A Walk Through The Word

Making the priests’ clothing

39 They used the blue, purple, and deep red yarns to make the woven clothing for those ministering as priests in the sanctuary. They made the holy clothes for Aaron as the Lord had commanded Moses.

² They made the vest^[a] of gold, of blue, purple, and deep red yarns, and of fine twisted linen. ³ They beat out thin sheets of gold and cut them into threads to work into designs among the blue, purple, and deep red yarns and the fine linen. ⁴ They made shoulder pieces for it attached to its two edges so that they could be joined together. ⁵ The vest’s belt was attached to it and made in the same way of gold, of blue, purple, and deep red yarns, and of fine twisted linen, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁶ They prepared the gemstones by mounting them in gold settings and engraving on them the names of Israel’s sons, like an official seal is engraved. ⁷ The stones were attached to the vest’s shoulder pieces as reminder stones for the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁸ They made the embroidered chest pendant in the style of the vest, using gold, blue, purple, and deep red yarns, and fine twisted linen. ⁹ They made the chest pendant square and doubled, nine inches long and nine inches wide when doubled. ¹⁰ They set in it four rows of gemstones. The first row was a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald stones. ¹¹ The second row was a turquoise, a sapphire, and a moonstone. ¹² The third row was a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. ¹³ The fourth row was a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. The settings around them were decorative gold. ¹⁴ There were twelve stones with names corresponding to the names of Israel’s sons. They were engraved like official seals, each with its name for the twelve tribes. ¹⁵ They made chains of pure gold, twisted like cords, for the chest pendant. ¹⁶ They made two gold settings and two gold rings. They attached the two rings to the two edges of the chest pendant. ¹⁷ They attached the two gold cords to the two rings at the edges of the chest pendant. ¹⁸ Then they fastened the two ends of the two cords to the two gold settings and attached them to the front of the vest’s shoulder pieces. ¹⁹ They made two gold rings, and they attached them to the two edges of the chest pendant, on its inside edge facing the vest. ²⁰ They made two gold rings and fastened them on the front of the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the vest, at its seam just above the vest’s belt. ²¹ The chest pendant was held in place by a blue cord binding its rings to the vest’s rings so that the chest pendant rested on the vest’s belt and didn’t come loose from the vest, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

²² They also made the vest’s robe, woven completely in blue. ²³ The opening of the robe in the middle of it was reinforced with a strong border so that it didn’t tear. ²⁴ On the robe’s lower hem, they added pomegranates made of blue, purple, and deep red yarns and of fine twisted linen. ²⁵ They also made pure gold bells and sewed the bells between the pomegranates, all around the robe’s lower hem, ²⁶ with a bell and a pomegranate alternating all around the lower hem of the robe that is used for ministering as a priest, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

²⁷ They also made the tunics woven out of fine linen for Aaron and his sons, ²⁸ the turban of fine linen, the decorated turbans of fine linen, the linen undergarments of fine twisted linen, ²⁹ the sashes of fine twisted linen, and of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, decorated with needlework, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

³⁰ They made the flower ornament for the holy crown out of pure gold. Like the engraving on an official seal, they engraved on it the saying “Holy to the Lord.” ³¹ They fastened to it a blue cord to tie it to the top of the turban, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Completion of dwelling construction

³² In this way all the work of the meeting tent dwelling was finished. The Israelites did everything just exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. ³³ Then they brought to Moses the dwelling, the tent, and all its equipment:

⁴² The Israelites did all of the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ⁴³ When Moses saw that they in fact had done all the work exactly as the Lord had commanded, Moses blessed them.

Moses sets up the dwelling

40 The Lord spoke to Moses: ² Set up the meeting tent dwelling on the first day of the first month.^{[b] 3} Place the chest containing the covenant inside the dwelling. Hide the chest from view with the veil. ⁴ Bring in the table and arrange its items. Bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. ⁵ Place the gold altar for burning incense in front of the chest containing the covenant. Set up the screen at the dwelling’s entrance. ⁶ Put the altar for entirely burned offerings in front of the entrance to the meeting tent dwelling. ⁷ Put the washbasin between the meeting tent and the altar and put water in it. ⁸ Set up the courtyard all around. Hang up the screen at the courtyard gate. ⁹ Then take the anointing oil and anoint the dwelling and everything in it. Make holy the dwelling and all its equipment, and it will be holy. ¹⁰ Anoint the altar for entirely burned offerings and all its equipment. Make the altar holy, and the altar will be most holy. ¹¹ Anoint the washbasin with its stand and make it holy.

