Exodus 19:1-34:30

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Israel at Sinai

19 In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai. ² After they departed from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.^(A)

³ Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called^(B) to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites: ⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.^{(C) 5} Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant,^(D) you will be My own possession^(E) out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, ⁶ and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.’^(F) These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

⁷ After Moses came back, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. ⁸ Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that the Lord has spoken.”^(G) So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord.

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,^(H) so that the people will hear when I speak^(I) with you and will always believe you.” Then Moses reported the people’s words to the Lord. ¹⁰ And the Lord told Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes^{(J) 11} and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.^{(K) 12} Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death.^{(L) 13} No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows. No animal or man will live. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.”

¹⁴ Then Moses came down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵ He said to the people, “Be prepared by the third day. Do not have sexual relations with women.”

¹⁶ On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered. ¹⁷ Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire.^(M) Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace,^(N) and the whole mountain shook violently.^{(O) 19} As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.^(P)

²⁰ The Lord came down on Mount Sinai at the top of the mountain. Then the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up. ²¹ The Lord directed Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the Lord; otherwise many of them will die.^{(Q) 22} Even the priests who come near the Lord must purify themselves or the Lord will break out in anger against them.”^(R)

²³ But Moses responded to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since You warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy.” ²⁴ And the Lord replied to him, “Go down and come back with Aaron. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break out in anger against them.” ²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The Ten Commandments

20 Then God spoke all these words:

The People’s Reaction

¹⁸ All the people witnessed^[a] the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it^[b] they trembled and stood at a distance.^{(AI) 19} “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”^(AJ)

²⁰ Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear Him and will not^[c] sin.”^{(AK) 21} And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.^(AL)

Moses Receives Additional Laws

²² Then the Lord told Moses, “This is what you are to say to the Israelites: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.^{(AM) 23} You must not make gods of silver to rival Me; you must not make gods of gold for yourselves.^[d](AN)

²⁴ “You must make an earthen altar for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats, as well as your cattle. I will come to you and bless you in every place where I cause My name to be remembered.^{(AO) 25} If you make a stone altar for Me, you must not build it out of cut stones. If you use your chisel on it, you will defile it.^{(AP) 26} You must not go up to My altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it.

21 “These are the ordinances that you must set before them:

Laws about Slaves

² “When you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for six years; then in the seventh he is to leave as a free man^[e] without paying anything.^{(AQ) 3} If he arrives alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrives with^[f] a wife, his wife is to leave with him. ⁴ If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to her master, and the man must leave alone.

⁵ “But if the slave declares: ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I do not want to leave as a free man,’^{(AR) 6} his master is to bring him to the judges^[g] and then bring him to the door or doorpost. His master must pierce his ear with an awl, and he will serve his master for life.

⁷ “When a man sells his daughter as a slave,^[h] she is not to leave as the male slaves do.^{(AS) 8} If she is displeasing to her master, who chose her for himself, then he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners because he has acted treacherously toward her. ⁹ Or if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her according to the customary treatment of daughters. ¹⁰ If he takes an additional wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of the first wife.^{(AT) 11} And if he does not do these three things for her, she may leave free of charge, without any exchange of money.^[i]

Laws about Personal Injury

¹² “Whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to death.^{(AU) 13} But if he didn’t intend any harm,^[j] and yet God caused it to happen by his hand, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee.^{(AV) 14} If a person schemes and willfully^[k] acts against his neighbor to murder him, you must take him from My altar to be put to death.^(AW)

¹⁵ “Whoever strikes his father or his mother must be put to death.

¹⁶ “Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession.^(AX)

¹⁷ “Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death.^(AY)

¹⁸ “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed, ¹⁹ if he can later get up and walk around outside leaning on his staff, then the one who struck him will be exempt from punishment. Nevertheless, he must pay for his lost work time^[l] and provide for his complete recovery.

²⁰ “When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse,^[m] the owner must be punished.^{[n] 21} However, if the slave can stand up after a day or two, the owner should not be punished^[o] because he is his owner’s property.^[p](AZ)

²² “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely^[q] but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands^(BA) from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. ²³ If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, ²⁴ eye for eye, tooth for tooth,^(BB) hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵ burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

²⁶ “When a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he must let the slave go free in compensation for his eye. ²⁷ If he knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free in compensation for his tooth.

²⁸ “When an ox^[r] gores a man or a woman to death, the ox must be stoned,^(BC) and its meat may not be eaten, but the ox’s owner is innocent. ²⁹ However, if the ox was in the habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned, and its owner must also be put to death. ³⁰ If instead a ransom^(BD) is demanded of him, he can pay a redemption price for his life in the full amount demanded from him. ³¹ If it gores a son or a daughter, he is to be dealt with according to this same law. ³² If the ox gores a male or female slave, he must give 30 shekels^(BE) of silver^[s] to the slave’s master, and the ox must be stoned.

³³ “When a man uncovers a pit or digs a pit, and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, ³⁴ the owner of the pit must give compensation; he must pay money to its owner, but the dead animal will become his.

³⁵ “When a man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox and it dies, they must sell the live ox and divide its proceeds; they must also divide the dead animal. ³⁶ If, however, it is known that the ox was in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not restrained it, he must compensate fully, ox for ox; the dead animal will become his.

