
THE HEBREWS INCREASE IN 
EGYPT{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}Here are the 
names of the sons of 
Israel who came to Egypt 
with Jacob, each with his 
family: {I}2_{/}Reuben, 
Simeon, Levi and Judah, 
{I}3_{/}Issachar, Zebulun 
and Benjamin, {I}4_{/}Dan 
and Naphtali, Gad and 
Asher. {I}5_{/}These 
descendants of Jacob 
numbered seventy in all; 
apart from these, Joseph 
was already in Egypt.
{I}6_{/}Then Joseph died 
as did all his brothers 
and all that generation. 
{I}7_{/}The sons of 
Israel were fruitful and 
kept increasing. To such 
an extent did they 
multiply and grow in 
strength that the land 
teemed with them.
THE HEBREWS REDUCED TO 
SLAVERY{/}

{I}8_{/}Then a new king 
who had not known Joseph 
came to power {I}9_{/}and 
said to his people, "The 
Israelites are more 
numerous and stronger 
than we are. {I}10_{/}Let 
us deal warily with them 
lest they increase still 
more and, in case of war, 
side with our enemy, 
fight against us and 
escape from the land." 
{I}11_{/}So they set 
taskmasters over them to 
oppress them with forced 
labor. In that way they 
built the storage towns 
of Pithom and Rameses. 
{I}12_{/}But the more 
they oppressed the 
Hebrews the more they 
increased and spread, 
until the Egyptians 
dreaded the Israelites 
{I}13_{/}and became 
ruthless in making them 
work. {I}14_{/}They made 
life bitter for them in 
hard labor with bricks 
and mortar and with all 
kinds of work in the 
fields. In all their work 
the Egyptians treated 
them harshly.
{I}15_{/}Then the king of 
Egypt gave orders to the 
Hebrew midwives - one of 
whom was called Shiprah 
and the other Puah - 
{I}16_{/}that when they 
attended Hebrew women who 
were on the birthstool 
and saw that it was a 
boy, they were to kill 
it, but if it was a girl 
they were to let it live. 
{I}17_{/}But the midwives 
feared God and did not do 
as the king of Egypt 
commanded but let the 
children live. 
{I}18_{/}The king called 
the midwives and said, 
"Why have you acted like 
that and let the children 
live?" {I}19_{/}The 
midwives replied, 
"Because the Hebrew women 
are not like the Egyptian 
women. They are vigorous 
and give birth even 
before a midwife 
arrives."
{I}20_{/}God blessed the 
midwives, and the people 
increased and became even 
more numerous. 
{I}21_{/}Because the 
midwives revered God, he 
made them mothers of 
families.
{I}22_{/}Pharaoh then 
gave this order to all 
the people: "Every infant 
boy born to the Hebrews 
must be thrown into the 
Nile, but every girl may 
live."
MOSES SAVED FROM THE 
RIVER{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}Now a man 
belonging to the clan of 
Levi married a woman of 
his own tribe. 
{I}2_{/}She gave birth to 
a boy and, seeing that he 
was a beautiful child, 
she kept him hidden for 
three months. {I}3_{/}As 
she could not conceal him 
any longer, she made a 
basket out of papyrus 
leaves and coated it with 
tar and pitch. She then 
laid the child in the 
basket and placed it 
among the reeds near the 
bank of the Nile; 
{I}4_{/}but the sister of 
the child kept at a 
distance to see what 
would happen to him. 
{I}5_{/}Now the daughter 
of Pharaoh came down to 
bathe in the Nile; her 
attendants meanwhile 
walked along the bank. 
When she saw the basket 
among the reeds, she sent 
her maidservant to fetch 
it. {I}6_{/}She opened 
the basket and saw the 
child - a boy, and he was 
crying! She felt sorry 
for him, for she thought: 
"This is one of the 
Hebrew children."
{I}7_{/}Then the sister 
of the child said to 
Pharaoh's daughter, 
"Shall I go and get one 
of the Hebrew women to 
nurse the baby for you?" 
{I}8_{/}Pharaoh's 
daughter agreed, and the 
girl went to call the 
mother of the child. 
{I}9_{/}Pharaoh's 
daughter said to her, 
"Take the child and nurse 
him for me and I will pay 
you." So the woman took 
the child and nursed him 
{I}10_{/}and, when the 
child had grown, she 
brought him to Pharaoh's 
daughter who adopted him 
as her son. And she named 
him Moses to recall that 
she had drawn him out of 
the water.
MOSES DISCOVERS HIS 
PEOPLE{/}

{I}11_{/}After a fairly 
long time, Moses, by now 
a grown man, wanted to 
meet his fellow Hebrews. 
He noticed how heavily 
they were burdened and he 
saw an Egyptian striking 
a Hebrew, one of his own 
people. {I}12_{/}He 
looked around and seeing 
no one, he killed the 
Egyptian and hid him in 
the sand.
{I}13_{/}When he went out 
the next day he saw two 
Hebrews quarreling. Moses 
said to the man in the 
wrong, "Why are you 
striking a fellow 
countryman?" {I}14_{/}But 
he answered, "Who has set 
you prince and judge over 
us? Do you intend to kill 
me as you killed the 
Egyptian?" Moses was 
afraid and thought, "What 
I did must be known."
{I}15_{/}When Pharaoh 
heard about it he tried 
to kill Moses, but Moses 
fled from Pharaoh and 
went to live in the land 
of Midian. There he sat 
down by a well.
MOSES IN MIDIAN{/}

{I}16_{/}A priest of 
Midian had seven 
daughters. They came to 
draw water and fill the 
troughs to water their 
father's sheep. 
{I}17_{/}Some shepherds 
came and drove them away; 
but Moses went to their 
help and watered the 
sheep. 
{I}18_{/}When the girls 
returned to their father 
Reuel, he asked them, 
"Why have you come back 
so early today?" 
{I}19_{/}They said, "An 
Egyptian protected us 
from the shepherds, and 
even drew water for us 
and watered the sheep." 
{I}20_{/}The man said, 
"Where is he? Why did you 
leave him there? Call him 
and offer him a meal."
{I}21_{/}Moses agreed to 
stay with the man and he 
gave Moses his daughter 
Zipporah in marriage. 
{I}22_{/}She had a child 
and Moses named him 
Gershom, to recall that 
he had been a guest in a 
strange land.
GOD REMEMBERS ISRAEL{/}