¹² Then bring Aaron and his sons to the meeting tent’s entrance and wash them with water. ¹³ Dress Aaron in the holy clothes. Anoint him and make him holy so that he may serve me as priest. ¹⁴ Then bring his sons and dress them in tunics. ¹⁵ Anoint them like you anointed their father so that they may serve me as priests. Their anointing is to the priesthood for all time in every generation.

¹⁶ Moses did everything exactly as the Lord had commanded him. ¹⁷ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the dwelling was set up. ¹⁸ Moses set up the dwelling. He laid out its bases. He set up its boards, inserted its bars, and raised up its posts. ¹⁹ He spread the tent out over the dwelling, and he put the covering of the tent over it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁰ He took the covenant document and placed it inside the chest. He put the poles on the chest, and he set the cover on top of the chest. ²¹ He brought the chest into the dwelling. He set up the veil as a screen to hide from view the chest containing the covenant, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²² He placed the table in the meeting tent, on the north side of the dwelling, outside the veil. ²³ He set the bread in its proper place on the table in the Lord’s presence, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁴ He put the lampstand in the meeting tent, opposite the table on the south side of the dwelling. ²⁵ He set up the lamps in the Lord’s presence, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁶ He put the gold altar in the meeting tent in front of the veil. ²⁷ He burned sweet-smelling incense on it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁸ He also set up the screen at the entrance to the dwelling. ²⁹ He placed the altar for entirely burned offerings at the entrance to the meeting tent dwelling. He offered the entirely burned offering and the grain offering on it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ³⁰ He put the washbasin between the meeting tent and the altar, and put water in it for washing. ³¹ Moses, Aaron, and his sons used it to wash their hands and their feet. ³² Whenever they went into the meeting tent and whenever they approached the altar, they washed themselves, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ³³ He set up the courtyard around the dwelling and the altar, and he hung up the screen at the courtyard’s gate.

God’s presence fills the dwelling!

When Moses had finished all the work, ³⁴ the cloud covered the meeting tent and the Lord’s glorious presence filled the dwelling. ³⁵ Moses couldn’t enter the meeting tent because the cloud had settled on it, and the Lord’s glorious presence filled the dwelling. ³⁶ Whenever the cloud rose from the dwelling, the Israelites would set out on their journeys. ³⁷ But if the cloud didn’t rise, then they didn’t set out until the day it rose. ³⁸ The Lord’s cloud stayed over the dwelling during the day, with lightning in it at night, clearly visible to the whole household of Israel at every stage of their journey.

Beginning of good news

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, ² happened just as it was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah:

John’s preaching

⁴ John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. ⁵ Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. ⁶ John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus is baptized and tempted

⁹ About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. ¹⁰ While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. ¹¹ And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”

¹² At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. ¹³ He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.

Jesus’ message

¹⁴ After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, ¹⁵ saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”

Jesus calls disciples

¹⁶ As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” ¹⁸ Right away, they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. ²⁰ At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers.

Jesus throws a demon out

²¹ Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. ²² The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. ²³ Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, ²⁴ “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”

²⁵ “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” ²⁶ The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.

²⁷ Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” ²⁸ Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.

Psalm 35

Of David.

Building the chest containing the covenant document

37 Bezalel made the chest of acacia wood. It was forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. ² He covered the chest with pure gold inside and out, and made a gold molding all around it. ³ He cast four gold rings for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other. ⁴ He made acacia-wood poles and covered them with gold. ⁵ He put the poles into the rings on the chest’s sides to use to carry the chest. ⁶ He made a cover for the chest out of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide. ⁷ He made two winged heavenly creatures of hammered gold for the two ends of the cover, ⁸ one winged heavenly creature at one end and one winged heavenly creature at the other. He placed the winged heavenly creatures at the cover’s two ends. ⁹ The winged heavenly creatures spread out their wings above, shielding the cover with their wings. The winged heavenly creatures faced each other toward the cover’s center.

Constructing the table and lampstand

¹⁰ He also made the table of acacia wood, three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. ¹¹ He covered it with pure gold and made a gold molding all around it. ¹² He made a frame around it that was four inches wide and gold molding around the frame. ¹³ He made four gold rings for the table. He fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs. ¹⁴ The rings that housed the poles used for carrying the table were close to the frame. ¹⁵ He made the poles used to carry the table out of acacia wood, and he covered them with gold. ¹⁶ He made the containers of pure gold that were to be on the table: its plates, dishes, bowls, and jars for pouring drink offerings.

