Exodus 19:1-27:4

New International Reader's Version

Israel Comes to Mount Sinai

19 Exactly three months after the people of Israel left Egypt, they came to the Desert of Sinai. ² After they started out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai. They camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

³ Then Moses went up to God. The Lord called out to him from the mountain. He said, “Here is what I want you to say to my people, who belong to Jacob’s family. Tell the Israelites, ⁴ ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt. You saw how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now obey me completely. Keep my covenant. If you do, then out of all the nations you will be my special treasure. The whole earth is mine. ⁶ But you will be a kingdom of priests to serve me. You will be my holy nation.’ That is what you must tell the Israelites.”

⁷ So Moses went back. He sent for the elders of the people. He explained to them everything the Lord had commanded him to say. ⁸ All the people answered together. They said, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

⁹ The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “I am going to come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you. They will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

¹⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people. Today and tomorrow set them apart for me. Have them wash their clothes. ¹¹ Have the people ready by the third day. On that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai. Everyone will see it. ¹² Put limits for the people around the mountain. Tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go near the mountain. Do not even touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain must be put to death. ¹³ Do not lay a hand on any of them. Kill them with stones or shoot them with arrows. Whether they are people or animals, do not let them live.’ They may go near the mountain only when the ram’s horn gives out a long blast.”

¹⁴ Moses went down the mountain to the people. After he set them apart for the Lord, they washed their clothes. ¹⁵ Then he spoke to the people. He said, “Get ready for the third day. Don’t have sex.”

¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain. A trumpet gave out a very loud blast. Everyone in the camp trembled with fear. ¹⁷ Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God. They stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Smoke covered Mount Sinai, because the Lord came down on it in fire. The smoke rose up from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain trembled and shook. ¹⁹ The sound of the trumpet got louder and louder. Then Moses spoke. And the voice of God answered him.

²⁰ The Lord came down to the top of Mount Sinai. He told Moses to come to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up. ²¹ The Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people. They must not force their way through to see the Lord. If they do, many of them will die. ²² The priests approach the Lord when they serve him. But even they must set themselves apart for the Lord. If they do not, his anger will break out against them.”

²³ Moses said to the Lord, “The people can’t come up Mount Sinai. You yourself warned us. You said, ‘Put limits around the mountain. Set it apart as holy.’ ”

²⁴ The Lord replied, “Go down. Bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through. They must not come up to the Lord. If they do, his anger will break out against them.”

²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and told them.

God Gives His People the Ten Commandments

20 Here are all the words God spoke. He said,

² “I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt. That is the land where you were slaves.

¹⁸ The people saw the thunder and lightning. They heard the trumpet. They saw the mountain covered with smoke. They trembled with fear and stayed a long way off. ¹⁹ They said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself. Then we’ll listen. But don’t let God speak to us. If he does, we’ll die.”

²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. God has come to test you. He wants you to have respect for him. That will keep you from sinning.”

²¹ Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. But the people remained a long way off.

Worship the Lord

²² Then the Lord said to Moses, “Here is what you must tell the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘You have seen for yourselves what I said to you from heaven. ²³ Do not put any other gods in place of me. Do not make silver or gold statues of them for yourselves.

²⁴ “ ‘Make an altar out of dirt for me. Sacrifice your burnt offerings and friendship offerings on it. Sacrifice your sheep, goats and cattle on it. I will come to you and bless you everywhere I cause my name to be honored. ²⁵ If you make an altar out of stones to honor me, do not build it with blocks of stone. You will make it “unclean” if you use a tool on it. ²⁶ Do not walk up steps to my altar. If you do, someone might see your naked body under your robes.’

Other Laws

21 “Here are the laws you must explain to the people of Israel.

Set Your Hebrew Servants Free

² “Suppose you buy a Hebrew servant. He must serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, you must set him free. He does not have to pay anything. ³ If he does not have a wife when he comes, he must go free alone. But if he has a wife when he comes, she must go with him. ⁴ Suppose his master gives him a wife. And suppose she has sons or daughters by him. Then only the man will go free. The woman and her children will belong to her master.