{I}23_{/}It happened 
during that long period 
of time that the king of 
Egypt died. The sons of 
Israel groaned under 
their slavery; they cried 
to God for help and from 
their bondage their cry 
ascended to God. 
{I}24_{/}God heard their 
sigh and remembered his 
covenant with Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob. 
{I}25_{/}God looked upon 
the sons of Israel and 
revealed himself to them. 
THE BURNING BUSH{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}Moses pastured 
the sheep of Jethro his 
father-in-law, priest of 
Midian. One day he led 
the flock to the far side 
of the desert and came to 
Horeb, the Mountain of 
God.
{I}2_{/}The Angel of 
Yahweh appeared to him by 
means of a flame of fire 
in the middle of a bush. 
Moses saw that although 
the bush was on fire it 
did not burn up. 
{I}3_{/}Moses thought, "I 
will go and see this 
amazing sight, why is the 
bush not burning up?"
{I}4_{/}Yahweh saw that 
Moses was drawing near to 
look, and God called to 
him from the middle of 
the bush, "Moses! Moses!" 
He replied, "Here I am." 
{I}5{/}Yahweh said to 
him, "Do not come near; 
take off your sandals 
because the place where 
you are standing is holy 
ground." {I}6_{/}And God 
continued, "I am the God 
of your fathers, the God 
of Abraham, the God of 
Isaac and the God of 
Jacob."
Moses hid his face lest 
his eyes look on God. 
{I}7_{/}Yahweh said, "I 
have seen the humiliation 
of my people in Egypt and 
I hear their cry when 
they are cruelly treated 
by their taskmasters. I 
know their suffering. 
{I}8_{/}I have come down 
to free them from the 
power of the Egyptians 
and to bring them up from 
that land to a beautiful 
spacious land, a land 
flowing with milk and 
honey, 
to the territory of the 
Canaanites, the Hittites, 
the Amorites, the 
Perizzites, the Hivites 
and the Jebusites. 
{I}9_{/}The cry of the 
sons of Israel has 
reached me and I have 
seen how the Egyptians 
oppress them.
{I}10_{/}Go now! I am 
sending you to Pharaoh to 
bring my people, the sons 
of Israel, out of Egypt."
{I}11_{/}Moses said to 
God, "Who am I that I 
should go to Pharaoh and 
bring the people of 
Israel out of Egypt?"
{I}12_{/}God replied, "I 
will be with you and this 
will be the sign that I 
have sent you. When you 
have brought the people 
out of Egypt, you will 
worship God on this 
mountain." 
{I}13_{/}Moses answered 
God, "If I go to the 
Israelites and say to 
them: 'The God of your 
fathers has sent me to 
you,' they will ask me: 
'What is his name?' What 
shall I answer them?"
{I}14_{/}God said to 
Moses, "I AM WHO AM. This 
is what you will say to 
the sons of Israel: 'I AM 
sent me to you." 
{I}15_{/}God then said to 
Moses, "You will say to 
the Israelites: 'YAHWEH, 
the God of your fathers, 
the God of Abraham, the 
God of Isaac and the God 
of Jacob, has sent me.' 
That will be my name 
forever, and by this name 
they shall call upon me 
for all generations to 
come.
MOSES IS GIVEN HIS 
MISSION{/}

{I}16_{/}Go! Call 
together the elders of 
Israel and say to them, 
'Yahweh, the God of your 
fathers, the God of 
Abraham, the God of Isaac 
and the God of Jacob 
appeared to me and said: 
I have seen and taken 
account of how the 
Egyptians have treated 
you, {I}17_{/}and I mean 
to bring you out of all 
this oppression in Egypt 
and take you to the land 
of the Canaanites, a land 
flowing with milk and 
honey.' 
{I}18_{/}The elders of 
Israel will listen to you 
and, with them, you shall 
go to the palace of the 
king of Egypt and say to 
him: 'The God of the 
Hebrews, Yahweh, has met 
with us. Now let us go a 
three days' journey into 
the wilderness to 
sacrifice to Yahweh our 
God.'
{I}19_{/}I well know that 
the king of the Egyptians 
will not allow you to go 
unless he is forced to do 
so. {I}20_{/}I will 
therefore stretch out my 
hand and strike Egypt in 
extraordinary ways, after 
which he will let you go. 
{I}21_{/}And I will make 
the Egyptians treat my 
people well when you 
leave; you will not go 
empty-handed. 
{I}22_{/}Each woman will 
ask her neighbor, and any 
Egyptian woman staying in 
her house, to lend her 
ornaments of silver and 
gold, and clothing. With 
these you will clothe 
your sons and daughters, 
and in this way you will 
plunder the Egyptians."
MOSES GRANTED MIRACULOUS 
POWERS{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}Moses replied to 
Yahweh, "What if they 
will not believe me or 
listen to me? Maybe they 
will say: 'That's not 
true. Yahweh did not 
appear to you."
{I}2_{/}Yahweh then asked 
him, "What is that in 
your right hand?" "A 
staff," he replied. 
{I}3_{/}God said, "Throw 
it to the ground." He 
threw it and it became a 
serpent; and Moses drew 
back from it. 
{I}4_{/}Yahweh said, 
"Take it by the tail." 
Moses took it and it was 
again a staff in his 
hand. {I}5_{/}Then Yahweh 
said, "With such signs 
they may believe that 
Yahweh, the God of your 
fathers, appeared to 
you."
{I}6_{/}Again Yahweh said 
to him, "Put your hand on 
your chest." He put his 
hand on his chest and 
when he took it away his 
hand was covered with 
leprosy, white as snow. 
{I}7_{/}And God said, 
"Put your hand back on 
your chest." So he put it 
back, and when he took it 
away again, his hand was 
healthy like the rest of 
his body. 
{I}8_{/}Yahweh added, "If 
they don't believe you 
and are not convinced by 
the first sign, they will 
believe you when they see 
the second. {I}9_{/}But 
if these two signs are 
not enough to make them 
believe you, take some 
water from the Nile and 
pour it on the ground; 
and the water from the 
river will turn into 
blood."
AARON, INTERPRETER OF 
MOSES{/}

{I}10_{/}Moses said to 
Yahweh, "But, my Lord, 
never have I been a 
fluent speaker either 
before or after you have 
spoken to me. I cannot 
find words to express 
what I want to say." 
{I}11_{/}Yahweh said to 
him,"Who gave man a 
mouth? Who makes him dumb 
or deaf, with sight or 
blind? Is it not I, 
Yahweh? {I}12_{/}Go now. 
I will be on your lips 
and will inspire what you 
say."
{I}13_{/}But Moses 
insisted, "My Lord, I 
pray you, why not send 
someone else?" 
{I}14_{/}At this Yahweh 
became angry with Moses 
and said, "Haven't you 
Aaron, your brother, the 
Levite? I know he speaks 
well. Look! He is coming 
to meet you, {I}15_{/}and 
he will be glad when he 
sees you. You will speak 
to him and tell him what 
I have told you to say. 
And when you tell him, or 
when he speaks, I will be 
with you and teach you 
what you have to say. 
{I}16_{/}Aaron will speak 
for you as a prophet 
speaks for his god. 
{I}17_{/}And with this 
staff in your hand you 
will work miraculous 
signs."
MOSES RETURNS TO EGYPT{/}

