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Exodus 1

Israel Comes to Egypt

1These are the names of the sons of Israel (that is, Jacob) who came with him to Egypt with their families: 2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; 3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; 4Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. 5Joseph was already in Egypt. The total number of Jacob’s descendants was 70.

6Eventually, Joseph, all his brothers, and that entire generation died. 7But the descendants of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them.

The Israelites Become Slaves

8Then a new king, who knew nothing about Joseph, began to rule in Egypt. 9He said to his people, “There are too many Israelites, and they are stronger than we are. 10We have to outsmart them, or they’ll increase in number. Then, if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

11So the Egyptians put slave drivers in charge of them in order to oppress them through forced labor. They built Pithom and Rameses as supply cities for Pharaoh. 12But the more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they increased in number and spread out. The Egyptians couldn’t stand them ⌞any longer⌟. 13So they forced the Israelites to work hard as slaves. 14They made their lives bitter with back-breaking work in mortar and bricks and every kind of work in the fields. All the jobs the Egyptians gave them were brutally hard.

Pharaoh Tells the Midwives to Kill All Hebrew Baby Boys

15Then the king of Egypt told the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16“When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth, look at the child when you deliver it. If it’s a boy, kill it, but if it’s a girl, let it live.”

17However, the midwives feared Elohim and didn’t obey the king of Egypt’s orders. They let the boys live. 18So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. He asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

19The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women. They are so healthy that they have their babies before a midwife arrives.”

20Elohim was good to the midwives. So the people increased in number and became very strong. 21Because the midwives feared Elohim, he gave them families of their own.

22Then Pharaoh commanded all his people to throw into the Nile every ⌞Hebrew⌟ boy that was born, but to let every girl live.

Exodus 2

Pharaoh’s Daughter Adopts Moses

1A man from Levi’s family married a Levite woman. 2The woman became pregnant and had a son. She saw how beautiful he was and hid him for three months. 3When she couldn’t hide him any longer, she took a basket made of papyrus plants and coated it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in it and set it among the papyrus plants near the bank of the Nile River. 4The baby’s sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5While Pharaoh’s daughter came to the Nile to take a bath, her servants walked along the bank of the river. She saw the basket among the papyrus plants and sent her slave girl to get it. 6Pharaoh’s daughter opened the basket, looked at the baby, and saw it was a boy. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. She said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”

7Then the baby’s sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”

8She answered, “Yes!” So the girl brought the baby’s mother.

9Pharaoh’s daughter said to the woman, “Take this child, nurse him for me, and I will pay you.”

She took the child and nursed him. 10When the child was old enough, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. Pharaoh’s daughter named him Moses [Pulled Out] and said, “I pulled him out of the water.”

Moses Commits Murder and Flees to Midian

11In the course of time Moses grew up. Then he went to ⌞see⌟ his own people and watched them suffering under forced labor. He saw a Hebrew, one of his own people, being beaten by an Egyptian. 12He looked all around, and when he didn’t see anyone, he beat the Egyptian to death and hid the body in the sand.

13When Moses went there the next day, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. He asked the one who started the fight, “Why are you beating another Hebrew?”

14The man asked, “Who made you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought that everyone knew what he had done.

15When Pharaoh heard what Moses had done, he tried to have him killed. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian.

Moses Marries Zipporah

One day, while Moses was sitting by a well, 16seven daughters of the priest of Midian came. They drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s sheep. 17But some shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses got up, came to their defense, and then watered their sheep.

18When they came back to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you come home so early today?”

19They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from some shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the sheep.”

20Reuel asked his daughters, “Where is he? Why did you leave the man there? Go, invite him to supper.”

21Moses decided to stay with the man. So Reuel gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as his wife. 22She gave birth to a son. Moses named him Gershom [Foreigner], because he said, “I was a foreigner living in another country.”

The Israelites Pray to Elohim during Their Suffering

23After a long time passed, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites still groaned because they were slaves. So they cried out, and their cries for help went up to Elohim. 24Elohim heard their groaning, and he remembered his promise  (Or “covenant.”) to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25Elohim saw the Israelites ⌞being oppressed⌟ and was concerned about them.

Exodus 3

Moses at the Burning Bush

1Moses was taking care of the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. As he led the sheep to the far side of the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of Elohim.

2The Messenger of Yhwh appeared to him there as flames of fire coming out of a bush. Moses looked, and although the bush was on fire, it was not burning up. 3So he thought, “Why isn’t this bush burning up? I must go over there and see this strange sight.”

4When Yhwh saw that Moses had come over to see it, Elohim called to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

Moses answered, “Here I am!”

5Elohim said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy ground. 6I am the Elohim of your ancestors, (Samaritan Pentateuch, Greek, Acts 7:32; Masoretic Text “ancestor.”) the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at Elohim.

7Yhwh said, “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard them crying out because of the slave drivers. I know how much they’re suffering. 8I have come to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good land with plenty of room ⌞for everyone⌟. It is a land flowing with milk and honey where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live. 9I have heard the cry of the people of Israel. I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you can bring my people Israel out of Egypt.”

11But Moses said to Elohim, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12Elohim answered, “I will be with you. And this will be the proof that I sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship Elohim on this mountain.”

13Then Moses replied to Elohim, “Suppose I go to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The Elohim of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?”

14Elohim answered Moses, “I Am Who I Am. This is what you must say to the people of Israel: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’ ”

15Again Elohim said to Moses, “This is what you must say to the people of Israel: Yhwh Elohim of your ancestors, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever. This is my title throughout every generation.

16“Go, assemble the leaders of Israel. Say to them, ‘Yhwh Elohim of your ancestors, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me. He said, “I have paid close attention to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17I promise I will take you away from your misery in Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

18“The leaders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the leaders must go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘Yhwh Elohim of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to Yhwh our Elohim.’ 19I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, even if he is forced to. 20So I will use my power to strike Egypt. After all the miracles that I will do there, he will let you go. 21I will make the Egyptians kind to the people of Israel so that, when you leave, you will not leave empty-handed.

22“Every Hebrew woman should ask her Egyptian neighbor and any woman living in her home for silver and gold jewelry and for clothes. Put them on your sons and daughters. This way you will strip Egypt of its wealth.”

Exodus 4

1“They will never believe me or listen to me!” Moses protested. “They will say, ‘Yhwh didn’t appear to you.’ ”

2Then Yhwh asked him, “What’s that in your hand?”

He answered, “A shepherd’s staff.”

3Yhwh said, “Throw it on the ground.”

When Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran away from it.

4Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Reach out and grab the snake by its tail.” He reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a staff as he held it. 5⌞Yhwh explained,⌟ “This is to convince the people that Yhwh Elohim of their ancestors, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to you.”

6Yhwh said to him, “Put your hand inside your shirt.” So Moses did this, and when he took his hand out, it had a skin disease. It looked as ⌞flaky as⌟ snow. 7“Now put your hand back inside your shirt,” Yhwh said. Moses put it back, and when he took it out this time, it was healthy again like the rest of his body.

8⌞Then Yhwh said,⌟ “If they won’t believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. 9But if they won’t believe these two miraculous signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile River and pour it on the ground. The water you take from the Nile will turn into blood on the ground.”

10Moses said to Yhwh, “Please, Yhwh, I’m not a good speaker. I’ve never been a good speaker, and I’m not now, even though you’ve spoken to me. I speak slowly, and I become tongue-tied easily.”

11Yhwh asked him, “Who gave humans their mouths? Who makes humans unable to talk or hear? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? It is I, Yhwh! 12Now go, and I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

13But Moses said, “Please, Yhwh, send someone else.”

14Then Yhwh became angry with Moses and asked, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He’s already on his way to meet you, and he will be very glad to see you. 15You will speak to him and tell him what to say. I will help both of you speak, and I will teach you both what to do. 16Aaron will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and you will be like Elohim. 17Take that shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to do the miraculous signs.”

Moses Returns to Egypt

18Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro. Moses said to him, “Please let me go back to my own people in Egypt. I would like to see if they’re still alive.”

Jethro said to Moses, “You may go.”

19Now, Yhwh had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, because all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.”

20So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and started out for Egypt. He also brought with him the staff Elohim had told him to take.

21Yhwh said to Moses, “When you get back to Egypt, see that you show Pharaoh all the amazing things that I have given you the power to do. But I will make him stubborn so that he will not let the people go. 22Then tell Pharaoh, ‘This is what Yhwh says: Israel is my firstborn son. 23I told you to let my son go so that he may worship me. But you refused to let him go. So now I’m going to kill your firstborn son.’ ”

24Along the way they stopped for the night. Yhwh met Moses and tried to kill him. 25Then Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet ⌞with it⌟. She said, “You are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26So Yhwh let him alone. It was because of the circumcision that she said at that time, “You are a bridegroom of blood!”

Moses and Aaron Tell the People What Yhwh Said

27Meanwhile, Yhwh had told Aaron to meet Moses in the desert.

When Aaron met Moses at the mountain of Elohim, he kissed him. 28Moses told Aaron everything Yhwh had sent him to say and all the miraculous signs Yhwh had commanded him to do.

29Then Moses and Aaron went ⌞to Egypt⌟ and assembled all the leaders of the people of Israel. 30Aaron told them everything Yhwh had said to Moses. He also did the miraculous signs for the people, 31and the people believed them. When they heard that Yhwh was concerned about the people of Israel and that he had seen their misery, they knelt, bowing with their faces touching the ground.

Exodus 5

Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh

1Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what Yhwh Elohim of Israel says: Let my people go into the desert to celebrate a festival in my honor.”

2Pharaoh asked, “Who is Yhwh? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I don’t know Yhwh, and I won’t let Israel go.”

3They replied, “The Elohim of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to Yhwh our Elohim. If we don’t go, he may kill us with a plague or a war.”

4The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their work? Get back to work!” 5Then Pharaoh added, “Look how many people there are in the land! Do you want them to quit working?”

Pharaoh Increases the Israelites’ Labor

6That same day Pharaoh gave these orders to the slave drivers and foremen: 7“Don’t give the people any more straw to make bricks as you have been doing. Let them gather their own straw, 8but insist that they make the same number of bricks they were making before. Making fewer bricks will not be acceptable. They’re lazy! That’s why they’re crying, ‘Let us go offer sacrifices to our Elohim.’ 9Make the work harder for these people so that they will be too busy to listen to lies.”

10The slave drivers and foreman went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: I’m no longer giving you straw. 11Get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work load will not be reduced one bit.”

12So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13The slave drivers kept hurrying them. They said, “Finish the same amount of work each day, just as when you had straw.”

14Pharaoh’s slave drivers had placed Israelite foremen in charge of the people. The slave drivers beat the foremen and said, “You didn’t finish all the bricks you were ordered to make yesterday or today. Why didn’t you make as many as you used to?”

15Then the Israelite foremen complained to Pharaoh. They asked, “Why are you treating us this way? 16We’re given no straw, and yet we’re told to make bricks. We’re being beaten, but your men are at fault.”

17“You’re lazy! ⌞Just plain⌟ lazy!” Pharaoh answered. “That’s why you keep saying, ‘Let us go offer sacrifices to Yhwh.’ 18Now get back to work! You won’t be given any straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks.”

19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “Don’t make fewer bricks each day than you’re supposed to.”

20As they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting for them. 21So they said, “May Yhwh see what you have done and judge you! You have made Pharaoh and his officials hate us. You have given them an excuse to kill us.”

22Moses went back to Yhwh and asked, “Why have you brought this trouble on your people? Why did you send me? 23Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak for you, he has treated your people cruelly, and you have done nothing at all to rescue your people.”

Exodus 6

1Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. I will show him my power, and he will let my people go. I will show him my power, and he will throw them out of his country.”

Yhwh Tells Moses to Speak to Pharaoh Again

2Elohim spoke to Moses, “I am Yhwh. 3I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but I didn’t make myself known to them by my name, Yhwh. 4I even made a promise  (Or “covenant.”) to give them Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners. 5Now I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians hold in slavery, and I have remembered my promise.

6“Tell the Israelites, ‘I am Yhwh. I will bring you out from under the oppression of the Egyptians, and I will free you from slavery. I will rescue you with my powerful arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7Then I will make you my people, and I will be your Elohim. You will know that I am Yhwh your Elohim, who brought you out from under the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8I will bring you to the land I solemnly swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your own possession. I am Yhwh.’ ”

9Moses reported this to the Israelites. But they would not listen to him because they were so discouraged by their back-breaking work.

10Then Yhwh spoke to Moses, 11“Go tell Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) to let the Israelites leave his country.”

12But Moses protested to Yhwh, “The Israelites wouldn’t listen to me. Why would Pharaoh listen to me? I’m such a poor speaker.”

13Yhwh spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). He commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

Aaron and Moses’ Ancestry

(Genesis 46:9–11)

14These were the heads of the families:

The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

These were the families descended from Reuben.

15The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the families descended from Simeon.

16These are the names of the sons of Levi listed in birth order: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

17The sons of Gershon listed by their families were Libni and Shimei.

18The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.

19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.

These were the families descended from Levi listed in birth order.

20Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed. She gave birth to Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.

22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon. She gave birth to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph.

These were the families descended from Korah.

25Eleazar, son of Aaron, married one of the daughters of Putiel. She gave birth to Phinehas.

These were the heads of Levite households listed by their families.

26This was the same Aaron and Moses to whom Yhwh said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt in organized family groups.” 27They—this same Moses and Aaron—told Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) to let the Israelites leave Egypt.

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Snake

28At that time Yhwh spoke to Moses in Egypt. 29He said to Moses, “I am Yhwh. Tell Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) everything I tell you.”

30But Moses said to Yhwh, “Why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Exodus 7

1Yhwh answered Moses, “I have made you Elohim to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron is your prophet. 2Tell your brother Aaron everything I command you, and he must tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave the country. 3But I will make Pharaoh stubborn. Even though I will do many miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt, 4Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will use my power to punish Egypt severely, and I will bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt in organized family groups. 5The Egyptians will know that I am Yhwh when I use my power against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of there.”

6Moses and Aaron did as Yhwh had commanded them. 7Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when they talked to Pharaoh.

8Yhwh said to Moses and Aaron, 9“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Give me a sign to prove that Elohim has sent you,’ tell Aaron, ‘Take your shepherd’s staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh,’ and it will become a large snake.”

10Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as Yhwh had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a large snake. 11Then Pharaoh sent for his wise men and sorcerers. These Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. 12Each of them threw his staff down, and they all became large snakes. But Aaron’s staff swallowed theirs. 13Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to them, as Yhwh had predicted.

The First Plague—the Nile River Turns into Blood

14Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Pharaoh is being stubborn. He refuses to let my people go. 15In the morning meet Pharaoh when he’s on his way to the Nile. Wait for him on the bank of the river. Take along the staff that turned into a snake. 16Say to him, ‘Yhwh Elohim of the Hebrews sent me to tell you, “Let my people go to worship me in the desert.” So far you have not listened. 17Here is what Yhwh says: This is the way you will recognize that I am Yhwh: With this staff in my hand, I’m going to strike the Nile, and the water will turn into blood. 18The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’ ”

19Yhwh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—its rivers, canals, ponds, and all its reservoirs—so that they turn into blood. There will be blood everywhere in Egypt, even in the wooden and stone containers.’ ”

20Moses and Aaron did as Yhwh had commanded. In front of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised his staff and struck the Nile. All the water in the river turned into blood. 21The fish in the Nile died, and it smelled so bad that the Egyptians couldn’t drink any water from the river. There was blood everywhere in Egypt.

22But the Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. So Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as Yhwh had predicted. 23Pharaoh turned and went back to his palace. He dismissed the entire matter from his mind.

24All the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink because they couldn’t drink any of the water from the river.

25Seven days passed after Yhwh struck the Nile.

Exodus 8

The Second Plague—Frogs

1 (Exodus 8:1–32 in English Bibles is Exodus 7:26–8:28 in the Hebrew Bible.)Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yhwh says: Let my people go to worship me. 2If you refuse to let them go, I will bring a plague of frogs on your whole country. 3The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come into your palace, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your officials, on your people, into your ovens and into your mixing bowls. 4The frogs will jump on you, on your people, and on all your officials.’ ”

5Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Hold your staff over the rivers, canals, and ponds. This will bring frogs onto the land.’ ”

6So Aaron held his staff over the waters of Egypt. The frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7But the magicians did the same thing using their magic spells and brought frogs onto the land.

8Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray that Yhwh will take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to Yhwh.”

9Moses answered Pharaoh, “You may have the honor of choosing when I should pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then the frogs will leave you and your homes. The only ones left will be those in the Nile.”

10“Pray for me tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

Moses replied, “It will be as you say so that you will know that there is no one like Yhwh our Elohim. 11The frogs will leave you, your homes, your officials, and your people. The only frogs left will be those in the Nile.”

12After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, Moses prayed to Yhwh about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh. 13Yhwh did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, in the yards, and in the fields. 14They were piled into countless heaps, and the land began to stink because of them.

15When Pharaoh saw that the plague was over, he became stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as Yhwh had predicted.

The Third Plague—Gnats

16Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Hold out your staff and strike the dust on the ground. All over Egypt the dust will turn into gnats.’ ”

17When Moses told him, Aaron held out the staff in his hand and struck the dust on the ground. It turned into gnats that bit people and animals. All the dust on the ground everywhere in Egypt turned into gnats.

18The magicians also tried to produce gnats using their magic spells, but they couldn’t do it. The gnats bit people and animals. 19So the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the hand of Elohim!”

Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as Yhwh had predicted.

The Fourth Plague—Flies

20Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Early in the morning, stand in Pharaoh’s way when he’s going to the Nile. Say to him, ‘This is what Yhwh says: Let my people go to worship me. 21If you will not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The homes of the Egyptians will be filled with flies, and even the ground outside will be covered with them. 22But on that day I will treat the region of Goshen differently. That is where my people live. There won’t be any flies there. This way you will know that I, Yhwh, am here in this land. 23I will distinguish between my people and yours. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’ ”

24Yhwh did what he said. Dense swarms of flies came into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials. All over Egypt the flies were ruining everything. 25Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your Elohim here in this country.”

26Moses replied, “It wouldn’t be right to do that. The sacrifices we offer to Yhwh our Elohim are disgusting to Egyptians. If they see us offer sacrifices that they consider disgusting, won’t they stone us to death? 27We need to travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to Yhwh our Elohim, as he told us to do.”

28Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, but don’t go very far. You may offer sacrifices to Yhwh your Elohim in the desert and pray for me.”

29Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to Yhwh. Tomorrow the swarms of flies will go away from you, your officials, and your people. But you must stop tricking us by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to Yhwh.”

30Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to Yhwh. 31Yhwh did what Moses asked. The swarms of flies left Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not one fly was left. 32Yet, this time, too, Pharaoh was stubborn and did not let the people go.

Exodus 9

The Fifth Plague—Death of Livestock

1Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yhwh Elohim of the Hebrews says: Let my people go to worship me. 2If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them ⌞in slavery⌟, 3Yhwh will bring a terrible plague on your livestock, including your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. 4But Yhwh will distinguish between Israel’s livestock and the livestock of the Egyptians. No animals belonging to the Israelites will die.’ ” 5Yhwh set a definite time. He said, “Tomorrow I will do this.”

6The next day Yhwh did as he said. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but none of the Israelites’ animals died. 7Pharaoh found out that not one of the Israelites’ animals had died. Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague—Boils

8Then Yhwh said to Moses and Aaron, “Take a handful of ashes from a kiln, and have Moses throw them up in the air as Pharaoh watches. 9They will become a fine dust throughout Egypt. The dust will cause boils to break into open sores on people and animals throughout Egypt.”

10They took ashes from a kiln and stood in front of Pharaoh. Moses threw the ashes up in the air, and they caused boils to break into open sores on people and animals. 11The magicians couldn’t compete with Moses because they had boils like all the other Egyptians.

12But Yhwh made Pharaoh stubborn, so he wouldn’t listen to Moses and Aaron, as Yhwh had predicted to Moses.

The Seventh Plague—Hail

13Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Early in the morning, go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what Yhwh Elohim of the Hebrews says: Let my people go to worship me. 14Now I will send plagues that will affect you personally as well as your officials and people. This is how you will know that there is no one like me anywhere on earth. 15By now I could have used my power to kill you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16But I have spared you for this reason. I want to show you my power and make my name famous throughout the earth. 17You are still blocking my people from leaving. 18So, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever happened in Egypt since the beginning of its history. 19Now, send ⌞servants⌟ to bring your livestock and everything else you have indoors. All people and animals still outside and not brought in will die when the hail falls on them.’ ”

20Those members of Pharaoh’s court who listened to Yhwh’s warning brought their servants and cattle indoors quickly. 21But those who didn’t take Yhwh’s warning seriously left their servants and animals out in the open.

22Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky, and hail will fall on people, animals, and every plant in the fields of Egypt.”

23When Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, Yhwh sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So Yhwh made it hail on Egypt. 24It hailed, and lightning flashed while it hailed. This was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 25All over Egypt the hail knocked down everything that was out in the open. It struck down people, animals, and every plant in the fields and destroyed every tree in the fields. 26The only place it didn’t hail was the region of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.

27Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he told them. “Yhwh is right, and my people and I are wrong. 28Pray to Yhwh. We’ve had enough of Elohim’s thunder and hail. I’ll let you go; you don’t have to stay here any longer.”

29Moses replied, “As soon as I’m out of the city, I’ll spread out my hands to Yhwh in prayer. The thunder will stop, and there will be no more hail. This is how you will know that the earth belongs to Yhwh. 30But I know that you and your officials still don’t fear Yhwh Elohim.”

31(The flax and the barley were ruined, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was in bloom. 32Neither the wheat nor the wild grain was damaged, because they ripen later.)

33As soon as he left Pharaoh and went out of the city, Moses spread out his hands to Yhwh in prayer. The thunder and the hail stopped, and no more rain came pouring down on the ground.

34When Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had stopped, he sinned again. He and his officials continued to be stubborn. 35Pharaoh was stubborn and would not let the Israelites go, as Yhwh had predicted through Moses.

Exodus 10

The Eighth Plague—Locusts

1Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh. I have made him and his officials stubborn so that I can do these miraculous signs among them. 2You will be able to tell your children and grandchildren exactly how I treated the Egyptians and what miraculous signs I did among them. This is how you will all know that I am Yhwh.”

3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what Yhwh Elohim of the Hebrews says: How long will you refuse to humble yourself in my presence? Let my people go to worship me. 4If you refuse to let my people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country. 5They will cover the land so that the ground can’t be seen. They will eat everything left by the hail, including every tree still standing in the fields. 6They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and those of all the Egyptians. Your parents and ancestors never saw anything like this from the time they first came here until now.” Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

7Then Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man hold us in his grip? Let the Israelite men go to worship Yhwh their Elohim. When will you realize that Egypt is ruined?”

8So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship Yhwh your Elohim,” he said to them. “But exactly who will be going?”

9Moses answered, “Everyone! We’ll be taking our young and old, our sons and daughters, our flocks and herds with us. For us it’s a pilgrimage festival in Yhwh’s honor.”

10Pharaoh said to them, “Yhwh would have to be with you if I would ever let you take your women and children along. I know you’re up to no good! 11No! Only the men may go to worship Yhwh, since that’s what you’ve been asking for.” Then Moses and Aaron were thrown out of Pharaoh’s palace.

12Yhwh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over Egypt to bring locusts. They will invade Egypt and eat up every plant in the land—everything left by the hail.”

13Moses held his staff over the land of Egypt, and Yhwh made a wind from the east blow over the land all that day and all that night. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts. 14They invaded all of Egypt and landed all over the country in great swarms. Never before had there been so many locusts like this, nor would there ever be that many again. 15They covered all the ground until it was black ⌞with them⌟. They ate all the plants and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant anywhere in Egypt.

16Then Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against Yhwh your Elohim and against you. 17Please forgive my sin one more time. Pray to Yhwh your Elohim to take this deadly plague away from me.”

18Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to Yhwh. 19Then Yhwh changed the wind to a very strong west wind. It picked up the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not one locust was left anywhere in Egypt.

20But Yhwh made Pharaoh stubborn, so he did not let the Israelites go.

The Ninth Plague—Darkness

21Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky, and a darkness ⌞so thick⌟ that it can be felt will come over Egypt.” 22Moses lifted his hand toward the sky, and throughout Egypt there was total darkness for three days. 23People couldn’t see each other, and no one went anywhere for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they were living.

24Then Pharaoh called for Moses and said, “Go, worship Yhwh! Even your women and children may go with you, but your flocks and herds must stay behind.”

25But Moses said, “You must allow us to take ⌞our animals⌟ for the sacrifices and burnt offerings we have to make to Yhwh our Elohim. 26All our livestock must go with us. Not one animal must be left behind. We’ll have to use some of them for worshiping Yhwh our Elohim, and we won’t know what we’ll need until we get there.”

27But Yhwh made Pharaoh stubborn, so he refused to let them go. 28Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Don’t ever let me see your face again. The day I do, you will die.”

29“You’re right!” Moses answered. “You’ll never see my face again.”

Exodus 11

The Tenth Plague—the Death of the Firstborn

1Then Yhwh said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that he will let you go. When he does, he will be certain to force all of you out of here. 2Now announce to the people ⌞of Israel⌟ that each man and woman must ask the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry.”

3Yhwh made the Egyptians kind to the people. And Moses was highly respected by Pharaoh’s officials and all the Egyptians.

4Moses said, “This is what Yhwh says: About midnight I will go out among the Egyptians. 5Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who rules the land, to the firstborn children of female slaves who use their handmills, including every firstborn domestic animal. 6There will be loud crying throughout Egypt, such as there has never been or ever will be again. 7But where the Israelites are, not even a dog will be startled by any person or animal. This is how you will see that Yhwh shows the distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8Then all these officials of yours will come, bow down to me, and say, ‘You and all the people who follow you, get out!’ After that I will leave.” Burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.

9Yhwh had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you. This is why I will do more amazing things in Egypt.” 10Moses and Aaron showed Pharaoh all these amazing things. Yet, Yhwh made Pharaoh stubborn, so he wouldn’t let the Israelites leave his country.

Exodus 12

Passover

1Yhwh said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2“This month will be the very first month of the year for you. 3Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth ⌞day⌟ of this month each man must take a lamb or a young goat for his family—one animal per household. 4A household may be too small to eat a whole animal. That household and the one next door can share one animal. Choose your animal based on the number of people and what each person can eat. 5Your animal must be a one-year-old male that has no defects. You may choose a lamb or a young goat. 6Take care of it until the fourteenth ⌞day⌟ of this month.

“Then at dusk, all the assembled people from the community of Israel must slaughter their animals. 7They must take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they will eat the animals. 8The meat must be eaten that same night. It must be roasted over a fire and eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. 9Don’t eat any of it raw or boiled but roast the whole animal over a fire. 10Don’t leave any of it until morning. Anything left over in the morning must be burned up. 11This is how ⌞you should be dressed when⌟ you eat it: with your belt on, your sandals on your feet, and your shepherd’s staff in your hand. You must eat it in a hurry. It is Yhwh’s Passover.

12“On that same night I will go throughout Egypt and kill every firstborn male, both human and animal. I will severely punish all the Elohim of Egypt, ⌞because⌟ I am Yhwh. 13But the blood on your houses will be a sign for your protection. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. Nothing will touch or destroy you when I strike Egypt.

14“This day will be one for you to remember. This is a permanent law for generations to come: You will celebrate this day as a pilgrimage festival in Yhwh’s honor. 15For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the very first day you must remove any yeast that you have in your houses. Whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh day must be excluded from Israel. 16You must have a holy assembly on the first day and another one on the seventh. You must not work on these days except to prepare your own meals. That’s all you may do.

17You must celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread because it was on this very day that I brought you out of Egypt in organized family groups. This is a permanent law for future generations: You must celebrate this day. 18From the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day you must eat unleavened bread. 19There should be no yeast in your houses for seven days. Whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be excluded from the community of Israel, whether he is an Israelite or not. 20Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat ⌞only⌟ unleavened bread.”

21Then Moses called for all the leaders of Israel. He said to them, “Pick out a lamb or a young goat for your families, and kill the Passover animal. 22Take the branch of a hyssop plant, dip it in the blood which is in a bowl, and put some of the blood on the top and sides of the doorframes ⌞of your houses⌟. No one may leave the house until morning. 23Yhwh will go throughout Egypt to kill the Egyptians. When he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, he will pass over that doorway, and he will not let the destroyer come into your home to kill you.

