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Exodus 30:11-38:9
English Standard Version

The Census Tax

11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 (A)“When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give (B)a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. 13 Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel[a] according to the (C)shekel of the sanctuary (the (D)shekel is twenty gerahs),[b] (E)half a shekel as an offering to the Lord. 14 Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord's offering. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than (F)the half shekel, when you give the Lord's offering to make atonement for your lives. 16 You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall (G)give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to (H)remembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives.”

The Bronze Basin

17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “You shall also make a (I)basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. (J)You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, 19 with which Aaron and his sons (K)shall wash their hands and their feet. 20 When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering[c] to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall (L)be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.”

The Anointing Oil and Incense

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Take the (M)finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of (N)aromatic cane, 24 and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a (O)hin[d] of olive oil. 25 And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the (P)perfumer; it shall be a (Q)holy anointing oil. 26 (R)With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the (S)basin and its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. (T)Whatever touches them will become holy. 30 (U)You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 31 And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. (V)It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 (W)Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’”

34 The Lord said to Moses, (X)“Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), 35 and make an (Y)incense blended as by the (Z)perfumer, (AA)seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting (AB)where I shall meet with you. (AC)It shall be most holy for you. 37 And the incense that you shall make (AD)according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. 38 (AE)Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”

Oholiab and Bezalel

31 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name (AF)Bezalel the son of Uri, son of (AG)Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have (AH)filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 And behold, I have appointed with him (AI)Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men (AJ)ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 (AK)the tent of meeting, and (AL)the ark of the testimony, and (AM)the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, 8 (AN)the table and its utensils, and (AO)the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and (AP)the altar of incense, 9 and (AQ)the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and (AR)the basin and its stand, 10 and (AS)the finely worked garments,[e] the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, 11 and (AT)the anointing oil and the fragrant (AU)incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

The Sabbath

12 And the Lord said to Moses, 13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. (AV)Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 (AW)Six days shall work be done, but (AX)the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. (AY)Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. 16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 (AZ)It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that (BA)in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and (BB)on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

18 And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the (BC)two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with (BD)the finger of God.

The Golden Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses (BE)delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, (BF)“Up, make us gods who shall (BG)go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the (BH)rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 (BI)And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden[f] calf. And they said, (BJ)“These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron (BK)made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6 And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And (BL)the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up (BM)to play.

7 And the Lord said to Moses, (BN)“Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have (BO)corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that (BP)I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, (BQ)it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore (BR)let me alone, that (BS)my wrath may burn hot against them and (BT)I may consume them, in order that (BU)I may make a great nation of you.”

11 But (BV)Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 (BW)Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and (BX)relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you (BY)swore by your own self, and said to them, (BZ)‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord (CA)relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

15 Then (CB)Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the (CC)two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. 16 (CD)The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17 When (CE)Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” 18 But he said, “It is not the sound of (CF)shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 And as soon as he came near the camp and (CG)saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.

21 And Moses said to Aaron, (CH)“What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. (CI)You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 For (CJ)they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 So (CK)I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, (CL)to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you (CM)kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been (CN)ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

30 The next day Moses said to the people, (CO)“You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; (CP)perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, (CQ)this people has sinned a great sin. They have (CR)made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if (CS)you will forgive their sin—but if not, please (CT)blot me out of (CU)your book that you have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, (CV)“Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. 34 (CW)But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; (CX)behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”

35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.

The Command to Leave Sinai

33 The Lord said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you (CY)and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To (CZ)your offspring I will give it.’ 2 I will send an (DA)angel before you, (DB)and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 3 (DC)Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; (DD)but I will not go up among you, (DE)lest I consume you on the way, for you are a (DF)stiff-necked people.”

4 When the people heard this disastrous word, they (DG)mourned, and (DH)no one put on his ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a (DI)stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would (DJ)consume you. So now (DK)take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’” 6 Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.

The Tent of Meeting

7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and (DL)he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who (DM)sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and (DN)each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. 9 When Moses entered the tent, the (DO)pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord[g] would speak with Moses. 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11 Thus (DP)the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his (DQ)assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Moses' Intercession

12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, (DR)you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, (DS)‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please (DT)show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is (DU)your people.” 14 And he said, (DV)“My presence will go with you, and (DW)I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, (DX)“If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? (DY)Is it not in your going with us, (DZ)so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, (EA)for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please (EB)show me your glory.” 19 And he said, (EC)“I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And (ED)I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for (EE)man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a (EF)cleft of the rock, and I will (EG)cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall (EH)not be seen.”