Laws about Theft

22 ^[t]“When a man steals an ox or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he must repay^(BF) five cattle for the ox or four sheep for the sheep. ^2 [u]If a thief is caught in the act of breaking in, and he is beaten to death, no one is guilty of bloodshed.^{(BG) 3} But if this happens after sunrise,^[v] there is guilt of bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution. If he is unable, he is to be sold because of his theft.^{(BH) 4} If what was stolen—whether ox, donkey, or sheep—is actually found alive in his possession, he must repay double.

Laws about Crop Protection

⁵ “When a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed in, and then allows his animals to go and graze in someone else’s field, he must repay^[w] with the best of his own field or vineyard.

⁶ “When a fire gets out of control, spreads to thornbushes, and consumes stacks of cut grain, standing grain, or a field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution for what was burned.

Laws about Personal Property

⁷ “When a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep, but they are stolen from that person’s house, the thief, if caught, must repay double. ⁸ If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must present himself to the judges^[x] to determine^[y] whether or not he has taken his neighbor’s property.^{(BI) 9} In any case of wrongdoing involving an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything else lost, and someone claims, ‘That’s mine,’^[z] the case between the two parties is to come before the judges.^[aa] The one the judges condemn^[ab] must repay double to his neighbor.

¹⁰ “When a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to care for, but it dies, is injured, or is stolen, while no one is watching, ¹¹ there must be an oath before the Lord between the two of them to determine whether or not he has taken his neighbor’s property. Its owner must accept the oath, and the other man does not have to make restitution. ¹² But if, in fact, the animal was stolen from his custody, he must make restitution to its owner.^{(BJ) 13} If it was actually torn apart by a wild animal, he is to bring it as evidence; he does not have to make restitution for the torn carcass.

¹⁴ “When a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not there with it, the man must make full restitution. ¹⁵ If its owner is there with it, the man does not have to make restitution. If it was rented, the loss is covered by^[ac] its rental price.

Laws about Seduction

¹⁶ “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and he has sexual relations with her, he must certainly pay the bridal price for her to be his wife. ¹⁷ If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must pay an amount in silver equal to the bridal price for virgins.^(BK)

Capital Offenses

¹⁸ “You must not allow a sorceress^(BL) to live.

¹⁹ “Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal^(BM) must be put to death.

²⁰ “Whoever sacrifices to any gods, except the Lord alone, is to be set apart for destruction.^(BN)

Laws Protecting the Vulnerable

²¹ “You must not exploit a foreign resident^(BO) or oppress him, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

²² “You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.^{(BP) 23} If you do mistreat them, they will no doubt cry to Me, and I will certainly hear their cry.^{(BQ) 24} My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.^(BR)

²⁵ “If you lend money to My people, to the poor person among you, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest.^(BS)

²⁶ “If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him before sunset. ²⁷ For it is his only covering; it is the clothing for his body.^[ad] What will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will listen because I am compassionate.^(BT)

Respect for God

²⁸ “You must not blaspheme God^[ae] or curse a leader among your people.^(BU)

²⁹ “You must not hold back offerings^(BV) from your harvest or your vats. Give Me the firstborn of your sons. ³⁰ Do the same with your cattle and your flock. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.^(BW)

³¹ “Be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal^(BX) found in the field; throw it to the dogs.

Laws about Honesty and Justice

23 “You must not spread a false report. Do not join^[af] the wicked to be a malicious witness.^(BY)

² “You must not follow a crowd in wrongdoing. Do not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice.^{(BZ) 3} Do not show favoritism to a poor person in his lawsuit.

⁴ “If you come across your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.

⁵ “If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, and you want to refrain from helping it, you must help with it.^[ag](CA)

⁶ “You must not deny justice to a poor person among you in his lawsuit. ⁷ Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent and the just, because I will not justify the guilty.^{(CB) 8} You must not take a bribe,^(CC) for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and corrupts the words^[ah] of the righteous. ⁹ You must not oppress a foreign resident;^(CD) you yourselves know how it feels to be a foreigner because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Sabbaths and Festivals

¹⁰ “Sow your land for six years and gather its produce.^{(CE) 11} But during the seventh year you are to let it rest and leave it uncultivated, so that the poor among your people may eat from it and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

¹² “Do your work^(CF) for six days but rest on the seventh day so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave as well as the foreign resident may be refreshed.

¹³ “Pay strict attention to everything I have said to you. You must not invoke the names of other gods; they must not be heard on your lips.^[ai](CG)

¹⁴ “Celebrate a festival in My honor three times a year.^{(CH) 15} Observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib,^[aj] because you came out of Egypt in that month. No one is to appear before Me empty-handed.^{(CI) 16} Also observe the Festival of Harvest^[ak] with the firstfruits of your produce from what you sow in the field, and observe the Festival of Ingathering^[al](CJ) at the end of the year, when you gather your produce^[am] from the field. ¹⁷ Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord God.

¹⁸ “You must not offer the blood of My sacrifices with anything leavened. The fat of My festival offering must not remain until morning.^(CK)

¹⁹ “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your land to the house of the Lord your God.

