Old/New Testament
Offerings for the special tent
7 When Moses had put up God's Tent, he poured special oil on it. He also poured it on the things in the tent, the altar and all the tools. This showed that all these things were special for God to use. 2 Then the 12 leaders of Israel's tribes came to God's Tent. They brought gifts. These men were the leaders who had helped to count the people. 3 They brought their gifts to the Lord. They brought six carts, one cart for every two leaders. They brought 12 oxen. That was one ox for each leader. They brought it all to God's Tent.
4 The Lord said to Moses, 5 ‘Accept these gifts from the leaders. Give them to the Levites. All the Levites can use them for their work at the Tent of Meeting.’
6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen and he gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the descendants of Gershon. 8 He gave four carts and eight oxen to the descendants of Merari for their work. Ithamar was the son of Aaron. He had to tell the descendants of Merari the work that they should do. 9 But the descendants of Kohath had to carry everything that was special on their shoulders. So Moses did not give any carts or oxen to the descendants of Kohath.
10 When Moses poured special oil on the altar, the leaders also brought gifts. They offered their gifts to God in front of the altar. 11 The Lord said to Moses: ‘One leader must bring a gift to the altar every day. That is how they will make the altar special for me.’ 12 On the first day, Nahshon, the son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah brought his gift. 13 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 14 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 15 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 16 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 17 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.
18 On day 2, Nethanel, the son of Zuar, from the tribe of Issachar brought his gift. 19 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 20 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 21 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 22 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 23 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Nethanel, the son of Zuar.
24 On day 3, Eliab, the son of Helon, from the tribe of Zebulun brought his gift. 25 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 26 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 27 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 28 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 29 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Eliab, the son of Helon.
30 On day 4, Elizur, the son of Shedeur, from the tribe of Reuben brought his gift. 31 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 32 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 33 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 34 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 35 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Elizur, the son of Shedeur.
36 On day 5, Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, from the tribe of Simeon brought his gift. 37 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 38 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 39 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 40 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 41 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.
42 On day 6, Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, from the tribe of Gad brought his gift. 43 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 44 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 45 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 46 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 47 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.
48 On day 7, Elishama, the son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Ephraim brought his gift. 49 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 50 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 51 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 52 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 53 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Elishama, the son of Ammihud.
54 On day 8, Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, from the tribe of Manasseh brought his gift. 55 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 56 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 57 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 58 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 59 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur.
60 On day 9, Abidan, the son of Gideoni, from the tribe of Benjamin brought his gift. 61 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 62 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 63 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 64 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 65 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Abidan, the son of Gideoni.
66 On day 10, Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, from the tribe of Dan brought his gift. 67 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 68 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 69 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 70 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 71 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.
72 On day 11, Pagiel, the son of Ocran, from the tribe of Asher brought his gift. 73 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 74 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 75 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 76 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 77 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Pagiel, the son of Ocran.
78 On day 12, Ahira, the son of Enan, from the tribe of Naphtali brought his gift. 79 He brought a plate and a bowl that someone had made from silver. The plate weighed 130 shekels. The bowl weighed 70 shekels. They had weighed the silver by the shekel of God's Holy Tent. Both of those were full of good flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for a grain offering. 80 He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed ten shekels and it was full of incense. 81 He brought one young bull, one male sheep and one male lamb that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a burnt offering. 82 He brought one male goat for a sin offering. 83 He also brought two oxen, five male sheep, five male goats, and five male lambs that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offerings. That was the gift of Ahira, the son of Enan.
84 The leaders of Israel brought these gifts to the altar when Moses poured special oil on it. They brought all the gifts in the list below. They brought 12 plates and 12 bowls that people had made from silver. 85 Each plate weighed 130 shekels and each bowl weighed 70 shekels. All the silver weighed 2,400 shekels. That was the shekel of God's Holy Tent. 86 They brought 12 small dishes that people had made from gold. Each small dish weighed ten shekels. They were each full of incense. All the gold weighed 120 shekels. 87 All the animals for the burnt offering were 12 young bulls, 12 male sheep and 12 male lambs that were one year old. They also brought the proper grain offerings with those animals. And they brought 12 male goats for a sin offering. 88 There were also another 24 oxen, 60 male sheep, 60 male goats and 60 male lambs. The male lambs were one year old. Those animals were for the friendship offering. That was the offering when they made the altar special for God. That was after Moses had poured special oil on it.
89 When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting, to speak with the Lord, the Lord did speak to him. And Moses heard the Lord. The sound came from above the lid which was on the top of the Covenant Box. On the lid, there were images of two cherubs. The sound came from between the cherubs. That was how the Lord spoke to Moses.
