¹²“Honor your father and your mother,^† so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

¹³“You shall not murder.^†

¹⁴“You shall not commit adultery.^†

¹⁵“You shall not steal.^†

¹⁶“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.^†

¹⁷“You shall not covet^† your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

¹⁸When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet^† and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance¹⁹and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”^†

²⁰Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear^† of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”^†

²¹The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness^† where God was.

Idols and Altars

²²Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:^{† 23}Do not make any gods to be alongside me;^† do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.^†

²⁴“ ‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings,^[45] your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name^† to be honored, I will come to you and bless^† you. ²⁵If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool^† on it. ²⁶And do not go up to my altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’

Exodus 21

¹“These are the laws^† you are to set before them:

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Slavery and Labor Law in the Ancient Near East

Exodus 21 The practice of slavery extends back into the fourth millennium B.C. and is attested widely throughout virtually all documented time periods of the ancient Near East. The institution likely originated when ancient peoples took prisoners of war and was later extended in other ways, such as enslavement for debt or for having committed a crime. Slaves, like livestock, were viewed as a form of property and were used as collateral and in dowries, as well as passed on to heirs.

Laws regulating slavery have been preserved from many ancient cultures (including those of Sumer, Nuzi, Babylonia, Assyria and Israel). The Babylonian Code of Hammurabi (eighteenth century B.C.) reveals much about such laws. According to this code slaves received some rights but clearly held a diminished status compared to the rest of society. This code limited debt slavery to three years and permitted slavery to be imposed upon negligent landowners and even spendthrift wives! Free citizens and slaves could intermarry, according to Old Babylonian law. Evidence dating to the first millennium B.C. also reveals that some slaves actually owned houses and land.

When we compare slavery laws in the broader ancient Near East to those of the Bible, both similarities and differences surface. The Old Testament regulated slavery, but the institution itself was never questioned (the same applies to the NT). Even so, limitations placed on slavery often were rooted in the Israelites’ personal experience as slaves in Egypt (Dt 15:15):

Branding iron for runaway slaves

© The Schøyen Collection; photography courtesy of Mr. Martin Schøyen

• Unlike foreign slaves in Israel, who could be retained indefinitely (see Lev 25:44–46), a Hebrew slave (male or female) was to be released during his or her seventh year of servitude.¹

• The slaveholder was obligated to supply a departing Hebrew slave with ample provisions for a successful reentrance into society (Dt 15:12–15).

• Exodus 21:5–6 records a rule (paralleled in Dt 15:16–17) concerning slaves who opted to remain with their masters for life. Such a slave was to have an ear pierced, a marking that demonstrated his or her voluntary lifelong servitude. Such markings on the ear, along with the practice of branding the skin, were also seen in Assyria.

• Exodus 21:7–11 addresses the issue of a father selling his daughter into debt-slavery (presumably to become the wife of the buyer or of the buyer’s son), a practice that also occurred in Assyria during the first millennium B.C. The buyer was not free to sell the girl outside of Israel should he choose not to keep her; he was obligated either to adequately provide for her needs or permit her to go free. Thus the Old Testament law protected not only the virtue of the young woman but also her socioeconomic situation.

• Old Testament rules governing a female captive of war (Dt 21:10–14) seem harsh to a modern reader but were actually quite humane according to ancient standards, by which such women would in most other contexts have become the slave-concubines of enemy soldiers. The Hebrew rules required a captive woman to shave off her hair and trim her nails but also permitted her a month to mourn her situation (during this time the soldier who had captured her was not allowed sexual relations with her). This provision protected the captured woman from rape and gave the Israelite soldier a month-long “cooling-off” period, during which he could decide whether or not he truly wanted her as his wife. If he opted not to marry her she was allowed to go free.

Samaritan document, c. 350 B.C., for the sale of a Hebrew slave

Preserving Bible Times; © Dr. James C. Martin; permission of The Israel Museum

Such laws demonstrate the Bible’s alignment with the broader Near-Eastern cultural idea of slavery while, in most cases, uniquely circumscribing the limits of the practice in order to ensure more humane treatment of slaves in Israel.²

1. See “The Sabbath, Sabbath Year and the Jubilee.”

2. For information on slavery during the New Testament period, see “Slavery in the Greco-Roman World.”

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Hebrew Servants

²“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free,^† without paying anything. ³If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. ⁴If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

⁵“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’^{† 6}then his master must take him before the judges.^{[46] †} He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.^†

⁷“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do. ⁸If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,^[47] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. ⁹If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. ¹⁰If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.^{† 11}If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

Personal Injuries

¹²“Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death.^{† 13}However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place^† I will designate. ¹⁴But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately,^† take him away from my altar and put him to death.^†

¹⁵“Anyone who attacks^[48] his father or his mother must be put to death.

¹⁶“Anyone who kidnaps another and either sells^† him or still has him when he is caught must be put to death.^†

¹⁷“Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.^†

¹⁸“If men quarrel and one hits the other with a stone or with his fist^[49] and he does not die but is confined to bed, ¹⁹the one who struck the blow will not be held responsible if the other gets up and walks around outside with his staff; however, he must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and see that he is completely healed.

²⁰“If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, ²¹but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.^†

²²“If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely^[50] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands^† and the court allows. ²³But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,^{† 24}eye for eye, tooth for tooth,^† hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

²⁶“If a man hits a manservant or maidservant in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye. ²⁷And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth.

²⁸“If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must be stoned to death,^† and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. ²⁹If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death. ³⁰However, if payment is demanded of him, he may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded.^{† 31}This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. ³²If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels^{[51] †} of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull must be stoned.

³³“If a man uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, ³⁴the owner of the pit must pay for the loss; he must pay its owner, and the dead animal will be his.