“You must not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.^(CL)

Promises and Warnings

²⁰ “I am going to send an angel^(CM) before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. ²¹ Be attentive to him and listen to his voice. Do not defy^[an] him, because he will not forgive your acts of rebellion, for My name is in him.^{(CN) 22} But if you will carefully obey him and do everything I say, then I will be an enemy^(CO) to your enemies and a foe to your foes. ²³ For My angel will go before you and bring you to the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out.^{(CP) 24} You must not bow down to their gods or worship them. Do not imitate their practices. Instead, demolish them^[ao] and smash their sacred pillars to pieces.^{(CQ) 25} Worship the Lord your God, and He^[ap] will bless your bread and your water. I will remove illnesses from you.^{(CR) 26} No woman will miscarry or be childless in your land. I will give you the full number of your days.^(CS)

²⁷ “I will cause the people ahead of you to feel terror^[aq] and throw into confusion^(CT) all the nations you come to. I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you in retreat. ²⁸ I will send the hornet^[ar](CU) in front of you, and it will drive the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites away from you. ²⁹ I will not drive them out ahead of you in a single year; otherwise, the land would become desolate, and wild animals would multiply against you. ³⁰ I will drive them out little by little ahead of you until you have become numerous^[as] and take possession of the land. ³¹ I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea,^[at] and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River.^[au] For I will place the inhabitants of the land under your control, and you will drive them out ahead of you.^{(CV) 32} You must not make a covenant^(CW) with them or their gods. ³³ They must not remain in your land, or else they will make you sin against Me. If you worship their gods, it will be a snare for you.”^(CX)

The Covenant Ceremony

24 Then He said to Moses, “Go up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s elders,^(CY) and bow in worship at a distance. ² Moses alone is to approach the Lord, but the others are not to approach, and the people are not to go up with him.”

³ Moses came and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. Then all the people responded with a single voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has commanded.”^{(CZ) 4} And Moses wrote^(DA) down all the words of the Lord. He rose early the next morning and set up an altar and 12 pillars for the 12 tribes of Israel at the base of the mountain. ⁵ Then he sent out young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. ⁶ Moses took half the blood and set it in basins; the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. ⁷ He then took the covenant scroll and read it aloud to the people. They responded, “We will do and obey everything that the Lord has commanded.”

⁸ Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words.”^(DB)

⁹ Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s elders, ¹⁰ and they saw^(DC) the God of Israel. Beneath His feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire^[av] stone, as clear as the sky itself.^{(DD) 11} God did not harm^[aw] the Israelite nobles; they saw^(DE) Him, and they ate and drank.

¹² The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there so that I may give you the stone tablets^(DF) with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

¹³ So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua and went up the mountain of God.^{(DG) 14} He told the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Whoever has a dispute should go to them.” ¹⁵ When Moses went up the mountain, the cloud^(DH) covered it. ¹⁶ The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day He called to Moses from the cloud.^{(DI) 17} The appearance of the Lord’s glory to the Israelites was like a consuming fire^(DJ) on the mountaintop. ¹⁸ Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, and he remained on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.^(DK)

Offerings to Build the Tabernacle

25 The Lord spoke to Moses: ² “Tell the Israelites to take an offering for Me. You are to take My offering from everyone who is willing to give.^{(DL) 3} This is the offering you are to receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze; ⁴ blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; ⁵ ram skins dyed red^(DM) and manatee skins;^[ax] acacia wood; ⁶ oil^(DN) for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; ⁷ and onyx^[ay] along with other gemstones for mounting on the ephod and breastpiece.^[az](DO)

⁸ “They are to make a sanctuary^(DP) for Me so that I may dwell^(DQ) among them. ⁹ You must make it according to all that I show you—the pattern^(DR) of the tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings.

The Ark

¹⁰ “They are to make an ark^(DS) of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.^{[ba] 11} Overlay it with pure gold; overlay it both inside and out. Also make a gold molding all around it. ¹² Cast four gold rings for it and place them on its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. ¹³ Make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ¹⁴ Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them. ¹⁵ The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed from it. ¹⁶ Put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark.^{(DT) 17} Make a mercy seat^(DU) of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.^{[bb] 18} Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. ¹⁹ Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. At its two ends, make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat. ²⁰ The cherubim are to have wings spread out above, covering^(DV) the mercy seat with their wings, and are to face one another. The faces of the cherubim should be toward the mercy seat. ²¹ Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the testimony that I will give you into the ark.^{(DW) 22} I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim^(DX) that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

The Table

²³ “You are to construct a table^(DY) of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.^{[bc] 24} Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding all around it. ²⁵ Make a three-inch^[bd] frame all around it and make a gold molding for it all around its frame. ²⁶ Make four gold rings for it, and attach the rings to the four corners at its four legs. ²⁷ The rings should be next to the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table. ²⁸ Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, and the table can be carried by them. ²⁹ You are also to make its plates^(DZ) and cups, as well as its pitchers and bowls for pouring drink offerings. Make them out of pure gold. ³⁰ Put the bread of the Presence^(EA) on the table before Me at all times.

The Lampstand

³¹ “You^(EB) are to make a lampstand^(EC) out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its calyxes^[be] and petals. ³² Six branches are to extend from its sides, three branches of the lampstand from one side and three branches of the lampstand from the other side. ³³ There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a calyx and petals, on the first branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a calyx and petals, on the next branch. It is to be this way for the six branches that extend from the lampstand. ³⁴ There are to be four cups shaped like almond blossoms on the lampstand shaft along with its calyxes and petals. ³⁵ For the six branches that extend from the lampstand, a calyx must be under the first pair of branches from it, a calyx under the second pair of branches from it, and a calyx under the third pair of branches from it. ³⁶ Their calyxes and branches are to be of one piece.^[bf] All of it is to be a single hammered piece of pure gold.

