as written on stone tablets, and also to the covenant itself.
  10. 25:17 Hebrew 2.5 cubits [115 centimeters] long and 1.5 cubits [69 centimeters] wide.
  11. 25:22 Or Ark of the Testimony.
  12. 25:23 Hebrew 2 cubits [92 centimeters] long, 1 cubit [46 centimeters] wide, and 1.5 cubits [69 centimeters] high.
  13. 25:25 Hebrew a border of a handbreadth [8 centimeters].
  14. 25:39 Hebrew 1 talent [34 kilograms].

Tulo ka Pista Matag Tuig

(Exo. 34:18-26; Deu. 16:1-17)

14 “Magsaulog kamog tulo ka pista matag tuig alang sa pagpasidungog kanako. 15 Sauloga ninyo ang Pista sa Pan nga Walay Patubo. Sumala sa gisugo ko na kaninyo, mokaon kamo ug pan nga walay patubo sulod sa pito ka adlaw. Himoa ninyo kini sa gitakda nga panahon sa bulan sa Abib, kay mao kanang bulana nga mibiya kamo sa Ehipto. Ang kada usa kinahanglan magdala kanakog halad nianang panahona. 16 Sauloga usab ninyo ang Pista sa Ting-ani pinaagi sa pagdala kanako sa unang abot sa inyong mga uma. Sauloga usab ninyo ang Pista sa Kataposang Ani sa kataposan sa tuig, inigtigom ninyo sa mga abot sa inyong mga uma. 17 Ang tanan ninyong mga lalaki kinahanglang motambong niini nga mga pista kada tuig aron sa pagsimba kanako, ang Ginoo nga inyong Agalon. 18 Ayaw ninyo ihalad kanako ang dugo uban sa pan nga may patubo. Ayaw ninyo paabtig buntag ang tambok sa mananap nga inyong gihalad kanako sa pista.

19 “Dad-a ninyo sa templo sa Ginoo nga inyong Dios ang labing maayong bahin sa inyong unang abot.

“Ayaw ninyo lutoa ang nating kanding sa gatas sa iyang inahan.

20 “Karon, magpadala ako ug anghel sa pagbantay kaninyo ug sa paggiya kaninyo ngadto sa dapit nga giandam ko. 21 Pamati kamo kaniya ug tumana ang iyang isulti. Ayaw kamo pagsupak kaniya. Kay ang tanan niyang himuon, himuon niya sa akong ngalan ug dili niya baliwalaon ang inyong mga sala.[a] 22 Kon mamati kamo pag-ayo sa iyang isulti ug buhaton ninyo ang tanan kong gisulti, makiggira ako sa inyong mga kaaway. 23 Mag-una kaninyo ang akong anghel ug dad-on niya kamo ngadto sa yuta sa mga Amorihanon, Hitihanon, Perisihanon, Canaanhon, Hebhanon, ug Jebusihanon, ug laglagon ko sila. 24 Ayaw kamo pagsimba o pag-alagad sa ilang mga dios, o pagsunod sa ilang mga ginahimo. Laglaga ninyo sa hingpit ang ilang mga dios, ug lumpaga ang ilang mga handomanan nga bato. 25 Simbaha ninyo ako, ang Ginoo nga inyong Dios, ug hatagan ko kamo ug abundansyang pagkaon ug tubig. Walay sakit nga motakboy kaninyo, 26 ug walay babaye nga makuhaan sa iyang gimabdos o mahimong baog diha sa inyong yuta, ug hatagan ko kamog taas nga kinabuhi.

27 “Hadlokon ko ug patarantahon ang inyong mga kaaway nga inyong ikaatubang ug mangikyas sila gikan kaninyo. 28 Magpadala akog mga tamboboan nga mag-una kaninyo, ug abugon nila ang mga Hebhanon, Canaanhon, ug mga Hitihanon. 29 Apan dili ko sila abugon sulod lang sa usa ka tuig aron dili mahimong awaaw ang maong yuta ug aron dili modaghan ang ihalas nga mananap didto. 30 Abugon ko sila sa hinay-hinay hangtod nga modaghan kamo ug mahimo na nga makapanag-iya sa yuta.

31 “Siguradohon ko nga ang utlanan sa inyong mga yuta maggikan sa Pulang Dagat hangtod sa Dagat sa Mediteraneo,[b] ug gikan sa disyerto sa habagatan hangtod sa Suba sa Eufrates. Itugyan ko kaninyo ang mga tawo nga namuyo sa maong yuta ug abugon ninyo sila. 32 Ayaw kamo paghimog kasabotan kanila o sa ilang mga dios. 33 Ayaw ninyo sila tugoti nga mopuyo sa inyong yuta kay basin sila pa ang motukmod kaninyo sa pagpakasala batok kanako. Kay kon mosimba kamo sa ilang mga dios, sigurado nga mahimo kining laang alang kaninyo.”