{I}18_{/}Then Moses went 
back to Jethro, his 
father-in-law, and said 
to him, "I am going back 
to my brothers in Egypt 
to see if they are still 
alive." Jethro said to 
Moses, "Go in peace!"
{I}19_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses in the land of 
Midian, "Go back to Egypt 
for all the men who 
wanted to kill you are 
dead." 
{I}20_{/}Moses took with 
him his wife and his 
sons. He put them on a 
donkey and set off for 
Egypt, holding in his 
hand the staff of God.
{I}21_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "You are returning 
to Egypt and you will 
perform all the 
miraculous signs that I 
have empowered you to do, 
in the presence of 
Pharaoh. I will, however, 
make him stubborn so that 
he will not let the 
people go. {I}22_{/}You 
shall then say to 
Pharaoh: 'This is 
Yahweh's message: Israel 
is my firstborn son, 
{I}23_{/}and I said to 
you: Let my son go that 
he may worship me. But 
you have refused to let 
him go and, because of 
this, I will take the 
life of your firstborn 
son."
{I}24_{/}At a lodging 
place on the way, the 
Angel of Yahweh 
approached Moses and 
tried to kill him. 
{I}25_{/}But Zipporah 
took a flint stone and 
cut her son's foreskin 
and, with it, she touched 
the feet of Moses saying, 
"You are now my husband 
by blood!" {I}26_{/}And 
the Angel left him. 
Zipporah said 'husband by 
blood' because of the 
circumcision.
MOSES MEETS AARON{/}

{I}27_{/}Yahweh said to 
Aaron, "Go into the 
desert and meet your 
brother, Moses." So Aaron 
went and met him at the 
Mountain of God and 
kissed him. 
{I}28_{/}Moses related to 
Aaron all that Yahweh had 
said to him and all the 
signs he had commanded 
him to perform. 
{I}29_{/}Moses and Aaron 
assembled all the elders 
of the Israelites 
{I}30_{/}and Aaron told 
them everything that 
Yahweh had said to Moses. 
He also performed all the 
signs before the people 
and they believed him. 
{I}31_{/}When they heard 
that Yahweh had visited 
the people of Israel and 
had seen their suffering, 
they bowed to the ground 
and worshiped him.
MOSES SPEAKS WITH 
PHARAOH{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}After this Moses 
and Aaron went to Pharaoh 
and said, "This is what 
Yahweh, the God of Israel 
says: 'Let my people go 
that they may hold a 
feast for me in the 
desert." {I}2_{/}Pharaoh 
replied, "Who is Yahweh 
that I should listen to 
his voice and let Israel 
go? I do not know Yahweh 
and I will not let Israel 
go." {I}3_{/}They then 
said, "The God of the 
Hebrews has met with us. 
Allow us to make a three 
days' journey to the 
desert. There we shall 
offer sacrifices to 
Yahweh, our God, lest he 
punish us with the plague 
or the sword." 
{I}4_{/}The king of Egypt 
said to them, "Moses and 
Aaron, why do you take 
people away from their 
work? Get back to your 
tasks. {I}5_{/}The people 
are now numerous and you 
are asking them to 
interrupt their work."
{I}6_{/}That same day 
Pharaoh gave the 
following order to the 
taskmasters of the people 
and to the Israelite 
foremen, {I}7_{/}"You 
will no longer supply the 
people with straw for 
making bricks. Let them 
go and find it 
themselves; {I}8_{/}but 
you will exact from them 
the same number of bricks 
as before, not one less. 
They are lazy and that is 
why they are crying out 
to go and sacrifice to 
their God. {I}9_{/}Make 
the work harder for the 
people and pay no 
attention to their lies."
FIRST DIFFICULTIES{/}

{I}10_{/}The slave 
drivers and their 
Israelite foremen went 
out and said to the 
people, "Pharaoh will not 
give you any more straw. 
{I}11_{/}Go and get it 
yourselves wherever you 
can find it, but the 
amount of work done must 
be the same as before."
{I}12_{/}The people 
scattered throughout 
Egypt to gather stubble 
to use for straw. 
{I}13_{/}The taskmasters 
kept pressing them, 
saying, "Complete the 
work required of you each 
day, as you did when you 
had straw." {I}14_{/}The 
taskmasters beat the 
Israelite foremen they 
had placed over the 
people saying, "Why 
haven't your people 
completed the same amount 
of work as before?"
{I}15_{/}The Israelite 
foremen complained to 
Pharaoh saying, "Why do 
you treat us like this? 
{I}16_{/}We are given no 
straw and yet we are told 
to make bricks. We are 
being beaten, but the 
fault is with your own 
people." {I}17_{/}Pharaoh 
replied, "Lazy! You are 
lazy, and that is why you 
ask to go and sacrifice 
to Yahweh. {I}18_{/}Go 
back to work. You will 
not be given straw but 
you will produce the same 
number of bricks."
{I}19_{/}The Israelite 
foremen felt they were in 
great trouble. 
{I}20_{/}They met Moses 
and Aaron who were 
waiting for them 
{I}21_{/}and said to 
them, "May Yahweh look 
upon you and judge you, 
because you have made us 
hateful to Pharaoh and 
his ministers, and placed 
in his hand a sword to 
kill us."
{I}22_{/}Moses then 
turned to Yahweh and 
said, "O Lord! Why have 
you treated your people 
so badly? Why did you 
send me? {I}23_{/}From 
the time I spoke to 
Pharaoh in your name, he 
has brought trouble on 
this people and you have 
done nothing to rescue 
them!"
{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Now you will see 
that I will overcome him 
and oblige him to let you 
go, even force him to 
drive you out of his 
land."
ANOTHER NARRATIVE OF THE 
CALL OF MOSES{/}

{I}2_{/}God spoke to 
Moses saying, "I am 
Yahweh! {I}3_{/}I 
appeared to Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob as God 
Almighty, but I did not 
make myself known to them 
by the name of Yahweh. 
{I}4_{/}I established my 
covenant with them 
promising to give them 
the land of Canaan, in 
which they lived as 
strangers, {I}5_{/}and 
now I remember my 
covenant as I hear the 
groaning of the 
Israelites enslaved by 
the Egyptians.
{I}6_{/}Therefore say 
this to them: "I am 
Yahweh. I will take you 
away from the burden of 
Egypt and free you from 
its bondage; I will 
redeem you with the blows 
of my powerful hand. 
{I}7_{/}I will take you 
for my people and you 
will know that I am 
Yahweh your God who 
delivered you from the 
slavery of the Egyptians. 
{I}8_{/}I will bring you 
to the land I swore I 
would give to Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob and I 
will give it to you as 
your own possession. I am 
Yahweh."
{I}9_{/}This is how Moses 
spoke to the people of 
Israel but they did not 
listen, so discouraged 
were they by their cruel 
slavery.
{I}10_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses saying, 
{I}11_{/}"Go and speak to 
Pharaoh, king of Egypt 
and tell him to let the 
people of Israel leave 
the country." 
{I}12_{/}But Moses said, 
"If the sons of Israel 
paid no attention to me, 
how then will Pharaoh 
listen to me, a man who 
has difficulty in 
expressing himself?" 
{I}13_{/}But Yahweh spoke 
to Moses and Aaron and 
ordered them, and Pharaoh 
as well, to bring the 
people of Israel out of 
Egypt.
THE FOREFATHERS OF MOSES 
AND AARON{/}