³⁷ “Make seven lamps^(ED) on it. Its lamps are to be set up so they illuminate the area in front of it. ³⁸ Its snuffers and firepans must be of pure gold. ³⁹ The lampstand^[bg] with all these utensils is to be made from 75 pounds^[bh] of pure gold. ⁴⁰ Be careful to make them according to the pattern^(EE) you have been shown on the mountain.

The Tabernacle

26 “You^(EF) are to construct the tabernacle itself with 10 curtains. You must make them of finely spun linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them. ² The length of each curtain should be 42 feet,^[bi] and the width of each curtain six feet;^[bj] all the curtains are to have the same measurements. ³ Five of the curtains should be joined together, and the other five curtains joined together. ⁴ Make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the last curtain^[bk] in the first set, and do the same on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. ⁵ Make 50 loops on the one curtain and make 50 loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set, so that the loops line up together. ⁶ Also make 50 gold clasps and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single unit.

⁷ “You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; make 11 of these curtains. ⁸ The length of each curtain should be 45 feet^[bl] and the width of each curtain six feet.^[bm] All 11 curtains are to have the same measurements. ⁹ Join five of the curtains by themselves, and the other six curtains by themselves. Then fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. ¹⁰ Make 50 loops on the edge of the one curtain, the outermost in the first set, and make 50 loops on the edge of the corresponding curtain of the second set. ¹¹ Make 50 bronze clasps; put the clasps through the loops and join the tent together so that it is a single unit. ¹² As for the flap that is left over from the tent curtains, the leftover half curtain is to hang down over the back of the tabernacle. ¹³ The half yard^[bn] on one side and the half yard^[bo] on the other of what is left over along the length of the tent curtains should be hanging down over the sides of the tabernacle on either side to cover it. ¹⁴ Make a covering for the tent from ram skins dyed red^(EG) and a covering of manatee skins^[bp] on top of that.

¹⁵ “You are to make upright planks^[bq] of acacia wood^(EH) for the tabernacle. ¹⁶ The length of each plank is to be 15 feet,^[br] and the width of each plank 27 inches.^{[bs] 17} Each plank must be connected together with two tenons. Do the same for all the planks of the tabernacle. ¹⁸ Make the planks for the tabernacle as follows: 20 planks for the south side, ¹⁹ and make 40 silver bases under the 20 planks, two bases under the first plank for its two tenons, and two bases under the next plank for its two tenons; ²⁰ 20 planks for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, ²¹ along with their 40 silver bases, two bases under the first plank and two bases under each plank; ²² and make six planks for the west side of the tabernacle. ²³ Make two additional planks for the two back corners of the tabernacle. ²⁴ They are to be paired at the bottom, and joined together^[bt] at the top in a single ring. So it should be for both of them; they will serve as the two corners. ²⁵ There are to be eight planks with their silver bases: 16 bases; two bases under the first plank and two bases under each plank.

²⁶ “You are to make five crossbars of acacia wood for the planks on one side of the tabernacle, ²⁷ five crossbars for the planks on the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the planks of the back side of the tabernacle on the west. ²⁸ The central crossbar is to run through the middle of the planks from one end to the other. ²⁹ Then overlay the planks with gold, and make their rings of gold as the holders for the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold. ³⁰ You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you have been shown on the mountain.^(EI)

³¹ “You are to make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it.^{(EJ) 32} Hang it on four gold-plated posts of acacia wood that have gold hooks and that stand on four silver bases. ³³ Hang the veil under the clasps^[bu] and bring the ark of the testimony there behind the veil, so the veil will make a separation for you between the holy place^(EK) and the most holy place. ³⁴ Put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.^{(EL) 35} Place the table outside the veil and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table; put the table on the north side.^(EM)

³⁶ “For the entrance to the tent you are to make a screen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. ³⁷ Make five posts of acacia wood for the screen and overlay them with gold; their hooks are to be gold, and you are to cast five bronze bases for them.

The Altar of Burnt Offering

27 “You^(EN) are to construct the altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, 7½ feet long, and 7½ feet wide;^[bv] it must be 4½ feet high.^{[bw] 2} Make horns for it on its four corners; the horns are to be of one piece.^[bx] Overlay it with bronze.^{(EO) 3} Make its pots for removing ashes, and its shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans; make all its utensils of bronze. ⁴ Construct a grate for it of bronze mesh, and make four bronze rings on the mesh at its four corners. ⁵ Set it below, under the altar’s ledge,^[by] so that the mesh comes halfway up^[bz] the altar. ⁶ Then make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. ⁷ The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried. ⁸ Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. They are to make it just as it was shown to you on the mountain.^(EP)

The Courtyard

⁹ “You^(EQ) are to make the courtyard for the tabernacle. Make the hangings on the south of the courtyard out of finely spun linen, 150 feet^[ca] long on that side. ¹⁰ There are to be 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands^[cb] of the posts must be silver. ¹¹ Then make the hangings on the north side 150 feet^[cc] long. There are to be 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands^[cd] of the posts must be silver. ¹² Make the hangings of the courtyard on the west side 75 feet^[ce] long, including their 10 posts and 10 bases. ¹³ Make the hangings of the courtyard on the east side toward the sunrise 75 feet.^{[cf] 14} Make the hangings on one side of the gate 22½ feet,^[cg] including their three posts and their three bases. ¹⁵ And make the hangings on the other side 22½ feet,^[ch] including their three posts and their three bases. ¹⁶ The gate of the courtyard is to have a thirty-foot^[ci] screen^(ER) embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It is to have four posts including their four bases.