24“You must follow these instructions. They are a permanent law for you and your children. 25When you enter the land that Yhwh will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26When your children ask you what this ceremony means to you, 27you must answer, ‘It’s the Passover sacrifice in Yhwh’s honor. Yhwh passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he killed the Egyptians.’ ”

Then the people knelt, bowing with their faces touching the ground. 28The Israelites did as Yhwh had commanded Moses and Aaron.

29At midnight Yhwh killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal. 30Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the ⌞other⌟ Egyptians got up during the night. There was loud crying throughout Egypt because in every house someone had died.

Pharaoh Allows the Israelites to Leave Egypt

31Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron during the night. He said, “You and the Israelites must leave my people at once. Go, worship Yhwh as you asked. 32Take your flocks and herds, too, as you asked. Just go! And bless me, too!”

33The Egyptians begged the people to leave the country quickly. They said, “Soon we’ll all be dead!” 34So the people picked up their bread dough before it had risen and carried it on their shoulders in bowls, wrapped up in their clothes.

35The Israelites did what Moses had told them and asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry and for clothes. 36Yhwh made the Egyptians generous to the people, and they gave them what they asked for. So the Israelites stripped Egypt of its wealth.

The Israelites Leave Egypt

37The Israelites left Rameses to go to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children. 38Many other people also went with them, along with large numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle.

39With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked round, flat bread. The dough hadn’t risen because they’d been thrown out of Egypt and had no time to prepare food for the trip.

40The Israelites had been living in Egypt for 430 years. 41After exactly 430 years all Yhwh’s people left Egypt in organized family groups. 42That night Yhwh kept watch to take them out of Egypt. (All Israelites in future generations must keep watch on this night, since it is dedicated to Yhwh.)

Rules for the Passover

43Yhwh said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the rules for the Passover:

“No foreigner may eat the Passover meal.

44“Any male slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him.

45“No foreigner visiting you may eat it.

“No hired worker may eat it.

46“The meal must be eaten inside one house. Never take any of the meat outside the house.

“Never break any of the bones.

47“The whole community of Israel must celebrate the Passover.

48“Foreigners may want to celebrate Yhwh’s Passover. First, every male in the household must be circumcised. Then they may celebrate the Passover like native-born Israelites. But no uncircumcised males may ever eat the Passover meal. 49The same instructions apply to native-born Israelites as well as foreigners.”

50All the Israelites did as Yhwh had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51That very day Yhwh brought all the Israelites out of Egypt in organized family groups.

Exodus 13

1Yhwh spoke to Moses, 2“Set apart every firstborn male for me. Every firstborn male offspring among the Israelites is mine, whether human or animal.”

3Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day—the day when you left Egypt, the land of slavery. Yhwh used his mighty hand to bring you out of there. Don’t eat anything made with yeast. 4Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving Egypt. 5Yhwh swore to your ancestors that he would give you the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. When he brings you into that land flowing with milk and honey, you must observe this ceremony in this month.

6“For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. The seventh day will be a pilgrimage festival in Yhwh’s honor. 7Only unleavened bread should be eaten during these seven days. No sourdough or yeast should be seen anywhere in your territory. 8On that day tell your children, ‘We do this because of what Yhwh did for us when we left Egypt.’ 9This ⌞festival⌟ will be ⌞like⌟ a mark on your hand or a reminder on your forehead that the teachings of Yhwh are ⌞always⌟ to be a part of your conversation. Because Yhwh used his mighty hand to bring you out of Egypt, 10you must follow these rules every year at this time.

Rules Concerning the Firstborn Child

11“When Yhwh brings you to the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he swore to you and your ancestors, 12sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to Yhwh. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to Yhwh. 13It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from Yhwh. If you don’t buy it back, then you must break the donkey’s neck. You must also buy every firstborn son back from Yhwh.

14“In the future when your children ask you what this means, tell them, ‘Yhwh used his mighty hand to bring us out of slavery in Egypt. 15When Pharaoh was too stubborn to let us go, Yhwh killed every firstborn male in Egypt—human and animal. This is why we sacrifice every firstborn male to Yhwh and buy every firstborn son back from Yhwh.’ 16So this ⌞festival⌟ will be ⌞like⌟ a mark on your hand and ⌞like⌟ a band on your forehead, because Yhwh used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt.”

Elohim Leads the People out of Egypt

17When Pharaoh let the people go, Elohim didn’t lead them on the road through Philistine territory, although that was the shortest route. Elohim said, “If they see that they have to fight a war, they may change their minds and go back to Egypt.” 18So Elohim led the people around the other way, on the road through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were ready for battle when they left Egypt.

19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear to do this. Joseph had said, “Elohim will definitely come to help you. When he does, take my bones with you.”

20They moved from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert. 21By day Yhwh went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night he went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night. 22The column of smoke was always in front of the people during the day. The column of fire was always there at night.

Exodus 14

Pharaoh Pursues Israel

1Then Yhwh said to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites to go back and set up their camp facing Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Set up your camp facing north—by the sea. 3Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are ⌞just⌟ wandering around. The desert is blocking their escape.’ 4I will make Pharaoh so stubborn that he will pursue them. Then, because of what I do to Pharaoh and his entire army, I will receive honor, and the Egyptians will know that I am Yhwh.” So that is what the Israelites did.

5When Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) was told that the people had fled, he and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, “What have we done? We’ve lost our slaves because we’ve let Israel go.” 6So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. 7He took 600 of his best chariots as well as all the other chariots in Egypt, placing an officer in each of them. 8Yhwh made Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) so stubborn that he pursued the Israelites, who were boldly leaving Egypt. 9The Egyptians pursued the Israelites. Pharaoh’s army, including all his horse-drawn chariots and cavalry, caught up with them as they were setting up their camp by the sea at Pi Hahiroth facing north.

10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw that the Egyptians were coming after them. Terrified, the Israelites cried out to Yhwh. 11They said to Moses, “Did you bring us out into the desert to die because there were no graves in Egypt? Look what you’ve done by bringing us out of Egypt! 12Didn’t we tell you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone! Let us go on serving the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Yhwh Divides the Red Sea

13Moses answered the people, “Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see what Yhwh will do to save you today. You will never see these Egyptians again. 14Yhwh is fighting for you! So be still!”

15Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to start moving. 16Raise your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide the water. Then the Israelites will go through the sea on dry ground. 17I am making the Egyptians so stubborn that they will follow the Israelites. I will receive honor because of what I will do to Pharaoh, his entire army, his chariots, and cavalry. 18The Egyptians will know that I am Yhwh when I am honored for what I did to Pharaoh, his chariots, and his cavalry.”

19The Messenger of Elohim, who had been in front of the Israelites, moved behind them. So the column of smoke moved from in front of the Israelites and stood behind them 20between the Egyptian camp and the Israelite camp. The ⌞column of⌟ smoke was there when darkness came, and it lit up the night. Neither side came near the other all night long.

21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. All that night Yhwh pushed back the sea with a strong east wind and turned the sea into dry ground. The water divided, 22and the Israelites went through the middle of the sea on dry ground. The water stood like a wall on their right and on their left.

23The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry followed them into the sea. 24Just before dawn, Yhwh looked down from the column of fire and smoke and threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. 25He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they could hardly move. Then the Egyptians shouted, “Let’s get out of here! Yhwh is fighting for Israel! He’s against us!”

26Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water will flow back over the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry.”

27Moses stretched his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the water returned to its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but Yhwh swept them into the sea. 28The water flowed back and covered Pharaoh’s entire army, as well as the chariots and the cavalry that had followed Israel into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29Meanwhile, the Israelites had gone through the sea on dry ground while the water stood like a wall on their right and on their left. 30That day Yhwh saved Israel from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore. 31When the Israelites saw the great power Yhwh had used against the Egyptians, they feared Yhwh and believed in him and in his servant Moses.

Exodus 15

The Song of Moses

1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to Yhwh:

 

“I will sing to Yhwh.
He has won a glorious victory.
He has thrown horses and their riders into the sea.
2 Yhwh is my strength and my song.
He is my Savior.
This is my Elohim, and I will praise him,
my father’s Elohim, and I will honor him.
3 Yhwh is a warrior!
Yhwh is his name.
4 He has thrown Pharaoh’s chariots and army into the sea.
Pharaoh’s best officers were drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep water covered them.
They sank to the bottom like a rock.
6 Your right hand, O Yhwh, wins glory because it is strong.
Your right hand, O Yhwh, smashes your enemies.
7 With your unlimited majesty, you destroyed those who attacked you.
You sent out your burning anger.
It burned them up like straw.
8 With a blast from your nostrils, the water piled up.
The waves stood up like a dam.
The deep water thickened in the middle of the sea.

 

9 “The enemy said, ‘I’ll pursue them!
I’ll catch up with them!
I’ll divide the loot!
I’ll take all I want!
I’ll use my sword!
I’ll take all they have!’
10 Your breath blew the sea over them.
They sank like lead in the raging water.

 

11 “Who is like you among the Elim, O Yhwh?
Who is like you?
You are glorious because of your holiness
and awe-inspiring because of your splendor.
You perform miracles.
12 You stretched out your right hand.
The earth swallowed them.

 

13 “Lovingly, you will lead the people you have saved.
Powerfully, you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
14 People will hear of it and tremble.
The people of Philistia will be in anguish.
15 The tribal leaders of Edom will be terrified.
The powerful men of Moab will tremble.
The people of Canaan will be deathly afraid.
16 Terror and dread will fall on them.
Because of the power of your arm, they will be petrified
until your people pass by, O Yhwh,
until the people you purchased pass by.
17 You will bring them and plant them on your own mountain,
the place where you live, O Yhwh,
the holy place that you built with your own hands, O Yhwh.
18 Yhwh will rule as king forever and ever.”

 

19When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry went into the sea, Yhwh made the water of the sea flow back over them. However, the Israelites had gone through the sea on dry ground.

The Song of Miriam

20Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women, dancing with tambourines, followed her. 21Miriam sang to them:

 

“Sing to Yhwh.
He has won a glorious victory.
He has thrown horses and their riders into the sea.”

Elohim Provides Water for the Israelites

22Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea into the desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink the water because it tasted bitter. That’s why the place was called Marah [Bitter Place]. 24The people complained about Moses by asking, “What are we supposed to drink?”

25Moses cried out to Yhwh, and Yhwh showed  (Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, Targum, Latin; Masoretic Text “taught.”) him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There Yhwh set down laws and rules for them to live by, and there he tested them. 26He said, “If you will listen carefully to Yhwh your Elohim and do what he considers right, if you pay attention to his commands and obey all his laws, I will never make you suffer any of the diseases I made the Egyptians suffer, because I am Yhwh, who heals you.”

27Next, they went to Elim, where there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees. They camped there by the water.

Exodus 16

Yhwh Provides Manna and Quails for the Israelites to Eat

1The whole community of Israelites moved from Elim and came to the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai. This was on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left Egypt. 2In the desert the whole community complained about Moses and Aaron. 3The Israelites said to them, “If only Yhwh had let us die in Egypt! There we sat by our pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted! You brought us out into this desert to let us all starve to death!”

4Yhwh said to Moses, “I’m going to send you food from heaven like rain. Each day the people should go out and gather only what they need for that day. In this way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. 5But on the sixth day when they prepare what they bring home, it should be twice as much as they gather on other days.”

6So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was Yhwh who brought you out of Egypt. 7In the morning you will see the glory of Yhwh, because he has heard you complaining about him. Why are you complaining about us?” 8Moses also said, “Yhwh will give you meat to eat in the evening and all the food you want in the morning. Yhwh has heard you complaining about him. Who are we? You’re not complaining about us but about Yhwh.”

9Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole community of Israelites, ‘Come into Yhwh’s presence. He has heard you complaining.’ ”

10While Aaron was speaking to the whole community of Israelites, they looked toward the desert. Suddenly, they saw the glory of Yhwh in the ⌞column of⌟ smoke.

11Yhwh said to Moses, 12“I’ve heard the Israelites complaining. Tell them, ‘At dusk you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat all the food you want. Then you will know that I am Yhwh your Elohim.’ ”

13That evening quails came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14When the dew was gone, the ground was covered with a thin layer of flakes like frost on the ground. 15When the Israelites saw it, they asked each other, “What is this?” because they didn’t know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It’s the food Yhwh has given you to eat. 16This is what Yhwh has commanded: Each of you should gather as much as you can eat. Take two quarts for each person in your tent.”

17So that is what the Israelites did. Some gathered more, some less. 18They measured it into two-quart containers. Those who had gathered more didn’t have too much. Those who had gathered less didn’t have too little. They gathered as much as they could eat.

19Then Moses said to them, “No one may keep any of it until morning.”

20But some of them didn’t listen to Moses. They kept part of it until morning, and it was full of worms and smelled bad. So Moses was angry with them.

21Each morning they gathered as much food as they could eat. When the sun was hot, it melted away. 22But on the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts per person. All the leaders of the community came to Moses and told him about it.

23He said to them, “This is what Yhwh said: Tomorrow is a day of rest—a holy day dedicated to Yhwh. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Save all that’s left over, and keep it until tomorrow morning.”

24So they saved it until the next morning as Moses had commanded, but it didn’t smell or have worms in it. 25“Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a day of rest—a holy day dedicated to Yhwh. You won’t find anything on the ground today. 26You can gather food on six days, but on the seventh day, the day of rest, you won’t find any.”

27On the seventh day some people went out to gather food, but they didn’t find any. 28Yhwh said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to do what I have commanded and instructed you to do? 29Remember: Yhwh has given you this day of rest as a holy day. That’s why he gives you enough food on the sixth day for two days. On the seventh day stay in your place—no one is to go out. Everyone, stay where you are.” 30So the people never worked on the seventh day of the week.

31The Israelites called the food manna. It was like coriander seeds. It was white and tasted like wafers made with honey.

32Moses said, “This is what Yhwh has commanded: Take two quarts of manna to be kept for your descendants. This way they will see the food that I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.”

33Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, put two quarts of manna in it, and put it in Yhwh’s presence to be kept for your descendants.” 34Aaron put the jar of manna in front of the words of Elohim’s promise to be kept there, as Yhwh commanded Moses.