Gidawat sa mga Israelinhon ang Kasabotan sa Ginoo

24 Unya miingon ang Ginoo kang Moises, “Tungas dinhi kanako, ug ubana si Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, ug ang 70 sa mga tigdumala sa Israel. Magsimba sila kanako didto sa layo-layo. Ikaw lang Moises ang makaduol kanako, ang uban dili makaduol. Ug ang mga tawo dili gayod mahimong motungas dinhi uban kanimo.”

Sa dihang gisultihan ni Moises ang mga tawo sa tanang gitudlo ug gisugo sa Ginoo, nagdungan sila sa pagtubag, “Tumanon namo ang tanang giingon sa Ginoo.” Unya gisulat ni Moises ang tanan nga giingon sa Ginoo.

Sayo pa kaayo pagkasunod adlaw, mibangon si Moises ug nagtukod ug halaran sa tiilan sa bukid ug nagbutang siyag 12 ka handomanan nga bato nga nagarepresentar sa 12 ka tribo sa Israel. Unya nagsugo siyag mga batan-ong lalaki nga maghalad sa Ginoo ug mga halad nga sinunog ug mga torong baka isip halad alang sa maayong relasyon. Gikuha ni Moises ang katunga sa dugo ug gibutang kini sa mga palanggana, ug ang katunga gisablig niya sa halaran. Unya gikuha niya ang Libro sa Kasabotan ug gibasa kini ngadto sa mga tawo. Ug mitubag ang mga tawo, “Tumanon namo ang tanang giingon sa Ginoo. Sundon namo siya.”

Unya gikuha ni Moises ang dugo nga anaa sa mga palanggana ug gisablig kini ngadto sa mga tawo ug miingon, “Mao kini ang dugo nga nagapalig-on sa kasabotan nga gihimo sa Ginoo uban kaninyo sa paghatag niya niining tanang mga sugo.”

Mitungas sa bukid si Moises, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, ug ang 70 sa mga tigdumala sa Israel, 10 ug unya nakita nila ang Dios sa Israel. Sa iyang tiilan may daw dalan nga hinimo sa bato nga safiro nga sama katin-aw sa langit. 11 Bisan nakita niining mga tigdumala ang Dios, wala sila patya sa Dios. Mikaon pa gani sila ug nanginom didto sa presensya sa Dios.

12 Unya miingon ang Ginoo kang Moises, “Tungas dinhi kanako ibabaw sa bukid ug paghulat, kay ihatag ko kanimo ang lagpad nga mga bato nga akong gisulatan sa akong mga sugo ug mga balaod alang sa mga tawo.” 13 Busa nanglakaw si Moises ug ang iyang personal nga katabang nga si Josue ug mitungas si Moises sa bukid sa Dios. 14 Sa wala pa siya mitungas, miingon si Moises sa mga tigdumala sa Israel, “Hulat kamo dinhi hangtod makabalik kami. Mahibilin dinhi uban kaninyo si Aaron ug si Hur, ug kon may problema kamo, dangop lang kamo kanila.”

15 Pag-abot ni Moises sa ibabaw nga bahin sa bukid, gitabonan sa panganod ang bukid. 16 Unya ang gamhanang presensya sa Ginoo mikunsad sa Bukid sa Sinai. Ug sulod sa unom ka adlaw natabonan sa panganod ang bukid. Sa ikapitong adlaw, gikan sa panganod, gitawag sa Ginoo si Moises. 17-18 Busa misulod si Moises sa panganod ug mitungas pa gayod siya ibabaw sa bukid. Nagpabilin siya didto sulod sa 40 ka adlaw ug 40 ka gabii. Sa panan-aw sa mga Israelinhon nga atua sa ubos, ang gamhanang presensya sa Ginoo ibabaw sa bukid daw sa nagadilaab nga kalayo.

Ang mga Halad alang sa Tolda nga Simbahan

(Exo. 35:4-9)

25 Miingon ang Ginoo kang Moises, “Ingna ang mga Israelinhon nga maghalad sila kanako. Ikaw mao ang modawat sa mga halad nga kinasingkasing nilang ihalad kanako. Mao kini ang mga halad nga imong dawaton gikan kanila: bulawan, plata, bronsi, delana[c] nga kolor ube, asul ug pula, linen, panapton nga hinimo gikan sa balhibo sa kanding, panit sa laking karnero nga gitina ug pula, maayong klase sa panit,[d] kahoyng akasya, lana sa olibo alang sa suga, mga lamas alang sa lana nga pangdihog ug alang sa humot nga insenso, ug bato nga onix ug uban pang mahalong mga bato nga gamiton sa efod[e] ug sa mga bulsa-bulsa sa sapaw sa dughan. Ug pahimoa ang katawhan sa Israel ug simbahan nga tolda alang kanako, diin ako magapuyo uban kanila. Ipahimo kini nga Tolda nga Simbahan ug ang tanang kagamitan niini basi sa sumbanan nga ipakita ko kanimo.