¹⁷ He also made the lampstand of pure, hammered gold. The lampstand’s base, branches, cups, flowers, and petals were all attached to it. ¹⁸ It had six branches growing out from its sides, three branches on one side of the lampstand and three branches on the other side of the lampstand. ¹⁹ One branch had three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a flower and petals, and the next branch also had three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a flower and petals. A total of six branches grew out of the lampstand. ²⁰ In addition, on the lampstand itself there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its flower and petals. ²¹ There was a flower attached under the first pair of branches, a flower attached under the next pair of branches, and a flower attached under the last pair of branches. ²² Their flowers and their branches were attached to it. The whole lampstand was one piece of pure hammered gold. ²³ He made its seven lamps and its tongs and its fire pans out of pure gold. ²⁴ He made the lampstand and all its equipment from pure gold weighing one kikkar.

Making the incense altar, incense, and oil

²⁵ He made the incense altar out of acacia wood. The altar was square, eighteen inches long by eighteen inches wide. It was three feet high, and its horns were permanently attached. ²⁶ He covered it with pure gold, including its top, all its sides, and its horns. He also made a gold molding all around it. ²⁷ He made two gold rings, and he attached them under the molding on two opposite sides of the altar. They housed the poles used to carry it. ²⁸ He made the poles of acacia wood, and he covered them with gold.

²⁹ He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure sweet-smelling incense like a skilled perfume maker.

Making the altar for entirely burned offerings

38 He made the altar for entirely burned offerings out of acacia wood. The altar was square, seven and a half feet long and seven and a half feet wide. It was four and a half feet high. ² He made horns for it, one horn on each of its four corners. Its horns were attached to the altar, and he covered it with copper. ³ He made all the altar’s equipment: the pails, the shovels, the bowls, the meat forks, and the trays. He made all its equipment out of copper. ⁴ He made a grate for the altar of copper mesh underneath its bottom edge and extending halfway up to the middle of the altar. ⁵ He made four rings for each of the four corners of the copper grate to house the poles. ⁶ He made the poles out of acacia wood, and he covered them with copper. ⁷ He put the poles through the rings so that the poles were on the two sides of the altar when it was carried. He made the altar with planks but hollow inside.

⁸ He made the copper washbasin with its copper stand from the copper mirrors among the ranks of women assigned to the meeting tent’s entrance.

Constructing the dwelling’s plaza

⁹ He also set up the courtyard. The courtyard’s south side had drapes of fine twisted linen stretching one hundred fifty feet ¹⁰ with twenty posts, twenty copper bases, and silver hooks and bands for the posts. ¹¹ Likewise the north side stretched one hundred fifty feet, with twenty posts, twenty copper bases, and silver hooks and bands for the posts. ¹² On the west side the drapes stretched seventy-five feet, with their ten posts, their ten bases, and silver hooks and bands for the posts. ¹³ The front side facing east was seventy-five feet. ¹⁴ There were twenty-two and a half feet of drapes on one side with three posts and three bases for them. ¹⁵ Likewise, there were twenty-two and a half feet of drapes on the other side of the plaza’s gate with three posts and three bases for them. ¹⁶ All the drapes around the courtyard were made of fine twisted linen. ¹⁷ The bases for the posts were made of copper, but the hooks for the posts and their bands were made of silver. The tops of the posts were covered with silver, and all the posts surrounding the courtyard had silver bands. ¹⁸ The screen for the gate into the courtyard was made with blue, purple, and deep red yarns and fine twisted linen, decorated with needlework. It was thirty feet long and, along the width of it, seven and a half feet high, corresponding to the courtyard’s drapes. ¹⁹ It had four posts, their four copper bases, their silver hooks, and their tops and bands covered with silver. ²⁰ All the tent pegs for the dwelling and for the courtyard all around were made of copper.

A listing of materials used

²¹ These are the accounts of the dwelling, the covenant dwelling, that were recorded at Moses’ instructions. They are the work of the Levites, under the direction of Ithamar, Aaron the priest’s son. ²² Bezalel, Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson from the tribe of Judah, made everything that the Lord had commanded Moses to make. ²³ Working with Bezalel was Oholiab, Ahisamach’s son from the tribe of Dan, who was a gem cutter, a designer, and a needleworker in blue, purple, and deep red yarns and in fine linen.

²⁴ The total amount of the gold that was used for construction of the whole sanctuary, gold from the uplifted offerings, was twenty-nine kikkars and seven hundred thirty shekels in weight, measured by the sanctuary shekel. ²⁵ The silver from the community census totaled one hundred kikkars and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels in weight, measured by the sanctuary shekel. ²⁶ They gave a beqa per person (that is, half a shekel, measured by the sanctuary shekel) for everyone who was counted in the census, 20 years old and above, 603,550 men. ²⁷ One hundred kikkars of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and the bases for the veil, one hundred bases from one hundred kikkars of silver, one kikkar for every base. ²⁸ He used one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels of silver^[a] to make the hooks for the posts, cover their tops, and make bands for them. ²⁹ The amount of copper from the uplifted offering was seventy kikkars and two thousand four hundred shekels in weight. ³⁰ He used it to make the bases for the meeting tent’s entrance, the copper altar, its copper grate, and all the altar’s equipment, ³¹ the bases all around the courtyard, and the bases for the courtyard’s gate, all the dwelling’s tent pegs, and all the tent pegs used around the courtyard.