{I}14_{/}These were the 
heads of the tribes:
Sons of Reuben, Israel's 
firstborn: Hanoch, Pallu, 
Hezron and Carmi; these 
are the families of 
Reuben.
{I}15_{/}Sons of Simeon: 
Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, 
Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, 
son of a Canaanite woman; 
these are the families of 
Simeon.
{I}16_{/}These are the 
sons of Levi with their 
descendants: Gershon, 
Kohath and Merari. Levi 
lived a hundred and 
thirty-seven years. 
{I}17_{/}Sons of Gershon: 
Libni and Shimei and 
their descendants.
{I}18_{/}Sons of Kohath: 
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and 
Uzziel. Kohath lived for 
a hundred and thirty-
three years.
{I}19_{/}Sons of Merari: 
Mahli and Mushi. These 
are the descendants of 
Levi with their families. 
{I}20_{/}Amram married 
Jochebed, his aunt, who 
gave him two sons, Aaron 
and Moses. Amram lived a 
hundred and thirty-seven 
years.
{I}21_{/}The sons of 
Izhar were: Korah, Nepheg 
and Zichri.
{I}22_{/}The sons of 
Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan 
and Sithri.
{I}23_{/}Aaron married 
Elisheba, daughter of 
Amminadab and sister of 
Nahshon, and she bore him 
Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and 
Ithamar.
{I}24_{/}The sons of 
Korah: Assir, Elkanah and 
Abiasaph. These are the 
families of the 
Korahites. 
{I}25_{/}Eleazar, son of 
Aaron, married one of 
Putiel's daughters and 
Phinehas was their son.
These are the heads of 
the families of the 
Levites according to 
their clans.
{I}26_{/}It was to Aaron 
and Moses that Yahweh 
said, "Bring the people 
of Israel out of the land 
of Egypt in divisions." 
{I}27_{/}It was they who 
spoke with Pharaoh, king 
of Egypt, about bringing 
the sons of Israel out of 
Egypt. Yes, it was Moses 
and Aaron.
{I}28{/}When Yahweh spoke 
to Moses in the land of 
Egypt, {I}29_{/}he said, 
"I am Yahweh. Say to 
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, 
all that I tell you." 
{I}30_{/}But Moses 
replied, "I am a poor 
speaker and why would 
Pharaoh listen to me?"
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 
PLAGUES{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "See, I have made 
you like a god in 
Pharaoh's eyes; and 
Aaron, your brother, will 
be your prophet. 
{I}2_{/}You will tell 
Aaron all that I command 
you, and he will tell 
Pharaoh to let the people 
of Israel leave the 
country. {I}3_{/}But I 
will make him stubborn 
and although I multiply 
my signs and miracles, 
{I}4_{/}he will not 
listen to you. Then I 
will use my power and 
lead my armies, my 
people, the sons of 
Israel out of Egypt by 
means of great 
punishments. {I}5_{/}Then 
will the Egyptians know 
that I am Yahweh when 
they see with what power 
I bring the people of 
Israel out of their 
country."
{I}6_{/}Moses and Aaron 
did exactly what Yahweh 
had commanded. 
{I}7_{/}Moses was eighty 
and Aaron eighty-three 
when they spoke to 
Pharaoh.
{I}8_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses and Aaron saying, 
{I}9_{/}"When Pharaoh 
speaks to you and tells 
you to perform a miracle 
to prove the truth of 
what you say, you will 
say to Aaron: 'Take your 
staff and throw it down 
before Pharaoh, and it 
will become a snake.'"
{I}10_{/}Moses and Aaron 
went to Pharaoh and did 
what Yahweh had 
commanded. Aaron threw 
his staff before Pharaoh 
and his ministers, and it 
became a snake. 
{I}11_{/}Pharaoh then 
summoned wise men and 
magicians, and they, too, 
the magicians of Egypt, 
did the same by means of 
their secret arts. 
{I}12_{/}Each one threw 
his staff down and the 
staffs became serpents. 
But Aaron's staff 
swallowed the staffs of 
the magicians. 
{I}13_{/}However, Pharaoh 
was obstinate and he did 
not listen to them, as 
Yahweh had said.
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT{/}

{I}14_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Pharaoh is 
stubborn; he has refused 
to let the people leave. 
{I}15_{/}So you will go 
to Pharaoh in the 
morning, when he goes to 
the water. Wait for him 
on the bank of the river 
and hold in your hand the 
staff that turned into a 
serpent. {I}16_{/}You 
will say to him, "Yahweh, 
the God of the Hebrews, 
sent me to say to you: 
'Let my people go to 
worship me in the desert; 
but so far you have not 
listened. {I}17_{/}By 
this you shall learn that 
I am Yahweh: Look, I will 
strike the waters of the 
Nile with the staff I 
have in my hand, and they 
will turn into blood! 
{I}18_{/}The fish in the 
river will die and the 
Nile will become foul, 
and the Egyptians will no 
longer be able to drink 
its water." 
{I}19_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Say to Aaron: 
'Take your staff and 
stretch out your hand 
over the waters of Egypt, 
rivers, canals, ponds and 
pools of water; and they 
will turn into blood. 
There will be blood 
throughout Egypt, even in 
vessels of wood and 
stone.'" {I}20_{/}Moses 
and Aaron did as Yahweh 
had commanded.
Aaron raised his staff 
and struck the waters of 
the Nile, in the presence 
of Pharaoh and his 
ministers, and all the 
water in the Nile turned 
to blood. {I}21_{/}The 
fish in the river died 
and the Nile was 
contaminated so that the 
Egyptians could no longer 
drink the water of the 
Nile.
There was blood all over 
the country of Egypt. 
{I}22_{/}The Egyptian 
magicians, however, could 
do the same with their 
secret crafts, and 
Pharaoh remained unmoved; 
and, as Yahweh had 
foretold, he would not 
listen to Moses and 
Aaron.
{I}23_{/}Pharaoh returned 
to his house as if 
nothing of importance had 
happened. {I}24_{/}And 
yet all the Egyptians 
were digging near the 
Nile for water to drink 
because they could not 
drink from the river.
THE SECOND PLAGUE: THE 
FROGS{/}

{I}25_{/}Seven days 
passed after Yahweh had 
struck the Nile. 
{I}26_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and 
tell him that Yahweh 
says, 'Let my people go 
to worship me! 
{I}27_{/}If you refuse to 
let them leave, I will 
punish the country with a 
plague of frogs. 
{I}28_{/}The Nile will 
teem with frogs. They 
will invade your house, 
your bedroom and your 
bed, your servants' and 
your people's houses, 
your ovens and your 
kneading bowls. 
{I}29_{/}Over you and 
your people the frogs 
will climb."
{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses, "Say to Aaron: 
'Stretch out your hand 
with your staff over the 
rivers, canals and ponds 
of Egypt {I}2_{/}and 
cause frogs to cover all 
the country of Egypt." 
{I}3_{/}The magicians of 
Egypt did the same by 
means of their secret 
formulas, and they 
brought frogs over the 
land of Egypt!
{I}4_{/}Then Pharaoh 
summoned Moses and Aaron 
and said, "Ask Yahweh to 
remove the frogs from me 
and my people and I will 
send your people to 
sacrifice to Yahweh." 
{I}5_{/}But Moses 
replied, "Let me know, 
please, when I am to make 
the petition for you, 
your officials and your 
people that you may be 
rid of frogs except in 
the Nile." 
{I}6_{/}Pharaoh answered, 
"Tomorrow"; and Moses 
said, "Right, and that 
you may know that there 
is no one like Yah-weh, 
our God, {I}7_{/}the 
frogs will disappear from 
you and your house, your 
servants and your people; 
only in the Nile will 
they remain." 
{I}8_{/}With this Moses 
and Aaron left Pharaoh. 
Then Moses called on 
Yahweh concerning the 
frogs that he had 
inflicted on Pharaoh. 
{I}9_{/}Yahweh did as 
Moses had promised 
Pharaoh and the frogs 
died in the houses, the 
farms and the fields. 
{I}10_{/}The people piled 
them in heaps and the 
land was filled with a 
foul smell. {I}11_{/}Now 
that relief had come, 
Pharaoh became even more 
stubborn and would not 
listen, just as Yahweh 
had foretold.
THE THIRD PLAGUE: THE 
MOSQUITOES{/}