Ang Kahon sa Kasugoan

(Exo. 37:1-9)

10 “Pagpahimo ug Kahon nga akasya—45 ka pulgada ang gitas-on, 27 ka pulgada ang gilapdon, ug 27 ka pulgada ang gihabugon. 11 Pahaklapi kinig purong bulawan sa sulod ug sa gawas, ug paribetihi ug bulawan ang mga kilid niini. 12 Pagpahimo ug upat ka bulawan nga singsing ug itaod kini sa iyang upat ka haligi. 13 Unya pagpahimo ug mga pangdayong nga akasya ug pahaklapi ug bulawan. 14 Isuot kini sa mga singsing sa kada kilid sa Kahon aron madayongan ang Kahon pinaagi niini. 15 Dili gayod kuhaon ang mga pangdayong diha sa mga singsing sa Kahon. 16 Unya isulod diha sa Kahon ang lagpad nga bato, diin nahisulat ang Kasugoan nga ihatag ko kanimo.

17 “Pahimoi ang Kahon ug taklob nga purong bulawan, nga 45 ka pulgada ang gitas-on ug 27 ka pulgada ang gilapdon. 18-19 Unya pagpahimo ug duha ka kerubin nga bulawan, ug ibutang kini sa isigka-tumoy sa tabon sa Kahon. 20 Kinahanglan nga ang mga pako sa kerubin nagabukhad ibabaw sa tabon aron malandongan nila kini, ug mag-atbang silang duha nga nagatan-aw ngadto sa tabon. 21 Isulod diha sa Kahon ang lagpad nga bato, diin nahisulat ang Kasugoan nga ihatag ko kanimo, ug unya taboni ang Kahon. 22 Makigkita ako kanimo didto taliwala sa duha ka kerubin nga anaa ibabaw sa Kahon, ug ihatag ko kanimo ang tanan kong mga sugo alang sa katawhan sa Israel.”

Ang Lamisa

(Exo. 37:10-16)

23 “Pagpahimo usab ug lamisa nga akasya—36 ka pulgada ang gitas-on, 18 ka pulgada ang gilapdon, ug 27 ka pulgada ang gihabugon. 24 Pahaklapi kinig purong bulawan ug paribetihi ug bulawan ang mga kilid niini. 25 Pabutangi kinig sanipa sa kada kilid, nga upat ka pulgada ang gilapdon, ug paribetihi ug bulawan ang sanipa. 26 Unya pagpahimo ug upat ka bulawan nga singsing ug itaod kini sa upat ka eskina sa may tiil sa lamisa, 27 duol sa sanipa. Dinhi ninyo isuot ang mga pangdayong sa lamisa. 28 Kinahanglan nga kining mga pangdayong hinimo gikan sa akasya ug hinaklapan ug bulawan.

29 “Pagpahimo usab ug bulawan nga mga plato, mga tasa,[f] mga tibod, ug mga yahong nga gamiton alang sa mga halad nga ilimnon. 30 Ug kini nga lamisa kinahanglang butangan kanunay ug pan nga ginahalad sa akong presensya.”

Ang Butanganan ug Suga

(Exo. 37:17-24)

31 “Pagpahimo usab ug butanganan sa suga nga purong bulawan ang tiil ug lawas niini, ug gidekorasyonan kinig mga bulak nga ang uban piyoos pa ug ang uban namukhad na. Unay sa butanganan sa suga ang mga dekorasyon niini. 32 Ang butanganan sa suga kinahanglang adunay unom ka mga sanga, tag-tulo sa kada kilid. 33 Ang kada sanga may tulo ka dekorasyon nga mga bulak nga ang korte morag almond, nga ang uban piyoos pa ug ang uban namukhad na. 34 Ang lawas sa butanganan sa suga may upat ka dekorasyon nga mga bulak nga ang korte morag almond, nga ang uban piyoos pa ug ang uban namukhad na. 35 May usa ka bulak sa ubos sa matag bahin diin magtagbo ang mga sanga. 36 Ang mga dekorasyon ug ang mga sanga unay sa lawas sa butanganan sa suga sa paghimo niini gikan sa bulawan. 37 Unya pagpahimo ug pito ka suga alang niining maong butanganan ug ipahimutang kini sa paagi nga ang kahayag niini modan-ag sa atubangan. 38 Ang mga kimpit ug mga pangsalod sa naupos nga pabilo sa suga kinahanglan purong bulawan. 39 Mga 35 ka kilo nga purong bulawan ang kinahanglanon mo sa pagpahimo sa butanganan sa suga ug sa tanang kagamitan niini. 40 Siguroha nga ipahimo mo kining tanan sumala gayod sa plano nga gipakita ko kanimo dinhi sa bukid.