Resurrection

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. ² Look, there was a great earthquake, for an angel from the Lord came down from heaven. Coming to the stone, he rolled it away and sat on it. ³ Now his face was like lightning and his clothes as white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so terrified of him that they shook with fear and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. ⁷ Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, ‘He’s been raised from the dead. He’s going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ I’ve given the message to you.”

⁸ With great fear and excitement, they hurried away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ But Jesus met them and greeted them. They came and grabbed his feet and worshipped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that I am going into Galilee. They will see me there.”

Guards’ report

¹¹ Now as the women were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² They met with the elders and decided to give a large sum of money to the soldiers. ¹³ They told them, “Say that Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole his body while you were sleeping. ¹⁴ And if the governor hears about this, we will take care of it with him so you will have nothing to worry about.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. And this report has spread throughout all Judea to this very day.

Commissioning of the disciples

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”

¹⁰ “Let all the skilled artisans^[a] among you come and make everything that the Lord has commanded:^{(A) 11} the tabernacle—its tent and covering, its clasps and supports, its crossbars, its pillars and bases; ¹² the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the curtain for the screen; ¹³ the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence; ¹⁴ the lampstand for light with its utensils and lamps as well as the oil for the light; ¹⁵ the altar of incense with its poles; the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the entryway screen for the entrance to the tabernacle; ¹⁶ the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; ¹⁷ the hangings of the courtyard, its posts and bases, and the screen for the gate of the courtyard; ¹⁸ the tent pegs for the tabernacle and the tent pegs for the courtyard, along with their ropes; ¹⁹ and the specially woven^[b] garments for ministering in the sanctuary—the holy garments for the priest Aaron and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”^(B)

²⁰ Then the entire Israelite community left Moses’s presence. ²¹ Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.^{(C) 22} Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry—everyone who presented a presentation offering of gold to the Lord. ²³ Everyone who possessed blue, purple, or scarlet yarn,^(D) fine linen or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or fine leather,^[c] brought them. ²⁴ Everyone making an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the Lord. Everyone who possessed acacia wood useful for any task in the work brought it. ²⁵ Every skilled^[d] woman^(E) spun yarn with her hands and brought it: blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. ²⁶ And all the women whose hearts were moved spun the goat hair by virtue of their skill. ²⁷ The leaders^(F) brought onyx and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece, ²⁸ as well as the spice^(G) and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. ²⁹ So the Israelites brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts prompted them to bring something for all the work that the Lord, through Moses, had commanded to be done.^(H)

Bezalel and Oholiab

³⁰ Moses^(I) then said to the Israelites, “Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³¹ He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft ³² to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, ³³ to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft. ³⁴ He has also given^[e] both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill^[f] to do all the work^(J) of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer^[g] in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs.

36 Bezalel, Oholiab, and all the skilled^[h] people are to work based on everything the Lord has commanded. The Lord has given them wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work of constructing the sanctuary.”^(K)

² So Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person in whose heart the Lord had placed wisdom, all whose hearts moved them,^(L) to come to the work and do it. ³ They took from Moses’s presence all the contributions that the Israelites had brought for the task of making the sanctuary. Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.

⁴ Then all the artisans who were doing all the work for the sanctuary came one by one from the work they were doing ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed^(M) for the construction of the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

⁶ After Moses gave an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp: “Let no man or woman make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people stopped. ⁷ The materials were sufficient for them to do all the work. There was more than enough.

Building the Tabernacle

⁸ All^(N) the skilled artisans^[i] among those doing the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains. Bezalel made them of finely spun linen, as well as blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them. ⁹ Each curtain was forty-two feet^[j] long and six feet^[k] wide; all the curtains had the same measurements. ¹⁰ He joined five of the curtains to each other, and the other five curtains he joined to each other. ¹¹ He made loops of blue yarn on the edge of the last curtain in the first set and did the same on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. ¹² He made fifty loops on the one curtain and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set, so that the loops lined up with each other. ¹³ He also made fifty gold clasps and joined the curtains to each other, so that the tabernacle became a single unit.

¹⁴ He made curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven of them. ¹⁵ Each curtain was forty-five feet^[l] long and six feet wide. All eleven curtains had the same measurements. ¹⁶ He joined five of the curtains together, and the other six together. ¹⁷ He made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set and fifty loops on the edge of the corresponding curtain in the second set. ¹⁸ He made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together as a single unit. ¹⁹ He also made a covering for the tent from ram skins dyed red and a covering of fine leather^[m] on top of it.