{I}12_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Tell Aaron to 
strike the dust of the 
earth with his staff and 
turn it into mosquitoes 
throughout the land." 
{I}13_{/}Aaron did this; 
he struck the dust of the 
earth which turned into 
mosquitoes that tormented 
men and animals. All the 
dust of the earth all 
over Egypt turned into 
mosquitoes. {I}14_{/}But 
when the magicians tried, 
by means of their secret 
formulas, to drive away 
the mosquitoes, they were 
not able to do so, and 
the mosquitoes kept 
tormenting men and 
animals. {I}15_{/}The 
magicians said to 
Pharaoh, "This is the 
finger of God"; but 
Pharaoh was unmoved and 
did not listen, as Yahweh 
had foretold.
THE FOURTH PLAGUE: THE 
HORSEFLIES{/}

{I}16_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Rise early in the 
morning and go to 
Pharaoh, when he is on 
his way to the river. Say 
to him: This is Yahweh's 
message: Let my people go 
and worship me. 
{I}17_{/}If you refuse to 
let them go, I will send 
horseflies on you, on 
your officials and on 
your people and your 
houses. The houses of the 
Egyptians will be filled 
with horseflies and even 
the ground on which they 
are built. {I}18_{/}But 
on that day I will spare 
the land of Goshen where 
my people are. No 
horseflies will be there 
and by this you may know 
that I, Yahweh, am in the 
land. {I}19_{/}I will 
make a distinction 
between my people and 
your people. By tomorrow 
this will have happened."
{I}20_{/}Yahweh did this 
and dense swarms of 
horseflies invaded 
Pharaoh's house and the 
houses of all his people 
and devastated the whole 
country.
{I}21_{/}Pharaoh summoned 
Moses and Aaron and said, 
"Go and sacrifice to your 
God in this country." 
{I}22_{/}But Moses 
replied, "That would not 
be right. We offer to our 
God animals which are 
sacred for the Egyptians. 
If we were to offer in 
their presence a 
sacrifice which offends 
the Egyptians, wouldn't 
they stone us? 
{I}23_{/}We must make a 
three-day journey into 
the desert and there we 
will sacrifice to Yahweh, 
our God, as he commands."
{I}24_{/}Pharaoh replied, 
"I will let you go and 
sacrifice to your God in 
the desert, but on 
condition that you do not 
go far. And pray to God 
for me!"
{I}25_{/}Moses said, "I 
am leaving you and I will 
pray to Yahweh for you, 
and tomorrow the 
horseflies will leave 
you, your officials and 
your people, but do not 
continue to deceive us by 
refusing to let the 
people go to the desert." 
{I}26_{/}Moses left 
Pharaoh's house and 
prayed to Yahweh 
{I}27_{/}who did as Moses 
had asked, and delivered 
Pharaoh, his officers and 
people from the 
horseflies. Not one 
horsefly was left.
{I}28_{/}But Pharaoh was 
relentless and refused to 
let the people go.
THE FIFTH PLAGUE: DEATH 
OF EGYPTIAN LIVESTOCK{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and 
say to him, 'This is the 
message of Yahweh, the 
God of the Hebrews: Let 
my people go and offer 
sacrifices to me. 
{I}2_{/}If you refuse to 
let them go and hold them 
back any longer, 
{I}3_{/}the hand of 
Yahweh will bring a 
terrible plague on your 
horses, your donkeys and 
your camels, on your 
cattle and your sheep. 
{I}4_{/}But Yahweh will 
make a distinction 
between the livestock of 
Israel and that of Egypt. 
Nothing belonging to the 
people of Israel will 
die."
{I}5_{/}Yahweh then fixed 
a time and said, "It will 
be done tomorrow." 
{I}6_{/}Yahweh did this 
the following day; all 
the livestock belonging 
to the Egyptians died, 
but not one owned by the 
Israelites died. 
{I}7_{/}Pharaoh made 
inquiries and in fact 
found that none of the 
cattle belonging to the 
Israelites had died. But 
Pharaoh remained adamant 
and did not let the 
people go.
THE SIXTH PLAGUE: THE 
BOILS{/}

{I}8_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses and Aaron, "Take 
two handfuls of ashes 
from the brick oven and 
let Moses throw it up in 
the air in front of 
Pharaoh's eyes. 
{I}9_{/}It will become 
fine dust all over Egypt 
and bring festering boils 
on men and animals." 
{I}10_{/}So they took 
ashes from the oven and, 
in the presence of 
Pharaoh, Moses threw it 
up in the air and it 
brought festering boils 
on men and animals. 
{I}11_{/}And the 
magicians could not stand 
before Moses because they 
had boils like all the 
other Egyptians.
{I}12_{/}But Yahweh made 
Pharaoh stubborn and he 
did not listen to Moses 
and Aaron as Yahweh had 
foretold.
THE SEVENTH PLAGUE: THE 
HAIL{/}