Moses Makes New Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, (EI)“Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, (EJ)and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, (EK)which you broke. 2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me (EL)on the top of the mountain. 3 No (EM)one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain.” 4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord (EN)descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and (EO)proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, (EP)“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and (EQ)gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast (ER)love and faithfulness, 7 (ES)keeping steadfast love for thousands,[h] (ET)forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but (EU)who will by no means clear the guilty, (EV)visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly (EW)bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please (EX)let the Lord go in the midst of us, for (EY)it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for (EZ)your inheritance.”

The Covenant Renewed

10 And he said, “Behold, (FA)I am making a covenant. Before all your people (FB)I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an (FC)awesome thing that I will do with you.

11 “Observe what I command you this day. Behold, (FD)I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 12 (FE)Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a (FF)snare in your midst. 13 You shall (FG)tear down their altars and (FH)break their pillars and cut down their (FI)Asherim 14 (for (FJ)you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), 15 (FK)lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they (FL)whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and (FM)you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of (FN)their daughters for your sons, and their daughters (FO)whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.

17 (FP)“You shall not make for yourself any gods of cast metal.

18 (FQ)“You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in (FR)the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt. 19 (FS)All that open the womb are mine, all your male[i] livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. 20 The (FT)firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And (FU)none shall appear before me empty-handed.

21 (FV)“Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. 22 (FW)You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end. 23 (FX)Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. 24 For I will (FY)cast out nations before you and (FZ)enlarge your borders; (GA)no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year.

25 (GB)“You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, (GC)or let the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover remain until the morning. 26 (GD)The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. (GE)You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.”

27 And the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words (GF)I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 (GG)So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he (GH)wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.[j]

The Shining Face of Moses

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with (GI)the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face (GJ)shone because he had been talking with God.[k] 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face (GK)shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he (GL)commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a (GM)veil over his face.

34 Whenever Moses (GN)went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was (GO)shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Sabbath Regulations

35 Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, (GP)“These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do. 2 (GQ)Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. 3 (GR)You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.”

Contributions for the Tabernacle

4 Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. 5 (GS)Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. (GT)Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats' hair, 7 tanned rams' skins, and goatskins;[l] acacia wood, 8 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 9 and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

10 “Let (GU)every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded: 11 (GV)the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; 12 (GW)the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the (GX)veil of the screen; 13 (GY)the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the (GZ)bread of the Presence; 14 (HA)the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the (HB)oil for the light; 15 (HC)and the altar of incense, with its poles, (HD)and the anointing oil and the (HE)fragrant incense, and (HF)the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; 16 (HG)the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the (HH)basin and its stand; 17 (HI)the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 (HJ)the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their (HK)cords; 19 the (HL)finely worked garments for ministering[m] in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests.”

20 Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, (HM)everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, (HN)and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And (HO)every one who possessed (HP)blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. 24 (HQ)Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the Lord's contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. 25 And every (HR)skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. 26 All the women (HS)whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. 27 And the (HT)leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, 28 and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. 29 (HU)All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.

Construction of the Tabernacle

30 (HV)Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with (HW)skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has (HX)filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.

36 “Bezalel and Oholiab and (HY)every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone (HZ)whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. 3 And they received from Moses all the (IA)contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him (IB)freewill offerings every morning, 4 so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, 5 and said to Moses, (IC)“The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” 6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the (ID)contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

8 (IE)And all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked. 9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits,[n] and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.

10 He[o] coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. 11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain of the first set. Likewise he made them on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set. 12 He made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set. The loops were opposite one another. 13 And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.

14 He also made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle. He made eleven curtains. 15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains were the same size. 16 He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17 And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the other connecting curtain. 18 And he made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together that it might be a single whole. 19 And he made for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and goatskins.