35The Israelites ate manna for 40 years until they came to a place to settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of Canaan.

36(Now, the standard dry measure at that time held 20 quarts.)

Exodus 17

Yhwh Provides Water for the Israelites from a Rock

1The whole community of Israelites left the desert of Sin and traveled from place to place as Yhwh commanded them. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2So they complained to Moses by saying, “Give us water to drink!”

Moses said to them, “Why are you complaining to me? Why are you testing Yhwh?”

3But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses and asked, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to make us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?”

4So Moses cried out to Yhwh, “What should I do with these people? They’re almost ready to stone me!”

5Yhwh answered Moses, “Bring some of the leaders of Israel with you, and go to where the people can see you. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile River. 6I’ll be standing in front of you there by a rock at Mount Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.”

Moses did this while the leaders of Israel watched him.

7He named that place Massah [Testing] and Meribah [Complaining] because the Israelites complained and because they tested Yhwh, asking, “Is Yhwh with us or not?”

Elohim Defeats the Amalekites

8The Amalekites fought Israel at Rephidim. 9Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men. Then fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I will hold in my hand the staff Elohim told me to take along.”

10Joshua did as Moses told him and fought the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel would win, but as soon as he put his hands down, the Amalekites would start to win. 12Eventually, Moses’ hands felt heavy. So Aaron and Hur took a rock, put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron held up one hand, and Hur held up the other. His hands remained steady until sunset. 13So Joshua defeated the Amalekite army in battle.

14Yhwh said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”

15Moses built an altar and called it Yhwh Is My Banner. 16He said, “Because a hand was lifted against Yhwh’s throne, he will be at war against the Amalekites from one generation to the next.”

Exodus 18

Moses’ Father-in-law Visits Israel’s Camp

1Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything Elohim had done for Moses and his people Israel and how Yhwh had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2When Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had taken her in, 3along with her two sons. The one son was named Gershom [Foreigner], because Moses said, “I was a foreigner living in another country.” 4The name of the other was Eliezer [My Elohim Is a Helper], because he said, “My father’s Elohim was my helper. He saved me from Pharaoh’s death sentence.”

5Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought Moses’ sons and wife to Moses in the desert where he was camped near the mountain of Elohim. 6Jethro had sent word to Moses, “I’m coming to ⌞visit⌟ you, ⌞and I’m bringing⌟ your wife and her two sons.”

7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed with his face touching the ground and kissed Jethro. After they asked each other how they were, they went into the tent. 8Moses told his father-in-law everything Yhwh had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel, all the hardships they had had on the way, and how Yhwh had saved them.

9Jethro was delighted ⌞to hear⌟ about all the good things Yhwh had done for Israel in rescuing them from the Egyptians. 10He said, “Thank Yhwh! He rescued you from the Egyptians and their Pharaoh and rescued these people from the control of the Egyptians, 11who treated Israel with contempt. Now I know that Yhwh is greater than all other Elohim.”

12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to Elohim. Aaron and all the leaders of Israel came to eat the meal with Moses’ father-in-law in Elohim’s presence.

13The next day Moses was settling disagreements among the people. The people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “Why are you doing this for the people? Why do you sit here alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

15Moses answered his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to find out Elohim’s will. 16Whenever they have a disagreement and bring it to me, I decide which person is right, and I tell them Elohim’s laws and instructions.”

17Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you’re doing is not good. 18You and your people will wear yourselves out. This is too much work for you. You can’t do it alone! 19Now listen to me, and I’ll give you some advice. May Elohim be with you! You must be the people’s representative to Elohim and bring their disagreements to him. 20You must instruct them in the laws and the teachings, show them how to live, and tell them what to do.

21“But choose capable men from all the people, men who fear Elohim, men you can trust, men who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. 22Let them be the ones who usually settle disagreements among the people. They should bring all important cases to you, but they should settle all minor cases themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them help you. 23If Elohim commands you, and you do this, you will be able to continue your work, and all these people will have their disagreements settled so that they can go home.”

24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25Moses chose capable men from all the Israelites and put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. 26These men were the ones who usually settled disagreements among the people. They would bring difficult cases to Moses, but they settled all minor ones themselves.

27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way. So Jethro went back to his own country.

Exodus 19

Israel at Mount Sinai

1Two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they came to the desert of Sinai. 2Israel had moved from Rephidim and had come into the desert of Sinai. They had set up camp there in front of the mountain.

3Then Moses went up the mountain to Elohim, and Yhwh called to him from the mountain, “This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites, 4‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to my mountain. 5If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise, (Or “terms of my covenant.”) then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine. 6You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words you must speak to the Israelites.”

7So Moses went down and called for the leaders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that Yhwh had commanded him. 8All the people answered together, “We will do everything Yhwh has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to Yhwh.

9Yhwh said to Moses, “I am coming to you in a storm cloud so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always believe you.” Moses told Yhwh what the people had said.

10So Yhwh said to Moses, “Go to the people, and tell them they have two days to get ready. They must set themselves apart as holy. Have them wash their clothes 11and be ready by the day after tomorrow. On that day Yhwh will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12Mark off a boundary around the mountain for the people, and tell them not to go up the mountain or even touch it. Those who touch the mountain must be put to death. 13No one should touch them. They must be stoned or shot with arrows. No matter whether it’s an animal or a person, it must not live. The people may go up the mountain ⌞only⌟ when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast.”

14After Moses went down the mountain to the people, he had them get ready, and they washed their clothes. 15Then Moses said to the people, “Be ready two days from now. Don’t disqualify yourselves by having sexual intercourse.”

16On the morning of the second day, there was thunder and lightning with a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud blast from a ram’s horn ⌞was heard⌟. All the people in the camp shook with fear. 17Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with Elohim, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because Yhwh had come down on it in fire. Smoke rose from the mountain like the smoke from a kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19As the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking, and the voice of Elohim answered him.

20Yhwh came down on top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up. 21Yhwh said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to force their way through ⌞the boundary⌟ to see Yhwh, or many of them will die. 22Even the priests who are allowed to come near Yhwh must set themselves apart as holy, or Yhwh will violently kill them.”

23Moses said to Yhwh, “The people can’t come up Mount Sinai, because you warned us yourself to mark off a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy.”

24Yhwh said to him, “Go down, and bring Aaron back with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through the boundary to come up to Yhwh, or he will violently kill them.”

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

Exodus 20

The Ten Commandments

(Deuteronomy 5:6–21)

1Then Elohim spoke all these words:

2“I am Yhwh your Elohim, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

3“Never have any other Elohim. 4Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water. 5Never worship them or serve them, because I, Yhwh your Elohim, am a Elohim who does not tolerate rivals. I punish children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. 6But I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.

7“Never use the name of Yhwh your Elohim carelessly. Yhwh will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.

8“Remember the day of rest by observing it as a holy day. 9You have six days to do all your work. 10The seventh day is the day of rest—a holy day dedicated to Yhwh your Elohim. You, your sons, your daughters, your male and female slaves, your cattle, and the foreigners living in your city must never do any work ⌞on that day⌟. 11In six days Yhwh made heaven, earth, and the sea, along with everything in them. He didn’t work on the seventh day. That’s why Yhwh blessed the day he stopped his work and set this day apart as holy.

12“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live for a long time in the land Yhwh your Elohim is giving you.

13“Never murder.

14“Never commit adultery.

15“Never steal.

16“Never lie when you testify about your neighbor.

17“Never desire to take your neighbor’s household away from him.

“Never desire to take your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to him.”

The People’s Reaction

18All the people heard the thunder and saw the lightning. They heard the blast of the ram’s horn and saw the mountain covered with smoke. So they shook with fear and stood at a distance. 19Then they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we’ll listen. But don’t let Elohim speak to us, or we’ll die!”

20Moses answered the people, “Don’t be afraid! Elohim has come only to test you, so that you will be in awe of him and won’t sin.”

21The people kept their distance while Moses went closer to the dark cloud where Elohim was.

General Rules for Worship

22Yhwh said to Moses, “This is what you must say to the Israelites: You’ve seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23Never make any Elohim of silver or gold for yourselves. Never worship them.

24“You must build an altar for me made out of dirt. Sacrifice your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings, your sheep, goats, and cattle on it. Wherever I choose to have my name remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25If you build an altar for me made out of stones, never make it with cut stone blocks. If you use a chisel on it, you will make it unacceptable to me. 26Never use stairs to go up to my altar. Otherwise, people will be able to see under your clothes.”

Exodus 21

Laws Concerning the Treatment of Slaves

1⌞Yhwh continued,⌟ “Here are the legal decisions to be used by the Israelites:

2“Whenever you buy a Hebrew slave, he will be your slave for six years. In the seventh year he may leave as a free man, without paying for his freedom. 3If he comes to you by himself, he must leave by himself. If he comes as a married man, his wife may leave with him. 4If his master gives him a wife and she gives birth to sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to the master, and the slave must leave by himself. 5But if he makes this statement: ‘I hereby declare my love for my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to leave as a free man,’ 6then his master must bring him to Elohim. The master must bring him to the door or the doorframe and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his slave for life.

7“Whenever a man sells his daughter into slavery, she will not go free the way male slaves do. 8If she doesn’t please the master who has chosen her as a wife, (Or “master so that he does not choose her as a wife.”) he must let her be bought back by one of her close relatives. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has treated her unfairly. 9But if he has chosen her for his son, he must treat her like a daughter. 10If that son marries another woman, he must not deprive the first wife of food, clothes, or sex. 11If he doesn’t give her these three things, she can go free, without paying any money for her freedom.

Laws Concerning Injury to People

12“Whoever strikes someone and kills him must be put to death. 13If it wasn’t done intentionally, but Elohim let it happen, the killer should flee to a place I will set aside for you. 14But whenever someone becomes so angry that he plans to kill his neighbor, you must take him away from my altar and put him to death.

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

16“Whoever kidnaps another person must be put to death, whether he has sold the kidnapped person or still has him.

17“Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death.

18“This is what you must do whenever men quarrel and one hits the other with a rock or with his fist and injures him so that he has to stay in bed. 19If the injured man can get up again and walk around outside with a cane, the one who hit him must not be punished. He must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and for all his medical expenses.

20“Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave with a stick so that the slave dies from the beating, the owner must be punished. 21But if the slave gets up in a day or two, the owner must not be punished. The slave is his property.

22“This is what you must do whenever men fight and injure a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely. If there are no other injuries, the offender must pay whatever fine the court allows the woman’s husband to demand. 23If anyone is injured, the offender must pay a life for a life, 24an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, 25a burn for a burn, a bruise for a bruise, a wound for a wound.

26“Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave in the eye and the slave is blinded, he must let the slave go free to make up for the loss of the eye. 27If the owner knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to make up for the loss of the tooth.

28“Whenever a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must be stoned to death, and its meat may not be eaten. The bull’s owner is free from any liability. 29But if the bull has had the habit of goring, and the owner has been warned but has not kept it confined, and it kills a man or a woman, then the bull must be stoned and its owner must be put to death, too. 30However, if only a cash settlement is demanded from the owner, the bull’s owner may save his life by paying whatever price is demanded of him. 31If the bull gores someone’s son or daughter, this same ruling applies. 32If the bull gores a male or female slave, its owner must pay 12 ounces of silver to the slave’s master, and the bull must be stoned.

Laws Concerning Property

33“Whenever someone opens up a cistern or digs a new one and doesn’t cover it and a bull or a donkey falls into it, 34the owner of the cistern must make up for the loss. He must pay money to the animal’s owner, and then the dead animal will be his.

35“Whenever one person’s bull kills another person’s bull, they must sell the live bull and divide the money between them. They must divide the dead bull, too. 36However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, and its owner didn’t keep it confined, the owner must make up for the loss—bull for bull—and then the dead bull will be his.”

Exodus 22

1 (Exodus 22:1–31 in English Bibles is Exodus 21:37–22:30 in the Hebrew Bible.)⌞Yhwh continued,⌟ “Whenever someone steals a bull or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he must make up for the loss with five head of cattle to replace the bull or four sheep to replace the sheep.

2“If anyone catches a thief breaking in and hits him so that he dies, he is not guilty of murder. 3But if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of murder.

“A thief must make up for what he has stolen. If he is unable to do so, he must be sold ⌞as a slave⌟ to pay for what he stole. 4But if the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether it’s a bull, donkey, or a sheep, he must make up for the loss with double the amount.

5“Whenever someone lets his livestock graze in a field or a vineyard, and they stray and graze in another person’s field, he must make up for what the damaged field was expected to produce. But if he lets them ruin the whole field with their grazing, (“he must make … grazing” Greek, Samaritan Pentateuch, Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text omits these words.) he must make up from his own field for the loss with the best from his field and vineyard.

6“Whenever a fire starts and spreads into the underbrush so that it burns up stacked or standing grain or ruins a field, the person who started the fire must make up for the loss.

7“This is what you must do whenever someone gives his neighbor silver or ⌞other⌟ valuables to keep for him, and they are stolen from that person’s house: If the thief is caught, he must make up for the loss with double the amount. 8If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must be brought to Elohim to find out whether or not he took his neighbor’s valuables. 9If there is a dispute over the ownership of a bull, a donkey, a sheep, an article of clothing, or any ⌞other⌟ lost property which two people claim as their own, both people must bring their case to Elohim. The one whom Elohim declares guilty must make up for his neighbor’s loss with double the amount.

10“This is what you must do whenever someone gives his neighbor a donkey, a bull, a sheep, or any other kind of animal to keep for him, and it dies, is injured, or is captured in war, and there are no witnesses. 11The case between them must be settled by swearing an oath to Yhwh that the neighbor did not take the other person’s animal. The owner must accept the oath. The neighbor doesn’t have to make up for the loss. 12But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, he must make up for the owner’s loss. 13If it was killed by a wild animal, he must bring in the dead body as evidence. He doesn’t have to make up for an animal that has been killed.

14“Whenever someone borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, the borrower must make up for the loss. 15If the owner is with the animal, the borrower doesn’t have to make up for the loss. If it is rented, the rental fee covers the loss.

Laws for Living as Elohim’s Holy People

16“Whenever a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sexual intercourse with her, he must pay the bride-price and marry her. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must pay an amount of money equal to the bride-price for virgins.