²⁰ He^(O) made upright supports^[n] of acacia wood for the tabernacle. ²¹ Each support was fifteen feet^[o] long and twenty-seven inches^[p] wide. ²² Each support had two tenons for joining one to another. He did the same for all the supports of the tabernacle. ²³ He made supports for the tabernacle as follows: He made twenty for the south side, ²⁴ and he made forty silver bases to put under the twenty supports, two bases under the first support for its two tenons, and two bases under each of the following supports for their two tenons. ²⁵ For the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty supports, ²⁶ with their forty silver bases, two bases under the first support and two bases under each of the following ones. ²⁷ And for the back of the tabernacle, on the west side, he made six supports. ²⁸ He also made two additional supports for the two back corners of the tabernacle. ²⁹ They were paired at the bottom and joined together^[q] at the^[r] top in a single ring. This is what he did with both of them for the two corners. ³⁰ So there were eight supports with their sixteen silver bases, two bases under each one.

³¹ He made five crossbars of acacia wood for the supports on one side of the tabernacle, ³² five crossbars for the supports on the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for those at the back of the tabernacle on the west. ³³ He made the central crossbar run through the middle of the supports from one end to the other. ³⁴ He overlaid them with gold and made their rings out of gold as holders for the crossbars. He also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

³⁵ Then^(P) he made the curtain with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. He made it with a design of cherubim worked into it. ³⁶ He made four pillars of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold; their hooks were of gold. And he cast four silver bases for the pillars.

³⁷ He made a screen embroidered^[s] with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen for the entrance to the tent, ³⁸ together with its five pillars and their hooks. He overlaid the tops of the pillars and their bands with gold, but their five bases were bronze.

Crucified Between Two Criminals

³² As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross.^{(A) 33} When they came to a place called Golgotha^(B) (which means Place of the Skull), ³⁴ they gave him wine^[a] mixed with gall to drink. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots.^{[b](C) 36} Then they sat down and were guarding him there. ³⁷ Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: This Is Jesus, the King of the Jews.

³⁸ Then two criminals^[c] were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.^{(D) 39} Those who passed by were yelling insults at^[d] him, shaking their heads^{(E) 40} and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” ^{(F) 41} In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,^[e] mocked him and said, ⁴² “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel!^(G) Let him^[f] come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God; let God rescue him now—if he takes pleasure in him!^[g] For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him taunted him.^(H)

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon,^[h] darkness came over the whole land.^{[i](I) 46} About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá^[j] sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”^[k](J)

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink.^{(K) 49} But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰ But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.^{(L) 51} Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary^(M) was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs were also opened^(N) and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ⁵³ And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” ^(O)

⁵⁵ Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him were there, watching from a distance.^{(P) 56} Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.^(Q)

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷ When it was evening,^(R) a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple^(S) of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Then Pilate ordered that it^[l] be released. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.^{(T) 61} Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.

The Closely Guarded Tomb

⁶² The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate^{(U) 63} and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’^{(V) 64} So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples^(W) may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take^[m] guards,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.^(X)

Psalm 34

The Lord Delivers the Righteous

Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech,^(A) who drove him out, and he departed.

¹⁰ “Let all the skilled artisans^[a] among you come and make everything that the Lord has commanded:^{(A) 11} the tabernacle—its tent and covering, its clasps and supports, its crossbars, its pillars and bases; ¹² the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the curtain for the screen; ¹³ the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence; ¹⁴ the lampstand for light with its utensils and lamps as well as the oil for the light; ¹⁵ the altar of incense with its poles; the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the entryway screen for the entrance to the tabernacle; ¹⁶ the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; ¹⁷ the hangings of the courtyard, its posts and bases, and the screen for the gate of the courtyard; ¹⁸ the tent pegs for the tabernacle and the tent pegs for the courtyard, along with their ropes; ¹⁹ and the specially woven^[b] garments for ministering in the sanctuary—the holy garments for the priest Aaron and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”^(B)

²⁰ Then the entire Israelite community left Moses’s presence. ²¹ Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.^{(C) 22} Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry—everyone who presented a presentation offering of gold to the Lord. ²³ Everyone who possessed blue, purple, or scarlet yarn,^(D) fine linen or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or fine leather,^[c] brought them. ²⁴ Everyone making an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the Lord. Everyone who possessed acacia wood useful for any task in the work brought it. ²⁵ Every skilled^[d] woman^(E) spun yarn with her hands and brought it: blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. ²⁶ And all the women whose hearts were moved spun the goat hair by virtue of their skill. ²⁷ The leaders^(F) brought onyx and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece, ²⁸ as well as the spice^(G) and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. ²⁹ So the Israelites brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts prompted them to bring something for all the work that the Lord, through Moses, had commanded to be done.^(H)

Bezalel and Oholiab

³⁰ Moses^(I) then said to the Israelites, “Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³¹ He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft ³² to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, ³³ to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft. ³⁴ He has also given^[e] both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill^[f] to do all the work^(J) of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer^[g] in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs.