¹⁷ “All the posts around the courtyard are to be banded with silver and have silver hooks and bronze bases. ¹⁸ The length of the courtyard is to be 150 feet, the width 75 feet at each end, and the height 7½ feet,^[cj] all of it made of finely spun linen. The bases of the posts must be bronze. ¹⁹ All the tools of the tabernacle for every use and all its tent pegs as well as all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze.

The Lampstand Oil

²⁰ “You are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil from crushed olives for the light, in order to keep the lamp burning continually. ²¹ In the tent of meeting outside the veil that is in front of the testimony,^(ES) Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp^(ET) from evening until morning before the Lord. This is to be a permanent statute^(EU) for the Israelites throughout their generations.

The Priestly Garments

28 “Have your brother Aaron, with his sons, come to you from the Israelites to serve Me as priest—Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.^{(EV) 2} Make holy garments^(EW) for your brother Aaron, for glory and beauty. ³ You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen,^[ck](EX) whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him to serve Me as priest. ⁴ These are the garments that they must make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a specially woven tunic,^[cl] a turban, and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they may serve Me as priests. ⁵ They should use^[cm] gold; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; and fine linen.

The Ephod

⁶ “They^(EY) are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. ⁷ It must have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges so that it can be joined together. ⁸ The artistically woven waistband that is on the ephod^[cn] must be of one piece,^[co] according to the same workmanship of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen.

⁹ “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of Israel’s sons: ¹⁰ six of their names on the first stone and the remaining six names on the second stone, in the order of their birth. ¹¹ Engrave the two stones with the names of Israel’s sons as a gem cutter engraves a seal. Mount them, surrounded with gold filigree settings. ¹² Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the Israelites. Aaron will carry their names on his two shoulders before the Lord as a reminder.^{(EZ) 13} Fashion gold filigree settings ¹⁴ and two chains of pure gold; you will make them of braided cord work, and attach the cord chains to the settings.

The Breastpiece

¹⁵ “You^(FA) are to make an embroidered breastpiece for making decisions.^[cp] Make it with the same workmanship as the ephod; make it of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen. ¹⁶ It must be square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide.^{[cq] 17} Place a setting of gemstones^[cr] on it, four rows of stones:

They should be adorned with gold filigree in their settings. ²¹ The 12 stones are to correspond to the names of Israel’s sons. Each stone must be engraved like a seal, with one of the names of the 12 tribes.

²² “You are to make braided chains^[cx] of pure gold cord work for the breastpiece. ²³ Fashion two gold rings for the breastpiece and attach them to its two corners. ²⁴ Then attach the two gold cords to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece. ²⁵ Attach the other ends of the two cords to the two filigree settings, and in this way attach them to the ephod’s shoulder pieces in the front. ²⁶ Make two other gold rings and put them at the two other corners of the breastpiece on the edge that is next to the inner border of the ephod. ²⁷ Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the ephod’s two shoulder pieces on its front, close to its seam,^[cy] and above the ephod’s woven waistband. ²⁸ The craftsmen are to tie the breastpiece from its rings to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the ephod’s waistband and does not come loose from the ephod.

²⁹ “Whenever he enters the sanctuary, Aaron is to carry the names of Israel’s sons over his heart on the breastpiece for decisions, as a continual reminder before the Lord. ³⁰ Place the Urim and Thummim^(FB) in the breastpiece for decisions, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the Lord. Aaron will continually carry the means of decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

The Robe

³¹ “You^(FC) are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue yarn. ³² There should be an opening at its top in the center of it. Around the opening, there should be a woven collar with an opening like that of body armor^[cz] so that it does not tear. ³³ Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn^[da] on its lower hem and all around it. Put gold bells between them all the way around, ³⁴ so that gold bells and pomegranates alternate around the lower hem of the robe. ³⁵ The robe must be worn by Aaron whenever he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he enters the sanctuary before the Lord and when he exits, so that he does not die.

The Turban

³⁶ “You are to make a pure gold medallion and engrave it, like the engraving of a seal:^(FD)

³⁷ Fasten it to a cord of blue yarn so it can be placed on the turban; the medallion is to be on the front of the turban. ³⁸ It will be on Aaron’s forehead so that Aaron may bear the guilt^(FE) connected with the holy offerings that the Israelites consecrate as all their holy gifts. It is always to be on his forehead, so that they may find acceptance with the Lord.

Other Priestly Garments

³⁹ “You are to weave the tunic from fine linen, make a turban of fine linen, and make an embroidered sash. ⁴⁰ Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons to give them glory and beauty.^{(FF) 41} Put these on your brother Aaron and his sons; then anoint,^(FG) ordain,^[db] and consecrate^(FH) them, so that they may serve Me as priests. ⁴² Make them linen undergarments^(FI) to cover their naked bodies; they must extend from the waist^[dc] to the thighs. ⁴³ These must be worn by Aaron and his sons whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the sanctuary area, so that they do not incur guilt^(FJ) and die. This is to be a permanent statute^(FK) for Aaron and for his future descendants.