18“Never let a witch live.

19“Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.

20“Whoever sacrifices to any Elohim except Yhwh must be condemned and destroyed.

21“Never mistreat or oppress foreigners, because you were foreigners living in Egypt.

22“Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. 23If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry. 24I will become angry and have you killed in combat. Then your wives and children will become widows and orphans.

25“If you lend money to my people—to any poor person among you—never act like a moneylender. Charge no interest. 26If you take any of your neighbor’s clothes as collateral, give it back to him by sunset. 27It may be the only clothes he has to cover his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will listen because I am compassionate.

28“Never show disrespect for Elohim or curse a leader of your people.

29“Never withhold your best wine from me.

“You must give me your firstborn son. 30You must do the same with your cattle and your sheep. They will stay with their mothers seven days, but on the eighth day you must give them to me.

31“You must be my holy people. Never eat the meat of an animal that has been killed by wild animals out in the countryside. Throw it to the dogs.”

Exodus 23

1⌞Yhwh continued,⌟ “Never spread false rumors. Don’t join forces with wicked people by giving false testimony. 2Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. When you testify in court, don’t side with the majority to pervert justice. 3Never give special favors to poor people in court.

4“Whenever you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering loose, be sure to take it back to him. 5Whenever you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, don’t leave it there. Be sure to help him with his animal.

6“Never deny justice to poor people in court. 7Avoid telling lies. Don’t kill innocent or honest people, because I will never declare guilty people innocent. 8Never take a bribe, because bribes blind those who can see and deny justice to those who are in the right.

9“Never oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be foreigners because you were foreigners living in Egypt.

10“For six years you may plant crops in your fields and harvest them, 11but in the seventh year you must leave the land unplowed and unused. In that way the poor among your people will have food to eat, and wild animals may eat what the poor people leave. You must do the same with your vineyards and olive groves.

12“For six days you will do your work, but on the seventh day you must not work. Then your ox and donkey can rest. The slaves born in your household and foreigners will also be refreshed.

13“Be careful ⌞to do⌟ everything I told you.

“Never mention the names of other Elohim or let them be heard on your lips.

Laws for Three Festivals

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

15“Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread: For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, because that was when you left Egypt. No one may come into my presence without an offering.

16“Celebrate the Festival of the Harvest with the first produce harvested from whatever you plant in your fields.

“Celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the year when you harvest your crops from the fields.

17“These are the three times each year that all your men must come into the presence of the Master, Yhwh.

18“Never offer the blood of a sacrifice to me at the same time you offer anything containing yeast. The fat sacrificed at my festivals should never be left over in the morning.

19“You must bring the best of the first produce harvested from your soil to the house of Yhwh your Elohim.

“Never cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Laws about Elohim’s Messenger, Who Will Bring Israel to the Promised Land

20“I’m going to send a Messenger in front of you to protect you on your trip and bring you to the place I have prepared. 21Pay attention to him, and listen to him. Don’t defy him, because he will not forgive your disobedience. He is acting on my authority. 22But if you will listen to him and do everything I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an opponent to your opponents.

23“My Messenger will go ahead of you and will bring you to ⌞the land of⌟ the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites. I will wipe them out. 24Never worship or serve their Elohim or follow their practices. Instead, you must destroy their Elohim and crush their sacred stones. 25You must serve Yhwh your Elohim, and he will bless your food and water. I will take away all sickness from among you. 26No woman in your land will miscarry or be unable to have children. I will let you live a normal life span.

27“I will send my terror ahead of you and throw any nation you meet into a panic. I will make all your enemies flee from you. 28I will spread panic ahead of you to force the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites out of your way. 29I will not force them out of your way in one year. Otherwise, the land would be deserted, and wild animals would take over. 30Little by little I will force them out of your way until you have increased enough in number to take possession of the land.

31“I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Sinai Desert to the Euphrates River. I will put the people living in the land under your control, and you will force them out of your way. 32Never make a treaty with them and their Elohim. 33Never let them live in your land, or they will make you sin against me and trap you into serving their Elohim.”

Exodus 24

The Promise Sealed with Blood

1Yhwh said to Moses, “You and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s leaders come up the mountain to me and worship at a distance. 2Moses may come near Yhwh, but the others may not. The people must not come along with Moses.”

3Moses went and told the people all Yhwh’s words and legal decisions. Then all the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything Yhwh has told us to do.” 4So Moses wrote down all Yhwh’s words.

Early the next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain and ⌞set up⌟ 12 sacred stones for the 12 tribes of Israel. 5Then he sent young Israelite men, and they sacrificed bulls as burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to Yhwh. 6Moses took half of the blood and put it into bowls, and he threw the other half against the altar. 7Then he took the Book of Yhwh’s Promise  (Or “Covenant.”) and read it while the people listened. They said, “We will obey and do everything Yhwh has said.”

8Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, “Here is the blood which seals the promise that Yhwh has made to you based on everything you have just heard.”

9Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s leaders. 10They saw the Elohim of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made out of sapphire as clear and blue as the sky itself. 11Elohim didn’t harm these leaders of the Israelites. So they saw Elohim, and then they ate and drank.

Moses Goes up the Mountain to Receive Elohim’s Words Written on Stone

12Yhwh said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teachings and the commandments I have written for the people’s instruction.”

13Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up on the mountain of Elohim. 14He said to the leaders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Take all your disagreements to them.”

15So Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered it. 16The glory of Yhwh settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day Yhwh called to Moses from inside the cloud. 17To the Israelites, the glory of Yhwh looked like a raging fire on top of the mountain. 18Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.

Exodus 25

Gifts for Use in the Tent of Meeting

(Exodus 35:4–9)

1Yhwh said to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites to choose something to give me as a special contribution. You must accept whatever contribution each person freely gives. 3This is the kind of contribution you will accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4violet, purple, and bright red yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, 5rams’ skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood, 6olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense, 7onyx stones, and other precious stones to be set in the ⌞chief priest’s⌟ ephod  (Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.) and his breastplate.

8“Then have them make a holy place for me, and I will live among them. 9Make the tent and all its furnishings exactly like the plans I am showing you.

The Ark

(Exodus 37:1–9)

10“Make an ark of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 11Cover it with pure gold inside and out, and put a gold molding around it. 12Cast four gold rings for it, and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 13Make poles of acacia wood, and cover them with gold. 14Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it. 15The poles must stay in the rings of the ark. Never remove them. 16Then you will put into the ark the words of my promise which I will give you.

17“Make a throne of mercy to cover the ark out of pure gold 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 18Make two angels  (Or “cherubim.”) out of hammered gold for the two ends of the throne of mercy, 19one on each end. Form the angels and the throne of mercy out of one piece of gold. 20The angels should have their wings spread above the throne of mercy, overshadowing it. They should face each other, looking at the throne of mercy. 21After you put into the ark the words of my promise which I will give you, place the throne of mercy on top. 22I will be above the throne of mercy between the angels whenever I meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

The Table

(Exodus 37:10–16)

23“Make a table of acacia wood 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 24Cover it with pure gold, and put a gold molding around it. 25Make a rim three inches wide around it, and put a gold molding around the rim. 26Make four gold rings for it, and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. 27The rings are to be close to the rim. They are to hold the poles for carrying the table. 28Make the poles out of acacia wood, cover them with gold, and use them to carry the table. 29Make plates and dishes for the table out of pure gold, as well as pitchers and bowls to be used for pouring wine offerings. 30Put the bread of the presence on this table so that it will be in front of me all the time.

The Lamp Stand

(Exodus 37:17–24)

31“Make a lamp stand out of pure gold. The lamp stand, its base, and its shaft, as well as the flower cups, buds, and petals must be hammered out of one piece of gold. 32Six branches are to come out of the sides, three branches on one side and three on the other. 33Each of the six branches coming out of the lamp stand is to have three flower cups shaped like almond blossoms, with buds and petals. 34The lamp stand itself is to have four flower cups shaped like almond blossoms, with buds and petals. 35There should be a bud under each of the three pairs of branches coming out of the lamp stand. 36The buds and branches should also be hammered out of the same piece of pure gold as the lamp stand.

37“Make seven lamps, and set them on the lamp stand so that they light up ⌞the area⌟ in front of it. 38The tongs and incense burners must be made of pure gold. 39Use 75 pounds of pure gold to make the lamp stand and all the utensils. 40Be sure to make them according to the plans you were shown on the mountain.”

Exodus 26

The Tent

(Exodus 36:8–38)

1⌞Yhwh continued,⌟ “Make the inner tent with ten sheets made from fine linen yarn. Take violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and creatively work an angel  (Or “a cherubim.”) design into the fabric. 2Each sheet will be 42 feet long and 6 feet wide—all the same size. 3Five of the sheets must be sewn together, and the other five must also be sewn together. 4Make 50 violet loops along the edge of the end sheet in each set, 5placing the loops opposite each other. 6Make 50 gold fasteners. Use them to link the ⌞two sets of⌟ sheets together so that the tent is a single unit.

7“Make 11 sheets of goats’ hair to form an outer tent over the inner tent. 8Each of the 11 sheets will be 45 feet long and 6 feet wide. 9Sew five of the sheets together into one set and the remaining six into another set. Fold the sixth sheet in half ⌞to hang⌟ in front of the tent. 10Make 50 loops along the edge of the end sheet in each set. 11Make 50 bronze fasteners, and put them through the loops to link the inner tent together as a single unit. 12The remaining half-sheet should hang over the back of the inner tent. 13There will be 18 inches left over on each side because of the length of the outer tent’s sheets. That part should hang over each side in order to cover the inner tent. 14Make a cover of rams’ skins that have been dyed red for the outer tent. Over that put a cover made of fine leather.

15“Make a framework out of acacia wood for the inner tent. 16Each frame is to be 15 feet long and 27 inches wide, 17with two identical pegs. Make all the frames for the inner tent the same way. 18Make 20 frames for the south side of the inner tent. 19Then make 40 silver sockets at the bottom of the 20 frames, two sockets at the bottom of each frame for the two pegs. 20For the north side of the inner tent ⌞make⌟ 20 frames 21and 40 silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame. 22Make six frames for the far end, the west side. 23Make two frames for ⌞each of⌟ the corners at the far end of the inner tent. 24These will be held together at the bottom and held tightly at the top by a single ring. (Or “These are to be separated at the bottom but held together at the top by a single ring.”) Both corner frames will be made this way. 25There will be eight frames with 16 silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame.

26“Make crossbars out of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the inner tent, 27five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the far end of the inner tent, the west side. 28The middle crossbar will run from one end to the other, halfway up the frames. 29Cover the frames with gold, make gold rings to hold the crossbars, and cover the crossbars with gold.

30“Set up the inner tent according to the plans you were shown on the mountain.

31“Make a canopy of violet, purple, and bright red yarn. Creatively work an angel design into fine linen yarn. 32Use gold hooks to hang it on four posts of acacia wood covered with gold, standing in four silver sockets. 33Hang the canopy from the fasteners in the ceiling, and put the ark containing the words of my promise under it. The canopy will mark off the most holy place from the holy place. 34Put the throne of mercy that is on the ark in the most holy place.

35“Place the table outside the canopy on the north side of the inner tent, and put the lamp stand opposite the table on the south side.

36“For the entrance of the outer tent, make a screen out of fine linen yarn, embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn. 37Make five posts of acacia wood for the screen and cover them with gold. Make gold hooks for this screen. Cast five bronze bases for the posts.”

Exodus 27

The Altar

(Exodus 38:1–7)

1⌞Yhwh continued,⌟ “Make an altar out of acacia wood. It should be 7½ feet square, and 4½ feet high. 2Make a horn at each of its four corners. The four horns and the altar must be made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟ covered with bronze.

3“Make all the utensils for it out of bronze: pots for taking away the altar’s ashes, also shovels, bowls, forks, and incense burners.

4“Make a grate for it out of bronze mesh, and make a bronze ring for ⌞each of⌟ the four corners of the grate. 5Put the grate under the ledge of the altar so that it comes halfway up the altar.

6“Make poles out of acacia wood for the altar, and cover them with bronze. 7The poles should be put through the rings on both sides of the altar to carry it.

8“Make the altar out of boards so that it’s hollow inside. It must be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

The Courtyard

(Exodus 38:9–20)

9“Make a courtyard for the tent. The south side of the courtyard should be 150 feet long and have curtains made out of fine linen yarn, 10⌞hung⌟ on 20 posts ⌞set in⌟ 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts should be made of silver. 11The north side should be the same: 150 feet long, with curtains on 20 posts set in 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts should be made of silver.

12“The courtyard on the west end should be 75 feet wide and have curtains ⌞hung⌟ on ten posts ⌞set in⌟ ten bases. 13On the east end, facing the rising sun, the courtyard should also be 75 feet wide.

14-15Each side ⌞of the entrance⌟ will be 22½ feet wide with curtains ⌞hung on⌟ three posts ⌞set in⌟ three bases.

16“The entrance to the courtyard must have a 30-foot screen made from fine linen yarn, embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn, ⌞hung⌟ on four posts ⌞set in⌟ four bases. 17All the posts around the courtyard should have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases. 18The courtyard should be 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 7½ feet high, with ⌞curtains⌟ made of fine linen yarn and with bronze bases.

19“All the things for the tent, no matter how they’re used, including all the pegs for the tent and the courtyard, must be made of bronze.

Lamps in the Tent

(Leviticus 24:1–4)

20“For the lighting, you must command the Israelites to bring you pure, virgin olive oil so that the lamps won’t go out. 21In the tent of meeting outside the canopy where the words of my promise are, Aaron and his descendants must keep the lamps lit in Yhwh’s presence from evening until morning. This is a permanent law among the Israelites for generations to come.”

Exodus 28

The Holy Clothes

(Exodus 39:1)

1⌞Yhwh continued,⌟ “Out of all the Israelites, bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar to you. They will serve me as priests. 2Make holy clothes for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.

3“Tell all those who have the skill—those to whom I have given this ability—to make Aaron’s clothes. These clothes will set him apart as holy when he serves me as priest. 4These are the clothes they will make: a breastplate, an ephod and the robe that is worn with it, another specially woven linen robe, the chief priest’s turban, and a cloth belt. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they can serve me as priests. 5They must use gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine linen.

