Exodus: The Israelites are deliveredExodus records more miracles than any other Old Testament Book. It is also the Book where you find the "Ten Commandments". The commandents were sent to Moses as a guideline for how to live a life pleasing to God. God also delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to give the opportunity to form an identity as a new nation. This Book helps us to see that God’s miraculous power is available to all of us. When the Israelites fled Egypt they went to Mt. Sinai. The Book ends with the people still camped at that base of the mountain. Written by Moses as were all the Books of the Torah this is the second book of the Bible.
EXODUS 2: The Birth of Moses : (1) Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, (2) and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. (3) But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. (4) His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. (5) Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. (6) She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said. (7) Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" (8) "Yes, go," she answered. And the girl went and got the baby's mother. (9) Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. (10) When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water." (11) One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. (12) Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. (13) The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?" (14) The man said, "Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and thought, "What I did must have become known." (15) When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. (16) Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock. (17) Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock. (18) When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, "Why have you returned so early today?" (19) They answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock." (20) "And where is he?" he asked his daughters. "Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat." (21) Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. (22) Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, "I have become an alien in a foreign land." (23) During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. (24) God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. (25) So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
Exodus 4: Signs for Moses: (1) Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?" (2) Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. (3) The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. (4) Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. (5) "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you." (6) Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow. (7) "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh. (8) Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. (9) But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground." (10) Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." (11) The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? (12) Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." (13) But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." (14) Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. (15) You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. (16) He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. (17) But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it." (18) Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me go back to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive." Jethro said, "Go, and I wish you well." (19) Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead." (20) So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand. (21) The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. (22) Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, (23) and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.' " (24) At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met {Moses} and was about to kill him. (25) But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched {Moses'} feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said. (26) So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.) (27) The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the desert to meet Moses." So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. (28) Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and also about all the miraculous signs he had commanded him to perform. (29) Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, (30) and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, (31) and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
EXODUS 6: (1) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." (2) God also said to Moses, "I am the LORD. (3) I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. (4) I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they lived as aliens. (5) Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. (6) "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. (7) I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. (8) And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.' " (9) Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage. (10) Then the LORD said to Moses, (11) "Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country." (12) But Moses said to the LORD, "If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?" (13) Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. (14) These were the heads of their families: The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben. (15) The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon. (16) These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. (17) The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei. (18) The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. (19) The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of Levi according to their records. (20) Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years. (21) The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zicri. (22) The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri. (23) Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. (24) The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans. (25) Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan. (26) It was this same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, "Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions." (27) They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. It was the same Moses and Aaron. (28) Now when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt, (29) he said to him, "I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you." (30( But Moses said to the LORD, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?"
EXODUS 8: (1) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. (2) If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs. (3) The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs. (4) The frogs will go up on you and your people and all your officials.' " (5) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.' "(6) So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land. (7) But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. (8) Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD." (9) Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile." (10) "Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God. (11) The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile." (12) After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh. (13) And the LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards and in the fields. (14) They were piled into heaps, and the land reeked of them. (15) But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said. (16) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,' and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats." (17) They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon men and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. (18) But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. And the gnats were on men and animals. (19) The magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said. (20) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the water and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. (21) If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and even the ground where they are. (22) " 'But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. (23) I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.' " (24) And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh's palace and into the houses of his officials, and throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies. (25) Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land." (26) But Moses said, "That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? (27) We must take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he commands us." (28) Pharaoh said, "I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the desert, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me." (29) Moses answered, "As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only be sure that Pharaoh does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD." (30) Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, (31) and the LORD did what Moses asked: The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. (32) But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
EXODUS 10: The Plague of Locusts: (1) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them (2) that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD." (3) So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me. (4) If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow. (5) They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields. (6) They will fill your houses and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians—something neither your fathers nor your forefathers have ever seen from the day they settled in this land till now.' " Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh. (7) Pharaoh's officials said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?" (8) Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "Go, worship the LORD your God," he said. "But just who will be going?" (9) Moses answered, "We will go with our young and old, with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD." (10) Pharaoh said, "The LORD be with you—if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil. (11) No! Have only the men go; and worship the LORD, since that's what you have been asking for." Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh's presence. (12) And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over Egypt so that locusts will swarm over the land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail." (13) So Moses stretched out his staff over Egypt, and the LORD made an east wind blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts; (14) they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again. (15) They covered all the ground until it was black. They devoured all that was left after the hail—everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt. (16) Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. 17 Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me." (18) Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. (19) And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt. (20) But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go. (21) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt—darkness that can be felt." (22) So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. (23) No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. (24) Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind." (25) But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. (26) Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD." (27) But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go. (28) Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die." (29) "Just as you say," Moses replied, "I will never appear before you again." EXODUS 11: The Plague on the Firstborn: (1) Now the LORD had said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. (2) Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold." (3) (The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.) (4) So Moses said, "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. (5) Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. (6) There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. (7) But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. (8) All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, 'Go, you and all the people who follow you!' After that I will leave." Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh. (9) The LORD had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt." (10) Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country. EXODUS 12: The Passover: (1) The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, (2) "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. (4) If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. (5) The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. (6) Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. (7) Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. (8) That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. (9) Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. (10) Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. (11) This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover. (12) "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. (13) The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. (14) "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD -a lasting ordinance. (15) For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. (16) On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat—that is all you may do. (17) "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. (18) In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. (19) For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born. (20) Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread." (21) Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. (22) Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. (23) When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. (24) "Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. (25) When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. (26) And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' (27) then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.' " Then the people bowed down and worshiped. (28) The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. (29) At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. (30) Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. (31) During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. (32) Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." (33) The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" (34) So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. (35) The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. (36) The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. (37) The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. (38) Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. (39) With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves. (40) Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. (41) At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt. (42) Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come. (43) The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "These are the regulations for the Passover: "No foreigner is to eat of it. (44) Any slave you have bought may eat of it after you have circumcised him, (45) but a temporary resident and a hired worker may not eat of it. (46) "It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. (47) The whole community of Israel must celebrate it. (48) "An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it. (49) The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you." (50) All the Israelites did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. (51) And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions. EXODUS 13: Consecration of the Firstborn: (1) The LORD said to Moses, (2) "Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal." (3) Then Moses said to the people, "Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. (4) Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving. (5) When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month: (6) For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD. (7) Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. (8) On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' (9) This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. (10) You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year. (11) "After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, (12) you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. (13) Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons. (14) "In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (15) When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' (16) And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand." (17) When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." (18) So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. (19) Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place" (20) After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. (21) By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. (22) Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. EXODUS 14: (1) Then the LORD said to Moses, (2) "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. (3) Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.' (4) And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this. (5) When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!" (6) So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. (7) He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. (8) The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. (9) The Egyptians—all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. (10) As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. (11) They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? (12) Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (13) Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. (14) The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (15) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. (16) Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. (17) I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. (18) The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen." (19) Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, (20) coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. (21) Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, (22) and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. (23) The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. (24) During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. (25) He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt." (26) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." (27) Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. (28) The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. (29) But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. (30) That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. (31) And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. EXODUS 15: The Song of Moses and Miriam: (1) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. (2) The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. (3) The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. (4) Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. (5) The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. (6) "Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. (7) In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. (8) By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. (9) "The enemy boasted, 'I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.' (10) But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. (11) "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? (12) You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. (13) "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. (14) The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. (15) The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; (16) terror and dread will fall upon them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone—until your people pass by, O LORD, until the people you bought pass by. (17) You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance—the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. (18) The LORD will reign for ever and ever." (19) When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. (20) Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. (21) Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea." (22) Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. (23) When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) (24) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" (25) Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. (26) He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." (27) Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. EXODUS 16: Manna and Quail: (1) The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. (2) In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. (3) The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." (4) Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. (5) On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days." (6) So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, (7) and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" (8) Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD." (9) Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.' " (10) While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud. (11) The LORD said to Moses, (12) "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' " (13) That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. (14) When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. (15) When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. (16) This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' " (17) The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. (18) And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. (19) Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning." (20) However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. (21) Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. (22) On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. (23) He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' " (24) So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. (25) "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. (26) Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any." (27) Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. (28) Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? (29) Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." (30) So the people rested on the seventh day. (31) The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. (32) Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' " (33) So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come." (34) As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept. (35) The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. (36) (An omer is one tenth of an ephah.) EXODUS 17: Water From the Rock: (1) The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. (2) So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" (3) But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" (4) Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me." (5) The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. (6) I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. (7) And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" (8) The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. (9) Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." (10) So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. (11) As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. (12) When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. (13) So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. (14) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." (15) Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. (16) He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." EXODUS 