Instructions about Consecration

29 “This is what you are to do for them to consecrate them to serve Me as priests. Take a young bull and two unblemished rams, ² with unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers coated with oil. Make them out of fine wheat flour,^{(FL) 3} put them in a basket, and bring them in the basket, along with the bull and two rams. ⁴ Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water.^{(FM) 5} Then take the garments and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe for the ephod, the ephod itself, and the breastpiece; fasten the ephod on him with its woven waistband.^{(FN) 6} Put the turban on his head and place the holy diadem^(FO) on the turban. ⁷ Take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint^(FP) him. ⁸ You must also bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. ⁹ Tie the sashes on Aaron and his sons and fasten headbands on them. The priesthood is to be theirs by a permanent statute. This is the way you will ordain Aaron and^[dd] his sons.^(FQ)

¹⁰ “You are to bring the bull to the front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons must lay their hands on the bull’s head.^{(FR) 11} Slaughter the bull before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ¹² Take some of the bull’s blood and apply it to the horns^(FS) of the altar with your finger; then pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ¹³ Take all the fat^(FT) that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. ¹⁴ But burn up the bull’s flesh, its hide, and its dung outside the camp;^(FU) it is a sin offering.

¹⁵ “Take one ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on the ram’s head.^{(FV) 16} You are to slaughter the ram, take its blood, and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar. ¹⁷ Cut the ram into pieces. Wash its entrails and shanks, and place them with its head and its pieces on the altar. ¹⁸ Then burn the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a pleasing aroma,^(FW) a fire offering to the Lord.

¹⁹ “You are to take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons must lay their hands on the ram’s head.^{(FX) 20} Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on his sons’ right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Sprinkle the remaining blood on all sides of the altar. ²¹ Take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil,^(FY) and sprinkle them on Aaron and his garments, as well as on his sons and their garments. In this way, he and his garments will become holy, as well as his sons and their garments.

²² “Take the fat from the ram, the fat tail, the fat covering the entrails, the fatty lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and the fat on them, and the right thigh (since this is a ram for ordination^[de]); ²³ take one loaf of bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread that is before the Lord; ²⁴ and put all of them in the hands of Aaron and his^[df] sons and wave them as a presentation offering before the Lord.^{(FZ) 25} Take them from their hands and burn them on the altar on top of the burnt offering, as a pleasing aroma before the Lord; it is a fire offering to the Lord.

²⁶ “Take the breast from the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it as a presentation offering before the Lord; it is to be your portion.^{(GA) 27} Consecrate for Aaron and his sons^(GB) the breast of the presentation offering that is waved and the thigh of the contribution that is lifted up from the ram of ordination. ²⁸ This will belong to Aaron and his sons as a regular portion from the Israelites, for it is a contribution. It will be the Israelites’ contribution from their fellowship sacrifices, their contribution to the Lord.

²⁹ “The holy garments that belong to Aaron are to belong to his sons after him, so that they can be anointed and ordained^[dg] in them.^{(GC) 30} Any priest who is one of his sons and who succeeds him and enters the tent of meeting to minister in the sanctuary must wear them for seven days.^(GD)

³¹ “You are to take the ram of ordination and boil its flesh in a holy place. ³² Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(GE) 33} They must eat those things by which atonement was made at the time of their ordination^[dh] and consecration. An unauthorized person must not eat^(GF) them, for these things are holy. ³⁴ If any of the meat of ordination or any of the bread is left until morning, burn up what is left over. It must not be eaten because it is holy.

³⁵ “This is what you are to do for Aaron and his sons based on all I have commanded you. Take seven days to ordain them. ³⁶ Sacrifice a bull as a sin offering each day for atonement. Purify^[di] the altar when you make atonement for it, and anoint it in order to consecrate it.^{(GG) 37} For seven days you must make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. The altar will become especially holy; whatever touches the altar will become holy.^(GH)

³⁸ “This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar every day: two year-old lambs.^{(GI) 39} In the morning offer one lamb, and at twilight offer the other lamb.^{(GJ) 40} With the first lamb offer two quarts^[dj] of fine flour mixed with one quart^[dk] of oil from crushed olives, and a drink offering of one quart^[dl] of wine. ⁴¹ You are to offer the second lamb at twilight. Offer a grain offering and a drink offering with it, like the one in the morning, as a pleasing aroma, a fire offering to the Lord. ⁴² This will be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you^[dm] to speak with you.^{(GK) 43} I will also meet with the Israelites there, and that place will be consecrated by My glory.^{(GL) 44} I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests. ⁴⁵ I will dwell^(GM) among the Israelites and be their God.^{(GN) 46} And they will know that I am Yahweh their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I might dwell among them. I am Yahweh their God.^(GO)

The Incense Altar

30 “You are to make an altar for the burning of incense; make it of acacia wood.^{(GP) 2} It must be square, 18 inches long and 18 inches wide;^[dn] it must be 36 inches high.^[do] Its horns must be of one piece.^{[dp] 3} Overlay its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold; make a gold molding all around it. ⁴ Make two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with. ⁵ Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

⁶ “You are to place the altar in front of the veil by the ark of the testimony—in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony—where I will meet with you. ⁷ Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it; he must burn it every morning when he tends the lamps.^{(GQ) 8} When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn incense. There is to be an incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. ⁹ You must not offer unauthorized incense on it,^(GR) or a burnt or grain offering; you are not to pour a drink offering on it.