The Ephod

(Exodus 39:2–7)

6“Make the ephod out of fine linen yarn. Creatively work gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn into the fabric. 7It will have two shoulder straps attached at the ⌞top⌟ corners so that it can be fastened. 8Make the belt that is attached to the ephod out of the same fabric. 9Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel 10in birth order—six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. 11Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the same way a jeweler engraves a signet ring. Mount them in gold settings, 12and fasten them on the shoulder straps of the ephod as reminders of who the Israelites are. In this way Aaron will carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder in Yhwh’s presence. 13Make gold settings 14and two chains of pure gold, twisted like ropes, and fasten these chains to the settings.

The Breastplate

(Exodus 39:8–21)

15“Make the breastplate for decision-making as creatively as you make the ephod. Make it out of gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn and out of fine linen yarn. 16Fold it in half so that it’s 9 inches square. 17Fasten four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row put red quartz, topaz, and emerald. 18In the second row put turquoise, sapphire, and crystal. 19In the third row put jacinth, agate, and amethyst. 20In the fourth row put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. Mount them in gold settings. 21The stones correspond to the 12 sons of Israel, by name, each stone engraved (like a signet ring) with the name of one of the 12 tribes.

22“For the breastplate make chains out of pure gold, twisted like ropes. 23Make two gold rings for the breastplate. Attach them to the two ⌞top⌟ corners of the breastplate. 24Then fasten the two gold ropes to the rings at the ⌞top⌟ corners of the breastplate. 25Fasten the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod ⌞so that the breastplate hangs⌟ in front of it. 26Make two gold rings, and fasten them to the other two corners of the breastplate on the inside edge next to the ephod. 27Make two ⌞more⌟ gold rings, and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This will be close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod. 28Then the breastplate should be fastened by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord. This will attach it just above the belt of the ephod and will hold the breastplate in place.

29“Whenever Aaron goes into the holy place, he will be carrying the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a constant reminder in Yhwh’s presence. He must do this by wearing the breastplate for decision-making. 30Put the Urim and Thummim  (The Urim and Thummim were used by the chief priest to determine Elohim’s answer to questions.) into the breastplate for decision-making. They, too, will be over Aaron’s heart when he comes into Yhwh’s presence. In this way whenever he’s in Yhwh’s presence, Aaron will always be carrying over his heart the ⌞means for determining Yhwh’s⌟ decisions for the Israelites.

Other Clothes for Aaron and His Sons

(Exodus 39:22–31)

31“Make the robe that is worn with the ephod entirely of violet material. 32Make an opening for the head in the center with a reinforced edge (like a leather collar) all around it to keep it from tearing. 33All around the hem of the robe make pomegranates of violet, purple, and bright red yarn with gold bells in between— 34a gold bell alternating with a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe. 35Aaron must wear it when he serves as priest. The sound of the bells must be heard when he comes into and goes out of Yhwh’s presence in the holy place so that he won’t die.

36“Make a flower-shaped medallion out of pure gold, and engrave on it (as on a signet ring): Holy to Yhwh. 37Fasten a violet cord to it, and tie it so that it’s on the front of the turban. 38It will be on Aaron’s forehead. He’s the one to be blamed for anything done wrong when the Israelites bring their holy offerings—whatever their gifts may be. The medallion must always be on Aaron’s forehead so that Yhwh will accept their offerings.

39“Make the specially woven inner robe of fine linen. Make the turban of fine linen, but the belt should be embroidered with colored yarn.

40“Also make linen robes, belts, and turbans for Aaron’s sons. These clothes will give them dignity and honor. 41Put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint them, ordain them, and set them apart to serve me as priests.

42“Make linen undergarments to cover them down to their thighs. 43Aaron and his sons must wear them when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to serve as priests in the holy place. Then they will be blameless and won’t die.

“This is a permanent law for him and his descendants.”

Exodus 29

Make Aaron and His Sons Priests

(Leviticus 8:1–36)

1⌞Yhwh continued,⌟ “Now, this is what you must do in order to set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests:

“Take a young bull that has no defects and two rams that have no defects. 2Use the finest wheat flour, but no yeast, and bake some loaves of bread, some rings of bread made with olive oil, and some wafers brushed with olive oil. 3Put the bread in a basket, and bring the basket along with the young bull and the two rams.

4“Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and wash them. 5Take the clothes, and put them on Aaron—the linen robe, the ephod and the robe that is worn with it, and the breastplate. Use the belt to tie it on him tightly. 6Put his turban on him, and fasten the holy crown to it. 7Take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.

8“Have his sons come forward. Dress them in their linen robes, 9and put turbans on them. Tie belts around the waists of Aaron and his sons. They alone are to be priests; this is a permanent law. In this way you will ordain Aaron and his sons.

10“Then bring the young bull to the front of the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head. 11Slaughter the bull in Yhwh’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 12Take some of the bull’s blood, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger. Pour the rest of it out at the bottom of the altar.

13“Then take all the fat that covers the internal organs, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. 14But burn the bull’s meat, skin, and excrement outside the camp. It is an offering for sin.

15“Take one of the rams. Then Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head. 16Slaughter it, take the blood, and throw it against the altar on all sides. 17Cut the ram into pieces, wash the internal organs and legs, and put them with the other pieces and the head. 18Then burn the whole ram on the altar. It’s a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Yhwh.

19“Take the other ram. Then Aaron and his sons will place their hands on its head. 20Slaughter it, take some of the blood, and put it on the right ear lobes of Aaron and his sons, on their right thumbs, and on the big toes of their right feet. Throw the ⌞rest of the⌟ blood against the altar on all sides. 21Take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his clothes and on his sons and their clothes. In this way Aaron, his sons, and their clothes will be holy.

22“From this ⌞same⌟ ram take the fat, the fat from the tail, the fat that covers the internal organs, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. (This is the ram for the ordination.) 23From the basket of unleavened bread which is in Yhwh’s presence, take a round loaf of bread, a ring of bread made with olive oil, and a wafer. 24Put all of these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, who will offer them to Yhwh. 25Then take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar on top of the burnt offering. It’s a soothing aroma in Yhwh’s presence, an offering by fire to Yhwh.

26“Take the breast from the ram used for Aaron’s ordination, and present it to Yhwh. This will be your share. 27Set apart as holy the breast that is offered to Yhwh and the thigh that is the contribution. Both will come from the ram used for the ordination. They both belong to Aaron and his sons. 28It is a permanent law that the Israelites give this portion to Aaron and his sons as a contribution. This will also be their contribution to Yhwh from the fellowship offerings.

29“Aaron’s holy clothes will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them. 30The son who succeeds him as priest—the one who goes into the tent of meeting to serve in the holy place—will wear them for seven days.

31“Take the ram used for the ordination, and boil its meat in a holy place. 32At the entrance to the tent of meeting, Aaron and his sons will eat the meat of the ram and the bread ⌞left⌟ in the basket. 33They will eat those offerings through which they made peace with Yhwh at their ordination and installation. No one else may eat them because the offerings are holy. 34If any meat or bread from the ordination is left over until morning, burn it up. It must not be eaten because it is holy.

35“Do this with Aaron and his sons exactly as I have commanded you. Take seven days to ordain them. 36Each day sacrifice a young bull as an offering to make peace with Yhwh. Sacrifice this offering for sin on the altar in order to pay for its sins. Then anoint it ⌞with olive oil⌟ in order to dedicate it. 37For seven days at the altar make peace with Yhwh and set the altar apart for its holy purpose. Then the altar will be most holy. Anything that touches the altar will become holy.

38“This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly every day: two one-year-old lambs. 39Offer one in the morning and the other at dusk. 40With the first lamb make an offering of eight cups of flour mixed with one quart of virgin olive oil. Make a wine offering of one quart of wine. 41Offer the other lamb at dusk, and with it make the same grain offering and wine offering as in the morning. This is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Yhwh.

42“For generations to come this will be the daily burnt offering ⌞made⌟ in Yhwh’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. There I will meet with you to speak to you. 43I will also meet with the Israelites there, and my glory will make this place holy. 44I will dedicate the tent of meeting and the altar for their holy purposes. I will set Aaron and his sons apart for their holy duties of serving me as priests.

45“Then I will live among the Israelites and be their Elohim. 46They will know that I am Yhwh their Elohim. I brought them out of Egypt so that I might live among them. I am Yhwh their Elohim.”

Exodus 30

The Altar for Incense

(Exodus 37:25–29)

1⌞Yhwh continued,⌟ “Build an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense. 2Make it 18 inches square and 36 inches high. The horns and altar must be made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟. 3Cover all of it with pure gold—the top, the sides, and the horns. Put a gold molding around it. 4Make two gold rings, and put them below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles for carrying it. 5Make the poles out of acacia wood, and cover them with gold. 6Put the altar in front of the canopy which ⌞hangs⌟ over the ark containing the words of my promise. I will meet with you there in front of the throne of mercy that is on the ark.

7“Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on this altar every morning when he takes care of the lamps. 8Also, when Aaron lights the lamps at dusk, he must burn incense. For generations to come an incense offering must burn constantly in Yhwh’s presence.

9“Never burn any unauthorized incense on this altar or any burnt offerings or grain offerings. Never pour a wine offering on it. 10Once a year Aaron must make peace with Yhwh by putting blood on its horns. Once a year—for generations to come—blood from the offering must be placed on the altar to make peace with Yhwh. It is most holy to Yhwh.”

Counting the Israelites

11Then Yhwh said to Moses, 12“When you take a census of the Israelites, each person must pay Yhwh a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will happen to them when they are counted. 13As each person is counted, he must give one-fifth of an ounce of silver using the standard weight of the holy place. (Hebrew adds, “There are 20 gerahs to the standard shekel.”) This one-fifth of an ounce of silver is a contribution to Yhwh. 14Everyone counted who is at least 20 years old must give this contribution to Yhwh. 15The rich must not give more than one-fifth of an ounce of silver, and the poor must not give less. This contribution is given to make peace with Yhwh and make your lives acceptable to Yhwh. 16Take the money the Israelites give to make peace with Yhwh, and use it to pay the expenses of the tent of meeting. It will be a reminder for the Israelites in Yhwh’s presence that the sins in their lives are removed.”

The Bronze Basin

(Exodus 38:8)

17Yhwh said to Moses, 18“Make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and fill it with water. 19Aaron and his sons will use it for washing their hands and feet. 20Before they go into the tent of meeting, they must wash so that they will not die. Before they come near the altar to serve as priests and burn an offering by fire to Yhwh, 21they will wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This will be a permanent law for him and his descendants for generations to come.”

The Oil for Anointing

22Yhwh said to Moses, 23“Take the finest spices: 12½ pounds of powdered  (Or “liquid.”) myrrh; half as much, that is, 6¼ pounds of fragrant cinnamon; 6¼ pounds of fragrant cane; 2412½ pounds of cassia—all weighed using the standard weight of the holy place—and 4 quarts of olive oil. 25Have a perfumer make these into a holy oil, a fragrant mixture, used only for anointing. This will be the holy oil used for anointing.

26“Use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark containing the words of my promise, 27the table and all the dishes, the lamp stand and all the utensils, the altar for incense, 28the altar for burnt offerings and all its accessories, and the basin with its stand. 29In this way you will dedicate them for their holy purpose. Then they will be most holy, and anything that touches them will become holy. 30Anoint Aaron and his sons as well. In this way you will set them apart for their holy duties of serving me as priests.

31“Say to the Israelites, ‘For generations to come, this will be my holy oil used only for anointing. 32It must never be poured on the bodies of other people. Never make any perfumed oil using this formula. It is holy, and you must treat it as holy. 33Whoever prepares a perfume like this or puts it on anyone who is not a priest must be excluded from the people.’ ”

The Incense for Use in the Tent

34Yhwh said to Moses, “Take one part fragrant spices (two kinds of gum resin and aromatic mollusk shells), and mix them with one part pure frankincense. 35Have a perfumer make it into fragrant incense, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36Grind some of it into a fine powder, and put it in front of ⌞the ark containing⌟ the words of my promise in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. You must treat it as most holy. 37Never make any incense for yourselves using this formula. Treat it as holy to Yhwh. 38Whoever prepares anything like it for his own enjoyment must be excluded from his people.”

Exodus 31

The Craftsmen for the Tent

(Exodus 35:30–35)

1Yhwh said to Moses, 2“I have chosen Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah. 3I have filled Bezalel with the Spirit of Elohim, making him highly skilled, resourceful, and knowledgeable in all trades. 4He’s a master artist familiar with gold, silver, and bronze. 5He knows how to cut and set stones and how to work with wood. He’s an expert in all trades. 6Also, I have appointed Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan, to help him. I have given every craftsman the skill necessary to make everything I have commanded you: 7the tent of meeting, the ark containing the words of my promise with the throne of mercy on it, and all the ⌞other⌟ furnishings for the tent, 8the table and the dishes, the pure ⌞gold⌟ lamp stand and all its utensils, the altar for incense, 9the altar for burnt offerings and all its accessories, the basin with its stand, 10the special clothes—the holy clothes for the priest Aaron and the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests, 11the anointing oil, and the sweet-smelling incense for the holy place. They will make all these things as I commanded you.”

The Sign between Yhwh and His People

12Yhwh said to Moses, 13“Say to the Israelites, ‘Be sure to observe my days of rest as holy days. This will be a sign between me and you for generations to come so that you will know that I am Yhwh who makes you holy.

14“ ‘Observe the day of rest because it is holy to you. Whoever treats it like any other day must be put to death. Whoever works on that day must be excluded from the people. 15You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a day of rest—a holy day, a day when you don’t work. It is holy to Yhwh. Whoever works on that day must be put to death. 16The Israelites must observe this day of rest as a holy day, celebrating it for generations to come as a permanent reminder of my promise. (Or “covenant.”) 17It will be a permanent sign between me and the Israelites, because Yhwh made heaven and earth in six days, and on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’ ”

18Yhwh finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave him the two tablets with his words on them, stone tablets inscribed by Elohim himself.

Exodus 32

The Gold Calf

1When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. They said to him, “We don’t know what has happened to this Moses, who led us out of Egypt. Make Elohim who will lead us.”

2Aaron said to them, “Have your wives, sons, and daughters take off the gold earrings they are wearing, and bring them to me.”