36 Bezalel, Oholiab, and all the skilled^[h] people are to work based on everything the Lord has commanded. The Lord has given them wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work of constructing the sanctuary.”^(K)

² So Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person in whose heart the Lord had placed wisdom, all whose hearts moved them,^(L) to come to the work and do it. ³ They took from Moses’s presence all the contributions that the Israelites had brought for the task of making the sanctuary. Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.

⁴ Then all the artisans who were doing all the work for the sanctuary came one by one from the work they were doing ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed^(M) for the construction of the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

⁶ After Moses gave an order, they sent a proclamation throughout the camp: “Let no man or woman make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people stopped. ⁷ The materials were sufficient for them to do all the work. There was more than enough.

Building the Tabernacle

⁸ All^(N) the skilled artisans^[i] among those doing the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains. Bezalel made them of finely spun linen, as well as blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them. ⁹ Each curtain was forty-two feet^[j] long and six feet^[k] wide; all the curtains had the same measurements. ¹⁰ He joined five of the curtains to each other, and the other five curtains he joined to each other. ¹¹ He made loops of blue yarn on the edge of the last curtain in the first set and did the same on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. ¹² He made fifty loops on the one curtain and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set, so that the loops lined up with each other. ¹³ He also made fifty gold clasps and joined the curtains to each other, so that the tabernacle became a single unit.

¹⁴ He made curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven of them. ¹⁵ Each curtain was forty-five feet^[l] long and six feet wide. All eleven curtains had the same measurements. ¹⁶ He joined five of the curtains together, and the other six together. ¹⁷ He made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set and fifty loops on the edge of the corresponding curtain in the second set. ¹⁸ He made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together as a single unit. ¹⁹ He also made a covering for the tent from ram skins dyed red and a covering of fine leather^[m] on top of it.

²⁰ He^(O) made upright supports^[n] of acacia wood for the tabernacle. ²¹ Each support was fifteen feet^[o] long and twenty-seven inches^[p] wide. ²² Each support had two tenons for joining one to another. He did the same for all the supports of the tabernacle. ²³ He made supports for the tabernacle as follows: He made twenty for the south side, ²⁴ and he made forty silver bases to put under the twenty supports, two bases under the first support for its two tenons, and two bases under each of the following supports for their two tenons. ²⁵ For the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty supports, ²⁶ with their forty silver bases, two bases under the first support and two bases under each of the following ones. ²⁷ And for the back of the tabernacle, on the west side, he made six supports. ²⁸ He also made two additional supports for the two back corners of the tabernacle. ²⁹ They were paired at the bottom and joined together^[q] at the^[r] top in a single ring. This is what he did with both of them for the two corners. ³⁰ So there were eight supports with their sixteen silver bases, two bases under each one.

³¹ He made five crossbars of acacia wood for the supports on one side of the tabernacle, ³² five crossbars for the supports on the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for those at the back of the tabernacle on the west. ³³ He made the central crossbar run through the middle of the supports from one end to the other. ³⁴ He overlaid them with gold and made their rings out of gold as holders for the crossbars. He also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

³⁵ Then^(P) he made the curtain with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. He made it with a design of cherubim worked into it. ³⁶ He made four pillars of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold; their hooks were of gold. And he cast four silver bases for the pillars.

³⁷ He made a screen embroidered^[s] with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen for the entrance to the tent, ³⁸ together with its five pillars and their hooks. He overlaid the tops of the pillars and their bands with gold, but their five bases were bronze.

Crucified Between Two Criminals

³² As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross.^{(A) 33} When they came to a place called Golgotha^(B) (which means Place of the Skull), ³⁴ they gave him wine^[a] mixed with gall to drink. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots.^{[b](C) 36} Then they sat down and were guarding him there. ³⁷ Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: This Is Jesus, the King of the Jews.