18: Jethro Visits Moses: (1) Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. (2) After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her (3) and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have become an alien in a foreign land"; (4) and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh." (5) Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the desert, where he was camped near the mountain of God. (6) Jethro had sent word to him, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons." (7) So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. (8) Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them. (9) Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. (10) He said, "Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. (11) Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly." (12) Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God. (13) The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. (14) When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" (15) Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. (16) Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws." (17) Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. (18) You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. (19) Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. (20) Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. (21) But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. (22) Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. (23) If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." (24) Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. (25) He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. (26) They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. (27) Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.EXODUS 19: At Mount Sinai: (1) In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on the very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. (2) After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. (3) Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: (4) 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. (5) Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, (6) you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." (7) So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. (8) The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. (9) The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. (10) And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes (11) and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. (12) Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. (13) He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain." (14) After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. (15) Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations." (16) On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. (17) Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. (18) Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, (19) and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. (20) The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up (21) and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. (22) Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them." (23) Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, 'Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.' " (24) The LORD replied, "Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out against them." (25) So Moses went down to the people and told them. EXODUS 20: The Ten Commandments: And God spoke all these words: (1) "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (2) "You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments. (3) "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (4) "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (5) "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (6) "You shall not murder. (7) "You shall not commit adultery. (8) "You shall not steal. (9) "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (10) "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (11) When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance (12) and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." (13) Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." (14) The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. (15) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: (16) Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. (17) " 'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. (18) If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. (19) And do not go up to my altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.' EXODUS 21: Fair Treatment of Slaves: “These are the regulations you must present to Israel. (2) “If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve for no more than six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. (3) If he was single when he became your slave, he shall leave single. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife must be freed with him. (4) “If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daughters, then only the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. (5) But the slave may declare, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to go free.’ (6) If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will serve his master for life. (7) “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. (8) If she does not satisfy her owner, he must allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. (9) But if the slave’s owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave but as a daughter. (10) “If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy. (11) If he fails in any of these three obligations, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (12) “Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death. (13) But if it was simply an accident permitted by God, I will appoint a place of refuge where the slayer can run for safety. (14) However, if someone deliberately kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and be put to death. (15) “Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death. (16) “Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves. (17) “Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death. (18) “Now suppose two men quarrel, and one hits the other with a stone or fist, and the injured person does not die but is confined to bed. (19) If he is later able to walk outside again, even with a crutch, the assailant will not be punished but must compensate his victim for lost wages and provide for his full recovery. (20) “If a man beats his male or female slave with a club and the slave dies as a result, the owner must be punished. (21) But if the slave recovers within a day or two, then the owner shall not be punished, since the slave is his property. (22) “Now suppose two men are fighting, and in the process they accidentally strike a pregnant woman so she gives birth prematurely. If no further injury results, the man who struck the woman must pay the amount of compensation the woman’s husband demands and the judges approve. (23) But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, (24) an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, (25) a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise. (26) “If a man hits his male or female slave in the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. (27) And if a man knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth. (28) “If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must be stoned, and its flesh may not be eaten. In such a case, however, the owner will not be held liable. (29) But suppose the ox had a reputation for goring, and the owner had been informed but failed to keep it under control. If the ox then kills someone, it must be stoned, and the owner must also be put to death. (30) However, the dead person’s relatives may accept payment to compensate for the loss of life. The owner of the ox may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded. (31) “The same regulation applies if the ox gores a boy or a girl. (32) But if the ox gores a slave, either male or female, the animal’s owner must pay the slave’s owner thirty silver coins, and the ox must be stoned. (33) “Suppose someone digs or uncovers a pit and fails to cover it, and then an ox or a donkey falls into it. (34) The owner of the pit must pay full compensation to the owner of the animal, but then he gets to keep the dead animal. (35) “If someone’s ox injures a neighbor’s ox and the injured ox dies, then the two owners must sell the live ox and divide the price equally between them. They must also divide the dead animal. (36) But if the ox had a reputation for goring, yet its owner failed to keep it under control, he must pay full compensation—a live ox for the dead one—but he may keep the dead ox. EXODUS 22: Protection of Property: (1) “If someone steals an ox or sheep and then kills or sells it, the thief must pay back five oxen for each ox stolen, and four sheep for each sheep stolen. (2) “If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. (3) But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder. “A thief who is caught must pay in full for everything he stole. If he cannot pay, he must be sold as a slave to pay for his theft. (4) If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is found in the thief’s possession, then the thief must pay double the value of the stolen animal. (5) “If an animal is grazing in a field or vineyard and the owner lets it stray into someone else’s field to graze, then the animal’s owner must pay compensation from the best of his own grain or grapes. (6) “If you are burning thornbushes and the fire gets out of control and spreads into another person’s field, destroying the sheaves or the uncut grain or the whole crop, the one who started the fire must pay for the lost crop. (7) “Suppose someone leaves money or goods with a neighbor for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house. If the thief is caught, the compensation is double the value of what was stolen. (8) But if the thief is not caught, the neighbor must appear before God, who will determine if he stole the property. (9) “Suppose there is a dispute between two people who both claim to own a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost property. Both parties must come before God, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double compensation to the other. (10) “Now suppose someone leaves a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal with a neighbor for safekeeping, but it dies or is injured or gets away, and no one sees what happened. (11) The neighbor must then take an oath in the presence of the LORD. If the LORD confirms that the neighbor did not steal the property, the owner must accept the verdict, and no payment will be required. (12) But if the animal was indeed stolen, the guilty person must pay compensation to the owner. (13) If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the remains of the carcass must be shown as evidence, and no compensation will be required. (14) “If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or dies when the owner is absent, the person who borrowed it must pay full compensation. (15) But if the owner was present, no compensation is required. And no compensation is required if the animal was rented, for this loss is covered by the rental fee. (16) “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sex with her, he must pay the customary bride price and marry her. (17) But if her father refuses to let him marry her, the man must still pay him an amount equal to the bride price of a virgin. (18) “You must not allow a sorceress to live. (19) “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must certainly be put to death. (20) “Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed. (21) “You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. (22) “You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. (23) If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. (24) My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless. (25) “If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would. (26) If you take your neighbor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset. (27) This coat may be the only blanket your