20 (IF)Then he made the upright frames for the tabernacle of (IG)acacia wood. 21 Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. 22 Each frame had two tenons for fitting together. He did this for all the frames of the tabernacle. 23 The frames for the tabernacle he made thus: twenty frames for the south side. 24 And he made forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons. 25 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty frames 26 and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame and two bases under the next frame. 27 For the rear of the tabernacle westward he made six frames. 28 He made two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear. 29 And they were separate beneath but joined at the top, at the first ring. He made two of them this way for the two corners. 30 There were eight frames with their bases of silver: sixteen bases, under every frame two bases.

31 He made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, 32 and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the tabernacle at the rear westward. 33 And he made the middle bar to run from end to end halfway up the frames. 34 And he overlaid the frames with gold, and made their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

35 (IH)He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it. 36 And for it he made four pillars of acacia and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver. 37 He also made a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework, 38 and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals, and their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze.

Making the Ark

37 (II)Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits[p] and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold for its (IJ)four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. 4 And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold 5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. 6 And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat, 8 one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.

Making the Table

10 (IK)He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it. 12 And he made a rim around it a handbreadth[q] wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim. 13 He cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 14 Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15 He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.

Making the Lampstand

17 (IL)He also made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work. Its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were of one piece with it. 18 And there were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 19 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand itself were four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, 21 and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out of it. 22 Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole of it was a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. 23 And he made its seven lamps and its tongs and its trays of pure gold. 24 He made it and all its utensils out of a talent[r] of pure gold.

Making the Altar of Incense

25 (IM)He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit, and its breadth was a cubit. It was square, and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And he made a molding of gold around it, 27 and made two rings of gold on it under its molding, on two opposite sides of it, as holders for the poles with which to carry it. 28 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29 (IN)He made the holy anointing oil also, and the (IO)pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.

Making the Altar of Burnt Offering

38 (IP)He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. Five cubits[s] was its length, and five cubits its breadth. It was square, and three cubits was its height. 2 He made horns for it on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. 3 And he made all the utensils of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its utensils of bronze. 4 And he made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its ledge, extending halfway down. 5 He cast four rings on the four corners of the bronze grating as holders for the poles. 6 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. 7 And he put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it with them. He made it hollow, with boards.

Making the Bronze Basin

8 (IQ)He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the (IR)ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.

Making the Court

9 (IS)And he made the court. For the south side the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits;

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 30:13 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  2. Exodus 30:13 A gerah was about 1/50 ounce or 0.6 gram
  3. Exodus 30:20 Or an offering by fire
  4. Exodus 30:24 A hin was about 4 quarts or 3.5 liters
  5. Exodus 31:10 Or garments for worship
  6. Exodus 32:4 Hebrew cast metal; also verse 8
  7. Exodus 33:9 Hebrew he
  8. Exodus 34:7 Or to the thousandth generation
  9. Exodus 34:19 Septuagint, Theodotion, Vulgate, Targum; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  10. Exodus 34:28 Hebrew the ten words
  11. Exodus 34:29 Hebrew him
  12. Exodus 35:7 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; also verse 23; compare 25:5
  13. Exodus 35:19 Or garments for worship; see 31:10
  14. Exodus 36:9 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  15. Exodus 36:10 Probably Bezalel (compare 35:30; 37:1)
  16. Exodus 37:1 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  17. Exodus 37:12 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters
  18. Exodus 37:24 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  19. Exodus 38:1 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
Listen to Exodus 30:11-38:9
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Exodus 30:11-38:9
New International Version

Atonement Money

11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take a census(A) of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom(B) for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague(C) will come on them when you number them. 13 Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel,[a] according to the sanctuary shekel,(D) which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord. 14 All who cross over, those twenty years old or more,(E) are to give an offering to the Lord. 15 The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less(F) when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives. 16 Receive the atonement(G) money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting.(H) It will be a memorial(I) for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.”

Basin for Washing

17 Then the Lord said to Moses, 18 “Make a bronze basin,(J) with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet(K) with water(L) from it. 20 Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die.(M) Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance(N) for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”(O)

Anointing Oil

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Take the following fine spices:(P) 500 shekels[b] of liquid myrrh,(Q) half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon,(R) 250 shekels[c] of fragrant calamus,(S) 24 500 shekels(T) of cassia(U)—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin[d] of olive oil. 25 Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.(V) It will be the sacred anointing oil.(W) 26 Then use it to anoint(X) the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, 27 the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them(Y) so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.(Z)

30 “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate(AA) them so they may serve me as priests.(AB) 31 Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil(AC) for the generations to come.(AD) 32 Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred.(AE) 33 Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off(AF) from their people.’”