⁵ “But suppose the servant says, ‘I love my master and my wife and children. I don’t want to go free.’ ⁶ Then his master must take him to the judges. His master must take him to the door or doorpost of his master’s house. His master must poke a hole through his servant’s earlobe into the door or doorpost. Then he will become his servant for life.

⁷ “Suppose a man sells his daughter as a servant. Then she can’t go free as male servants do. ⁸ But what if the master who has chosen her does not like her? Then he must let the man buy her back. He has no right to sell her to strangers. He has broken his promise to her. ⁹ What if he chooses her to marry his son? Then he must grant her the rights of a daughter. ¹⁰ What if her master marries another woman? He must still give the first one her food and clothes and sleep with her. ¹¹ If he does not provide her with those three things, she can go free. She does not have to pay anything.

Laws About Harming Others

¹² “Anyone who hits and kills someone else must be put to death. ¹³ Suppose they did not do it on purpose. Suppose I let it happen. Then they can escape to a place I will choose. ¹⁴ But suppose they kill someone on purpose. Then take them away from my altar and put them to death.

¹⁵ “Anyone who attacks their father or mother must be put to death.

¹⁶ “Anyone who kidnaps and sells another person must be put to death. If they still have the person with them when they are caught, they must be put to death.

¹⁷ “Anyone who asks for something bad to happen to their father or mother must be put to death.

¹⁸ “Suppose two people get into a fight and argue with each other. One hits the other with a stone or his fist. And the person who was hit does not die but has to stay in bed. ¹⁹ And later that person gets up and walks around outside with a walking stick. Then the person who hit the other person will not be held responsible. But that person must pay the one who was hurt for the time spent in bed. The one who hit the other person must be sure that person is completely healed.

²⁰ “Suppose a person beats their male or female slave to death with a club. That person must be punished. ²¹ But they will not be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two. After all, the slave is their property.

²² “Suppose some people are fighting and one of them hits a pregnant woman. And suppose she has her baby early but is not badly hurt. Then the one who hurt her must pay a fine. That person must pay what the woman’s husband asks for and the court allows. ²³ But if someone is badly hurt, a life must be taken for a life. ²⁴ An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth. A hand must be cut off for a hand and a foot for a foot. ²⁵ A burn must be given for a burn, a wound for a wound, and a bruise for a bruise.

²⁶ “Suppose an owner hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it. Then the owner must let the slave go free to pay for the eye. ²⁷ Suppose an owner knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave. Then he must let the slave go free to pay for the tooth.

²⁸ “Suppose a bull kills a man or woman with its horns. Then you must kill the bull by throwing stones at it. Its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held accountable. ²⁹ But suppose the bull has had the habit of attacking people. And suppose the owner has been warned but has not kept it fenced in. Then if it kills a man or woman, you must kill it with stones. The owner must also be put to death. ³⁰ But suppose payment is required of him instead. Then the owner can save his life by paying what is required. ³¹ The same law applies if the bull wounds a son or daughter with its horns. ³² Suppose the bull wounds a male or female slave. Then the owner must pay the slave’s master about 12 ounces of silver. You must kill the bull with stones.

³³ “Suppose someone uncovers a pit or digs one and does not cover it. And suppose an ox or donkey falls into it. ³⁴ Then the person who opened the pit must pay the animal’s owner for the loss. The dead animal will belong to the person who opened the pit.

³⁵ “Suppose someone’s bull wounds a neighbor’s bull and it dies. Then the owner and the neighbor must sell the live one. And they must share the money and the dead animal equally. ³⁶ But suppose people knew that the bull had the habit of attacking. And suppose the owner did not keep it fenced in. Then the owner must give another animal to pay for the dead animal. And the dead animal will belong to the owner.

Laws About Keeping Property Safe

22 “Suppose someone steals an ox or a sheep. And suppose that person kills it or sells it. Then the thief must pay back five oxen for the ox. Or the thief must pay back four sheep for the sheep.