neighbor has. How can a person sleep without it? If you do not return it and your neighbor cries out to me for help, then I will hear, for I am merciful. (28) “You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers. (29) “You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine. “You must give me your firstborn sons. (30) “You must also give me the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats. But leave the newborn animal with its mother for seven days; then give it to me on the eighth day. (31) “You must be my holy people. Therefore, do not eat any animal that has been torn up and killed by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs. EXODUS 23: A Call for Justice: “You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand. (2) “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. (3) And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor. (4) “If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner. (5) If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help. (6) “In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor. (7) “Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent. (8) “Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth. (9) “You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. (10) “Plant and harvest your crops for six years, (11) but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves. (12) “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and the foreigners living among you to be refreshed. (13) “Pay close attention to all my instructions. You must not call on the name of any other gods. Do not even speak their names. (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, 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, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest. “Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest 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. (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 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 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, and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River. 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.” EXODUS 24: Israel Accepts the LORD’s Covenant: (1) 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. (2) 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.” (3) 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.” (4) 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. (5) Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. (6) Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar. (7) 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.” (8) 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.” (9) 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. EXODUS 25: Offerings for the Tabernacle: (1) The LORD said to Moses, (2) “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. (3) Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze; (4) blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; (5) tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood; (6) olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; (7) onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece. (8) “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. (9) You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. (10) “Have the people make an Ark of acacia wood—a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. (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, 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. (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. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel. (23) “Then make a table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. (24) Overlay it with pure gold and run a gold molding around the edge. (25) Decorate it with a 3-inch border 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, pans, 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. (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 seventy-five pounds 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. EXODUS 26: Plans for the Tabernacle: “Make the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely woven linen. Decorate the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. (2) These ten curtains must all be exactly the same size—42 feet long and 6 feet wide. (3) Join five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, then join the other five into a second long curtain. (4) Put loops of blue yarn along the edge of the last curtain in each set. (5) The fifty loops along the edge of one curtain are to match the fifty loops along the edge of the other curtain. (6) Then make fifty gold clasps and fasten the long curtains together with the clasps. In this way, the Tabernacle will be made of one continuous piece. (7) “Make eleven curtains of goat-hair cloth to serve as a tent covering for the Tabernacle. (8) These eleven curtains must all be exactly the same size—45 feet long and 6 feet wide. (9) Join five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, and join the other six into a second long curtain. Allow 3 feet of material from the second set of curtains to hang over the front of the sacred tent. (10) Make fifty loops for one edge of each large curtain. (11) Then make fifty bronze clasps, and fasten the loops of the long curtains with the clasps. In this way, the tent covering will be made of one continuous piece. (12) The remaining 3 feet of this tent covering will be left to hang over the back of the Tabernacle. (13) Allow 18 inches of remaining material to hang down over each side, so the Tabernacle is completely covered. (14) Complete the tent covering with a protective layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather. (15) “For the framework of the Tabernacle, construct frames of acacia wood. (16) Each frame must be 15 feet high and 27 inches wide, (17) with two pegs under each frame. Make all the frames identical. (18) Make twenty of these frames to support the curtains on the south side of the Tabernacle. (19) Also make forty silver bases—two bases under each frame, with the pegs fitting securely into the bases. (20) For the north side of the Tabernacle, make another twenty frames, (21) with their forty silver bases, two bases under each frame. (22) Make six frames for the rear—the west side of the Tabernacle—(23) along with two additional frames to reinforce the rear corners of the Tabernacle. (24) These corner frames will be matched at the bottom and firmly attached at the top with a single ring, forming a single corner unit. Make both of these corner units the same way. (25) So there will be eight frames at the rear of the Tabernacle, set in sixteen silver bases—two bases under each frame. (26) “Make crossbars of acacia wood to link the frames, five crossbars for the north side of the Tabernacle (27) and five for the south side. Also make five crossbars for the rear of the Tabernacle, which will face west. (28) The middle crossbar, attached halfway up the frames, will run all the way from one end of the Tabernacle to the other. (29) Overlay the frames with gold, and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Overlay the crossbars with gold as well. (30) “Set up this Tabernacle according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain. (31) “For the inside of the Tabernacle, make a special curtain of finely woven linen. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. (32) Hang this curtain on gold hooks attached to four posts of acacia wood. Overlay the posts with gold, and set them in four silver bases. (33) Hang the inner curtain from clasps, and put the Ark of the Covenant in the room behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. (34) “Then put the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place. (35) Place the table outside the inner curtain on the north side of the Tabernacle, and place the lampstand across the room on the south side. (36) “Make another curtain for the entrance to the sacred tent. Make it of finely woven linen and embroider it with exquisite designs, using blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (37) Craft five posts from acacia wood. Overlay them with gold, and hang the curtain from them with gold hooks. Cast five bronze bases for the posts. EXODUS 27: Plans for the Altar of Burnt Offering: “Using acacia wood, construct a square altar 7½ feet wide, 7½ feet long, and 4½ feet high. (2) Make horns for each of its four corners so that the horns and altar are all one piece. Overlay the altar with bronze. (3) Make ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans, all of bronze. (4) Make a bronze grating for it, and attach four bronze rings at its four corners. (5) Install the grating halfway down the side of the altar, under the ledge. (6) For carrying the altar, make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. (7) Insert the poles through the rings on the two sides of the altar. (8) The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain. (9) “Then make the courtyard for the Tabernacle, enclosed with curtains made of finely woven linen. On the south side, make the curtains 150 feet long. (10) They will be held up by twenty posts set securely in twenty bronze bases. Hang the curtains with silver hooks and rings. (11) Make the curtains the same on the north side—150 feet of curtains held up by twenty posts set securely in bronze bases. Hang the curtains with silver hooks and rings. (12) The curtains on the west end of the courtyard will be 75 feet long, supported by ten posts set into ten bases. (13) The east end of the courtyard, the front, will also be 75 feet long. (14) The courtyard entrance will be on the east end, flanked by two curtains. The curtain on the right side will be 22½ feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases. (15) The curtain on the left side will also be 22½ feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases. (16) “For the entrance to the courtyard, make a curtain that is 30 feet long. Make it from finely woven linen, and decorate it with beautiful embroidery in blue, purple, and scarlet thread. Support it with four posts, each securely set in its own base. (17) All the posts around the courtyard must have silver rings and hooks and bronze bases. (18) So the entire courtyard will be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide, with curtain walls 7½ feet high, made from finely woven linen. The bases for the posts will be made of bronze. (19) “All the articles used in the rituals of the Tabernacle, including all the tent pegs used to support the Tabernacle and the courtyard curtains, must be made of bronze. (20) “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. (21) The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the LORD’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation. EXODUS 28: Clothing for the Priests: “Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests. (2) Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful. (3) Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service. (4) These are the garments they are to make: a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother, Aaron, and his sons to wear when they serve me as priests. (5) So give them fine linen cloth, gold thread, and blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (6) “The craftsmen must make the ephod of finely woven linen and skillfully embroider it with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (7) It will consist of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces. (8) The decorative sash will be made of the same materials: finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (9) “Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel. (10) Six names will be on each stone, arranged in the order of the births of the original sons of Israel. (11) Engrave these names on the two stones in the same way a jeweler engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in settings of gold filigree. (12) Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that Aaron represents the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names on his shoulders as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the LORD. (13) Make the settings of gold filigree, (14) then braid two cords of pure gold and attach them to the filigree settings on the shoulders