Incense

34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices(AG)—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense,(AH) the work of a perfumer.(AI) It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet(AJ) with you. It shall be most holy(AK) to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy(AL) to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off(AM) from their people.”

Bezalel and Oholiab(AN)

31 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel(AO) son of Uri, the son of Hur,(AP) of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge(AQ) and with all kinds of skills(AR)— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab(AS) son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan,(AT) to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers(AU) to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting,(AV) the ark of the covenant law(AW) with the atonement cover(AX) on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— 8 the table(AY) and its articles, the pure gold lampstand(AZ) and all its accessories, the altar of incense,(BA) 9 the altar of burnt offering(BB) and all its utensils, the basin(BC) with its stand— 10 and also the woven garments(BD), both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil(BE) and fragrant incense(BF) for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded(BG) you.”

The Sabbath

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.(BH) This will be a sign(BI) between me and you for the generations to come,(BJ) so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.(BK)

14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death;(BL) those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work(BM) is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest,(BN) holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath,(BO) celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign(BP) between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.(BQ)’”(BR)

18 When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai,(BS) he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone(BT) inscribed by the finger of God.(BU)

The Golden Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain,(BV) they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[e] who will go before(BW) us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”(BX)

2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings(BY) that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol(BZ) cast in the shape of a calf,(CA) fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[f](CB) Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”(CC)

5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival(CD) to the Lord.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings.(CE) Afterward they sat down to eat and drink(CF) and got up to indulge in revelry.(CG)

7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,(CH) have become corrupt.(CI) 8 They have been quick to turn away(CJ) from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol(CK) cast in the shape of a calf.(CL) They have bowed down to it and sacrificed(CM) to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’(CN)

9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked(CO) people. 10 Now leave me alone(CP) so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy(CQ) them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”(CR)

11 But Moses sought the favor(CS) of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?(CT) 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’?(CU) Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster(CV) on your people. 13 Remember(CW) your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:(CX) ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars(CY) in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land(CZ) I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the Lord relented(DA) and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law(DB) in his hands.(DC) They were inscribed(DD) on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.(DE)

17 When Joshua(DF) heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.”

18 Moses replied:

“It is not the sound of victory,
    it is not the sound of defeat;
    it is the sound of singing that I hear.”

19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf(DG) and the dancing,(DH) his anger burned(DI) and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces(DJ) at the foot of the mountain. 20 And he took the calf the people had made and burned(DK) it in the fire; then he ground it to powder,(DL) scattered it on the water(DM) and made the Israelites drink it.

21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”

22 “Do not be angry,(DN) my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.(DO) 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’(DP) 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”(DQ)

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock(DR) to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”(DS) 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin.(DT) But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement(DU) for your sin.”

31 So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!(DV) They have made themselves gods of gold.(DW) 32 But now, please forgive their sin(DX)—but if not, then blot me(DY) out of the book(DZ) you have written.”

33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out(EA) of my book. 34 Now go, lead(EB) the people to the place(EC) I spoke of, and my angel(ED) will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish,(EE) I will punish them for their sin.”

35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf(EF) Aaron had made.

33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath(EG) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’(EH) 2 I will send an angel(EI) before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.(EJ) 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.(EK) But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked(EL) people and I might destroy(EM) you on the way.”

4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn(EN) and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people.(EO) If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy(EP) you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.(EQ)

The Tent of Meeting

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.”(ER) Anyone inquiring(ES) of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents,(ET) watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud(EU) would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke(EV) with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.(EW) 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face,(EX) as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua(EY) son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’(EZ) but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name(FA) and you have found favor(FB) with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways(FC) so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”(FD)

14 The Lord replied, “My Presence(FE) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”(FF)

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence(FG) does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?(FH) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”(FI)

17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked,(FJ) because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”(FK)

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”(FL)

19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass(FM) in front of you, and I will proclaim my name,(FN) the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.(FO) 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see(FP) me and live.”