² “Suppose you catch a thief breaking into your house at night. And suppose you hit the thief and the thief dies. Then you are not guilty of murder. ³ But suppose it happens after the sun has come up. Then you are guilty of murder.

“Anyone who steals must pay for whatever they steal. But suppose the thief does not have anything. Then the thief must be sold to pay for what was stolen. ⁴ What if the stolen ox, donkey or sheep is found alive with the thief? Then the thief must pay back twice as much.

⁵ “Suppose someone lets their livestock eat grass in someone else’s field or vineyard. Then they must pay that person back from the best crops of their own field or vineyard.

⁶ “Suppose a fire breaks out and spreads into bushes. Suppose it burns cut and stacked grain or grain that is still growing. Or suppose it burns the whole field. Then the one who started the fire must pay for the loss.

⁷ “Suppose someone gives a neighbor silver or other things to keep safe. And suppose they are stolen from the neighbor’s house. The thief, if caught, must pay back twice as much as was stolen. ⁸ But suppose the thief is not found. Then the neighbor must go to the judges. They will decide whether the neighbor has stolen the other person’s property. ⁹ Suppose you have an ox, donkey, sheep or clothing that does not belong to you. Or you have other property lost by someone else. And suppose someone says, ‘That belongs to me.’ Then both people must bring their case to the judges. The one the judges decide is guilty must pay back twice as much to the other person.

¹⁰ “Suppose someone asks their neighbor to take care of a donkey, ox, sheep or any other animal. And suppose the animal dies or gets hurt. Or suppose it is stolen while no one is looking. ¹¹ Then the problem will be settled by promising the Lord to tell the truth. Suppose the neighbor says, ‘I didn’t steal your property.’ Then the owner must accept what the neighbor says. No payment is required. ¹² But suppose the animal really was stolen. Then the neighbor must pay the owner back. ¹³ Or suppose it was torn to pieces by a wild animal. Then the neighbor must bring in what is left as proof. No payment is required.

¹⁴ “Suppose someone borrows an animal from their neighbor. And it gets hurt or dies while the owner is not there. Then the borrower must pay for it. ¹⁵ But suppose the owner is with the animal. Then the borrower will not have to pay. If the borrower hired the animal, the money paid to hire it covers the loss.

Laws About Social Problems

¹⁶ “Suppose a man meets a virgin who is not engaged. And he talks her into having sex with him. Then he must pay her father the price for a bride. And he must marry her. ¹⁷ But suppose her father absolutely refuses to give her to him. Then he must still pay the price for getting married to a virgin.

¹⁸ “Do not let a woman who does evil magic stay alive. Put her to death.

¹⁹ “Anyone who has sex with an animal must be put to death.

²⁰ “Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed.

²¹ “Do not treat outsiders badly. Do not give them a hard time. Remember, you were outsiders in Egypt.

²² “Do not take advantage of widows. Do not take advantage of children whose fathers have died. ²³ If you do, they might cry out to me. I will certainly hear them. ²⁴ And I will get angry. I will kill you with a sword. Your wives will become widows. Your children’s fathers will die.

²⁵ “Suppose you lend money to one of my people among you who is in need. Then do not treat it like a business deal. Do not charge any interest at all. ²⁶ Suppose your neighbor owes you money and gives you a coat as a promise to pay it back. Then return it by sunset. ²⁷ That coat is the only thing your neighbor owns to wear or sleep in. When they cry out to me, I will listen, because I am loving and kind.

²⁸ “Do not speak evil things against God. Do not curse the ruler of your people.

²⁹ “Do not keep for yourself your grain offerings or wine offerings.

“You must give me the oldest of your sons. ³⁰ Do the same with your cattle and sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days. But give them to me on the eighth day.

³¹ “I want you to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of any animal that has been torn by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs.

Laws About Mercy and Fairness

23 “Do not spread reports that are false. Do not help a guilty person by telling lies in court.