3So all the people took off their gold earrings and handed them to Aaron. 4After he had worked on the gold with a tool, he made it into a statue of a calf.

Then they said, “Israel, here are your Elohim who brought you out of Egypt.”

5When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival in Yhwh’s honor.”

6Early the next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought fellowship offerings. Afterward, they sat down to a feast, which turned into an orgy.

7Yhwh said to Moses, “Go back down there. Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have ruined ⌞everything⌟. 8They’ve already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They’ve made a statue of a calf for themselves. They’ve bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it. They’ve said, ‘Israel, here are your Elohim who brought you out of Egypt.’ ”

9Yhwh added, “I’ve seen these people, and they are impossible to deal with. 10Now leave me alone. I’m so angry with them I am going to destroy them. Then I’ll make you into a great nation.”

11But Moses pleaded with Yhwh his Elohim. “Yhwh,” he said, “why are you so angry with your people whom you brought out of Egypt using your great power and mighty hand? 12Don’t let the Egyptians say, ‘He was planning all along to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth. That’s why he brought them out ⌞of our land⌟.’ Don’t be so angry. Reconsider your decision to bring this disaster on your people. 13Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You took an oath, swearing on yourself. You told them, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. I will give to your descendants all the land I spoke of. It will be their permanent possession.’ ”

14So Yhwh reconsidered his threat to destroy his people.

15Moses turned and went down the mountain carrying the two tablets with Elohim’s words. They were written on both sides, front and back. 16The tablets were the work of Elohim, and the writing was Elohim’s writing inscribed on the tablets.

17Then Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting. He said to Moses, “It’s the sound of war in the camp!”

18Moses replied,

 

“It’s not the sound of winners shouting.
It’s not the sound of losers crying.
It’s the sound of a wild celebration that I hear.”

 

19When he came near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. In a burst of anger Moses threw down the tablets and smashed them at the foot of the mountain. 20Then he took the calf they had made, burned it, ground it into powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.

21Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you encouraged them to commit such a serious sin?”

22“Don’t be angry, sir,” Aaron answered. “You know that these people are evil. 23They said to me, ‘We don’t know what’s happened to this Moses who brought us out of Egypt. Make Elohim for us. They will lead us.’ 24So I told them to take off any gold they were wearing. They gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

25Aaron had let the people get out of control, and they became an object of ridicule to their enemies. When Moses saw this, 26he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “If you’re on Yhwh’s side, come over here to me!” Then all the Levites gathered around him.

27He said to them, “This is what Yhwh Elohim of Israel says: Each of you put on your sword. Go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other, and kill your relatives, friends, and neighbors.”

28The Levites did what Moses told them, and that day about 3,000 people died.

29Moses said, “Today you are ordained as Yhwh’s priests. Elohim gave you a blessing today because each of you fought with your own sons and brothers.” (Or “Elohim gave you a blessing today at the cost of your own sons and brothers.”)

Moses Begs Yhwh to Spare the People

30The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a serious sin. Now I will go up the mountain to Yhwh. Maybe I will be able to make a payment for your sin and make peace with Yhwh for your sin.”

31So Moses went back to Yhwh and said, “These people have committed such a serious sin! They made Elohim out of gold for themselves. 32But will you forgive their sin? If not, please wipe me out of the book you have written.”

33Yhwh answered Moses, “I will wipe out of my book whoever sins against me. 34Now, go! Lead the people to the place I told you about. My Messenger will go ahead of you. But when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

35So Yhwh killed people because they had Aaron make the calf.

Exodus 33

Yhwh Assures Moses That He Will Have Mercy on Israel

1Then Yhwh said to Moses, “You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2I will send a Messenger ahead of you, and I will force out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3Go to that land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not be with you, because you are impossible to deal with, and I would destroy you on the way.”

4When the people heard this bad news, they acted as if someone had died. No one wore any jewelry. 5Yhwh had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are impossible to deal with. If I were with you, I might destroy you at any time. Now take off your jewelry, and I’ll decide what to do with you.’ ” 6After they left Mount Horeb, the Israelites no longer wore their jewelry.

7Now, Moses used to take a tent and set it up far outside the camp. He called it the tent of meeting. Anyone who was seeking Yhwh’s will used to go outside the camp to the tent of meeting. 8Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand at the entrances to their tents and watch Moses until he went in. 9As soon as Moses went into the tent, the column of smoke would come down and stay at the entrance to the tent while Yhwh spoke with Moses. 10When all the people saw the column of smoke standing at the entrance to the tent, they would all bow with their faces touching the ground at the entrance to their own tents. 11Yhwh would speak to Moses personally, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would come back to the camp, but his assistant, Joshua, son of Nun, stayed inside the tent.

12Moses said to Yhwh, “You’ve been telling me to lead these people, but you haven’t let me know whom you’re sending with me. You’ve also said, ‘I know you by name, and I’m pleased with you.’ 13If you really are pleased with me, show me your ways so that I can know you and so that you will continue to be pleased with me. Remember: This nation is your people.”

14Yhwh answered, “My presence will go ⌞with you,⌟ and I will give you peace.”

15Then Moses said to him, “If your presence is not going ⌞with us⌟, don’t make us leave this place. 16How will anyone ever know you’re pleased with your people and me unless you go with us? Then we will be different from all other people on the face of the earth.”

17Yhwh answered Moses, “I will do what you have asked, because I am pleased with you, and I know you by name.”

18Then Moses said, “Please let me see your glory.”

19Yhwh said, “I will let all my goodness pass in front of you, and there I will call out my name ‘Yhwh.’ I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to. 20But you can’t see my face, because no one may see me and live.”

21Then Yhwh said, “Look, there’s a place near me. Stand by this rocky cliff. 22When my glory passes by, I will put you in a crevice in the cliff and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will take my hand away, and you’ll see my back, but my face must not be seen.”

Exodus 34

Yhwh Meets with Moses on the Mountain

1Yhwh said to Moses, “Cut two ⌞more⌟ stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed. 2Be ready in the morning. Then come up on Mount Sinai, and stand in my presence on the top of the mountain. 3No one may come with you or even be seen anywhere on the mountain. Even the flocks and herds may not graze in front of this mountain.”

4So Moses cut two ⌞more⌟ stone tablets like the first ones. Early the next morning he went up on Mount Sinai, as Yhwh had commanded him, carrying the two stone tablets.

5Yhwh came down in a cloud and stood there with him and called out his name “Yhwh.”

6Then he passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yhwh, Yhwh, a compassionate and merciful Elohim, patient, always faithful and ready to forgive. 7He continues to show his love to thousands of generations, forgiving wrongdoing, disobedience, and sin. He never lets the guilty go unpunished, punishing children and grandchildren for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation.”

8Immediately, Moses knelt, bowing with his face touching the ground. 9Then he said, “Yhwh, please go with us! Even though we are impossible to deal with, forgive our sin and the wrong we have done, and accept us as your own people.”

Yhwh Makes His Promise with Israel Again

10Yhwh said, “I’m making my promise  (Or “covenant.”) again. In front of all your people I will perform miracles that have never been done in any other nation in all the world. All the people around you will see how awesome these miracles are that I will perform for you. 11Do everything that I command today. Then I will force the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites out of your way. 12Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you’re going. This will prove to be a trap to you. 13But tear down their altars, crush their sacred stones, and cut down their poles dedicated to Asherah. 14(Never worship any other Elohim, because Yhwh is a Elohim who does not tolerate rivals. In fact, he is known for not tolerating rivals.) 15Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in that land. When they chase after their Elohim as though they were prostitutes and sacrifice to them, they may invite you to eat the meat from their sacrifices with them. 16Then your sons will end up marrying their daughters. When their daughters chase after their Elohim as though they were prostitutes, they’ll lead your sons to do the same thing.

17“Never make an idol.

18“You must celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you must eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, because in that month you came out of Egypt.

19“Every first male offspring is mine, even the firstborn males of all your livestock, whether cattle, sheep, or goats. 20It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy back the firstborn donkey. If you don’t buy it back, then you must break the donkey’s neck. You must buy back every firstborn of your sons.

“No one may come into my presence without an offering.

21“You may work six days, but on the seventh day you must not work. Even during the time of plowing or harvesting you must not work ⌞on this day⌟.

22“You must celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the first grain from your wheat harvest, and the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the season.

23“Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the Master, Yhwh Elohim of Israel. 24I will force nations out of your way and will expand ⌞your country’s⌟ borders. No one will want to take away your land while you’re gone three times a year to Yhwh’s festivals.

25“Never offer the blood of a sacrifice to me at the same time you offer anything containing yeast. No part of the sacrifice at the Passover Festival should be left over in the morning.

26“You must bring the first and best of the produce harvested from your soil to the house of Yhwh your Elohim.

“Never cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

27Then Yhwh said to Moses, “Write down these words, because on the basis of these words I’m making a promise to Israel and to you.”

28Moses was there with Yhwh 40 days and 40 nights without food or water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the promise, the ten commandments.

Moses Returns to the People

29Moses came down from Mount Sinai, carrying the two tablets with Elohim’s words on them. His face was shining from speaking with Yhwh, but he didn’t know it.

30When Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses and saw his face shining, they were afraid to come near him. 31Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him. Then Moses spoke to them. 32After that, all the other Israelites came near him, and he commanded them to do everything Yhwh told him on Mount Sinai. 33When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34But whenever Moses went into Yhwh’s presence to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out. Whenever he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35they would see that Moses’ face was shining. Then Moses would put the veil back on until he went in again to speak with Yhwh.

Exodus 35

Rules about the Day of Rest

1Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things Yhwh has commanded you to do: 2You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a holy day of rest, a day when you don’t work. It is dedicated to Yhwh. Whoever does any work on this day should be put to death. 3Never light a fire in any of your homes on this day of rest.”

The People Contribute Their Wealth

(Exodus 25:1–7)

4Then Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what Yhwh has commanded: 5Choose something of your own to give as a special contribution to Yhwh. Let everyone who is willing bring this kind of contribution to Yhwh: gold, silver, and bronze, 6violet, purple, and bright red yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, 7rams’ skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood, 8olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense, 9onyx stones, and other precious stones to be set in the ⌞chief priest’s⌟ ephod  (Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothes. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.) and breastplate.

The Craftsmen for the Tent

(Exodus 31:2–6)

10“Have all the skilled craftsmen among you come and make everything Yhwh has commanded: 11the inner tent, the outer tent, and cover, along with the fasteners, frames, crossbars, posts, and sockets, 12the ark with its poles, the throne of mercy and the canopy over it, 13the table with its poles, all the dishes, the bread of the presence, 14the lamp stand used for the light with its utensils, its lamps and the olive oil for the lamps, 15the altar for incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet-smelling incense, the screen for the entrance to the tent, 16the altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its accessories, the basin with its stand, 17the curtains for the courtyard, the posts, bases, and the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, 18the pegs for the tent and the courtyard with their ropes, 19the special clothes worn for official duties in the holy place—both the holy clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests.”

20Then the whole Israelite community left Moses. 21Those who were willing and whose hearts moved them came and brought their contributions to Yhwh. The gifts were used to construct the tent of meeting, to pay other expenses, and to make the holy clothes. 22All who were willing—men and women alike—came and brought all kinds of gold jewelry: pins, earrings, signet rings, and pendants. They took these gifts of gold and offered them to Yhwh. 23Those who had violet, purple, or bright red yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, or fine leather brought them. 24Those who could give silver or bronze brought it as their contribution to Yhwh. Those who had acacia wood that could be used in the construction brought it. 25All the women who were skilled in spinning yarn brought violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine linen, which they had made by hand. 26All the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goats’ hair. 27The leaders brought onyx stones and other precious stones to be set in the ⌞chief priest’s⌟ ephod and breastplate. 28They also brought the spices and the olive oil for the lamps, the anointing oil, and the sweet-smelling incense. 29Every Israelite man and woman who was willing brought all these items to Yhwh as a freewill offering. They brought these items to be used to make everything Yhwh had commanded through Moses.

30Then Moses said to the Israelites, “Yhwh has chosen Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah. 31Yhwh has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of Elohim, making him highly skilled, resourceful, and knowledgeable in all trades. 32He’s a master artist familiar with gold, silver, and bronze. 33He knows how to cut and set stones and how to work with wood. He’s an expert in all trades. 34Also, Yhwh has given Bezalel and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan the ability to teach others. 35Yhwh has made these men highly skilled in all trades. They can do the work of jewelers, carpenters, and designers. They know how to embroider violet, purple and bright red yarn on fine linen. They know how to weave yarn on a loom. They can do all kinds of trades. They are master artists.”

Exodus 36

1⌞Moses continued,⌟ “So Bezalel and Oholiab will do the work as Yhwh has commanded. They will do this with the help of every other craftsman to whom Yhwh has given the necessary skills and talents. They will know how to do all the work for constructing the holy place.”

2Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every other craftsman to whom Yhwh had given these skills and who was willing to come and do the work.

Excess Contributions

3Moses turned over to them all the contributions the Israelites had brought for the work of constructing the holy place. But the people still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning. 4Finally, all the skilled craftsmen who were working on the holy place stopped what they were doing. They all came to Moses. 5They said, “The people are bringing much more than we need for doing the work Yhwh commanded us to do.”

6So Moses gave instructions to have the following message announced all over camp: “No man or woman needs to make anything more to give as their special contribution to the holy place.” Then the people stopped bringing gifts. 7The material they had was more than enough to do the job.

The Tent

(Exodus 26:1–37)

8All the skilled craftsmen among the workers made the inner tent with ten sheets made from fine linen yarn and violet, purple, and bright red yarn. An angel  (Or “A cherubim.”) design was creatively worked into the fabric. 9Each sheet was 42 feet long and 6 feet wide—all the same size. 10Five of the sheets were sewn together, and the other five were also sewn together. 11Then they made 50 violet loops along the edge of the end sheet in each set, 12placing the loops opposite each other. 13They also made 50 gold fasteners. They used them to link the ⌞two sets of⌟ sheets together so that the inner tent was a single unit.