{I}13_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Rise early; 
present yourself to 
Pharaoh and say to him: 
This is the message of 
Yahweh, the God of the 
Hebrews: Send my people 
away to worship me 
{I}14_{/}because this 
time I will send the full 
force of my plagues 
against you, your 
ministers and your 
people, that you may know 
there is no one like me 
in the whole world. 
{I}15_{/}For had I 
wished, I could have 
raised my hand against 
you and your people, and 
with a similar pestilence 
wiped you from the face 
of the earth. 
{I}16_{/}But this is why 
I have let you live: that 
you may witness my power 
and that my name may be 
celebrated throughout the 
earth. {I}17_{/}Are you 
still set against my 
people leaving the 
country? 
{I}18_{/}Tomorrow at this 
time I will send very 
heavy hail such as has 
never been in Egypt from 
the day of its 
foundation. {I}19_{/}So 
now let all your 
livestock and all that 
you have in the fields 
take shelter, because 
when the hail falls on 
all that remains in the 
fields, whether men or 
animals, they will die." 
{I}20_{/}Those among 
Pharaoh's officials who 
believed Yahweh's word 
hurried to bring their 
slaves and cattle inside; 
{I}21_{/}but those who 
paid no attention to 
Yahweh's warning left 
their slaves and their 
cattle in the fields.
{I}22_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Moses, "Stretch out 
your hand towards heaven 
and let hail fall 
throughout Egypt on men 
and animals, and all that 
grows in the field." 
{I}23_{/}Moses stretched 
out his staff towards 
heaven and Yahweh sent 
thunder and hail; 
lightning struck the 
earth {I}24_{/}and Yahweh 
rained hail on the land 
of Egypt: lightning 
flashed in the midst of 
the hail. It was very 
heavy hail such as had 
never been known in all 
Egypt from the time it 
had first become a 
nation.
{I}25_{/}Throughout Egypt 
the hail struck 
everything in the fields, 
both men and animals. It 
beat down everything 
growing in the fields and 
felled every tree. 
{I}26_{/}But where the 
Israelites lived there 
was no hail.
{I}27_{/}Pharaoh summoned 
Moses and Aaron and said, 
"Now it is clear I have 
sinned. Yahweh is in the 
right; I and my people 
are in the wrong. 
{I}28_{/}Pray Yahweh to 
stop the thunder and 
hail! I will let you go, 
and no longer will you 
stay here."
{I}29_{/}Moses said to 
him, "As soon as I leave 
the town I will lift my 
hands towards Yahweh; the 
thunder will cease and 
there will be no more 
hail, and you will know 
that the earth is 
Yahweh's. {I}30_{/}But as 
for you and your 
officials, I know that 
you don't yet fear 
Yahweh, our God." 
{I}31_{/}The flax and the 
barley were ruined, as 
the barley was almost 
ripe and the flax was in 
flower, {I}32_{/}but the 
wheat and the spelt which 
are late crops were not 
destroyed.
{I}33_{/}Moses left 
Pharaoh and went out of 
the city and raised his 
hands towards Yahweh. The 
thunder and hail ceased 
and it stopped raining. 
{I}34_{/}Pharaoh, seeing 
that there was no rain 
and that the thunder and 
hail had ceased, sinned 
yet again. {I}35_{/}He 
and his ministers 
remained unyielding and 
would not let the 
Israelites go, just as 
Yahweh had foretold 
through Moses.
THE EIGHTH PLAGUE: THE 
LOCUSTS{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Go to Pharaoh for 
I have made him stubborn 
and his ministers as 
well, in order to show my 
signs among them, 
{I}2_{/}and that you may 
tell your grandchildren 
how I dealt harshly with 
the Egyptians and about 
the signs I worked among 
them, and that you may 
know that I am Yahweh."
{I}3_{/}Moses went with 
Aaron and said to 
Pharaoh, "This is the 
word of Yahweh, the God 
of the Hebrews: How much 
longer will you refuse to 
submit to me? Let my 
people go and worship me. 
{I}4_{/}If you refuse to 
let my people go, I will 
bring locusts into your 
country {I}5_{/}and they 
will completely cover the 
surface of the land. They 
will devour what was left 
after the hail as well as 
every tree in the fields. 
{I}6_{/}They will fill 
your house and the houses 
of your ministers and all 
the houses in Egypt, 
something your fathers 
and their fathers before 
them have never seen from 
ancient times to this 
day." Having said this, 
Moses turned away and 
left Pharaoh's presence.
{I}7_{/}Pharaoh's 
ministers said to him, 
"For how long will this 
man be a snare to us? Let 
the men go and worship 
Yahweh, their God. Don't 
you realize that Egypt is 
ruined?"
{I}8_{/}So Moses and 
Aaron were brought back 
to Pharaoh, and he said, 
"Go! Worship Yahweh, your 
God. But exactly who are 
to go?" {I}9_{/}Moses 
said, "We shall go with 
our young and our old, 
with our sons and 
daughters, with our sheep 
and our cattle, for it is 
the great feast of Yahweh 
that we are to 
celebrate." 
{I}10_{/}Pharaoh said, 
"May Yahweh help you if 
ever I let you go with 
your little ones! Oh no! 
It's clear you are bent 
on evil. {I}11_{/}No! 
Only the men will offer 
sacrifice to Yahweh, if 
that is what you want!" 
And they were driven away 
from Pharaoh's presence.
{I}12_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Stretch out your 
hand and bring locusts to 
the land of Egypt. Let 
them eat every plant in 
the land, everything that 
was left after the hail." 
{I}13_{/}So Moses 
stretched out his staff 
over the land of Egypt. 
All that day and night 
Yahweh brought an east 
wind over the land and in 
the morning the east wind 
brought the locusts. 
{I}14_{/}They came and 
settled on the land in 
such quantities as had 
never been seen before 
and will never be seen 
again. {I}15_{/}They 
covered the sky of Egypt 
and the earth was in 
darkness. They devoured 
all the vegetation in the 
land and all the fruit of 
the trees left after the 
hail. Nothing green 
remained, neither tree 
nor plant of the field, 
in all the land of Egypt.
{I}16_{/}Because of all 
this Pharaoh hastened to 
summon Moses and Aaron 
and said to them, "I have 
sinned against Yahweh, 
your God, and against 
you. {I}17_{/}Forgive my 
sin, I pray you, at least 
for once and ask Yahweh, 
your God, for a final 
favor: to rid me of this 
deadly plague."
{I}18_{/}Moses left 
Pharaoh and interceded 
with Yahweh {I}19_{/}who 
brought a very strong 
wind from the west that 
carried off the locusts 
and swept them into the 
Red Sea. Not one locust 
was left within the 
boundaries of Egypt.
{I}20_{/}But Yahweh let 
Pharaoh be stubborn and 
he would not allow the 
Israelites to leave.
THE NINTH PLAGUE: THE 
DARKNESS{/}

{I}21_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Stretch your hand 
towards heaven and let 
darkness descend on the 
land of Egypt, a darkness 
so dense that it can be 
felt." {I}22_{/}Moses 
stretched out his hand 
towards heaven and 
instantly black darkness 
covered the land of Egypt 
for three days. 
{I}23_{/}They could not 
see each other and they 
could not move about for 
three days, but where the 
sons of Israel lived, 
there was light. 
{I}24_{/}Pharaoh summoned 
Moses and said, "Go and 
worship Yahweh, you and 
your children with you; 
leave only your flocks 
and herds behind!" 
{I}25_{/}Moses said, "Are 
you going to give us 
animals for our 
sacrifices and burnt 
offerings? {I}26_{/}No! 
Our cattle to the last 
hoof must also go with 
us, for it is from our 
livestock that we will 
choose the victims we 
will offer to Yahweh. 
Moreover we shall not 
know which ones we must 
sacrifice until we arrive 
at that place."
{I}27_{/}But Yahweh let 
Pharaoh be stubborn and 
Pharaoh would not let 
them go.
{I}28_{/}Pharaoh said to 
Moses, "Get out of my 
sight! Take care! Never 
come before me again, for 
the day you do, you will 
die!" {I}29_{/}Moses 
said, "It is as you say, 
I shall never come before 
you again."
THE TENTH PLAGUE: THE 
DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "I will bring one 
more plague on Pharaoh 
and Egypt. After that he 
will send you away and 
even drive you away 
completely. {I}2_{/}Speak 
to the people and tell 
them that both men and 
women are to ask their 
neighbors for articles of 
silver and gold."
{I}3_{/}Yahweh disposed 
the Egyptians favorably 
towards the people. 
Moses, moreover, was 
regarded as a person of 
importance in Egypt both 
by Pharaoh's ministers 
and by the people.
{I}4_{/}Moses said, "This 
is Yahweh's message: 
'About midnight, I shall 
go through Egypt 
{I}5_{/}and all the 
firstborn in Egypt shall 
die, from the firstborn 
of Pharaoh who is heir to 
the throne, to the 
firstborn of the servant 
behind the mill and the 
firstborn of the animals. 
{I}6_{/}There will be 
great wailing throughout 
all Egypt, such as has 
never been before and 
never will be again. 
{I}7_{/}But among the 
Israelites not a dog will 
howl for the death of 
either man or beast. This 
is that you may 
understand that Yahweh 
makes a distinction 
between Egypt and Israel. 
{I}8_{/}All these 
ministers of yours will 
come down to me and bow 
before me saying, 'Go, 
you and all who follow 
you!' After that I will 
leave." And turning in 
anger he left Pharaoh.
{I}9_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Pharaoh will not 
listen to you, and so the 
wonders that I do in 
Egypt will be 
multiplied." 
{I}10_{/}Moses and Aaron 
had worked all these 
marvels in the presence 
of Pharaoh, but Yahweh 
had made Pharaoh 
obstinate and he would 
not let the people of 
Israel leave his country.
THE PASSOVER{/}