¹⁰ “Once a year Aaron is to perform the purification rite^[dq] on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he is to perform the purification rite^[dr] for^[ds] it once a year, with the blood of the sin offering for atonement.^(GS) The altar is especially holy to the Lord.”

The Atonement Money

¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ¹² “When you take a census^(GT) of the Israelites to register them, each of the men must pay a ransom^(GU) for himself to the Lord as they are registered. Then no plague^(GV) will come on them as they are registered. ¹³ Everyone who is registered must pay half a shekel^[dt] according to the sanctuary shekel (20 gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the Lord.^{(GW) 14} Each man who is registered, 20 years old or more, must give this contribution to the Lord. ¹⁵ The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less^(GX) than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for^[du] your lives. ¹⁶ Take the atonement money^[dv] from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will serve as a reminder for the Israelites before the Lord to atone for^[dw] your lives.”^(GY)

The Bronze Basin

¹⁷ The Lord spoke to Moses: ¹⁸ “Make a bronze basin^(GZ) for washing and a bronze stand for it. Set it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. ¹⁹ Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet from the basin. ²⁰ Whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister by burning up an offering to the Lord, they must wash with water so that they will not die. ²¹ They must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this is to be a permanent statute^(HA) for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”

The Anointing Oil

²² The Lord spoke to Moses: ²³ “Take for yourself the finest spices:^(HB) 12½ pounds^[dx] of liquid myrrh, half as much (6¼ pounds^[dy]) of fragrant cinnamon, 6¼ pounds^[dz] of fragrant cane, ²⁴ 12½ pounds^[ea] of cassia (by the sanctuary shekel), and one gallon^[eb] of olive oil.^{(HC) 25} Prepare from these a holy anointing oil, a scented blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be holy anointing oil.^(HD)

²⁶ “With it you are to anoint^(HE) the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, ²⁷ the table with all its utensils, the lampstand with its utensils, the altar of incense, ²⁸ the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. ²⁹ Consecrate them and they will be especially holy. Whatever touches them will be consecrated. ³⁰ Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate^(HF) them to serve Me as priests.

³¹ “Tell the Israelites: This will be My holy anointing oil throughout your generations. ³² It must not be used for ordinary anointing on a person’s body, and you must not make anything like it using its formula. It is holy, and it must be holy to you. ³³ Anyone who blends something like it or puts some of it on an unauthorized person must be cut off^(HG) from his people.”

The Sacred Incense

³⁴ The Lord said to Moses: “Take fragrant spices: stacte, onycha, and galbanum; the spices and pure frankincense are to be in equal measures. ³⁵ Prepare expertly blended incense from these; it is to be seasoned with salt, pure and holy. ³⁶ Grind some of it into a fine powder and put some in front of the testimony in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It must be especially holy^(HH) to you. ³⁷ As for the incense you are making, you must not make any for yourselves using its formula. It is to be regarded by you as sacred to the Lord. ³⁸ Anyone who makes something like it to smell its fragrance must be cut off from his people.”

God’s Provision of the Skilled Workers

31 The Lord also spoke to Moses: ² “Look, I have appointed by name Bezalel^(HI) son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³ I have filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft^{(HJ) 4} to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, ⁵ to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every craft. ⁶ I have also selected Oholiab^[ec] son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be with him. I have placed wisdom within every skilled craftsman^[ed] in order to make all that I have commanded you: ⁷ the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat that is on top of it, and all the other furnishings of the tent^(HK)— ⁸ the table with its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, ⁹ the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, the basin with its stand— ¹⁰ the specially woven^[ee] garments, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests, ¹¹ the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary. They must make them according to all that I have commanded you.”^(HL)

Observing the Sabbath

¹² The Lord said to Moses: ¹³ “Tell the Israelites: You must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am Yahweh who sets you apart.^{(HM) 14} Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people.^{(HN) 15} Work may be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest,^(HO) dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. ¹⁶ The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. ¹⁷ It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

The Two Stone Tablets

¹⁸ When He finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God.^(HP)

The Gold Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god^[ef] who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!”^(HQ)

² Then Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings^(HR) that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took the gold from their hands, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf.

Then they said, “Israel, this is your God,^[eg] who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”^(HS)

⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; then he made an announcement: “There will be a festival^(HT) to the Lord tomorrow.” ⁶ Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to play.^(HU)

⁷ The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly.^{(HV) 8} They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, this is your God,^[eh] who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’”^{(HW) 9} The Lord also said to Moses: “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked^(HX) people. ¹⁰ Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”^(HY)

¹¹ But Moses interceded with the Lord his God: “Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from Your great anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for Your people.^{(HZ) 13} Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—You swore to them by Your very self^(IA) and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’”^{(IB) 14} So the Lord relented^(IC) concerning the disaster He said He would bring on His people.

¹⁵ Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides—inscribed front and back. ¹⁶ The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was God’s writing, engraved on the tablets.^(ID)

¹⁷ When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.”

¹⁸ But Moses replied:

¹⁹ As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain. ²⁰ Then he took the calf they had made, burned it up, and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink the water.