14They made 11 sheets of goats’ hair to form an outer tent over the inner tent. 15Each of the 11 sheets was 45 feet long and 6 feet wide. 16Five of the sheets were sewn together into one set, and the remaining six into another set. 17Then they made 50 loops along the edge of the end sheet in each set. 18They also made 50 bronze fasteners to link the inner tent together as a single unit. 19They made a cover out of rams’ skins that had been dyed red for the outer tent, and over that they put a cover made of fine leather.

20They made a framework out of acacia wood for the inner tent. 21Each frame was 15 feet long and 27 inches wide, 22with two identical pegs. They made all the frames for the inner tent this same way. 23They made 20 frames for the south side of the inner tent. 24Then they made 40 silver sockets at the bottom of the 20 frames, two sockets at the bottom of each frame for the two pegs. 25For the north side of the inner tent ⌞they made⌟ 20 frames 26and 40 silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame. 27They made six frames for the far end, the west side. 28They made two frames for ⌞each of⌟ the corners at the far end of the inner tent. 29They were held together at the bottom and held tightly at the top by a single ring. (Or “These were separated at the bottom but held together at the top by a single ring.”) Both corner frames were made this way. 30There were eight frames with 16 silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame.

31They also made crossbars out of acacia wood. Five were for the frames on one side of the inner tent, 32five were for those on the other side, and five were for the frames on the far side of the inner tent, the west side. 33They made the middle crossbar so that it ran from one end to the other, halfway up the frames. 34They covered the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also covered the crossbars with gold.

35They made the canopy out of violet, purple, and bright red yarn and fine linen yarn. An angel design was creatively worked into the fabric. 36They made four posts of acacia wood for it and covered them with gold. They made gold hooks for the posts, and they cast four silver bases for them.

37They made a screen out of fine linen yarn for the entrance to the outer tent. It was embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn. 38They also made five posts with hooks for ⌞hanging⌟ the screen. They covered the tops of the posts and the bands with gold, but the five bases for the posts were made of bronze.

Exodus 37

The Ark

(Exodus 25:10–20)

1Bezalel made the ark out of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 2He covered it with pure gold inside and out and put a gold molding around it. 3He cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on each side. 4Then he made poles out of acacia wood and covered them with gold. 5He put them through the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.

6He made the throne of mercy out of pure gold 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 7Then he made two angels  (Or “cherubim.”) out of hammered gold for the two ends of the throne of mercy, 8one on each end. He formed the angels and the throne of mercy out of one piece ⌞of gold⌟. 9The angels had their wings spread above the throne of mercy, overshadowing it. They faced each other, looking at the throne of mercy.

The Table

(Exodus 25:23–30)

10He made the table out of acacia wood 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 11He covered it with pure gold and put a gold molding around it. 12He made a rim 3 inches wide around it and put a gold molding around the rim. 13He cast four gold rings for it and fastened the rings to the four corners, where the four legs were. 14The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles for carrying the table. 15These poles were made out of acacia wood and were covered with gold. 16For the table he made plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers to be used for pouring wine offerings. All of them were made out of pure gold.

The Lamp Stand

(Exodus 25:31–39)

17He made the lamp stand out of pure gold. The lamp stand, its base, and its shaft, as well as the flower cups, buds, and petals were hammered out of one piece ⌞of gold⌟. 18Six branches came out of its sides, three branches on one side and three on the other. 19Each of the six branches coming out of the lamp stand had three flower cups shaped like almond blossoms, with buds and petals. 20The lamp stand itself had four flower cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals. 21There was a bud under each of the three pairs of branches coming out of the lamp stand. 22The buds and branches were hammered out of the same piece of pure gold as the lamp stand.

23He made the seven lamps, the tongs, and the incense burners out of pure gold. 24The lamp stand and all the utensils were made out of 75 pounds of pure gold.

The Altar for Incense

(Exodus 30:1–5)

25He made an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense. It was 18 inches square and 36 inches high. The horns and altar were made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟. 26He covered all of it with pure gold—the top, the sides, and the horns—and he put a gold molding around it. 27He made two gold rings and put them below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles for carrying it. 28He made the poles out of acacia wood and covered them with gold.

29He also had a perfumer make the holy oil to be used for anointing and for the pure, sweet-smelling incense.

Exodus 38

The Altar for Burnt Offerings

(Exodus 27:1–8)

1He made the altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood 7½ feet square and 4½ feet high. 2He made a horn at each of its four corners. He made the four horns and the altar out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟ covered with bronze.

3He made all the utensils out of bronze: pots, shovels, bowls, forks, and incense burners.

4He made a grate for the altar out of bronze mesh, ⌞and put it⌟ under the ledge, halfway up the altar. 5He cast four rings to hold the poles (one for each of the four corners of the bronze grate). 6He made the poles out of acacia wood and covered them with bronze. 7He put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it. He made the altar out of boards so that it was hollow inside.

The Bronze Basin

(Exodus 30:17–21)

8He made the basin and stand out of the bronze mirrors given by the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

The Courtyard

(Exodus 27:9–19)

9He also made the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was 150 feet long and had curtains made out of fine linen yarn, 10⌞hung⌟ on 20 posts ⌞set in⌟ 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. 11The north side was also 150 feet long with 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver.

12The west side was 75 feet long and had curtains ⌞hung⌟ on 10 posts ⌞set in⌟ 10 bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. 13The east side, facing the rising sun, was 75 feet ⌞wide⌟.

14-15Each side of the entrance to the courtyard was 22½ feet wide with curtains ⌞hung⌟ on three posts ⌞set in⌟ three bases. 16All the curtains around the courtyard were made out of fine linen yarn. 17The bases for the posts were made of bronze. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. The tops of the posts were covered with silver. And the bands on all the posts of the courtyard were made of silver.

18The screen for the entrance to the courtyard was made of violet, purple, and bright red yarn embroidered on ⌞fabric made from⌟ fine linen yarn. It was 30 feet long and 7½ feet high, just like the curtains of the courtyard. 19It was hung on four posts ⌞set in⌟ four bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. The tops of the posts were covered with silver.

20All the pegs for the tent and the surrounding courtyard were made of bronze.

The Amount of Gold, Silver, and Bronze Used

21This is the amount of material that was used for the tent (the tent of the words of Elohim’s promise). An inventory was ordered by Moses and carried out by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron.

22Now Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah, made everything Yhwh had commanded Moses. 23He was a jeweler, carpenter, designer, and he knew how to embroider violet, purple, and bright red yarn on fine linen. His assistant was Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan.

24The total amount of gold from the offerings presented to Yhwh used in building the holy place weighed over 2,193 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place.

25The silver collected when the census of the community was taken weighed 7,544 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. 26This came to one-fifth of an ounce per person, for everyone counted who was at least 20 years old: 603,550 people. 27He used 7,500 pounds of silver to cast the 100 bases for the holy place and the canopy. This was 75 pounds per base. 28He used 44 pounds of silver to make the hooks and bands for the posts and the coverings for the tops of the posts.

29The bronze from the offerings presented to Yhwh weighed 5,310 pounds. 30With this he made the bases for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the bronze altar with its bronze grate and all its accessories, 31the bases all around the courtyard, the bases for the entrance to the courtyard, all the pegs for the tent, and all the pegs for the surrounding courtyard.

Exodus 39

The Holy Clothes

(Exodus 28:1–5)

1From the violet, purple, and bright red yarn they made special clothes worn for official duties in the holy place. They also made the holy clothes for Aaron. They followed Yhwh’s instructions to Moses.

The Ephod

(Exodus 28:6–14)

2They made the ephod out of fine linen yarn and gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn. 3They hammered the gold into thin sheets and cut them up. They twisted the gold into threads, which they creatively worked into each strand of the violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and throughout the fine linen. 4They made two shoulder straps attached at the ⌞top⌟ corners so that the ephod could be fastened. 5They made the belt that is attached to the ephod out of the same fabric. They followed Yhwh’s instructions to Moses. 6They mounted the onyx stones in gold settings, and engraved on them the names of the sons of Israel. 7Then they fastened them on the shoulder straps of the ephod as a reminder of who the Israelites are. They followed Yhwh’s instructions to Moses.

The Breastplate

(Exodus 28:15–28)

8They made the breastplate as creatively as they made the ephod. It was made out of gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and of fine linen yarn. 9It was folded in half and was 9 inches square. 10They fastened four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row they put red quartz, topaz, and emerald. 11In the second row they put turquoise, sapphire, and crystal. 12In the third row they put jacinth, agate, and amethyst. 13In the fourth row they put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. The stones were mounted in gold settings. 14They corresponded to the 12 sons of Israel, by name, each stone engraved (like a signet ring) with the name of one of the 12 tribes.

15For the breastplate they made chains out of pure gold, twisted like ropes. 16They made two gold settings and two gold rings and attached the two rings to the ⌞top⌟ two corners of the breastplate. 17They fastened the two gold ropes to the rings at the ⌞top⌟ corners of the breastplate. 18They fastened the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod ⌞so that the breastplate hung⌟ in front of it. 19They made two gold rings and fastened them to the other two corners of the breastplate on the inside edge next to the ephod. 20They made two ⌞more⌟ gold rings and fastened them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This was close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod. 21Then they fastened the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord. So the breastplate was attached just above the belt of the ephod and was held in place. They followed Yhwh’s instructions to Moses.

Other Clothes for Aaron and His Sons

(Exodus 28:31–43)

22They made the robe that is worn with the ephod, woven entirely of violet yarn. 23The opening in the center of the robe had a finished edge (like a leather collar) all around it to keep it from tearing. 24On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine yarn. 25They made bells out of pure gold and fastened them in between the pomegranates all around the hem of the robe. 26A gold bell alternated with a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe that is worn by Aaron when he serves as priest. They followed Yhwh’s instructions to Moses.

27They wove inner robes out of fine linen for Aaron and his sons. 28They also made the chief priest’s turban and the other beautiful turbans out of fine linen. They made the undergarments and belt out of fine linen yarn. 29The belt was embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn. They followed Yhwh’s instructions to Moses.

30They made the flower-shaped medallion (the holy crown) out of pure gold and engraved on it (as on a signet ring): Holy to Yhwh. 31They fastened a violet cord to it and tied it on top of the turban. They followed Yhwh’s instructions to Moses.

The Tent Is Brought to Moses

32So all the work on the inner tent (the tent of meeting) was now done. The Israelites followed all Yhwh’s instructions to Moses. 33Then they brought everything to Moses—the inner tent, the outer tent and all its furnishings, the fasteners, frames, crossbars, posts, sockets, 34the cover made of rams’ skins dyed red, the cover made of fine leather, the canopy over ⌞the ark⌟, 35the ark containing the words of Elohim’s promise with its poles and the throne of mercy, 36the table with all the dishes, the bread of the presence, 37the pure ⌞gold⌟ lamp stand with its lamps in a row and all its utensils, the olive oil for the lamps, 38the gold altar, the anointing oil, the sweet-smelling incense, the screen for the entrance to the tent, 39the bronze altar with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its accessories, the basin with its stand, 40the curtains for the courtyard, the posts, bases, and screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and pegs—all the equipment needed for the service of the inner tent (the tent of meeting)— 41the special clothes worn when serving as priests in the holy place—both the holy clothes for the priest Aaron and the clothes for his sons when serving as priests. 42The Israelites had done all the work following Yhwh’s instructions to Moses.

43Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had followed Yhwh’s instructions. So Moses blessed them.

Exodus 40

Instructions for Setting Up the Tent

1Then Yhwh said to Moses, 2“Set up the tent (the tent of meeting) on the first day of the first month of the year. 3Place the ark containing the words of my promise inside it, and hang the canopy over the ark. 4Bring in the table, and arrange everything on it. Bring in the lamp stand, and set up the lamps. 5Put the gold altar for incense in front of the ark. Put up the screen at the entrance to the tent.

6“Put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the tent of meeting. 7Put the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 8Set up the surrounding courtyard, and put up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard. 9Take the anointing oil, and anoint the tent and everything in it. In this way you will dedicate it and all its furnishings. Then it will be holy. 10Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all the utensils. In this way you will dedicate the altar, and it will be most holy. 11Anoint the basin and stand, and they will be dedicated.

12“Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and wash them. 13Then dress Aaron in the holy clothes, and anoint him. In this way you will dedicate him to serve me as priest. 14Have his sons come forward, and dress them in their linen robes. 15Anoint them to serve me as priests, as you anointed their father. Their anointing will begin a permanent priesthood for them for generations to come.”

Moses Sets Up the Tent

16Moses did everything as Yhwh commanded him. 17So the tent was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year ⌞after the Israelites had left Egypt⌟. 18When Moses set up the tent, he put the sockets in place, put up the frames, inserted the crossbars, and set up the posts. 19He spread the outer tent over the inner tent and put the cover on top. Moses followed Yhwh’s instructions.

20He took the words of Elohim’s promise and put them in the ark. He put the poles on the ark and placed the throne of mercy on top of the ark. 21Then he brought the ark into the tent and hung the canopy over it to mark off where the ark was. Moses followed Yhwh’s instructions.

22Moses put the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tent outside the canopy. 23He arranged the bread on the table in Yhwh’s presence, following Yhwh’s instructions. 24He placed the lamp stand in the tent of meeting opposite the table, on the south side of the tent. 25He set up the lamps in Yhwh’s presence, following Yhwh’s instructions.

26Moses put the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the canopy. 27He burned sweet-smelling incense on it, following Yhwh’s instructions. 28Then he put up the screen at the entrance to the tent.

29He put the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance to the tent (the tent of meeting). He sacrificed burnt offerings and grain offerings on it. Moses followed Yhwh’s instructions.

30He put the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing. 31Moses, Aaron, and his sons used this water to wash their hands and feet. 32They would wash whenever they went into the tent of meeting or whenever they approached the altar. Moses followed Yhwh’s instructions.

33He set up the courtyard around the tent and the altar and put up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard. Finally, Moses finished the work.

Yhwh Comes to the Tent

34Then the ⌞column of⌟ smoke covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yhwh filled the tent. 35Moses couldn’t go into the tent of meeting, because the smoke settled on it and the glory of Yhwh filled the tent.

36In all their travels, whenever the ⌞column of⌟ smoke moved from the tent, the Israelites would break camp. 37But if the column didn’t move, they wouldn’t break camp. 38So Yhwh’s column stayed over the tent during the day, and there was fire in the smoke at night. In this way all the Israelites could see the column throughout their travels.

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