³⁵“If a man’s bull injures the bull of another and it dies, they are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. ³⁶However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and the dead animal will be his.

Exodus 22

Protection of Property

¹“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back^† five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

²“If a thief is caught breaking in^† and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;^{† 3}but if it happens^[52] after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed.

“A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold^† to pay for his theft.

⁴“If the stolen animal is found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.^†

⁵“If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in another man’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.

⁶“If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

⁷“If a man gives his neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if he is caught, must pay back double.^{† 8}But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges^{[53] †} to determine whether he has laid his hands on the other man’s property. ⁹In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.^† The one whom the judges declare^[54] guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.

¹⁰“If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to his neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, ¹¹the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath^† before the LORD that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. ¹²But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner. ¹³If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, he shall bring in the remains as evidence and he will not be required to pay for the torn animal.^†

¹⁴“If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, he must make restitution. ¹⁵But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.

Social Responsibility

¹⁶“If a man seduces a virgin^† who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. ¹⁷If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

¹⁸“Do not allow a sorceress^† to live.

¹⁹“Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal^† must be put to death.

²⁰“Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.^{[55] †}

²¹“Do not mistreat an alien^† or oppress him, for you were aliens^† in Egypt.

²²“Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.^{† 23}If you do and they cry out^† to me, I will certainly hear their cry.^{† 24}My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.^†

²⁵“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.^{[56] † 26}If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,^† return it to him by sunset, ²⁷because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.^†

²⁸“Do not blaspheme God^{[57] †} or curse the ruler of your people.^†

²⁹“Do not hold back offerings^† from your granaries or your vats.^[58]

“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.^{† 30}Do the same with your cattle and your sheep.^† Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.^†

³¹“You are to be my holy people.^† So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts;^† throw it to the dogs.

Exodus 23

Laws of Justice and Mercy

¹“Do not spread false reports.^† Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.^†

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The Zukru Festival

Exodus 23 Exodus 23:14–19 describes Israel’s three primary annual festivals.¹ Advocates of the Documentary Hypothesis² have argued that Late Bronze Age Israelites would not have been sophisticated enough to have organized such elaborate celebrations as those described in the Pentateuch. Instead, these scholars suggest that the descriptions of these festivals come from a priestly source developed during the postexilic period (sometime after 536 B.C.). However, archaeologists are now in possession of a complex literary work from the Syrian city of Emar that contradicts this theory.

A large tablet from Emar, predating the Pentateuch’s descriptions of the festivals, intricately describes that city’s zukru festival. This elaborate commemorative celebration, which was to be conducted every seven years, required a full year of preparation! This tablet gives detailed instructions concerning the specified offerings to the city’s 70 deities: which animals were to be offered to which gods, how many animals were to be sacrificed, who was to donate each animal, the precise date of each offering and the manner in which it was to be presented. Instructions for the procession of the deities’ statues are included, with particular focus on Dagan (the chief god of Emar).

Thus we know that ancient people already adhered to complicated, written instructions for cultic rituals during the Late Bronze Age.³ The Biblical descriptions and instructions concerning Israel’s festivals fit well into this scenario.

1. See “The Festivals of Israel.”

2. See “The Documentary Hypothesis.”

3. See “Archaeological Periods Chart” in the front of this Bible.

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²“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice^† by siding with the crowd, ³and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

⁴“If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him.^{† 5}If you see the donkey^† of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.

⁶“Do not deny justice^† to your poor people in their lawsuits. ⁷Have nothing to do with a false charge^† and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.

⁸“Do not accept a bribe,^† for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

⁹“Do not oppress an alien;^† you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.

Sabbath Laws

¹⁰“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, ¹¹but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

¹²“Six days do your work,^† but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.

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

The Three Annual Festivals

¹⁴“Three times^† a year you are to celebrate a festival to me.

¹⁵“Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread;^† for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt.

“No one is to appear before me empty-handed.^†

¹⁶“Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits^† of the crops you sow in your field.

“Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.^†

¹⁷“Three times^† a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD.

¹⁸“Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast.^†

“The fat of my festival offerings must not be kept until morning.^†

¹⁹“Bring the best of the firstfruits^† of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

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

God’s Angel to Prepare the Way

²⁰“See, I am sending an angel^† ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.^{† 21}Pay attention to him and listen^† to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion,^† since my Name is in him. ²²If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy^† to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. ²³My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites,^† and I will wipe them out. ²⁴Do not bow down before their gods or worship^† them or follow their practices.^† You must demolish^† them and break their sacred stones to pieces. ²⁵Worship the LORD your God,^† and his blessing^† will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness^† from among you, ²⁶and none will miscarry or be barren^† in your land. I will give you a full life span.^†

²⁷“I will send my terror^† ahead of you and throw into confusion^† every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. ²⁸I will send the hornet^† ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. ²⁹But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals^† too numerous for you. ³⁰Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

³¹“I will establish your borders from the Red Sea^[59] to the Sea of the Philistines,^[60] and from the desert to the River.^{[61] †} I will hand over to you the people who live in the land and you will drive them out^† before you. ³²Do not make a covenant^† with them or with their gods. ³³Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare^† to you.”

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Ancient Voices

After eating and drinking they rub all the stones with oil and blood.

In front of the Battle Gate they perform a sacrificial homage for all the gods with a ewe, two pair of thick loaves made of [barley]^* mash bread, and one jar from the king.

That one ewe is to be burnt for all the gods.

The breads, the beverages, and the meat go back up into the town.

* Word in brackets added by translator for clarity

—The Zukru Festival

See “The Zukru Festival” article.

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Exodus 24

The Covenant Confirmed

¹Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu,^† and seventy of the elders^† of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, ²but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”

³When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.”^{† 4}Moses then wrote^† down everything the LORD had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars^† representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings^[62] to the LORD. ⁶Moses took half of the blood^† and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. ⁷Then he took the Book of the Covenant^† and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”

⁸Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant^† that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

⁹Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders^† of Israel went up ¹⁰and saw^† the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire,^{[63] †} clear as the sky^† itself. ¹¹But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw^† God, and they ate and drank.

¹²The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone,^† with the law and commands I have written for their instruction.”

¹³Then Moses set out with Joshua^† his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain^† of God. ¹⁴He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”

¹⁵When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud^† covered it, ¹⁶and the glory^† of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.^{† 17}To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire^† on top of the mountain. ¹⁸Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty^† days and forty nights.^†

Exodus 25

Offerings for the Tabernacle

¹The LORD said to Moses, ²“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts^† him to give. ³These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; ⁴blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ⁵ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows^[64]; acacia wood; ⁶olive oil^† for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; ⁷and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod^† and breastpiece.^†

⁸“Then have them make a sanctuary^† for me, and I will dwell^† among them. ⁹Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern^† I will show you.

The Ark

¹⁰“Have them make a chest^† of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.^{[65] 11}Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. ¹²Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. ¹³Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ¹⁴Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it. ¹⁵The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.^{† 16}Then put in the ark the Testimony,^† which I will give you.

¹⁷“Make an atonement cover^{[66] †} of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.^{[67] 18}And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ¹⁹Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. ²⁰The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing^† the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. ²¹Place the cover on top of the ark^† and put in the ark the Testimony,^† which I will give you. ²²There, above the cover between the two cherubim^† that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet^† with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

The Table

²³“Make a table^† of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.^{[68] 24}Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. ²⁵Also make around it a rim a handbreadth^[69] wide and put a gold molding on the rim. ²⁶Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. ²⁷The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. ²⁸Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them. ²⁹And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings.^{† 30}Put the bread of the Presence^† on this table to be before me at all times.

The Lampstand

³¹“Make a lampstand^† of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. ³²Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. ³³Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. ³⁴And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. ³⁵One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. ³⁶The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

³⁷“Then make its seven lamps^† and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. ³⁸Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. ³⁹A talent^[70] of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. ⁴⁰See that you make them according to the pattern^† shown you on the mountain.

Exodus 26

The Tabernacle

¹“Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. ²All the curtains are to be the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.^{[71] 3}Join five of the curtains together, and do the same with the other five. ⁴Make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and do the same with the end curtain in the other set. ⁵Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. ⁶Then make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the tabernacle is a unit.

⁷“Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. ⁸All eleven curtains are to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.^{[72] 9}Join five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. ¹⁰Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. ¹¹Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to fasten the tent together as a unit. ¹²As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle. ¹³The tent curtains will be a cubit^[73] longer on both sides; what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it. ¹⁴Make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of hides of sea cows.^{[74] †}

¹⁵“Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. ¹⁶Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,^{[75] 17}with two projections set parallel to each other. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. ¹⁸Make twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle ¹⁹and make forty silver bases to go under them—two bases for each frame, one under each projection. ²⁰For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, make twenty frames ²¹and forty silver bases—two under each frame. ²²Make six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, ²³and make two frames for the corners at the far end. ²⁴At these two corners they must be double from the bottom all the way to the top, and fitted into a single ring; both shall be like that. ²⁵So there will be eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

²⁶“Also make crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, ²⁷five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. ²⁸The center crossbar is to extend from end to end at the middle of the frames. ²⁹Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.

³⁰“Set up the tabernacle according to the plan^† shown you on the mountain.

³¹“Make a curtain^† of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim^† worked into it by a skilled craftsman. ³²Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. ³³Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain.^† The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.^{† 34}Put the atonement cover^† on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. ³⁵Place the table^† outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lampstand^† opposite it on the south side.

³⁶“For the entrance to the tent make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer. ³⁷Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them.

Exodus 27

The Altar of Burnt Offering

¹“Build an altar^† of acacia wood, three cubits^[76] high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.^{[77] 2}Make a horn^† at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. ³Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. ⁴Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. ⁵Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. ⁶Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. ⁷The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. ⁸Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown^† on the mountain.

The Courtyard

⁹“Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits^[78] long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, ¹⁰with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. ¹¹The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

¹²“The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits^[79] wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. ¹³On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide. ¹⁴Curtains fifteen cubits^[80] long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, ¹⁵and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

¹⁶“For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits^[81] long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer—with four posts and four bases. ¹⁷All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases. ¹⁸The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide,^[82] with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits^[83] high, and with bronze bases. ¹⁹All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

Oil for the Lampstand

²⁰“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. ²¹In the Tent of Meeting,^† outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony,^† Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps^† burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance^† among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 28

The Priestly Garments

¹“Have Aaron^† your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests.^{† 2}Make sacred garments^† for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. ³Tell all the skilled men^† to whom I have given wisdom^† in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. ⁴These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece,^† an ephod, a robe,^† a woven tunic,^† a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. ⁵Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

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The Urim and Thummim

Exodus 28 God used various methods to guide the ancient Israelites, including the Urim and the Thummim. The high priest carried these objects in his “breastpiece of decision” and used them in seeking God’s will (Ex 28:29–30). Reliance on this unique means of revelation (Nu 27:21; Dt 33:8) seems to have ceased after David’s reign, although an attempt to revive the practice occurred during the postexilic period, in the fifth century B.C. (see Ezr 2:63; Ne 7:65).

The Urim and Thummim may have been small metal objects or stones or sticks in-scribed with symbols, possibly the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet based on the fact that the first letter of Urim (aleph) and the first letter of Thummim (tau) are the first and final letters of this alphabet, respectively.

Most likely, as Biblical passages imply, the Urim and Thummim were cast as lots in order to obtain yes or no answers from God. Casting of lots is widely attested in the Bible¹ (cf. Lev 16:8; Nu 33:54; Pr 16:33; Ac 1:26). But two passages suggest that asking God a series of questions and using a process of elimination to determine his answers yielded more subtle revelation, such as a person’s hiding place or a complex battle strategy (see 1Sa 10:20–22; 2Sa 5:22–24). Some Biblical historians believe that the high priest would disclose an oracle and that the Urim and Thummim would be used to confirm its truth.

1. See “Casting Lots.”

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The Ephod

⁶“Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of a skilled craftsman. ⁷It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. ⁸Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.

⁹“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel ¹⁰in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. ¹¹Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings ¹²and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD. ¹³Make gold filigree settings ¹⁴and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

The Breastpiece

¹⁵“Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. ¹⁶It is to be square—a span^[84] long and a span wide—and folded double. ¹⁷Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; ¹⁸in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire^[85] and an emerald; ¹⁹in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; ²⁰in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper.^[86] Mount them in gold filigree settings. ²¹There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

²²“For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. ²³Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. ²⁴Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, ²⁵and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. ²⁶Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. ²⁷Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. ²⁸The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.

²⁹“Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place,^† he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD. ³⁰Also put the Urim and the Thummim^† in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.

Other Priestly Garments

³¹“Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, ³²with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar^[87] around this opening, so that it will not tear. ³³Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. ³⁴The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. ³⁵Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

³⁶“Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.^{† 37}Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. ³⁸It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt^† involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.

³⁹“Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer. ⁴⁰Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron’s sons,^† to give them dignity and honor. ⁴¹After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint^† and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.^†

⁴²“Make linen undergarments^† as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. ⁴³Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting^† or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.^†

“This is to be a lasting ordinance^† for Aaron and his descendants.

Exodus 29

Consecration of the Priests

¹“This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect. ²And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.^{† 3}Put them in a basket and present them in it—along with the bull and the two rams. ⁴Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water.^{† 5}Take the garments^† and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband.^{† 6}Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem^† to the turban. ⁷Take the anointing oil^† and anoint him by pouring it on his head. ⁸Bring his sons and dress them in tunics ⁹and put headbands on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons.^{[88] †} The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.^† In this way you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.

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Ancient Voices

The clan head slaughters one sheep at his house. Once he cooks it, they set five tables with three standard loaves each at the gate of the storm god’s temple, in the room of the high priestess.

One table is for the previous high priestess.

One table is for the high priestess of Sumi.

One table is for the war-priestess.

One table is for the king of the land of Emar.

One table is [for the king of Satappi].^*

* Words in brackets added by translator where text has gaps

—Rituals from Emar

See “The Installation of Priests at Emar and in Israel” article.

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The Installation of Priests at Emar and in Israel

Exodus 29 Cuneiform tablets dating to the fourteenth through thirteenth centuries B.C. detail the rituals for installing the storm god’s high priestess in Emar, a Bronze Age¹ city in Syria.² When a former high priestess died, the daughter of a local family was chosen by lot to replace her. This young woman was anointed with sacred oil and, on the next day, followed festive singers and sacrificial animals to the storm god’s temple. At the entrance to the temple courtyard her head was shaved and all of the city’s numerous gods reconsecrated.

Following her actual installation on the third day, the newly initiated high priestess participated in a ritual procession to sacred sites throughout Emar, receiving in the pro-cess gold jewelry, a sacred headdress, aromatics and an abundance of food items. Storm god-related sacrifices and feasts continued for a total of seven days, culminating in the presentation of the high priestess as a bride to the storm god.

In a similar way, new priests of Israel were anointed with oil and received sacred garments to wear. Accompanied by multiple sacrifices,³ the consecration ceremony for each new Israelite priest and of the altar also took place during a seven-day period.

Significant differences nevertheless existed between the two cultures’ priestly installation rituals. Whereas the storm god’s newly installed high priestess was shaved at the temple entrance, the novice Biblical priests were ceremonially washed at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.⁴ And, unlike the Emar rituals, the Biblical instructions expressly forbade any recognition of other deities.

A Hittite storm god

Preserving Bible Times; © Dr. James C. Martin

The most notable difference between the two traditions, however, was the hereditary nature of the Biblical priesthood. Rather than selecting successive priests by lot,⁵ the God of Israel personally designated that Aaron and his male descendants were to represent him perpetually as his priests.⁶ Although ancient Israel in many ways shared with surrounding nations a common cultural milieu, its unique priestly rituals and laws marked the Israelites as a distinctive, special people—the chosen, covenantal people of the Creator God!

1. See “Archaeological Periods Chart” in the front of this Bible.

2. See “The Zukru Festival.”

3. See “Sacrifices and Offerings in the Bible and the Ancient Near East.”

4. See “Ritual Purity in Israel and the Ancient Near East.”

5. See “Casting Lots.”

6. See “The Levites and the Priests.”

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¹⁰“Bring the bull to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. ¹¹Slaughter it in the LORD’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, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar. ¹³Then take all the fat^† around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. ¹⁴But burn the bull’s flesh and its hide and its offal outside the camp.^† It is a sin offering.

¹⁵“Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. ¹⁶Slaughter it and take the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides. ¹⁷Cut the ram into pieces and wash the inner parts and the legs, putting them with the head and the other pieces. ¹⁸Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma,^† an offering made to the LORD by fire.

¹⁹“Take the other ram,^† and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. ²⁰Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then sprinkle blood against the altar on all sides. ²¹And take some of the blood^† on the altar and some of the anointing oil^† and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated.^†

²²“Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. (This is the ram for the ordination.) ²³From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the LORD, take a loaf, and a cake made with oil, and a wafer. ²⁴Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering.^{† 25}Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, an offering made to the LORD by fire. ²⁶After you take the breast of the ram for Aaron’s ordination, wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your share.^†

²⁷“Consecrate those parts of the ordination ram that belong to Aaron and his sons:^† the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. ²⁸This is always to be the regular share from the Israelites for Aaron and his sons. It is the contribution the Israelites are to make to the LORD from their fellowship offerings.^{[89] †}

²⁹“Aaron’s sacred garments will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them.^{† 30}The son^† who succeeds him as priest and comes to the Tent of Meeting to minister in the Holy Place is to wear them seven days.

³¹“Take the ram for the ordination and cook the meat in a sacred place. ³²At the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread^† that is in the basket. ³³They are to eat these offerings by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no one else may eat^† them, because they are sacred. ³⁴And if any of the meat of the ordination ram or any bread is left over till morning,^† burn it up. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred.

³⁵“Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. ³⁶Sacrifice a bull each day^† as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate^† it. ³⁷For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.^†

³⁸“This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day:^† two lambs a year old. ³⁹Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.^{† 40}With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah^[90] of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin^[91] of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. ⁴¹Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

⁴²“For the generations to come^† this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you;^{† 43}there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.^†

⁴⁴“So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.^{† 45}Then I will dwell^† among the Israelites and be their God.^{† 46}They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.^†

Exodus 30

The Altar of Incense

¹“Make an altar^† of acacia wood for burning incense.^{† 2}It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high^[92]—its horns^† of one piece with it. ³Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. ⁴Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. ⁵Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ⁶Put the altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the atonement cover^† that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you.

⁷“Aaron must burn fragrant incense^† on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. ⁸He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. ⁹Do not offer on this altar any other incense^† or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. ¹⁰Once a year Aaron shall make atonement^† on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD.”

Atonement Money

¹¹Then the LORD said to Moses, ¹²“When you take a census^† of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom^† for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague^† will come on them when you number them. ¹³Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel,^[93] according to the sanctuary shekel,^† which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. ¹⁴All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the LORD. ¹⁵The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less^† when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives. ¹⁶Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting.^† It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives.”

Basin for Washing

¹⁷Then the LORD said to Moses, ¹⁸“Make a bronze basin,^† with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. ¹⁹Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet^† with water^† from it. ²⁰Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the LORD by fire, ²¹they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance^† for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”

Anointing Oil

²²Then the LORD said to Moses, ²³“Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels^[94] of liquid myrrh,^† half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, ²⁴500 shekels of cassia^†—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin^[95] of olive oil. ²⁵Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.^† It will be the sacred anointing oil.^{† 26}Then use it to anoint^† the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, ²⁷the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, ²⁸the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. ²⁹You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.^†

³⁰“Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate^† them so they may serve me as priests. ³¹Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. ³²Do not pour it on men’s bodies and do not make any oil with the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred.^{† 33}Whoever makes perfume like it and whoever puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off^† from his people.’ ”

Incense

³⁴Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, ³⁵and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer.^† It is to be salted and pure and sacred. ³⁶Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy^† to you. ³⁷Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy^† to the LORD. ³⁸Whoever makes any like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off^† from his people.”

Exodus 31

Bezalel and Oholiab

¹Then the LORD said to Moses, ²“See, I have chosen Bezalel^† son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts^†— ⁴to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ⁵to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. ⁶Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: ⁷the Tent of Meeting,^† the ark of the Testimony^† with the atonement cover^† on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— ⁸the table^† and its articles, the pure gold lampstand^† and all its accessories, the altar of incense, ⁹the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— ¹⁰and also the woven garments^†, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, ¹¹and the anointing oil^† and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”

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Ancient Craftsmanship

Exodus 31 Since prehistoric times artistic people have used both natural resources and materials acquired by trade to create beautiful artifacts and then passed along their techniques to others. As ancient technology advanced, the materials used included the following:

• Clay. Sun-dried or kiln-fired clay was the most common material used both in large-scale building projects and in crafting vessels for daily, household use. Mass production of mud brick (e.g., Ge 11:3; Ex 1:11–14) enabled ancient craftsmen to create monumental feats of architecture.

As early as Neolithic times (c. 8000 B.C.) potters crafted fired-clay pottery. The invention of the potter’s wheel in approximately 4000 B.C. rendered pottery-making so widespread that archaeologists are able to infer dates of archaeological strata based solely upon the designs and material characteristics of pottery sherds.¹

• Stone. Stonemasons and sculptors used quarried stones in monumental construction projects, as well as in statuary. They utilized iron picks for rough shaping, then hammers and chisels for the finer work of reliefs and inscriptions. Jerusalem’s temple and royal palace were constructed of large limestone blocks “cut to size and trimmed with a saw” (1Ki 7:9). The prized “Siloam inscription” celebrates the astonishing achievement of stonecutters who carved a tunnel through rock to divert the spring waters of the Gihon into Jerusalem (cf. 2Ch 32:30).²

Dyeing agents

Preserving Bible Times; © Dr. James C. Martin

Artisans also worked with precious and semiprecious stones to create cylinder seals (stone cylinders engraved in intaglio—engraved or incised figures in stone depressed below the surface so the impression yields an image in relief—and used in ancient Mesopotamia to roll impressions on wet clay), amulets (charms or ornaments, often inscribed with magic incantations or symbols to protect against evil), pendants and inlays. Ornamental stones were typically finished in a rounded form, with smooth and polished sides and engravings (Ex 28:11, 21).

• Wood. Used structurally for building flat roofs, doors and columns (1Ki 7:1–8), wood was also used decoratively in such building projects as the Jerusalem temple, the interior of which was paneled in carved wood and overlaid with sheet gold (1Ki 6:15–20). Wooden furniture for sacred or royal use also was frequently overlaid with gold or inlaid with ivory (Ex 25:10–11; 1Ki 10:18; Am 6:4). Carpenters used such tools as chisels (Isa 44:13), hammers (Isa 44:12; Jer 10:4), workman’s hammers (or mallets; Jdg 5:26), axes (Isa 10:34) and measuring lines (2Sa 8:2).

• Metal. Ancient peoples principally used copper, silver, lead and gold prior to the introduction of iron. Naturally occurring copper, used since 3200 B.C., was later alloyed with other metals like tin and arsenic to achieve differing levels of hardness and flexibility. The Israelites learned ironworking from the Philistines (1Sa 13:20).³ Iron was the material of choice for tools and weapons (e.g., 1Sa 17:7; 2Ki 6:5–6), bronze for large sculptures and pillars (1Ki 7:15–16) and gold for overlays and jewelry (e.g., Ge 24:22; Ex 25:17–18; 28:11–13; Jdg 8:24).

The two most common techniques in metalworking were casting and hammering. Casting was preferred for the process of crafting multiple similar objects like tools. Molten metal was poured into a mold, which took the shape of the cavity as it solidified. Hammering was used for shaping earrings, appliqués, sheet overlays—and idols (Isa 44:12).

• Textiles. Women spun wool and linen cloth by hand or spindle (Ex 35:25; Pr 31:19). Tombs discovered at Beni Hasan contain pictures both of horizontal ground looms and of vertical looms. Evidence of warp-weighted looms (looms that use weights to hold the warp tight for weaving) has been established at such sites as Beth Shan, Gezer⁴ and Ekron,⁴ where loom weights (weights that hold the warp threads in tension during weaving) have also been recovered.

Plants were the source of most dyes (e.g., indigo for blue and henna for red), but the most famous and expensive dye, Phoenician purple, was made of pigment from the murex snail. Fabrics like those worn by the high priests were richly embroidered (Ex 28) and sometimes finished with fringed hems (Nu 15:38; Mt 23:5). Metal needles stored in ivory boxes found at Hazor⁵ and Megiddo⁵ attest to the arts of sewing and needlework.

1. See “The Potsherd: Pottery in the Bible” and “Pottery-Making in Bible Times.”

2. See “Hezekiah’s Tunnel.”

3. See “Technological Superiority of the Philistines’ Iron Weapons.”

4. See “Gezer” and “The Ekron Inscription of Akhayus.”

5. See “Hazor” and “Megiddo.”

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The Sabbath

¹²Then the LORD said to Moses, ¹³“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.^† This will be a sign^† between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.^{[96] †}

¹⁴“ ‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death;^† whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. ¹⁵For six days, work^† is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest,^† holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. ¹⁶The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. ¹⁷It will be a sign^† between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.^†’ ”

¹⁸When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone^† inscribed by the finger of God.^†

Exodus 32

The Golden Calf

¹When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain,^† they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods^[97] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”^†

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The Golden Calf

Exodus 32 In art and legend gods were frequently represented by animals thought to symbolize the attributes of a particular deity. In the overall religious experience of the ancient Near East, for example, bulls and bull calves were associated with strength, virility and kingship. The bull was regarded as the earthly form or representation of the heavenly god, embodying physical strength and the procreative power found in nature.

Several religious cults in Egypt (that of Apis being the most prominent) worshiped the bull and calf. Deification of a live, “sacred” bull was initiated during the First Egyptian Dynasty and continued throughout ancient Egypt’s long history. Bull cults of the Nile delta, which existed at the same time and location as the Israelites’ sojourn in Egypt, were dedicated to Horus, the “god of heaven.”

The Canaanites also venerated bulls. El, the chief god of the Canaanite pantheon (officially recognized list of gods), was referred to as the “heavenly bull.” Baal, the storm god, was likewise associated with the bull on account of that animal’s fertility.¹ Artistic traditions from Canaan depict gods as riding on bulls, which had become living pedestals emblematic of kingship and power over nature.

The golden calf was Israel’s first foray into syncretism, the combining of faith in the one true God with pagan traditions. In taking this step, God’s chosen people exchanged his glory—the true, manifest Presence of God—for the image of a bull—a false representation of God’s presence (Ps 106:19–20). The Israelites had tragically fallen prey to cultural influences from Egypt (from which they had departed) and Canaan (where they would settle). God’s people were unwittingly associating their God with the gods of the nations.²

Bull statuette found at Ashkelon

Preserving Bible Times; © Dr. James C. Martin

It is important to recognize, as hinted above, that the Israelites believed they were acting with piety. Everything they saw in the world around them suggested that God would find such idol-worshiping both acceptable and pleasing. His people were in their own minds attempting to honor him by representing him as the chief of the gods. But the reality was that they were compromising his uniqueness and incomparability—a trend that would continue to haunt them until after their eventual return from Babylonian captivity. God’s nature cannot be represented by inanimate objects or by anything else in all creation (Dt 4:15–19; Isa 46:5–9). The cry of the exodus deliverance, “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD?” (Ex 15:11), would be belied again and again by idolatry—Israel’s colossal stumbling block.

1. See “The Ugaritic Text of the Myth of Baal.”

2. See “Praise of the ‘Bull’ in the Cairo Hymn of Amon-Re.”

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²Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings^† that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” ³So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. ⁴He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf,^† fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,^[98] O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

⁵When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival^† to the LORD.” ⁶So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings.^{[99] †} Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.^†

⁷Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,^† have become corrupt.^{† 8}They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol^† cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed^† to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’^†

⁹“I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked^† people. ¹⁰Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”^†

¹¹But Moses sought the favor^† of the LORD his God. “O LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?^{† 12}Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’?^† Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. ¹³Remember^† your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:^† ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars^† in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land^† I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ” ¹⁴Then the LORD relented^† and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

¹⁵Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony^† in his hands.^† They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. ¹⁶The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.^†

¹⁷When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.”

¹⁸Moses replied:

“It is not the sound of victory,

it is not the sound of defeat;

it is the sound of singing that I hear.”

¹⁹When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf^† and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces^† at the foot of the mountain. ²⁰And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water^† and made the Israelites drink it.

²¹He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”

²²“Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.^{† 23}They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’^{† 24}So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”^†

²⁵Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. ²⁶So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

²⁷Then he said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ”^{† 28}The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. ²⁹Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

³⁰The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin.^† But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement^† for your sin.”

³¹So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!^† They have made themselves gods of gold.^{† 32}But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me^† out of the book^† you have written.”

³³The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out^† of my book. ³⁴Now go, lead the people to the place^† I spoke of, and my angel^† will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish,^† I will punish them for their sin.”

³⁵And the LORD struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf^† Aaron had made.

Exodus 33

¹Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’^{† 2}I will send an angel^† before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.^{† 3}Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.^† But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked^† people and I might destroy^† you on the way.”

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Anatolia and the Hittites

Exodus 33 Exodus 33:2 includes the Hittites in the listing of people groups Israel was to conquer (cf. Dt 7:1; Jos 3:10). This gives readers the impression that the Hittites comprised a local culture in Canaan. In fact, the term Hittites usually refers to a people group based in central Anatolia (modern Turkey) who controlled a sizable empire during the second millennium B.C. Thought to have entered Anatolia around 2300 B.C., the Hittites were Indo-Europeans (like the Greeks), not Semites (like the Israelites, Assyrians and most Canaanites).

Hittites lived in Canaan as early as the time of the patriarchs (cf. Ge 23:10) and still inhabited the region as late as the time of David, as indicated by the presence of Uriah the Hittite in David’s army (2Sa 11–12). Possibly these “Palestinian” Hittites were simply dispersed members of the Anatolian Hittite populace. On the other hand, there might have been two separate “Hittite” peoples in the Old Testament: an indigenous Canaanite population in the region only much later known as Palestine and the remnants of the Hittite empire in Anatolia (cf. 2Ki 7:6). In fact, these two groups may have been unrelated and the use of the common name purely coincidental.

The capital city and center of Hittite power was in central Turkey at Boghazkoy (named Hattusa by the Hittites). A large archive containing tablets in Akkadian, Hittite and other languages has been discovered there.¹ This archive library includes a wide variety of materials, including letters, military instructions and laws.² In addition, Hittite prayer and ritual texts reveal a great deal about their religion.³

Hittite history may be divided into three distinct periods:

• Old Kingdom Period (c. 1600–1400 B.C.): The two greatest kings of this era were Hattusili I and his successor, Mursili I (mid-sixteenth century B.C.). These rulers dramatically increased the size of the Hittite kingdom, expanding in particular toward Syria and Mesopotamia, defeating the Hurrians and sacking Babylon around 1531 B.C. After the assassination of Mursili I, the kingdom declined into factionalism and weakness. Another Hittite king, Telipinu, attempted to put an end to palace strife by creating rules for succession.⁴

• Middle Kingdom Period (c. 1400–1340 B.C.): Tudhaliya II reinvigorated his people, but the Hittites continued to be troubled by their enemies, particularly those from the north.

• New Kingdom/Empire Period (c. 1340–1200 B.C.): The Hittite Empire returned to its former glory with the accession of Suppiluliumas I, who extended Hittite power to the south, defeating the Hurrian kingdom of Mitanni in Syria. Thus the Hittites became the major power in the north and a counterpoint to Egypt, the principle southern power. Around 1275 B.C. the Hittite king Muwatalli fought one of the most famous battles of antiquity at Kadesh against Pharaoh Rameses II—ending in a draw. Hittite power dwindled and finally died out around 1200 B.C. as a result of unknown calamities that overtook much of the world at the end of the Bronze Age.⁵

At the height of their power, the Hittites exercised control over a vast area extending from the Aegean coast to Damascus (cf. Jos 1:4). Although they held no direct sway over the Holy Land, the Hittite presence in Canaan would have been felt by Israel because geopolitical realities placed the region as a buffer zone between the Egyptians and the Hittites.

1. See “Languages of the Old Testament World.”

2. See “Hittite Instructions for Border Outposts” and “The Hittite Laws.”

3. See “The Hittite Ritual of Establishing a New Temple for the Goddess of the Night”, “A Hittite Ritual Against Plague”, “A Hittite Blessing for a House” and “The Hittite Ritual of Passing Between the Pieces of a Sacrifice.”

4. See “Ambitious Princes Among the Hittites.”

5. See “Archaeological Periods Chart” in the front of this Bible.

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⁴When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn^† and no one put on any ornaments. ⁵For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’ ” ⁶So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

The Tent of Meeting

⁷Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.”^† Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. ⁸And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents,^† watching Moses until he entered the tent. ⁹As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud^† would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke^† with Moses. ¹⁰Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. ¹¹The LORD would speak to Moses face to face,^† as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses and the Glory of the LORD

¹²Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’^† but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name^† and you have found favor with me.’ ¹³If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways^† so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”^†

¹⁴The LORD replied, “My Presence^† will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^†

¹⁵Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?^† What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”^†

¹⁷And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

¹⁸Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

¹⁹And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.^{† 20}But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see^† me and live.”

²¹Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²²When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand^† until I have passed by. ²³Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

Exodus 34

The New Stone Tablets

¹The LORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets,^† which you broke.^{† 2}Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai.^† Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. ³No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain;^† not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”

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The Hittite Ritual of Establishing a New Temple for the Goddess of the Night

Exodus 34 Ancient cuneiform texts attest to Hittites worshiping hundreds—and possibly even thousands!—of deities.¹ One of these texts, a four-columned tablet discovered in southeastern Anatolia and dated to the Late Bronze Age,² contains instructions for the Hittite ritual of establishing a new temple for a goddess of the night.

Interestingly, aspects of this ritual are similar to those God established concerning the tabernacle’s construction (Ex 25–40).³ For example:

• Both procedures involve adorning the place of worship with precious metals and gems.

• Both specify the use of bronze utensils, altars and washing basins.

• Both stipulate finely woven curtains to serve as doorway screens.

• Both assigned priests special clothing and required that they engage in ceremonial washing rituals.⁴

• Both had corresponding characteristics related to sacrificial rites.⁵

Despite these parallels, a number of differences illustrate unique aspects of Israelite religious practices. The Hittite text commanded workers to fashion a statue of their goddess. The priests were instructed to lure the goddess into the temple with food and gifts, and efforts were undertaken to make the idol holy. In contrast, Yahweh:

• Forbad the Israelites from fashioning images (20:4; 34:17).

• Did not need to be sanctified by human ritual; he consecrated his own tabernacle, as well as his priests (29:43–44; 40:9–15).

• Did not need to be provided with food or clothing; rather, he cared for his people’s needs (Dt 29:5).

• Chose to dwell among his people (Ex 29:45–46). He did not ask or need to be enticed—he both pronounced his own coming and made his presence known in the tabernacle (25:8; 40:34–38).

Even so, it is important to recognize that the Israelites followed customs common in their day. This helps us to keep the Bible in perspective as an ancient book written within—and expressing reality as it was lived within—a historical context. It also assures us that the priestly rules in the Old Testament are truly ancient (second millennium B.C.), as opposed to relatively late (around the fourth century B.C., as some scholars argue).⁶

1. For example, see “The Hittite Storm Gods.”

2. See “Archaeological Periods Chart” in the front of this Bible.

3. See “The Tabernacle and the Ark.”

4. See “Ritual Purity in Israel and the Ancient Near East.”

5. See “Sacrifices and Offerings in the Bible and the Ancient Near East.”

6. See “Hittite Instructions for Priests.”

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⁴So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. ⁵Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD.^{† 6}And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate^† and gracious God, slow to anger,^† abounding in love^† and faithfulness,^{† 7}maintaining love to thousands,^† and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.^† Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished;^† he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

⁸Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. ⁹“O Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes,” he said, “then let the Lord go with us.^† Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”^†

¹⁰Then the LORD said: “I am making a covenant^† with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world.^† The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you. ¹¹Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.^{† 12}Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare^† among you. ¹³Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.^{[100] † 14}Do not worship any other god,^† for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.^†

¹⁵“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute^† themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.^{† 16}And when you choose some of their daughters as wives^† for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods,^† they will lead your sons to do the same.

¹⁷“Do not make cast idols.^†

¹⁸“Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.^† For seven days eat bread made without yeast,^† as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib,^† for in that month you came out of Egypt.

¹⁹“The first offspring^† of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. ²⁰Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.^† Redeem all your firstborn sons.

“No one is to appear before me empty-handed.^†

²¹“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest;^† even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

²²“Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering^† at the turn of the year.^{[101] 23}Three times^† a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel. ²⁴I will drive out nations^† before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God.

²⁵“Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast,^† and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Feast remain until morning.^†

²⁶“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

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

²⁷Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write^† down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” ²⁸Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights^† without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets^† the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.^†

The Radiant Face of Moses

²⁹When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands,^† he was not aware that his face was radiant^† because he had spoken with the LORD. ³⁰When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³²Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands^† the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

³³When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil^† over his face. ³⁴But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

Exodus 35

Sabbath Regulations

¹Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the LORD has commanded^† you to do: ²For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath^† of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death. ³Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.^†”

Materials for the Tabernacle

⁴Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ⁵From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze; ⁶blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ⁷ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows^[102]; acacia wood; ⁸olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; ⁹and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

¹⁰“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded:^{† 11}the tabernacle^† with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; ¹²the ark^† with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it; ¹³the table^† with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence; ¹⁴the lampstand^† that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; ¹⁵the altar^† of incense with its poles, the anointing oil^† and the fragrant incense;^† the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle; ¹⁶the altar^† of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand; ¹⁷the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;^{† 18}the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes; ¹⁹the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments^† for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”

²⁰Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, ²¹and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. ²²All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. ²³Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn^† or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or hides of sea cows brought them. ²⁴Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. ²⁵Every skilled woman^† spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. ²⁶And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. ²⁷The leaders^† brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. ²⁸They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.^{† 29}All the Israelite men and women who were willing^† brought to the LORD freewill offerings^† for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

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Ancient Voices

When on the morning of the second day the Sun God has not yet risen, they take these things of his from the house of the officiant: One skein/strand of red wool, one skein/strand of blue wool, one plain (i.e., undyed)^* wool, one shekel of silver, one (bolt of [?]) gazzarnul fabric, a small amount of fine oil, three flat breads, one pitcher of wine. They go for drawing to the waters of purification and they draw the waters of purification. They carry them to the temple of the Deity of the Night from the temple of the Deity of the Night—(that is, from) the temple of the Deity of the Night which is being built to that (old) temple of the Deity of the Night.

* Words or punctuation in brackets or parentheses added by translator for clarity or where text has gaps

—Establishing a New Temple for the Goddess of the Night

See “The Hittite Ritual of Establishing a New Temple for the Goddess of the Night” article.

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