Exo 25 | HCSB | STEP | The Lord spoke to Moses :

Exodus 25

Offerings to Build the Tabernacle

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Tell the Israelites to take an offering for Me. You are to take My offering from everyone who is willing to give. ^a 3 This is the offering you are to receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze; 4 blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red ^b and manatee skins; ^{▼▼Or and dolphin skins, or and fine leather; Hb obscure} acacia wood; 6 oil ^d for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx ^{▼▼Or carnelian} along with other gemstones for mounting on the ^{▼▼ephod: A vestlike garment, extending below the waist and worn under the breastpiece, which was used by both the priests and the high priest}ephod and breastpiece. ^{▼▼Traditionally, breastplate
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8 “They are to make a sanctuary ⁱ for Me so that I may dwell ^j among them. 9 You must make it according to all that I show you – the pattern ^k of the tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings.

The Ark

10 “They are to make an ark ^l of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. ^{▼▼Lit two and a half cubits its length, one and a half cubits its width, and one and a half cubits its height} 11 Overlay it with pure gold; overlay it both inside and out. Also make a gold molding all around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it and place them on its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 13 Make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them. 15 The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed from it. 16 Put the tablets of the ^{▼▼testimony: A reference to either the Mosaic law in general or to a specific section of the law, the Ten Commandments, which were written on stone tablets and placed in the ark of the covenant (also called the ark of the testimony)}testimony that I will give you into the ark. ^o 17 Make a ^{▼▼mercy seat: Or place of atonement; the gold lid on the ark of the covenant, first used in the tabernacle and later in the temple}mercy seat ^q of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. ^{▼▼Lit two and a half cubits its length, one and a half cubits its width} 18 Make two ^{▼▼cherubim: A class of winged angels, associated with the throne of God, who function as guardians and who prevented Adam and Eve from returning to the garden of Eden}cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. At its two ends, make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat. 20 The cherubim are to have wings spread out above, covering ^t the mercy seat with their wings, and are to face one another. The faces of the cherubim should be toward the mercy seat. 21 Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the testimony that I will give you into the ark. ^u 22 I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim ^v that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

The Table

23 “You are to construct a table ^w of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. ^{▼▼Lit two cubits its length, one cubit its width, and one and a half cubits its height} 24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding all around it. 25 Make a three-inch ^{▼▼Lit Make it a handbreadth} frame all around it and make a gold molding for it all around its frame. 26 Make four gold rings for it, and attach the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 27 The rings should be next to the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table. 28 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, and the table can be carried by them. 29 You are also to make its plates ^z and cups, as well as its pitchers and bowls for pouring ^{▼▼drink offering: An offering of a specified amount of wine or beer given along with animal sacrifices; it was poured over the sacrifice before it was burned.}drink offerings. Make them out of pure gold. 30 Put the ^{▼▼Bread of the Presence: Literally bread of presentation; 12 loaves, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, put on the table in the holy place in the tabernacle, and later in the temple. The priests ate the previous week's loaves; Ex 25:30; 29:32; Lv 24:5-9.}bread of the Presence ^ac on the table before Me at all times.

The Lampstand

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

37 “Make seven lamps ^ah on it. Its lamps are to be set up so they illuminate the area in front of it. 38 Its snuffers and firepans must be of pure gold. 39 The lampstand ^{▼▼Lit It} with all these utensils is to be made from 75 pounds ^{▼▼Lit a talent} of pure gold. 40 Be careful to make them according to the pattern ^ak you have been shown on the mountain.