of the ephod. (15) “Then, with great skill and care, make a chestpiece to be worn for seeking a decision from God. Make it to match the ephod, using finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (16) Make the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square. (17) Mount four rows of gemstones on it. The first row will contain a red carnelian, a pale-green peridot, and an emerald. (18) The second row will contain a turquoise, a blue lapis lazuli, and a white moonstone. (19) The third row will contain an orange jacinth, an agate, and a purple amethyst. (20) The fourth row will contain a blue-green beryl, an onyx, and a green jasper. All these stones will be set in gold filigree. (21) Each stone will represent one of the twelve sons of Israel, and the name of that tribe will be engraved on it like a seal. (22) “To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, make braided cords of pure gold thread. (23) Then make two gold rings and attach them to the top corners of the chestpiece. (24) Tie the two gold cords to the two rings on the chestpiece. (25) Tie the other ends of the cords to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. (26) Then make two more gold rings and attach them to the inside edges of the chestpiece next to the ephod. (27) And make two more gold rings and attach them to the front of the ephod, below the shoulder-pieces, just above the knot where the decorative sash is fastened to the ephod. (28) Then attach the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. This will hold the chestpiece securely to the ephod above the decorative sash. (29) “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the LORD. (30) Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the LORD’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the LORD’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the LORD. (31) “Make the robe that is worn with the ephod from a single piece of blue cloth, (32) with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it. Reinforce the opening with a woven collar so it will not tear. (33) Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. (34) The gold bells and pomegranates are to alternate all around the hem. (35) Aaron will wear this robe whenever he ministers before the LORD, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the LORD’s presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die. (36) “Next make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave it like a seal with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD. (37) Attach the medallion with a blue cord to the front of Aaron’s turban, where it must remain. (38) Aaron must wear it on his forehead so he may take on himself any guilt of the people of Israel when they consecrate their sacred offerings. He must always wear it on his forehead so the LORD will accept the people. (39) “Weave Aaron’s patterned tunic from fine linen cloth. Fashion the turban from this linen as well. Also make a sash, and decorate it with colorful embroidery. (40) “For Aaron’s sons, make tunics, sashes, and special head coverings that are glorious and beautiful. (41) Clothe your brother, Aaron, and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they can serve as my priests. (42) Also make linen undergarments for them, to be worn next to their bodies, reaching from their hips to their thighs. (43) These must be worn whenever Aaron and his sons enter the Tabernacle or approach the altar in the Holy Place to perform their priestly duties. Then they will not incur guilt and die. This is a permanent law for Aaron and all his descendants after him. EXODUS 29: Dedication of the Priests: “This is the ceremony you must follow when you consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams with no defects. (2) Then, using choice wheat flour and no yeast, make loaves of bread, thin cakes mixed with olive oil, and wafers spread with oil. (3) Place them all in a single basket, and present them at the entrance of the Tabernacle, along with the young bull and the two rams. (4) “Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water. (5) Dress Aaron in his priestly garments—the tunic, the robe worn with the ephod, the ephod itself, and the chestpiece. Then wrap the decorative sash of the ephod around him. (6) Place the turban on his head, and fasten the sacred medallion to the turban. (7) Then anoint him by pouring the anointing oil over his head. (8) Next present his sons, and dress them in their tunics. (9) Wrap the sashes around the waists of Aaron and his sons, and put their special head coverings on them. Then the right to the priesthood will be theirs by law forever. In this way, you will ordain Aaron and his sons. (10) “Bring the young bull to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on its head. (11) Then slaughter the bull in the LORD’s presence at the entrance of the Tabernacle. (12) Put some of its blood on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest at the base of the altar. (13) Take all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, and burn it all on the altar. (14) Then take the rest of the bull, including its hide, meat, and dung, and burn it outside the camp as a sin offering. (15) “Next Aaron and his sons must lay their hands on the head of one of the rams. (16) Then slaughter the ram, and splatter its blood against all sides of the altar. (17) Cut the ram into pieces, and wash off the internal organs and the legs. Set them alongside the head and the other pieces of the body, (18) then burn the entire animal on the altar. This is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the LORD. (19) “Now take the other ram, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands on its head. (20) Then slaughter it, and apply some of its blood to the right earlobes of Aaron and his sons. Also put it on the thumbs of their right hands and the big toes of their right feet. Splatter the rest of the blood against all sides of the altar. (21) Then take some of the blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his sons and on their garments. In this way, they and their garments will be set apart as holy. (22) “Since this is the ram for the ordination of Aaron and his sons, take the fat of the ram, including the fat of the broad tail, the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, along with the right thigh. (23) Then take one round loaf of bread, one thin cake mixed with olive oil, and one wafer from the basket of bread without yeast that was placed in the LORD’s presence. (24) Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons to be lifted up as a special offering to the LORD. (25) Afterward take the various breads from their hands, and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering. It is a pleasing aroma to the LORD, a special gift for him. (26) Then take the breast of Aaron’s ordination ram, and lift it up in the LORD’s presence as a special offering to him. Then keep it as your own portion. (27) “Set aside the portions of the ordination ram that belong to Aaron and his sons. This includes the breast and the thigh that were lifted up before the LORD as a special offering. (28) In the future, whenever the people of Israel lift up a peace offering, a portion of it must be set aside for Aaron and his descendants. This is their permanent right, and it is a sacred offering from the Israelites to the LORD. (29) “Aaron’s sacred garments must be preserved for his descendants who succeed him, and they will wear them when they are anointed and ordained. (30) The descendant who succeeds him as high priest will wear these clothes for seven days as he ministers in the Tabernacle and the Holy Place. (31) “Take the ram used in the ordination ceremony, and boil its meat in a sacred place. (32) Then Aaron and his sons will eat this meat, along with the bread in the basket, at the Tabernacle entrance. (33) They alone may eat the meat and bread used for their purification in the ordination ceremony. No one else may eat them, for these things are set apart and holy. (34) If any of the ordination meat or bread remains until the morning, it must be burned. It may not be eaten, for it is holy. (35) “This is how you will ordain Aaron and his sons to their offices, just as I have commanded you. The ordination ceremony will go on for seven days. (36) Each day you must sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering to purify them, making them right with the LORD. Afterward, cleanse the altar by purifying it; make it holy by anointing it with oil. (37) Purify the altar, and consecrate it every day for seven days. After that, the altar will be absolutely holy, and whatever touches it will become holy. (38) “These are the sacrifices you are to offer regularly on the altar. Each day, offer two lambs that are a year old, (39) one in the morning and the other in the evening. (40) With one of them, offer two quarts of choice flour mixed with one quart of pure oil of pressed olives; also, offer one quart of wine as a liquid offering. (41) Offer the other lamb in the evening, along with the same offerings of flour and wine as in the morning. It will be a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the LORD. (42) “These burnt offerings are to be made each day from generation to generation. Offer them in the LORD’s presence at the Tabernacle entrance; there I will meet with you and speak with you. (43) I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence. (44) Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. (45) Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, (46) and they will know that I am the LORD their God. I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the LORD their God. EXODUS 30: Plans for the Incense Altar: “Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense. (2) Make it 18 inches square and 36 inches high, with horns at the corners carved from the same piece of wood as the altar itself. (3) Overlay the top, sides, and horns of the altar with pure gold, and run a gold molding around the entire altar. (4) Make two gold rings, and attach them on opposite sides of the altar below the gold molding to hold the carrying poles. (5) Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. (6) Place the incense altar just outside the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant, in front of the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that covers the tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. I will meet with you there. (7) “Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar. (8) And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the LORD’s presence. This must be done from generation to generation. (9) Do not offer any unholy incense on this altar, or any burnt offerings, grain offerings, or liquid offerings. (10) “Once a year Aaron must purify the altar by smearing its horns with blood from the offering made to purify the people from their sin. This will be a regular, annual event from generation to generation, for this is the LORD’s most holy altar.” (11) Then the LORD said to Moses, (12) “Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the LORD. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them. (13) Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the LORD. (This payment is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.) (14) All who have reached their twentieth birthday must give this sacred offering to the LORD. (15) When this offering is given to the LORD to purify your lives, making you right with him, the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less. (16) Receive this ransom money from the Israelites, and use it for the care of the Tabernacle. It will bring the Israelites to the LORD’s attention, and it will purify your lives.” (17) Then the LORD said to Moses, (18) “Make a bronze washbasin with a bronze stand. Place it between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water. (19) Aaron and his sons will wash their hands and feet there. (20) They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the LORD and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the LORD—or they will die! (21) They must always wash their hands and feet, or they will die. This is a permanent law for Aaron and his descendants, to be observed from generation to generation.” (22) Then the LORD said to Moses, (23) “Collect choice spices—12½ pounds of pure myrrh, 6¼ pounds of fragrant cinnamon, 6¼ pounds of fragrant calamus, (24) and 12½ pounds of cassia—as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. Also get one gallon of olive oil. (25) Like a skilled incense maker, blend these ingredients to make a holy anointing oil. (26) Use this sacred oil to anoint the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, (27) the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and all its accessories, the incense altar, (28) the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the washbasin with its stand. (29) Consecrate them to make them absolutely holy. After this, whatever touches them will also become holy. (30) “Anoint Aaron and his sons also, consecrating them to serve me as priests. (31) And say to the people of Israel, ‘This holy anointing oil is reserved for me from generation to generation. (32) It must never be used to anoint anyone else, and you must never make any blend like it for yourselves. It is holy, and you must treat it as holy. (33) Anyone who makes a blend like it or anoints someone other than a priest will be cut off from the community.’” (34) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather fragrant spices—resin droplets, mollusk shell, and galbanum—and mix these fragrant spices with pure frankincense, weighed out in equal amounts. (35) Using the usual techniques of the incense maker, blend the spices together and sprinkle them with salt to produce a pure and holy incense. (36) Grind some of the mixture into a very fine powder and put it in front of the Ark of the Covenant, where I will meet with you in the Tabernacle. You must treat this incense as most holy. (37) Never use this formula to make this incense for yourselves. It is reserved for the LORD, and you must treat it as holy. (38) Anyone who makes incense like this for personal use will be cut off from the community.” EXODUS 31: Craftsmen: Bezalel and Oholiab: (1) Then the LORD said to Moses, (2) “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. (3) I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. (4) He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. (5) He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft! (6) “And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make: (7) the Tabernacle; the Ark of the Covenant; the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement; all the furnishings of the Tabernacle; (8) the table and its utensils; the pure gold lampstand with all its accessories; the incense altar; (9) the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils; the washbasin with its stand; (10) the beautifully stitched garments—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests; (11) the anointing oil; the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. The craftsmen must make everything as I have commanded you.” (12) The LORD then gave these instructions to Moses: (13) “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. (14) You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. (15) You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. (16) The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time. (17) It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’” (18) When the LORD finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God. EXODUS 32: The Gold Calf: (1) When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” (2) So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” (3) All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. (4) Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (5) Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!” (6) The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry. (7) The LORD told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. (8) How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” (9) Then the LORD said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. (10) Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.” (11) But Moses tried to pacify the LORD his God. “O LORD!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? (12) Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! (13) Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’” (14) So the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people. (15) Then Moses turned and went down the mountain. He held in his hands the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. (16) These tablets were God’s work; the words on them were written by God himself. (17) When Joshua heard the boisterous noise of the people shouting below them, he exclaimed to Moses, “It sounds like war in the camp!” (18) But Moses replied, “No, it’s not a shout of victory nor the wailing of defeat. I hear the sound of a celebration.” (19) When they came near the camp, Moses saw the calf and the dancing, and he burned with anger. He threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain. (20) He took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it. (21) Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?” (22) “Don’t get so upset, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know how evil these people are. (23) They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ (24) So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!” (25) Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies. (26) So he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, “All of you who are on the LORD’s side, come here and join me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. (27) Moses told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.” (28) The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day. (29) Then Moses told the Levites, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.” (30) The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the LORD on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.” (31) So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves. (32) But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!” (33) But the LORD replied to Moses, “No, I will erase the name of everyone who has sinned against me. (34) Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about. Look! My angel will lead the way before you. And when I come to call the people to account, I will certainly hold them responsible for their sins.” (35) Then the LORD sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf Aaron had made. EXODUS 33: (1) The LORD said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ (2) And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. (3) Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.” (4) When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. (5) For the LORD had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” (6) So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes. (7) It was Moses’ practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. (8) Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. (9) As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses. (10) When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. (11) Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting. (12) One day Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ (13) If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.” (14) The LORD replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” (15) Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. (16) How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” (17) The LORD replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” (18) Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” (19) The LORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. (20) But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” (21) The LORD continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. (22) As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. (23) Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.” EXODUS 34: A New Copy of the Covenant: (1) Then the LORD told Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the same words that were on the tablets you smashed. (2) Be ready in the morning to climb up Mount Sinai and present yourself to me on the top of the mountain. (3) No one else may come with you. In fact, no one is to appear anywhere on the mountain. Do not even let the flocks or herds graze near the mountain.” (4) So Moses chiseled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning he climbed Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. (5) Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. (6) The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. (7) I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.” (8) Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. (9) And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.” (10) The LORD replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the LORD—the awesome power I will display for you. (11) But listen carefully to everything I command you today. Then I will go ahead of you and drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. (12) “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped. (13) Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles. (14) You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. (15) “You must not make a treaty of any kind with the people living in the land. They lust after their gods, offering sacrifices to them. They will invite you to join them in their sacrificial meals, and you will go with them. (16) Then you will accept their daughters, who sacrifice to other gods, as wives for your sons. And they will seduce your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods. (17) You must not make any gods of molten metal for yourselves. (18) “You must 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, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. (19) “The firstborn of every animal belongs to me, including the firstborn males from your herds of cattle and your flocks of sheep and goats. (20) A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the LORD by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son. “No one may appear before me without an offering. (21) “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest. (22) “You must celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first crop of the wheat harvest, and celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season. (23) Three times each year every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the LORD, the God of Israel. (24) I will drive out the other nations ahead of you and expand your territory, so no one will covet and conquer your land while you appear before the LORD your God three times each year. (25) “You must not offer the blood of my sacrificial offerings together with any baked goods containing yeast. And none of the meat of the Passover sacrifice may be kept over until the next morning. (26) “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.” (27) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down all these instructions, for they represent the terms of the covenant I am making with you and with Israel.” (28) Moses remained there on the mountain with the LORD forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the LORD wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments—on the stone tablets. (29) When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD. (30) So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him. (31) But Moses called out to them and asked Aaron and all the leaders of the community to come over, and he talked with them. (32) Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. (33) When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil. (34) But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the LORD had given him, (35) and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face. So he would put the veil over his face until he returned to speak with the LORD. EXODUS 35: Instructions for the Sabbath: (1) Then Moses called together the whole community of Israel and told them, “These are the instructions the LORD has commanded you to follow. (2) You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death. (3) You must not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath.” (4) Then Moses said to the whole community of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded: (5) Take a sacred offering for the LORD. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; (6) blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; (7) tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood; (8) olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; (9) onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece. (10) “Come, all of you who are gifted craftsmen. Construct everything that the LORD has commanded: (11) the Tabernacle and its sacred tent, its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases; (12) the Ark and its carrying poles; the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement; the inner curtain to shield the Ark; (13) the table, its carrying poles, and all its utensils; the Bread of the Presence; (14) for light, the lampstand, its accessories, the lamp cups, and the olive oil for lighting; (15) the incense altar and its carrying poles; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the entrance of the Tabernacle; (16) the altar of burnt offering; the bronze grating of the altar and its carrying poles and utensils; the washbasin with its stand; (17) the curtains for the walls of the courtyard; the posts and their bases; the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; (18) the tent pegs of the Tabernacle and courtyard and their ropes; (19) the beautifully stitched garments for the priests to wear while ministering in the Holy Place—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests.” (20) So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents. (21) All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the LORD. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. (22) Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the LORD their offerings of gold—brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the LORD. (23) All those who owned the following items willingly brought them: blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; and tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather. (24) And all who had silver and bronze objects gave them as a sacred offering to the LORD. And those who had acacia wood brought it for use in the project. (25) All the women who were skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen cloth. (26) All the women who were willing used their skills to spin the goat hair into yarn. (27) The leaders brought onyx stones and the special gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece. (28) They also brought spices and olive oil for the light, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense. (29) So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the LORD had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the LORD. (30) Then Moses told the people of Israel, “The LORD has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. (31) The LORD has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. (32) He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. (33) He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. (34) And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others. (35) The LORD has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers. They excel as craftsmen and as designers. EXODUS 36: (1) “The LORD has gifted Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other skilled craftsmen with wisdom and ability to perform any task involved in building the sanctuary. Let them construct and furnish the Tabernacle, just as the LORD has commanded.” (2) So Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and all the others who were specially gifted by the LORD and were eager to get to work. (3) Moses gave them the materials donated by the people of Israel as sacred offerings for the completion of the sanctuary. But the people continued to bring additional gifts each morning. (4) Finally the craftsmen who were working on the sanctuary left their work. (5) They went to Moses and reported, “The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the LORD has commanded us to do!” (6) So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings. (7) Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project. (8) The skilled craftsmen made ten curtains of finely woven linen for the Tabernacle. Then Bezalel decorated the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. (9) All ten curtains were exactly the same size—42 feet long and 6 feet wide. (10) Five of these curtains were joined together to make one long curtain, and the other five were joined to make a second long curtain. (11) He made fifty loops of blue yarn and put them along the edge of the last curtain in each set. (12) The fifty loops along the edge of one curtain matched the fifty loops along the edge of the other curtain. (13) Then he made fifty gold clasps and fastened the long curtains together with the clasps. In this way, the Tabernacle was made of one continuous piece. (14) He made eleven curtains of goat-hair cloth to serve as a tent covering for the Tabernacle. (15) These eleven curtains were all exactly the same size—45 feet long and 6 feet wide. (16) Bezalel joined five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, and the other six were joined to make a second long curtain. (17) He made fifty loops for the edge of each large curtain. (18) He also made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the long curtains together. In this way, the tent covering was made of one continuous piece. (19) He completed the tent covering with a layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather. (20) For the framework of the Tabernacle, Bezalel constructed frames of acacia wood. (21) Each frame was 15 feet high and 27 inches wide, (22) with two pegs under each frame. All the frames were identical. (23) He made twenty of these frames to support the curtains on the south side of the Tabernacle. (24) He also made forty silver bases—two bases under each frame, with the pegs fitting securely into the bases. (25) For the north side of the Tabernacle, he made another twenty frames, (26) with their forty silver bases, two bases under each frame. (27) He made six frames for the rear—the west side of the Tabernacle—(28) along with two additional frames to reinforce the rear corners of the Tabernacle. (29) These corner frames were matched at the bottom and firmly attached at the top with a single ring, forming a single corner unit. Both of these corner units were made the same way. (30) So there were eight frames at the rear of the Tabernacle, set in sixteen silver bases—two bases under each frame. (31) Then he made crossbars of acacia wood to link the frames, five crossbars for the north side of the Tabernacle (32) and five for the south side. He also made five crossbars for the rear of the Tabernacle, which faced west. (33) He made the middle crossbar to attach halfway up the frames; it ran all the way from one end of the Tabernacle to the other. (34) He overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. Then he overlaid the crossbars with gold as well. (35) For the inside of the Tabernacle, Bezalel made a special curtain of finely woven linen. He decorated it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. (36) For the curtain, he made four posts of acacia wood and four gold hooks. He overlaid the posts with gold and set them in four silver bases. (37) Then he made another curtain for the entrance to the sacred tent. He made it of finely woven linen and embroidered it with exquisite designs using blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (38) This curtain was hung on gold hooks attached to five posts. The posts with their decorated tops and hooks were overlaid with gold, and the five bases were cast from bronze. EXODUS 37: Building the Ark of the Covenant: (1) Next Bezalel made the Ark of acacia wood—a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. (2) He overlaid it inside and outside with pure gold, and he ran a molding of gold all around it. (3) He cast four gold rings and attached them to its four feet, two rings on each side. (4) Then he made poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. (5) He inserted the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it. (6) Then he made the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—from pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. (7) He made two cherubim from hammered gold and placed them on the two ends of the atonement cover. (8) He molded the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold. (9) The cherubim faced each other and looked down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they protected it. (10) Then Bezalel made the table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. (11) He overlaid it with pure gold and ran a gold molding around the edge. (12) He decorated it with a 3-inch border all around, and he ran a gold molding along the border. (13) Then he cast four gold rings for the table and attached them at the four corners next to the four legs. (14) The rings were attached near the border to hold the poles that were used to carry the table. (15) He made these poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. (16) Then he made special containers of pure gold for the table—bowls, pans, jars, and pitchers—to be used in pouring out liquid offerings. (17) Then Bezalel made the lampstand of pure, hammered gold. He made the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece—the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals. (18) The lampstand had six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side. (19) Each of the six branches had three lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. (20) The center stem of the lampstand was crafted with four lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. (21) There was an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extended from the center stem, all made of one piece. (22) The almond buds and branches were all of one piece with the center stem, and they were hammered from pure gold. (23) He also made seven lamps for the lampstand, lamp snuffers, and trays, all of pure gold. (24) The entire lampstand, along with its accessories, was made from seventy-five pounds of pure gold. (25) Then Bezalel made the incense altar of acacia wood. It was 18 inches square and 36 inches high, with horns at the corners carved from the same piece of wood as the altar itself. (26) He overlaid the top, sides, and horns of the altar with pure gold, and he ran a gold molding around the entire altar. (27) He made two gold rings and attached them on opposite sides of the altar below the gold molding to hold the carrying poles. (28) He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. (29) Then he made the sacred anointing oil and the fragrant incense, using the techniques of a skilled incense maker. EXODUS 38: Building the Altar of Burnt Offering: (1) Next Bezalel used acacia wood to construct the square altar of burnt offering. It was 7½ feet wide, 7½ feet long, and 4½ feet high. (2) He made horns for each of its four corners so that the horns and altar were all one piece. He overlaid the altar with bronze. (3) Then he made all the altar utensils of bronze—the ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans. (4) Next he made a bronze grating and installed it halfway down the side of the altar, under the ledge. (5) He cast four rings and attached them to the corners of the bronze grating to hold the carrying poles. (6) He made the poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. (7) He inserted the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar. The altar was hollow and was made from planks. (8) Bezalel made the bronze washbasin and its bronze stand from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle. (9) Then Bezalel made the courtyard, which was enclosed with curtains made of finely woven linen. On the south side the curtains were 150 feet long. (10) They were held up by twenty posts set securely in twenty bronze bases. He hung the curtains with silver hooks and rings. (11) He made a similar set of curtains for the north side—150 feet of curtains held up by twenty posts set securely in bronze bases. He hung the curtains with silver hooks and rings. (12) The curtains on the west end of the courtyard were 75 feet long, hung with silver hooks and rings and supported by ten posts set into ten