³⁸ Then two criminals^[c] were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.^{(D) 39} Those who passed by were yelling insults at^[d] him, shaking their heads^{(E) 40} and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” ^{(F) 41} In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,^[e] mocked him and said, ⁴² “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel!^(G) Let him^[f] come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God; let God rescue him now—if he takes pleasure in him!^[g] For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him taunted him.^(H)

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon,^[h] darkness came over the whole land.^{[i](I) 46} About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá^[j] sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”^[k](J)

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink.^{(K) 49} But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰ But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.^{(L) 51} Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary^(M) was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs were also opened^(N) and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ⁵³ And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” ^(O)

⁵⁵ Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him were there, watching from a distance.^{(P) 56} Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.^(Q)

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷ When it was evening,^(R) a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple^(S) of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Then Pilate ordered that it^[l] be released. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.^{(T) 61} Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.

The Closely Guarded Tomb

⁶² The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate^{(U) 63} and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’^{(V) 64} So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples^(W) may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take^[m] guards,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.^(X)

Psalm 34

The Lord Delivers the Righteous

Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech,^(A) who drove him out, and he departed.

New Stone Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.^{(A) 2} Be prepared by morning. Come up Mount Sinai in the morning and stand before me on the mountaintop. ³ No one may go up with you; in fact, no one should be seen anywhere on the mountain. Even the flocks and herds are not to graze in front of that mountain.”^(B)

⁴ Moses cut two stone tablets like the first ones. He got up early in the morning, and taking the two stone tablets in his hand, he climbed Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had commanded him.

⁵ The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed his name, “the Lord.” ⁶ The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed:

The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth,^{(C) 7} maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin.^(D) But he will not leave the guilty^(E) unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

⁸ Moses immediately knelt low on the ground and worshiped. ⁹ Then he said, “My Lord, if I have indeed found favor with you, my Lord, please go with us (even though this is a stiff-necked people), forgive our iniquity and our sin, and accept us as your own possession.”^(F)

Covenant Obligations

¹⁰ And the Lord responded, “Look, I am making a covenant. In the presence of all your people I will perform wonders that have never been done^[a] in the whole earth or in any nation. All the people you live among will see the Lord’s work, for what I am doing with you is awe-inspiring.^{(G) 11} Observe what I command you today. I am going to drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hethites, Perizzites, Hivites,^[b] and Jebusites. ¹² Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land that you are going to enter; otherwise, they will become a snare among you.^{(H) 13} Instead, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, and chop down their Asherah poles.^{(I) 14} Because the Lord is jealous^(J) for his reputation, you are never to bow down to another god.^[c] He is a jealous God.

¹⁵ “Do not make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land, or else when they prostitute themselves with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices.^{(K) 16} Then you will take some of their daughters as brides for your sons. Their daughters will prostitute themselves with their gods and cause your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods.^(L)

¹⁷ “Do not make cast images^(M) of gods for yourselves.

¹⁸ “Observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. You are to eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib,^[d] as I commanded you, for you came out of Egypt in the month of Abib.^(N)

¹⁹ “The firstborn^(O) male from every womb belongs to me, including all your male^[e][f] livestock, the firstborn of cattle or sheep. ²⁰ You may redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.^(P) You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

²¹ “You are to labor six days but you must rest^(Q) on the seventh day; you must even rest during plowing and harvesting times.

²² “Observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering^[g] at the turn of the agricultural year. ²³ Three times a year^(R) all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. ²⁴ For I will drive out nations^(S) before you and enlarge your territory.^(T) No one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God.

²⁵ “Do not present^[h] the blood for my sacrifice with anything leavened. The sacrifice of the Passover Festival must not remain until morning.^(U)

²⁶ “Bring the best firstfruits^(V) of your land to the house of the Lord your God.

“You must not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

²⁷ The Lord also said to Moses, “Write^(W) down these words, for I have made a covenant with you and with Israel based on these words.”

²⁸ Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat food or drink water. He wrote the Ten Commandments,^(X) the words of the covenant, on the tablets.

Moses’s Radiant Face

²⁹ As Moses descended from Mount Sinai—with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain—he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord.^{[i](Y) 30} When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone!^(Z) They were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called out to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community returned to him, and Moses spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he commanded them to do everything the Lord had told him on Mount Sinai. ³³ When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴ But whenever Moses went before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out. After he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded,^{(AA) 35} and the Israelites would see that Moses’s face^[j] was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil over his face again until he went to speak with the Lord.

The Sabbath Command

35 Moses assembled the entire Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do:^{(AB) 2} For six days work is to be done, but on the seventh day you are to have a holy day, a Sabbath^(AC) of complete rest to the Lord. Anyone who does work on it must be executed. ³ Do not light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day.”^(AD)

Building the Tabernacle

⁴ Then Moses said to the entire Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ⁵ Take^(AE) up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze; ⁶ blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; ⁷ ram skins dyed red and fine leather;^[k] acacia wood; ⁸ oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; ⁹ and onyx with gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece.