21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock(FQ) and cover you with my hand(FR) until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

The New Stone Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones,(FS) and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets,(FT) which you broke.(FU) 2 Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai.(FV) Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. 3 No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain;(FW) not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”

4 So Moses chiseled(FX) out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.(FY) 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud(FZ) and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord.(GA) 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate(GB) and gracious God, slow to anger,(GC) abounding in love(GD) and faithfulness,(GE) 7 maintaining love to thousands,(GF) and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.(GG) Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished;(GH) he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”(GI)

8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9 “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor(GJ) in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us.(GK) Although this is a stiff-necked(GL) people, forgive our wickedness and our sin,(GM) and take us as your inheritance.”(GN)

10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant(GO) with you. Before all your people I will do wonders(GP) never before done in any nation in all the world.(GQ) The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command(GR) you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.(GS) 12 Be careful not to make a treaty(GT) with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare(GU) among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.[g](GV) 14 Do not worship any other god,(GW) for the Lord, whose name(GX) is Jealous, is a jealous God.(GY)

15 “Be careful not to make a treaty(GZ) with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute(HA) themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.(HB) 16 And when you choose some of their daughters as wives(HC) for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods,(HD) they will lead your sons to do the same.

17 “Do not make any idols.(HE)

18 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.(HF) For seven days eat bread made without yeast,(HG) as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv,(HH) for in that month you came out of Egypt.

19 “The first offspring(HI) of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. 20 Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.(HJ) Redeem all your firstborn sons.(HK)

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

21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest;(HM) even during the plowing season and harvest(HN) you must rest.

22 “Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits(HO) of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering(HP) at the turn of the year.[h] 23 Three times(HQ) a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel. 24 I will drive out nations(HR) before you and enlarge your territory,(HS) and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the Lord your God.

25 “Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast,(HT) and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Festival remain until morning.(HU)

26 “Bring the best of the firstfruits(HV) of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.

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

27 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write(HX) down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant(HY) with you and with Israel.” 28 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights(HZ) without eating bread or drinking water.(IA) And he wrote on the tablets(IB) the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.(IC)

The Radiant Face of Moses

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai(ID) with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands,(IE) he was not aware that his face was radiant(IF) because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community(IG) came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands(IH) the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil(II) over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant.(IJ) Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

Sabbath Regulations

35 Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded(IK) you to do: 2 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath(IL) rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death.(IM) 3 Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.(IN)”

Materials for the Tabernacle(IO)(IP)

4 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; 6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 7 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[i]; acacia wood; 8 olive oil(IQ) for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

10 “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded:(IR) 11 the tabernacle(IS) with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; 12 the ark(IT) with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain(IU) that shields it; 13 the table(IV) with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence; 14 the lampstand(IW) that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; 15 the altar(IX) of incense with its poles, the anointing oil(IY) and the fragrant incense;(IZ) the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;(JA) 16 the altar(JB) of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin(JC) with its stand; 17 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;(JD) 18 the tent pegs(JE) for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes; 19 the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments(JF) for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”

20 Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, 21 and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. 22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. 23 Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn(JG) or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them. 24 Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. 25 Every skilled woman(JH) spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. 26 And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. 27 The leaders(JI) brought onyx stones and other gems(JJ) to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.(JK) 29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing(JL) brought to the Lord freewill offerings(JM) for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

Bezalel and Oholiab(JN)

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills(JO)— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab(JP) son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach(JQ) others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work(JR) as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. 36 1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person(JS) to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary(JT) are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”

2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel(JU) and Oholiab(JV) and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing(JW) to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings(JX) the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough(JY) for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more(JZ) than enough to do all the work.