bases. (13) The east end, the front, was also 75 feet long. (14) The courtyard entrance was on the east end, flanked by two curtains. The curtain on the right side was 22½ feet long and was supported by three posts set into three bases. (15) The curtain on the left side was also 22½ feet long and was supported by three posts set into three bases. (16) All the curtains used in the courtyard were made of finely woven linen. (17) Each post had a bronze base, and all the hooks and rings were silver. The tops of the posts of the courtyard were overlaid with silver, and the rings to hold up the curtains were made of silver. (18) He made the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard of finely woven linen, and he decorated it with beautiful embroidery in blue, purple, and scarlet thread. It was 30 feet long, and its height was 7½ feet, just like the curtains of the courtyard walls. (19) It was supported by four posts, each set securely in its own bronze base. The tops of the posts were overlaid with silver, and the hooks and rings were also made of silver. (20) All the tent pegs used in the Tabernacle and courtyard were made of bronze. (21) This is an inventory of the materials used in building the Tabernacle of the Covenant. The Levites compiled the figures, as Moses directed, and Ithamar son of Aaron the priest served as recorder. (22) Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (23) He was assisted by Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman expert at engraving, designing, and embroidering with blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth. (24) The people brought special offerings of gold totaling 2,193 pounds, as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. This gold was used throughout the Tabernacle. (25) The whole community of Israel gave 7,545 pounds of silver, as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. (26) This silver came from the tax collected from each man registered in the census. (The tax is one beka, which is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel.) The tax was collected from 603,550 men who had reached their twentieth birthday. (27) The hundred bases for the frames of the sanctuary walls and for the posts supporting the inner curtain required 7,500 pounds of silver, about 75 pounds for each base. (28) The remaining 45 pounds of silver was used to make the hooks and rings and to overlay the tops of the posts. (29) The people also brought as special offerings 5,310 pounds of bronze, (30) which was used for casting the bases for the posts at the entrance to the Tabernacle, and for the bronze altar with its bronze grating and all the altar utensils. (31) Bronze was also used to make the bases for the posts that supported the curtains around the courtyard, the bases for the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard, and all the tent pegs for the Tabernacle and the courtyard. EXODUS 39: Clothing for the Priests: (1) The craftsmen made beautiful sacred garments of blue, purple, and scarlet cloth—clothing for Aaron to wear while ministering in the Holy Place, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (2) Bezalel made the ephod of finely woven linen and embroidered it with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (3) He made gold thread by hammering out thin sheets of gold and cutting it into fine strands. With great skill and care, he worked it into the fine linen with the blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (4) The ephod consisted of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces. (5) The decorative sash was made of the same materials: finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (6) They mounted the two onyx stones in settings of gold filigree. The stones were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, just as a seal is engraved. (7) He fastened these stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that the priest represents the people of Israel. All this was done just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (8) Bezalel made the chestpiece with great skill and care. He made it to match the ephod, using finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. (9) He made the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square. (10) They mounted four rows of gemstones on it. The first row contained a red carnelian, a pale-green peridot, and an emerald. (11) The second row contained a turquoise, a blue lapis lazuli, and a white moonstone. (12) The third row contained an orange jacinth, an agate, and a purple amethyst. (13) The fourth row contained a blue-green beryl, an onyx, and a green jasper. All these stones were set in gold filigree. (14) Each stone represented one of the twelve sons of Israel, and the name of that tribe was engraved on it like a seal. (15) To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, they made braided cords of pure gold thread. (16) They also made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings and attached them to the top corners of the chestpiece. (17) They tied the two gold cords to the rings on the chestpiece. (18) They tied the other ends of the cords to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. (19) Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the inside edges of the chestpiece next to the ephod. (20) Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the front of the ephod, below the shoulder-pieces, just above the knot where the decorative sash was fastened to the ephod. (21) They attached the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. In this way, the chestpiece was held securely to the ephod above the decorative sash. All this was done just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (22) Bezalel made the robe that is worn with the ephod from a single piece of blue woven cloth, (23) with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it. The opening was reinforced with a woven collar so it would not tear. (24) They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attached them to the hem of the robe. (25) They also made bells of pure gold and placed them between the pomegranates along the hem of the robe, (26) with bells and pomegranates alternating all around the hem. This robe was to be worn whenever the priest ministered before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (27) They made tunics for Aaron and his sons from fine linen cloth. (28) The turban and the special head coverings were made of fine linen, and the undergarments were also made of finely woven linen. (29) The sashes were made of finely woven linen and embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (30) Finally, they made the sacred medallion—the badge of holiness—of pure gold. They engraved it like a seal with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD. (31) They attached the medallion with a blue cord to Aaron’s turban, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (32) And so at last the Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites had done everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (33) And they brought the entire Tabernacle to Moses: the sacred tent with all its furnishings, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases; (34) the tent coverings of tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; the inner curtain to shield the Ark; (35) the Ark of the Covenant and its carrying poles; the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement; (36) the table and all its utensils; the Bread of the Presence; (37) the pure gold lampstand with its symmetrical lamp cups, all its accessories, and the olive oil for lighting; (38) the gold altar; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the entrance of the sacred tent; (39) the bronze altar; the bronze grating and its carrying poles and utensils; the washbasin with its stand; (40) the curtains for the walls of the courtyard; the posts and their bases; the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs; all the furnishings to be used in worship at the Tabernacle; (41) the beautifully stitched garments for the priests to wear while ministering in the Holy Place—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests. (42) So the people of Israel followed all of the LORD’s instructions to Moses. (43) Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the LORD had commanded him, he blessed them. EXODUS 40: The Tabernacle Completed: (1) Then the LORD said to Moses, (2) “Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year. (3) Place the Ark of the Covenant inside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place. (4) Then bring in the table, and arrange the utensils on it. And bring in the lampstand, and set up the lamps. (5) “Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle. (6) Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance. (7) Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water. (8) Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance. (9) “Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all its furnishings to consecrate them and make them holy. (10) Anoint the altar of burnt offering and its utensils to consecrate them. Then the altar will become absolutely holy. (11) Next anoint the washbasin and its stand to consecrate them. (12) “Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water. (13) Dress Aaron with the sacred garments and anoint him, consecrating him to serve me as a priest. (14) Then present his sons and dress them in their tunics. (15) Anoint them as you did their father, so they may also serve me as priests. With their anointing, Aaron’s descendants are set apart for the priesthood forever, from generation to generation.” (16) Moses proceeded to do everything just as the LORD had commanded him. (17) So the Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year. (18) Moses erected the Tabernacle by setting down its bases, inserting the frames, attaching the crossbars, and setting up the posts. (19) Then he spread the coverings over the Tabernacle framework and put on the protective layers, just as the LORD had commanded him. (20) He took the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. Then he attached the carrying poles to the Ark, and he set the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of it. (21) Then he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Tabernacle and hung the inner curtain to shield it from view, just as the LORD had commanded him. (22) Next Moses placed the table in the Tabernacle, along the north side of the Holy Place, just outside the inner curtain. (23) And he arranged the Bread of the Presence on the table before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him. (24) He set the lampstand in the Tabernacle across from the table on the south side of the Holy Place. (25) Then he lit the lamps in the LORD’s presence, just as the LORD had commanded him. (26) He also placed the gold incense altar in the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place in front of the inner curtain. (27) On it he burned the fragrant incense, just as the LORD had commanded him. (28) He hung the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle, (29) and he placed the altar of burnt offering near the Tabernacle entrance. On it he offered a burnt offering and a grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him. (30) Next Moses placed the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar. He filled it with water so the priests could wash themselves. (31) Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons used water from it to wash their hands and feet. (32) Whenever they approached the altar and entered the Tabernacle, they washed themselves, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (33) Then he hung the curtains forming the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar. And he set up the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard. So at last Moses finished the work. (34) Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle. (35) Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle. (36) Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. (37) But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. (38) The cloud of the LORD hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.
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