{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses and Aaron in the 
land of Egypt and said, 
{I}2_{/}"This month is to 
be the beginning of all 
months, the first month 
of your year. 
{I}3_{/}Speak to the 
community of Israel and 
say to them:
On the tenth day of this 
month let each family 
take a lamb, a lamb for 
each house. {I}4_{/}If 
the family is too small 
for a lamb, they must 
join with a neighbor, the 
nearest to the house, 
according to the number 
of persons and to what 
each one can eat.
{I}5_{/}You will select a 
perfect lamb without 
blemish, a male born 
during the present year, 
taken from the sheep or 
goats. {I}6_{/}Then you 
will keep it until the 
fourteenth day of the 
month.
On that evening all the 
people will slaughter 
their lambs {I}7_{/}and 
take some of the blood to 
put on the doorposts and 
on top of the doorframes 
of the houses where you 
eat.
{I}8_{/}That night you 
will eat the flesh 
roasted at the fire with 
unleavened bread and 
bitter herbs.
{I}9_{/}Do not eat the 
meat lightly cooked or 
boiled in water but 
roasted entirely over the 
fire - the head, the legs 
and the inner parts. 
{I}10_{/}Do not leave any 
of it until the morning. 
If any is left till 
morning, burn it in the 
fire.
{I}11_{/}And this is how 
you will eat: with a belt 
round your waist, sandals 
on your feet and a staff 
in your hand. You shall 
eat hastily for it is a 
passover in honor of 
Yahweh. {I}12_{/}On that 
night I shall go through 
Egypt and strike every 
firstborn in Egypt, men 
and animals; and I will 
even bring judgment on 
all the gods of Egypt, I, 
Yahweh! {I}13_{/}The 
blood on your houses will 
be the sign that you are 
there. I will see the 
blood and pass over you; 
and you will escape the 
mortal plague when I 
strike Egypt.
{I}14_{/}This is a day 
you are to remember and 
celebrate in honor of 
Yahweh. It is to be kept 
as a festival day for all 
generations forever.
THE FEAST OF THE 
UNLEAVENED BREAD{/}

{I}15_{/}For seven days 
you are to eat unleavened 
bread. From the first day 
you are to remove all 
leaven from your houses, 
for if anyone eats 
leavened bread from the 
first to the seventh day 
he will no longer live in 
Israel. {I}16_{/}On the 
first day there will be a 
sacred reunion and 
another on the seventh. 
No work is to be done on 
these days except what is 
necessary in the 
preparation of food.
{I}17_{/}Celebrate the 
feast of unleavened 
bread, because on that 
day I brought your armies 
out of Egypt. Celebrate 
it in future generations 
as an everlasting 
ordinance. {I}18_{/}In 
the first month, from the 
fourteenth day in the 
evening to the twenty-
first, you are to eat 
unleavened bread. 
{I}19_{/}For seven days 
there will be no leaven 
in your houses. Anyone 
who eats what is leavened 
will be cut off from the 
community of Israel 
whether foreigner or 
native born. 
{I}20_{/}Nothing leavened 
is to be eaten; only 
unleavened bread is to be 
eaten."
{I}21_{/}Moses called all 
the elders of Israel and 
said to them, "Select and 
take one animal for each 
family and slaughter the 
Passover lamb. 
{I}22_{/}Take a twig of 
hyssop dipped in its 
blood and sprinkle the 
blood on the doorposts 
and the top of the 
doorframe: from then on 
no one will go out of the 
door of the house before 
morning. {I}23_{/}Because 
Yahweh will pass through 
to strike Egypt and when 
he sees the blood on the 
lintel and the doorposts, 
he will pass over the 
door and not allow the 
destroyer to enter your 
houses and kill. 
{I}24_{/}You and your 
descendants shall observe 
these instructions as an 
everlasting ordinance; 
{I}25_{/}you will carry 
out this ceremony when 
you enter the land that 
Yahweh will give you, as 
he promised. {I}26_{/}And 
when your children ask 
you: 'What does this 
ceremony mean?' 
{I}27_{/}you will tell 
them: It is the sacrifice 
of the Passover for 
Yahweh who passed over 
the houses of the 
Israelites when he struck 
Egypt and spared our 
houses."
When the people heard 
this they bowed down and 
worshiped. {I}28_{/}Then 
they went away and did 
what Yahweh had ordered 
Moses and Aaron.
DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN{/}

{I}29_{/}It happened that 
in the middle of the 
night Yahweh struck down 
all the firstborn in 
Egypt, from the firstborn 
of Pharaoh, heir to the 
throne, to the firstborn 
of the prisoner in the 
dungeon and the firstborn 
of all the animals. 
{I}30_{/}Pharaoh, his 
officials and all the 
Egyptians got up in the 
night and there was loud 
wailing in Egypt for 
there was no house 
without a death.
{I}31_{/}Pharaoh called 
Moses and Aaron in the 
night and said, "Get up 
and go from among my 
people, you and the 
people of Israel. Go and 
worship Yahweh as you 
have said! {I}32_{/}Take 
your sheep and your 
cattle, as you told me, 
and go! provided that the 
blessing be for me as 
well." {I}33_{/}The 
Egyptians, too, pressed 
the people to leave the 
country in all haste. For 
they said, "If they don't 
go, we are all going to 
die."
{I}34_{/}So the 
Israelites carried away 
on their shoulders the 
dough which had not yet 
risen, and their kneading 
bowls wrapped in their 
cloaks. {I}35_{/}They did 
as Moses had instructed 
them and borrowed from 
the Egyptians articles of 
gold and silver and 
clothes. {I}36_{/}Yahweh 
made the Egyptians agree 
to the requests of his 
people and give them what 
they asked for. In this 
way they plundered the 
Egyptians.
ISRAEL DEPARTS{/}