² “Do not follow the crowd when they do what is wrong. When you are a witness in court, do not turn what is right into what is wrong. Do not go along with the crowd. ³ Do not show favor to a poor person in court.

⁴ “Suppose you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering away. Then be sure to return it. ⁵ Suppose you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has fallen down under its load. Then do not leave it there. Be sure you help them with it.

⁶ “Be fair to your poor people in their court cases. ⁷ Do not have anything to do with a false charge. Do not put to death people not guilty of doing anything wrong. I will not let guilty people go free.

⁸ “Do not take money from people who want special favors. It makes you blind to the truth. It twists the words of good people.

⁹ “Do not treat outsiders badly. You yourselves know how it feels to be outsiders. Remember, you were outsiders in Egypt.

Sabbath Laws

¹⁰ “For six years plant your fields and gather your crops. ¹¹ But during the seventh year do not plow your land or use it. Then the poor people among you can get food from it. The wild animals can eat what is left over. Do the same thing with your vineyards and your groves of olive trees.

¹² “Do all your work in six days. But do not do any work on the seventh day. Then your oxen and donkeys can rest. The slaves born in your house can be renewed. And so can the outsiders who live among you.

¹³ “Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not speak the names of other gods. Do not even let them be heard on your lips.

Laws About Celebrating the Three Main Feasts

¹⁴ “Three times a year you must celebrate a feast in my honor.

¹⁵ “Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days, eat bread made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Do it at the appointed time in the month of Aviv. You came out of Egypt in that month.

“You must not come to worship me with your hands empty.

¹⁶ “Celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Bring the first share of your crops from your fields.

“Celebrate the Feast of Booths. Hold it in the fall when you gather in your crops from your fields.

¹⁷ “Three times a year all your men must come to worship me. I am your Lord and King.

¹⁸ “Do not include anything made with yeast when you offer me the blood of a sacrifice.

“Suppose the fat from sacrifices is left over from my feasts. Then do not keep it until morning.

¹⁹ “Bring the best of the first share of your crops to my house. I am the Lord your God.

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

God’s Angel Will Prepare the Way

²⁰ “I am sending an angel ahead of you. He will guard you along the way. He will bring you to the place I have prepared. ²¹ Pay attention to him. Listen to what he says. Do not refuse to obey him. He will not forgive you if you turn against him. He has my full authority. ²² Listen carefully to what he says. Do everything I say. Then I will be an enemy to your enemies. I will fight against those who fight against you. ²³ My angel will go ahead of you. He will bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites. I will wipe them out. ²⁴ Do not do what they do. Do not bow down to their gods or worship them. You must destroy the statues of their gods. You must break their sacred stones to pieces. ²⁵ Worship the Lord your God. Then he will bless your food and water. I, the Lord, will take away any sickness you may have. ²⁶ In your land no woman will give birth to a dead baby. Every woman will be able to have children. I will give you a long life.

²⁷ “I will send my terror ahead of you. I will throw every nation you meet into a panic. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run away. ²⁸ I will send hornets ahead of you. They will drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. ²⁹ But I will not drive them out in just one year. If I did, the land would be deserted. There would be too many wild animals for you. ³⁰ I will drive them out ahead of you little by little. I will do that until there are enough of you to take control of the land.

³¹ “I will make your borders secure from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. They will go from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will hand over to you the people who live in the land. You will drive them out to make room for yourselves. ³² Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. ³³ Do not let them live in your land. If you do, they will cause you to sin against me. If you worship their gods, that will certainly be a trap for you.”

The Blood of the Covenant

24 The Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel must come to worship the Lord. Do not come close when you worship. ² Only Moses can come close to me. The others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”

³ Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws. They answered with one voice. They said, “We will do everything the Lord has told us to do.” ⁴ Then Moses wrote down everything the Lord had said.