Jesus or Barabbas

¹⁵ At the festival^(A) the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.^{[a] 17} So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ^{(B) 18} For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over.

¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.”^(C)

²⁰ The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. ²¹ The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”

“Barabbas!” they answered.

²² Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?”

They all answered, “Crucify him!” ^(D)

²³ Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!” ^(E)

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.^[b] See to it yourselves!” ^(F)

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood be on us^(G) and on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.^(H)

Mocked by the Military

²⁷ Then^(I) the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company^[c] around him.^{(J) 28} They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe.^{(K) 29} They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” ³⁰ Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.^(L)

Wisdom versus Foolishness

The Gold Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make gods^[a] for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!” ^(A)

² Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings^(B) that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took the gold from them, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf.

Then they said, “Israel, these are your gods,^[b] who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” ^(C)

⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it and made an announcement: “There will be a festival^(D) to the Lord tomorrow.” ⁶ Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party.^(E)

⁷ The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly.^{(F) 8} They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, these are your gods, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’”^{(G) 9} The Lord also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked^(H) people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone, so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”^(I)

¹¹ But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God: “Lord, why does your anger burn against your people you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and eliminate them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for your people.^{(J) 13} Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—you swore to them by yourself^(K) and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’”^{(L) 14} So the Lord relented^(M) concerning the disaster he had said he would bring on his people.

¹⁵ Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides—inscribed front and back. ¹⁶ The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was God’s writing, engraved on the tablets.^(N)

¹⁷ When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.”

¹⁸ But Moses replied,

¹⁹ As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain. ²⁰ He took the calf they had made, burned it up, and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink the water.

²¹ Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?”

²² “Don’t be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.^{(O) 23} They said to me, ‘Make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ ²⁴ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”

²⁵ Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them get out of control, making them a laughingstock to their enemies.^{[c] 26} And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. ²⁷ He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man fasten his sword to his side; go back and forth through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”^{(P) 28} The Levites did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand men fell dead that day among the people. ²⁹ Afterward Moses said, “Today you have been dedicated^[d] to the Lord, since each man went against his son and his brother. Therefore you have brought a blessing on yourselves today.”^(Q)

³⁰ The following day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I will be able to atone for your sin.”^(R)

³¹ So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves.^{(S) 32} Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.”^(T)

³³ The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will erase from my book.^{(U) 34} Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, my angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.”^{(V) 35} And the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what they did with the calf Aaron had made.

The Tent Outside the Camp

33 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go up from here, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your offspring.^{(W) 2} I will send an angel ahead of you and will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hethites, Perizzites,^[e] Hivites, and Jebusites.^{(X) 3} Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”^{(Y) 4} When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn’t put on their jewelry.^(Z)

⁵ For the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites: You are a stiff-necked people. If I went up with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.” ⁶ So the Israelites remained stripped of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

⁷ Now Moses took a tent and pitched it outside the camp, at a distance from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting. Anyone who wanted to consult the Lord would go to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp.^{(AA) 8} Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand up, each one at the door of his tent, and they would watch Moses until he entered the tent. ⁹ When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance to the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.^{(AB) 10} As all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up, then bow in worship, each one at the door of his tent. ¹¹ The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend, then Moses would return to the camp. His assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent.^(AC)

The Lord’s Glory

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name,^(AD) and you have also found favor with me.’ ¹³ Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways,^(AE) and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”^(AF)

¹⁴ And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^(AG)

¹⁵ “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. ¹⁶ How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”^(AH)

¹⁷ The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”^(AI)

¹⁹ He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”^{(AJ) 20} But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see^(AK) me and live.” ²¹ The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, ²² and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.^{(AL) 23} Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

Peter Denies His Lord

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.^(A) A servant girl approached him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”

⁷⁰ But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

⁷¹ When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” ^(B)

⁷² And again he denied it with an oath:^(C) “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent^[a] gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, ⁷⁵ and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”^(D) And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Jesus Handed Over to Pilate

27 When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death.^{(E) 2} After tying him up, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate,^[b] the governor.^(F)

Judas Hangs Himself

³ Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.^{(G) 4} “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said.

“What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!” ⁵ So he threw the silver into the temple^(H) and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.

⁶ The chief priests took the silver and said, “It’s not permitted^(I) to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷ They conferred together and bought the potter’s field with it as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ Therefore that field has been called “Field of Blood” to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took^[c] the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him whose price was set by the Israelites, ¹⁰ and they gave^[d] them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.^[e](J)

Jesus Faces the Governor

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor.^(K) “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.

Jesus answered, “You say so.”^{(L) 12} While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.^(M)

¹³ Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” ¹⁴ But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.^(N)

Psalm 33

Praise to the Creator