The special lampstand
8 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you put the lamps on the lampstand, the seven lamps must give light in front of the lampstand.” ’
3 So Aaron did that. He put its lamps at the front of the lampstand, as the Lord had said to Moses. 4 A worker had made the lampstand from one piece of gold that he had made flat with a hammer. From its base to the flowers at the top, he had made it in that way. It was completely like the lampstand that the Lord had shown to Moses.[a]
The Levites must be ready to serve God
5 Again the Lord spoke to Moses and he said, 6 ‘Take the Levites from among the Israelites and make them clean. 7 You will make them clean like this: Put on them the special water that makes people clean. They must remove all the hair from their whole body, and they must wash their clothes. Then they will be clean. 8 Then they must take a bull with the proper grain offering and oil. And you must take another bull for a sin offering. 9 Then you must bring the Levites in front of the Tent of Meeting. You must also bring all the Israelites there. 10 You must bring the Levites in front of the Lord. Then the Israelites must put their hands on the Levites' heads. 11 Aaron must give the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the Israelites. Then they will be ready to do the Lord's work.
12 Then the Levites must put their hands on the heads of the bulls. Then offer one bull for a sin offering and the other one for a burnt offering to the Lord.[b] That will make peace with the Lord for the Levites sin. 13 And you must cause the Levites to stand in front of Aaron and his sons. So they will be a special gift to the Lord. 14 That is how you will make the Levites separate from the other Israelites. And then the Levites will be mine.
15 Then after that the Levites can go in to work in the Tent of Meeting. But you must make them clean and you must bring them to me as a special gift. 16 That is because all the Levites among the Israelites are mine. All the Israelites' firstborn sons are mine. But I have taken the Levites for myself instead. 17 Every firstborn son among the Israelites is mine. And all the firstborn male animals are mine too. On the day that I killed all the firstborn sons in Egypt I made them special for myself. 18 But now I have not taken all the firstborn sons among the Israelites. I have taken the Levites instead. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the Israelites. They will work at the Tent of Meeting on behalf of the Israelites. And they will make peace with me on behalf of the Israelites. So there will not be a bad disease among the Israelites when they go near to God's Holy Tent.’
20 So Moses and Aaron and all the Israelites did those things to the Levites. The Israelites did everything that the Lord had said to Moses about the Levites. 21 The Levites, too, made themselves clean and they washed their clothes. And Aaron brought them in front of Lord as a special gift. Aaron also burnt sacrifices to make them clean. 22 After that, the Levites went in to do their work in the Tent of Meeting. They helped Aaron and his sons. The Israelites did everything with the Levites that the Lord had said to Moses about them.
23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses again and he said, 24 ‘These are the rules about the Levites: The men who are 25 years old or older must go in to work in the Tent of Meeting. 25 But they must stop that work when they are 50 years old. And they must not do that work after that. 26 But they can help the other Levites in the Tent of Meeting. They can help them to do their jobs. But they themselves must not have any jobs. Those are the rules about the Levites and about their jobs.’
People put a light in a high place
21 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Nobody brings a lamp into a house and puts it under a pot or under a bed. You do not do that. You put it up on a high place.[a] 22 God hides some things now. But there will be a time when people will see them. God keeps some things secret now. But there will be a time when people will understand those things.’ 23 Then Jesus said, ‘You have ears, so listen well to what I say.’
24 Jesus then said, ‘Think carefully about the things that you hear. God will give to you in the same way that you give to other people. And you will receive even more. 25 A person who has received some things will receive more things. Some other people have nothing. They will lose even the little bit that they do have.’[b]
Jesus tells a story about seeds
26 Then Jesus said, ‘I will tell you a story about the kingdom of God. It is like this: A man throws seeds in his field. 27 Then he sleeps each night and he wakes up each day. The seeds start to grow into plants. They continue to grow. The man does not know how this happens. 28 The soil causes the plants to grow. The leaves of the plant grow first. Then the flowers appear. Then the plant makes new seeds. 29 When the new seeds have completely grown, the man will cut down the plants. It is time for him to take the seeds to use for food.’
Jesus tells a story about a very small seed
30 Jesus said, ‘I will tell you another story about the kingdom of God. This story shows what the kingdom of God is like. 31 It is like this: A man takes a seed of the plant called mustard. He plants it in the soil. It is smaller than any other seed that people plant in the soil. 32 But when it starts to grow, it becomes bigger than the largest bush. It will have big branches. Then the birds will come and they will live there. They will build their nests in the shade of the branches.’
33 Jesus taught God's message to the people. He used many stories like these. He told the people as much as they could understand. 34 He always used stories to teach the people. Then he explained everything to his own disciples when he was alone with them.
Jesus stops a storm
35 On that same day, in the evening, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘We should go across the lake to the other side.’ 36 So they went and left the crowd behind. Jesus was already in the boat. So the disciples took him across the lake. Some other boats also went with them. 37 Then a strong wind began to blow across the lake. Water began to go into the boat and fill it. Soon the boat was almost going under the water. 38 Jesus was in a comfortable place at the back of the boat. He was sleeping. The disciples woke him. They said to him, ‘Teacher, we will die here in the water! Please do something!’
39 Jesus woke up and he spoke strongly to the wind and to the water. ‘Be quiet!’ he said. ‘Stop!’ Then the wind stopped and the water became quiet again.
40 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You should not be afraid like that. You should trust me.’
41 But the disciples became very afraid. They said to each other, ‘Who is this man? Even the wind and the water obey him.’
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