The Tabernacle(KA)

8 All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands. 9 All the curtains were the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.[j] 10 They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five. 11 Then they made loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and the same was done with the end curtain in the other set. 12 They also made fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. 13 Then they made fifty gold clasps and used them to fasten the two sets of curtains together so that the tabernacle was a unit.(KB)

14 They made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. 15 All eleven curtains were the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.[k] 16 They joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another set. 17 Then they made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. 18 They made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the tent together as a unit.(KC) 19 Then they made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of the other durable leather.[l]

20 They made upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. 21 Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,[m] 22 with two projections set parallel to each other. They made all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. 23 They made twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle 24 and made forty silver bases to go under them—two bases for each frame, one under each projection. 25 For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, they made twenty frames 26 and forty silver bases—two under each frame. 27 They made six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, 28 and two frames were made for the corners of the tabernacle at the far end. 29 At these two corners the frames were double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both were made alike. 30 So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

31 They also made crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 32 five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. 33 They made the center crossbar so that it extended from end to end at the middle of the frames. 34 They overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

35 They made the curtain(KD) of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. 36 They made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold. They made gold hooks for them and cast their four silver bases. 37 For the entrance to the tent they made a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer;(KE) 38 and they made five posts with hooks for them. They overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold and made their five bases of bronze.

The Ark(KF)

37 Bezalel(KG) made the ark(KH) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.[n] 2 He overlaid it with pure gold,(KI) both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

6 He made the atonement cover(KJ) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 7 Then he made two cherubim(KK) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 8 He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. 9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing(KL) the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.(KM)

The Table(KN)

10 They[o] made the table(KO) of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.[p] 11 Then they overlaid it with pure gold(KP) and made a gold molding around it. 12 They also made around it a rim a handbreadth[q] wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 13 They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were. 14 The rings(KQ) were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 15 The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold. 16 And they made from pure gold the articles for the table—its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.

The Lampstand(KR)

17 They made the lampstand(KS) of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 18 Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 21 One bud was 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. 22 The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.(KT)

23 They made its seven lamps,(KU) as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. 24 They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent[r] of pure gold.

The Altar of Incense(KV)

25 They made the altar of incense(KW) out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high[s]—its horns(KX) of one piece with it. 26 They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 27 They made two gold rings(KY) below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 28 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.(KZ)

29 They also made the sacred anointing oil(LA) and the pure, fragrant incense(LB)—the work of a perfumer.

The Altar of Burnt Offering(LC)

38 They[t] built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits[u] high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.[v] 2 They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze.(LD) 3 They made all its utensils(LE) of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. 4 They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar. 5 They cast bronze rings to hold the poles for the four corners of the bronze grating. 6 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. 7 They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar for carrying it. They made it hollow, out of boards.

The Basin for Washing

8 They made the bronze basin(LF) and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women(LG) who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

The Courtyard(LH)

9 Next they made the courtyard. The south side was a hundred cubits[w] long and had curtains of finely twisted linen,

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 30:13 That is, about 1/5 ounce or about 5.8 grams; also in verse 15
  2. Exodus 30:23 That is, about 12 1/2 pounds or about 5.8 kilograms; also in verse 24
  3. Exodus 30:23 That is, about 6 1/4 pounds or about 2.9 kilograms
  4. Exodus 30:24 That is, probably about 1 gallon or about 3.8 liters
  5. Exodus 32:1 Or a god; also in verses 23 and 31
  6. Exodus 32:4 Or This is your god; also in verse 8
  7. Exodus 34:13 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah
  8. Exodus 34:22 That is, in the autumn
  9. Exodus 35:7 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verse 23
  10. Exodus 36:9 That is, about 42 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 13 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
  11. Exodus 36:15 That is, about 45 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 14 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
  12. Exodus 36:19 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals (see 35:7)
  13. Exodus 36:21 That is, about 15 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide or about 4.5 meters long and 68 centimeters wide
  14. Exodus 37:1 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 6
  15. Exodus 37:10 Or He; also in verses 11-29
  16. Exodus 37:10 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
  17. Exodus 37:12 That is, about 3 inches or about 7.5 centimeters
  18. Exodus 37:24 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
  19. Exodus 37:25 That is, about 1 1/2 feet long and wide and 3 feet high or about 45 centimeters long and wide and 90 centimeters high
  20. Exodus 38:1 Or He; also in verses 2-9
  21. Exodus 38:1 That is, about 4 1/2 feet or about 1.4 meters
  22. Exodus 38:1 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters long and wide
  23. Exodus 38:9 That is, about 150 feet or about 45 meters
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