Footnotes

  1. 23:21 dili niya baliwalaon ang inyong mga sala: o, dili niya pasayloon ang inyong mga sala.
  2. 23:31 Dagat sa Mediteraneo: sa literal, Dagat sa mga Filistihanon.
  3. 25:4 delana: sa English, wool.
  4. 25:5 maayong klase sa panit: Posible nga ang buot ipasabot niini sa Hebreo, panit sa dugong o dolfin.
  5. 25:7 efod: Tan-awa ang Lista sa mga Pulong sa luyo.
  6. 25:29 tasa: Dili klaro ang buot ipasabot niini sa Hebreo nga teksto.

The Three Annual Festivals

14 “Three times(A) a year you are to celebrate a festival to me.

15 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread;(B) for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv,(C) for in that month you came out of Egypt.

“No one is to appear before me empty-handed.(D)

16 “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest(E) with the firstfruits(F) of the crops you sow in your field.

“Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering(G) at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.(H)

17 “Three times(I) a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord.

18 “Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast.(J)

“The fat of my festival offerings must not be kept until morning.(K)

19 “Bring the best of the firstfruits(L) of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.

“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.(M)

God’s Angel to Prepare the Way

20 “See, I am sending an angel(N) ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.(O) 21 Pay attention to him and listen(P) to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive(Q) your rebellion,(R) since my Name(S) is in him. 22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do(T) all that I say, I will be an enemy(U) to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23 My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites,(V) and I will wipe them out. 24 Do not bow down before their gods or worship(W) them or follow their practices.(X) You must demolish(Y) them and break their sacred stones(Z) to pieces. 25 Worship the Lord your God,(AA) and his blessing(AB) will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness(AC) from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren(AD) in your land. I will give you a full life span.(AE)

27 “I will send my terror(AF) ahead of you and throw into confusion(AG) every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.(AH) 28 I will send the hornet(AI) ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites(AJ) out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals(AK) too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession(AL) of the land.

31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea[a] to the Mediterranean Sea,[b] and from the desert to the Euphrates River.(AM) I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out(AN) before you. 32 Do not make a covenant(AO) with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare(AP) to you.”

The Covenant Confirmed

24 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron,(AQ) Nadab and Abihu,(AR) and seventy of the elders(AS) of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach(AT) the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”

When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws,(AU) they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”(AV) Moses then wrote(AW) down everything the Lord had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar(AX) at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars(AY) representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings(AZ) and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings(BA) to the Lord. Moses(BB) took half of the blood(BC) and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed(BD) against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant(BE) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”(BF)

Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people(BG) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant(BH) that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders(BI) of Israel went up 10 and saw(BJ) the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli,(BK) as bright blue as the sky.(BL) 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw(BM) God, and they ate and drank.(BN)

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone(BO) with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

13 Then Moses set out with Joshua(BP) his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain(BQ) of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur(BR) are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute(BS) can go to them.”

15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud(BT) covered it, 16 and the glory(BU) of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai.(BV) For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.(BW) 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire(BX) on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty(BY) days and forty nights.(BZ)

Offerings for the Tabernacle(CA)

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(CB) them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn(CC) and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[c];(CD) acacia wood;(CE) olive oil(CF) for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;(CG) and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod(CH) and breastpiece.(CI)

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

The Ark(CM)

10 “Have them make an ark[d](CN) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.[e] 11 Overlay(CO) 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(CP) on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.(CQ) 14 Insert the poles(CR) 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.(CS) 16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law,(CT) which I will give you.

17 “Make an atonement cover(CU) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim(CV) 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(CW) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing(CX) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark(CY) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law(CZ) that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim(DA) that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet(DB) with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.(DC)

The Table(DD)

23 “Make a table(DE) of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.[f] 24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. 25 Also make around it a rim a handbreadth[g] 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(DF) 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.(DG) 30 Put the bread of the Presence(DH) on this table to be before me at all times.

The Lampstand(DI)

31 “Make a lampstand(DJ) 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.(DK)

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

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 23:31 Or the Sea of Reeds
  2. Exodus 23:31 Hebrew to the Sea of the Philistines
  3. Exodus 25:5 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals
  4. Exodus 25:10 That is, a chest
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Exodus 25:25 That is, about 3 inches or about 7.5 centimeters
  8. Exodus 25:39 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms