Exodus 31-34 - Prayer Tents

Exodus 31

Craftsmen: Bezalel and Oholiab

31Then the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H559 2"Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.H7200H7121H8034H1212H1121H221H1121H2354H4294H3063 3I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.H4390H7307H430H2451H8394H1847H4399 4He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze.H2803H4284H6213H2091H3701H5178 5He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!H2799H68H4390H2799H6086H6213H4399 6"And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make.H5414H171H1121H294H4294H1835H3820H2450H3820H5414H2451H6213H6680 7the Tabernacle; the Ark of the Covenant; the Ark's cover—the place of atonement; all the furnishings of the Tabernacle;H168H4150H727H5715H3727H3627H168 8the table and its utensils; the pure gold lampstand with all its accessories; the incense altar;H7979H3627H2889H4501H3627H4196H7004 9the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils; the washbasin with its stand;H4196H5930H3627H3595H3653 10the beautifully stitched garments—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests;H899H8278H6944H899H175H3548H899H1121H3547 11the anointing oil; the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. The craftsmen must make everything as I have commanded you."H4888H8081H5561H7004H6944H6680H6213

Instructions for the Sabbath

12The LORD then gave these instructions to Moses.H3068H559H4872H559 13"Tell the people of Israel: 'Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.H1696H1121H3478H559H389H7676H8104H226H1755H3045H3068H6942 14You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community.H8104H7676H6944H2490H4191H4191H6213H4399H5315H3772H7130H5971 15You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death.H8337H3117H4399H6213H7637H7676H7677H6944H3068H6213H4399H7676H3117H4191H4191 16The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time.H1121H3478H8104H7676H6213H7676H1755H5769H1285 17It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.'"H226H1121H3478H5769H8337H3117H3068H6213H8064H776H7637H3117H7673H5314 18When the LORD finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God.H5414H4872H3615H1696H2022H5514H8147H3871H5715H3871H68H3789H676H430

Exodus 32

The Gold Calf

32When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. "Come on," they said, "make us some gods who can lead us. We don't know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt."H5971H7200H4872H954H3381H2022H5971H6950H175H559H6965H6213H430H3212H6440H4872H376H5927H776H4714H30452So Aaron said, "Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me."H175H559H6561H2091H5141H241H802H1121H1323H9353All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron.H5971H6561H2091H5141H241H935H1754Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!"H3947H3027H6696H2747H6213H4541H5695H559H430H3478H5927H776H47145Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, "Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!"H175H7200H1129H4196H6440H175H7121H559H4279H2282H30686The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.H7925H4283H5927H5930H5066H8002H5971H3427H398H8354H6965H67117The LORD told Moses, "Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.H3068H1696H4872H3212H3381H5971H5927H776H4714H78438How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.'"H5493H4118H1870H6680H6213H4541H5695H7812H2076H559H430H3478H5927H776H47149Then the LORD said, "I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are.H3068H559H4872H7200H5971H7186H6203H597110Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation."H3240H639H2734H3615H6213H1419H147111But Moses tried to pacify the LORD his God. "O LORD!" he said. "Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand?H4872H2470H6440H3068H430H559H3068H639H2734H5971H3318H776H4714H1419H3581H2389H302712Why let the Egyptians say, 'Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth'? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people!H4714H559H559H7451H3318H2026H2022H3615H6440H127H7725H2740H639H5162H7451H597113Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.'"H2142H85H3327H3478H5650H7650H1696H7235H2233H3556H8064H776H559H5414H2233H5157H576914So the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.H3068H5162H7451H1696H6213H597115Then Moses turned and went down the mountain. He held in his hands the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.H4872H6437H3381H2022H8147H3871H5715H3027H3871H3789H8147H5676H378916These tablets were God's work; the words on them were written by God himself.H3871H4639H430H4385H4385H430H2801H387117When Joshua heard the boisterous noise of the people shouting below them, he exclaimed to Moses, "It sounds like war in the camp!"H3091H8085H6963H5971H7452H559H4872H6963H4421H426418But Moses replied, "No, it's not a shout of victory nor the wailing of defeat. I hear the sound of a celebration."H559H6963H6030H1369H6963H6030H2476H6963H6031H808519When they came near the camp, Moses saw the calf and the dancing, and he burned with anger. He threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain.H7126H4264H7200H5695H4246H4872H639H2734H7993H3871H3027H7665H8478H202220He took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it.H3947H5695H6213H8313H784H2912H1854H2219H6440H4325H1121H3478H824821Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, "What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?"H4872H559H175H6213H5971H935H1419H240122"Don't get so upset, my lord," Aaron replied. "You yourself know how evil these people are.H175H559H639H113H2734H3045H5971H745123They said to me, 'Make us gods who will lead us. We don't know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.'H559H6213H430H3212H6440H4872H376H5927H776H4714H304524So I told them, 'Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.' When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!"H559H2091H6561H5414H7993H784H3318H569525Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies.H4872H7200H5971H6544H175H6544H8103H696526So he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, "All of you who are on the LORD's side, come here and join me." And all the Levites gathered around him.H4872H5975H8179H4264H559H3068H1121H3878H62227Moses told them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors."H559H559H3068H430H3478H7760H376H2719H3409H5674H7725H8179H8179H4264H2026H376H251H376H7453H376H713828The Levites obeyed Moses' command, and about 3,000 people died that day.H1121H3878H6213H1697H4872H5307H5971H3117H7969H505H37629Then Moses told the Levites, "Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing."H4872H559H4390H3027H3117H3068H3588H376H1121H251H5414H1293H3117

Moses Intercedes for Israel

30The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the LORD on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin."H4283H4872H559H5971H2398H1419H2401H5927H3068H194H3722H1157H240331So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves.H4872H7725H3068H559H577H5971H2398H1419H2401H6213H430H209132But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!"H5375H2403H4229H5612H378933But the LORD replied to Moses, "No, I will erase the name of everyone who has sinned against me.H3068H559H4872H834H2398H4229H561234Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about. Look! My angel will lead the way before you. And when I come to call the people to account, I will certainly hold them responsible for their sins."H3212H5148H5971H1696H4397H3212H6440H3117H6485H6485H240335Then the LORD sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf Aaron had made.H3068H5062H5971H834H6213H5695H834H175H6213

Exodus 33

33The LORD said to Moses, "Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, 'I will give this land to your descendants.'H3068H1696H4872H3212H5927H5971H5927H776H4714H776H7650H85H3327H3290H559H2233H54142And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.H7971H4397H6440H1644H3669H567H2850H6522H2340H29833Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way."H776H2100H2461H1706H5927H7130H7186H6203H5971H3615H18704When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes.H5971H8085H7451H1697H56H376H7896H57165For the LORD had told Moses to tell them, "You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you."H3068H559H4872H559H1121H3478H7186H6203H5971H5927H7130H259H7281H3615H3381H5716H3045H62136So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.H1121H3478H5337H5716H2022H27227It was Moses' practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.H4872H3947H168H5186H2351H4264H7368H4264H7121H168H4150H1245H3068H3318H168H4150H2351H42648Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside.H4872H3318H168H5971H6965H5324H376H168H6607H5027H310H4872H935H1689As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.H4872H935H168H6051H5982H3381H5975H6607H168H1696H487210When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents.H5971H7200H6051H5982H5975H168H6607H5971H6965H7812H376H168H660711Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.H3068H1696H4872H6440H6440H376H1696H7453H7725H4264H8334H3091H1121H5126H5288H4185H8432H168

Moses Sees the Lord’s Glory

12One day Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Take these people up to the Promised Land.' But you haven't told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, 'I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.'H4872H559H3068H7200H559H5927H5971H3045H7971H559H3045H8034H4672H2580H586913If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people."H4672H2580H5869H3045H1870H3045H4672H2580H5869H7200H1471H597114The LORD replied, "I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you."H559H6440H3212H511715Then Moses said, "If you don't personally go with us, don't make us leave this place.H559H6440H1980H592716How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don't go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth."H3045H645H5971H4672H2580H5869H3212H6395H5971H5971H6440H12717The LORD replied to Moses, "I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name."H3068H559H4872H6213H1697H1696H4672H2580H5869H3045H803418Moses responded, "Then show me your glorious presence."H559H4994H7200H351919The LORD replied, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.H559H2898H5674H7121H8034H3068H6440H2603H2603H7355H735520But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live."H559H3201H7200H6440H120H7200H242521The LORD continued, "Look, stand near me on this rock.H3068H559H4725H5324H669722As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.H3519H5674H7760H5366H6697H5526H3709H5704H567423Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen."H5493H3709H7200H268H6440H7200

Exodus 34

A New Copy of the Covenant

34Then the LORD told Moses, "Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the same words that were on the tablets you smashed.H3068H559H4872H6458H8147H3871H68H7223H3789H3871H1697H7223H3871H76652Be ready in the morning to climb up Mount Sinai and present yourself to me on the top of the mountain.H3559H1242H5927H1242H2022H5514H5324H7218H20223No one else may come with you. In fact, no one is to appear anywhere on the mountain. Do not even let the flocks or herds graze near the mountain."H376H5927H408H376H7200H2022H6629H1241H7462H4136H20224So Moses chiseled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning he climbed Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.H6458H8147H3871H68H7223H4872H7925H1242H5927H2022H5514H3068H6680H3947H3027H8147H3871H685Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh.H3068H3381H6051H3320H7121H8034H30686The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, "Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.H3068H5674H6440H7121H3068H3068H410H7349H2587H750H639H7227H2617H5717I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations."H5341H2617H505H5375H5771H6588H2403H5352H5352H6485H5771H1H1121H1121H8029H72568Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped.H4872H4116H6915H776H78129And he said, "O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession."H559H4672H2580H5869H136H136H3212H7130H7186H6203H5971H5545H5771H2403H515710The LORD replied, "Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the LORD—the awesome power I will display for you.H559H3772H1285H5971H6213H6381H1254H776H1471H5971H7130H7200H4639H3068H3372H621311But listen carefully to everything I command you today. Then I will go ahead of you and drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.H8104H6680H3117H1644H6440H567H3669H2850H6522H2340H298312"Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.H8104H3772H1285H3427H776H935H4170H713013Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles.H5422H4196H7665H4676H3772H84214You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.H7812H312H410H3068H8034H7067H7067H41015"You must not make a treaty of any kind with the people living in the land. They lust after their gods, offering sacrifices to them. They will invite you to join them in their sacrificial meals, and you will go with them.H3772H1285H3427H776H2181H310H430H2076H430H7121H398H207716Then you will accept their daughters, who sacrifice to other gods, as wives for your sons. And they will seduce your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods.H3947H1323H1121H1323H2181H310H430H2181H1121H2181H310H43017You must not make any gods of molten metal for yourselves.H6213H4541H43018"You must celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt.H2282H4682H8104H7651H3117H398H4682H6680H4150H2320H24H2320H24H3318H471419"The firstborn of every animal belongs to me, including the firstborn males from your herds of cattle and your flocks of sheep and goats.H6363H7358H6363H4735H7794H7716H214220A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the LORD by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son. "No one may appear before me without an offering.H6363H2543H6299H7716H6299H6202H1060H1121H6299H7200H6440H738721"You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest.H8337H3117H5647H7637H3117H7673H2758H7105H767322"You must celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first crop of the wheat harvest, and celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season.H6213H2282H7620H1061H2406H7105H2282H614H8141H862223Three times each year every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the LORD, the God of Israel.H6471H7969H8141H2138H7200H6440H113H3068H430H347824I will drive out the other nations ahead of you and expand your territory, so no one will covet and conquer your land while you appear before the LORD your God three times each year.H3423H1471H6440H7337H1366H376H2530H776H5927H7200H6440H3068H430H6471H7969H814125"You must not offer the blood of my sacrificial offerings together with any baked goods containing yeast. And none of the meat of the Passover sacrifice may be kept over until the next morning.H7819H1818H2077H2557H2077H2282H6453H3885H124226"As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the LORD your God. "You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk."H7225H1061H127H935H1004H3068H430H1310H1423H517H246127Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down all these instructions, for they represent the terms of the covenant I am making with you and with Israel."H3068H559H4872H3789H1697H6310H1697H3772H1285H347828Moses remained there on the mountain with the LORD forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the LORD wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments—on the stone tablets.H3068H705H3117H705H3915H398H3899H8354H4325H3789H3871H1697H1285H6235H169729When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn't aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD.H4872H3381H2022H5514H8147H3871H5715H4872H3027H3381H2022H4872H3045H5785H6440H7160H169630So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses' face, they were afraid to come near him.H175H1121H3478H7200H4872H5785H6440H7160H3372H506631But Moses called out to them and asked Aaron and all the leaders of the community to come over, and he talked with them.H4872H7121H175H5387H5712H7725H4872H169632Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.H310H1121H3478H5066H6680H3068H1696H2022H551433When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil.H4872H3615H1696H5414H4533H644034But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the LORD had given him,H4872H935H6440H3068H1696H5493H4533H5493H3318H3318H1696H1121H3478H668035and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face. So he would put the veil over his face until he returned to speak with the LORD.H1121H3478H7200H6440H4872H5785H4872H6440H7160H4872H7725H4533H6440H7725H935H1696