Moses got up early the next morning. He built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He set up 12 stone pillars. They stood for the 12 tribes of Israel. ⁵ Then he sent young Israelite men to sacrifice burnt offerings. They also sacrificed young bulls as friendship offerings to the Lord. ⁶ Moses put half of the blood in bowls. He splashed the other half against the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They answered, “We will do everything the Lord has told us to do. We will obey him.”

⁸ Then Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. He said, “This is the blood that puts the covenant into effect. The Lord has made this covenant with you in keeping with all these words.”

⁹ Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the 70 elders of Israel went up. ¹⁰ They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a street made out of lapis lazuli. It was as bright blue as the sky itself. ¹¹ But God didn’t destroy those Israelite leaders when they saw him. They ate and drank.

¹² The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay here. I will give you the stone tablets. They contain the law and commandments I have written to teach the people.”

¹³ Then Moses and Joshua, his helper, started out. Moses went up on the mountain of God. ¹⁴ He said to the elders, “Wait for us here until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you. Anyone who has a problem can go to them.”

¹⁵ Moses went up on the mountain. Then the cloud covered it. ¹⁶ The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered the mountain for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called out to Moses from inside the cloud. ¹⁷ The people of Israel saw the glory of the Lord. It looked like a fire burning on top of the mountain. ¹⁸ Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights.

Offerings for the Holy Tent

25 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Tell the people of Israel to bring me an offering. You must receive the offering for me from everyone whose hearts move them to give.

³ “Here are the offerings you must receive from them.

⁸ “Have them make a sacred tent for me. I will live among them. ⁹ Make the holy tent and everything that belongs to it. Make them exactly like the pattern I will show you.

The Ark of the Covenant Law

¹⁰ “Have them make an ark out of acacia wood. It must be a chest three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide and high. ¹¹ Cover it inside and outside with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it. ¹² Make four gold rings for it. Join them to its four bottom corners. Put two rings on one side and two rings on the other. ¹³ Then make poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. ¹⁴ Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. ¹⁵ The poles must remain in the rings of the ark. Do not remove them. ¹⁶ I will give you the tablets of the covenant law. When I do, put them into the ark.

¹⁷ “Make its cover out of pure gold. The cover is the place where sin will be paid for. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide. ¹⁸ Make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ¹⁹ Put one of the cherubim on each end of it. Make the cherubim part of the cover itself. ²⁰ They must have their wings spread up over the cover. The cherubim must face each other and look toward the cover. ²¹ Place the cover on top of the ark. I will give you the tablets of the covenant law. Put them in the ark. ²² The ark is where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. I will meet with you above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark. There I will give you all my commands for the Israelites.

The Table for the Holy Bread

²³ “Make a table out of acacia wood. Make it three feet long, one foot six inches wide and two feet three inches high. ²⁴ Cover it with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it. ²⁵ Also make a rim around it three inches wide. Put a strip of gold around the rim. ²⁶ Make four gold rings for the table. Join them to the four corners, where the four legs are. ²⁷ The rings must be close to the rim. They must hold the poles that will be used to carry the table. ²⁸ Make the poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. Use them to carry the table. ²⁹ Make its plates and dishes out of pure gold. Also make its pitchers and bowls out of pure gold. Use the pitchers and bowls to pour out drink offerings. ³⁰ Put the holy bread on the table. It must be near my holy throne on the ark of the covenant law at all times.

The Gold Lampstand

³¹ “Make a lampstand out of pure gold. Hammer out its base and stem. Its buds, blossoms and cups must branch out from it. They must be part of the lampstand itself. ³² Six branches must come out from the sides of the lampstand. Make three on one side and three on the other. ³³ On one branch make three cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. Then put three on the next branch. Do the same with all six branches that come out from the lampstand. ³⁴ On the lampstand there must be four cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. ³⁵ One bud must be under the first pair of branches that come out from the lampstand. Put a second bud under the second pair. And put a third bud under the third pair. Make a total of six branches. ³⁶ The buds and branches must come out from the lampstand. The whole lampstand must be one piece hammered out of pure gold.