²¹ Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?”

²² “Don’t be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.^{(IE) 23} They said to me, ‘Make us a god^[ei] who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ ²⁴ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”

²⁵ Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them get out of control, resulting in weakness before their enemies.^{[ej] 26} And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. ²⁷ He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man fasten his sword to his side; go back and forth through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”^{(IF) 28} The Levites did as Moses commanded, and about 3,000 men fell dead that day among the people. ²⁹ Afterward Moses said, “Today you have been dedicated^[ek] to the Lord, since each man went against his son and his brother. Therefore you have brought a blessing on yourselves today.”^(IG)

³⁰ The following day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I will be able to atone for your sin.”^(IH)

³¹ So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves.^{(II) 32} Now if You would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book You have written.”^(IJ)

³³ The Lord replied to Moses: “I will erase whoever has sinned against Me from My book.^{(IK) 34} Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, My angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.”^{(IL) 35} And the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what they did with the calf Aaron had made.

The Tent Outside the Camp

33 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go, leave here, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your offspring.^{(IM) 2} I will send an angel ahead of you and will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites,^[el] Hivites, and Jebusites.^{(IN) 3} Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”^{(IO) 4} When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn’t put on their jewelry.^(IP)

⁵ For the Lord said to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: You are a stiff-necked people. If I went with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.” ⁶ So the Israelites remained stripped of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

⁷ Now Moses took a tent and set it up outside the camp, far away from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting. Anyone who wanted to consult the Lord would go to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp.^{(IQ) 8} Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand up, each one at the door of his tent, and they would watch Moses until he entered the tent. ⁹ When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance to the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.^{(IR) 10} As all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up, then bow in worship, each one at the door of his tent. ¹¹ The Lord spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent.^(IS)

The Lord’s Glory

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “Look, You have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name,^(IT) and you have also found favor in My sight.’ ¹³ Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways,^(IU) and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people.”^(IV)

¹⁴ Then He replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^(IW)

¹⁵ “If Your presence does not go,” Moses responded to Him, “don’t make us go up from here. ¹⁶ How will it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight unless You go with us? I and Your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”^(IX)

¹⁷ The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Please, let me see Your glory.”^(IY)

¹⁹ He said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name Yahweh before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”^{(IZ) 20} But He answered, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see^(JA) Me and live.” ²¹ The Lord said, “Here is a place near Me. You are to stand on the rock, ²² and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.^{(JB) 23} Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen.”

New Stone Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.^{(JC) 2} Be prepared by morning. Come up Mount Sinai in the morning and stand before Me on the mountaintop. ³ No one may go up with you; in fact, no one must be seen anywhere on the mountain. Even the flocks and herds are not to graze in front of that mountain.”^(JD)

⁴ Moses cut two stone tablets like the first ones. He got up early in the morning, and taking the two stone tablets in his hand, he climbed Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had commanded him.

⁵ The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name Yahweh. ⁶ Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed:

⁸ Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped. ⁹ Then he said, “My Lord, if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wrongdoing and sin, and accept us as Your own possession.”^(JH)

Covenant Obligations

¹⁰ And the Lord responded: “Look, I am making a covenant. I will perform wonders in the presence of all your people^[em] that have never been done^[en] in all the earth or in any nation. All the people you live among will see the Lord’s work, for what I am doing with you is awe-inspiring.^{(JI) 11} Observe what I command you today. I am going to drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites,^[eo] and Jebusites. ¹² Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land that you are going to enter; otherwise, they will become a snare among you.^{(JJ) 13} Instead, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, and chop down their Asherah poles.^{(JK) 14} You are never to bow down to another god because Yahweh, being jealous^(JL) by nature,^[ep] is a jealous God.

¹⁵ “Do not make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land, or else when they prostitute themselves with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices.^{(JM) 16} Then you will take some of their daughters as brides for your sons. Their daughters will prostitute themselves with their gods and cause your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods.^(JN)

¹⁷ “Do not make cast images^(JO) of gods for yourselves.

¹⁸ “Observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. You are to eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib^[eq] as I commanded you. For you came out of Egypt in the month of Abib.^(JP)

¹⁹ “The firstborn^(JQ) male from every womb belongs to Me, including all your male^[er][es] livestock, the firstborn of cattle or sheep. ²⁰ You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.^(JR) You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one is to appear before Me empty-handed.

²¹ “You are to labor six days but you must rest^(JS) on the seventh day; you must even rest during plowing and harvesting times.

²² “Observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering^[et] at the turn of the agricultural year. ²³ Three times a year^(JT) all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. ²⁴ For I will drive out nations^(JU) before you and enlarge your territory.^(JV) No one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God.

²⁵ “Do not present^[eu] the blood for My sacrifice with anything leavened. The sacrifice of the Passover Festival must not remain until morning.^(JW)

²⁶ “Bring the best firstfruits^(JX) of your land to the house of the Lord your God.

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

²⁷ The Lord also said to Moses, “Write^(JY) down these words, for I have made a covenant with you and with Israel based on these words.”

²⁸ Moses was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. He wrote the Ten Commandments,^(JZ) the words of the covenant, on the tablets.

Moses’ Radiant Face

²⁹ As Moses descended from Mount Sinai—with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain—he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord.^{[ev](KA) 30} When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone!^(KB) They were afraid to come near him.