³⁷ “Then make its seven lamps. Set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. ³⁸ The trays and wick cutters must be made out of pure gold. ³⁹ Use 75 pounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and everything used with it. ⁴⁰ Be sure to make everything just like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.

The Holy Tent

26 “Make ten curtains out of finely twisted linen for the holy tent. Make them with blue, purple and bright red yarn. Have a skilled worker sew cherubim into the pattern. ² Make all the curtains the same size. They must be 42 feet long and six feet wide. ³ Join five of the curtains together. Do the same thing with the other five. ⁴ Make loops out of blue strips of cloth along the edge of the end curtain in one set. Do the same thing with the end curtain in the other set. ⁵ Make 50 loops on the end curtain of the one set. Do the same thing on the end curtain of the other set. Put the loops across from each other. ⁶ Make 50 gold hooks. Use them to join the curtains together so that the holy tent is all one piece.

⁷ “Make a total of 11 curtains out of goat hair to put over the holy tent. ⁸ Make all 11 curtains the same size. They must be 45 feet long and six feet wide. ⁹ Join five of the curtains together into one set. Do the same thing with the other six. Fold the sixth curtain in half at the front of the tent. ¹⁰ Make 50 loops along the edge of the end curtain in the one set. Do the same thing with the other set. ¹¹ Then make 50 bronze hooks. Put them in the loops to join the tent together all in one piece. ¹² Let the extra half curtain hang down at the rear of the holy tent. ¹³ The tent curtains will be 18 inches longer on both sides. What is left over will hang over the sides of the holy tent and cover it. ¹⁴ Make a covering for the tent. Make it out of ram skins that are dyed red. Put a covering of the other strong leather over that.

¹⁵ “Make frames out of acacia wood for the holy tent. ¹⁶ Make each frame 15 feet long and two feet three inches wide. ¹⁷ Add two small wooden pins to each frame. Make the pins stick out so that they are even with each other. Make all the frames for the holy tent in the same way. ¹⁸ Make 20 frames for the south side of the holy tent. ¹⁹ And make 40 silver bases to go under them. Make two bases for each frame. Put one under each pin that sticks out. ²⁰ For the north side of the holy tent make 20 frames ²¹ and 40 silver bases. Put two bases under each frame. ²² Make six frames for the west end of the holy tent. ²³ Make two frames for the corners at the far end. ²⁴ At those two corners the frames must be double from top to bottom. They must be fitted into a single ring. Make both of them the same. ²⁵ There will be eight frames and 16 silver bases. There will be two bases under each frame.

²⁶ “Also make crossbars out of acacia wood. Make five for the frames on one side of the holy tent. ²⁷ Make five for the frames on the other side. And make five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the holy tent. ²⁸ The center crossbar must reach from end to end at the middle of the frames. ²⁹ Cover the frames with gold. Make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also cover the crossbars with gold.

³⁰ “Set up the holy tent in keeping with the plan I showed you on the mountain.

³¹ “Make a curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have a skilled worker sew cherubim into the pattern. ³² Hang the curtain with gold hooks on four posts that are made out of acacia wood. Cover the posts with gold. Stand them on four silver bases. ³³ Hang the curtain from the hooks. Place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Room from the Most Holy Room. ³⁴ Put the cover on the ark of the covenant law in the Most Holy Room. The cover will be the place where sin is paid for. ³⁵ Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the holy tent. And put the lampstand across from it on the south side.

³⁶ “Make a curtain for the entrance to the tent. Make it out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have a person who sews skillfully make it. ³⁷ Make gold hooks for the curtain. Make five posts out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. And make five bronze bases for them.

The Altar for Burnt Offerings

27 “Build an altar out of acacia wood. It must be four feet six inches high and seven feet six inches square. ² Make a horn stick out from each of its upper four corners. The horns and the altar must be all one piece. Cover the altar with bronze. ³ Make everything for the altar out of bronze. Make its pots to remove the ashes. Make its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and pans for carrying ashes. ⁴ Make a bronze grate for the altar. Make a bronze ring for each of the four corners of the grate.