{I}37_{/}The Israelites 
left Rameses for Succoth, 
about six hundred 
thousand of them on the 
march, counting the men 
only, and not the 
children.
{I}38_{/}A great number 
of other people of all 
descriptions went with 
them, as well as sheep 
and cattle in droves.
{I}39_{/}With the dough 
they had brought with 
them from Egypt, they 
made cakes of unleavened 
bread. It had not risen, 
for when they were driven 
from Egypt they could not 
delay and had not even 
provided themselves with 
food.
{I}40_{/}The Israelites 
had been in Egypt for 
four hundred and thirty 
years. {I}41_{/}It was at 
the end of these four 
hundred and thirty years 
to the very day that the 
armies of Yahweh left 
Egypt.
{I}42_{/}This is the 
watch for Yahweh who 
brought Israel out of 
Egypt. This night is for 
Yahweh, and the sons of 
Israel are also to keep 
vigil on this night, year 
after year, for all time.
ORDINANCES FOR THE 
PASSOVER{/}

{I}43_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses and Aaron, "These 
are the precepts for the 
celebration of the 
Passover. No foreigner is 
to eat it, 
{I}44_{/}except the slave 
who has been circumcised 
after having been bought. 
{I}45_{/}He may eat it. 
But not so the temporary 
resident or the hired 
worker. {I}46_{/}The lamb 
must be eaten inside the 
house and nothing of it 
shall be taken outside. 
Do not break any of its 
bones. {I}47_{/}All the 
community of Israel will 
observe this rite.
{I}48_{/}If a guest is 
staying with you and 
wants to celebrate the 
Passover of Yahweh, he 
must have all the males 
in his household 
circumcised. Then he may 
take part like one born 
in the land, but no 
uncircumcised man may 
participate. {I}49_{/}The 
law is the same for the 
native and the stranger 
living with you."
{I}50_{/}All the people 
of Israel did as Yahweh 
had commanded Moses and 
Aaron, {I}51_{/}and that 
same day Yahweh brought 
out the sons of Israel 
and their armies from the 
land of Egypt.
OFFERING OF THE 
FIRSTBORN{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses saying, 
{I}2_{/}"Consecrate to me 
every firstborn: the 
first to leave the womb 
among the sons of Israel, 
whether of man or beast, 
is mine."
{I}3_{/}Moses said to the 
people, "Remember the day 
you came out of Egypt 
from the house of 
slavery, for it was by 
his power that Yahweh 
brought you out; because 
of this you will not eat 
leavened bread.
{I}4_{/}The day you left 
was in the month of Abib. 
{I}5_{/}When Yahweh 
brings you to the land of 
the Canaanites, the 
Hittites, the Amorites, 
the Hivites and the 
Jebusites - a land 
flowing with milk and 
honey which he swore to 
your fathers to give you 
- you will carry out this 
ceremony.
{I}6_{/}For seven days 
you will eat unleavened 
bread and on the seventh 
day you will hold a feast 
in honor of Yahweh. 
{I}7_{/}You will eat 
unleavened bread for 
seven days and no 
leavened bread is to be 
seen among you or 
anywhere throughout all 
your territory. 
{I}8_{/}On that day you 
will tell your son: 'I do 
this because of what 
Yahweh did for me when I 
came out of Egypt.'
{I}9_{/}This ceremony 
will be for you as a sign 
on your hand and a 
reminder on your 
forehead, so that 
Yahweh's law may be ever 
on your lips, for it was 
with great power that 
Yahweh brought you out of 
Egypt. {I}10_{/}Because 
of this you will observe 
this ordinance at the 
appointed time from year 
to year.
{I}11_{/}When Yahweh 
brings you to the land of 
the Canaanites and gives 
it to you, as he swore to 
you and your fathers, 
{I}12_{/}you are to give 
over to Yahweh all that 
first opens the womb, and 
every firstborn of your 
cattle as well. These 
firstborn males are for 
Yahweh.
{I}13_{/}Every firstborn 
donkey will be redeemed 
by a lamb, and if you do 
not redeem it, you are to 
break its neck. Every 
firstborn among your sons 
you are to redeem. 
{I}14_{/}When in the 
future your son questions 
you as to what it means 
you will say: 'Yahweh, by 
his power brought us out 
of Egypt from the house 
of slavery. {I}15_{/}As 
Pharaoh stubbornly 
refused to let us go, 
Yahweh slew every 
firstborn in Egypt, of 
man and beast. That is 
why I sacrifice to Yahweh 
all the males of my 
cattle that first open 
the womb, but the 
firstborn of my sons, I 
redeem.'
{I}16_{/}It will be as a 
sign on your hand and a 
charm between your eyes, 
reminding you that the 
power of Yahweh brought 
us out of Egypt."
THE DEPARTURE{/}

{I}17_{/}It happened that 
when Pharaoh sent the 
people away, God did not 
lead them through the 
land of the Philistines, 
although it was nearer, 
for God thought that the 
people might lose heart 
if they were faced with 
the prospect of a battle 
and would return to 
Egypt. {I}18_{/}God 
therefore led the people 
by the way of the 
wilderness towards the 
Red Sea. So the 
Israelites left Egypt in 
an orderly manner.
{I}19_{/}Moses took with 
him the bones of Joseph 
for he had made the sons 
of Israel swear saying, 
"God will surely remember 
you and then you will 
carry my bones with you 
away from here."
{I}20_{/}They moved on 
from Succoth and encamped 
at Etham bordering the 
wilderness. {I}21_{/}By 
day Yahweh went before 
them in a pillar of cloud 
to guide them along the 
way, and by night in a 
pillar of fire to give 
them light, enabling them 
to travel day and night. 
{I}22_{/}Neither the 
cloud by day nor the fire 
by night, disappeared 
from the sight of the 
people.
THE EGYPTIANS PURSUE THE 
ISRAELITES{/}

{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Moses, {I}2_{/}"Tell 
the people of Israel to 
turn back and encamp in 
front of Pihahiroth, 
between Migdol and the 
sea, facing Baalzephon. 
You will encamp opposite 
this place and near the 
sea. {I}3_{/}So Pharaoh 
will think that the 
people of Israel have 
lost their way, and the 
wilderness has closed in 
on them.{I}4_{/}Then I 
will make Pharaoh's heart 
stubborn so that he will 
pursue you. And I will 
draw glory for myself at 
the cost of Pharaoh and 
his army, and the 
Egyptians shall know that 
I am Yahweh!"
And the Israelites did as 
they had been instructed.
CROSSING OF THE RED 
SEA{/}

{I}5_{/}The king of Egypt 
was told that the people 
had fled; then Pharaoh 
and his ministers changed 
their minds with regard 
to the people. "What have 
we done," they said, "in 
allowing Israel to go and 
be free of our service?" 
{I}6_{/}Pharaoh prepared 
his chariot and took his 
army with him. 
{I}7_{/}There were six 
hundred of his best 
chariots; indeed he took 
all the Egyptian 
chariots, each one with 
his warriors.
{I}8_{/}Yahweh had 
hardened the mind of 
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, 
who set out in pursuit of 
the Israelites as they 
marched forth 
triumphantly. {I}9_{/}The 
Egyptians - all the 
chariots and horses of 
Pharaoh, his horsemen and 
his army - gave chase and 
caught up with them when 
they had encamped by the 
sea near Pihahiroth, 
facing Baalzephon.
{I}10_{/}The Israelites 
saw the Egyptians 
marching after them: 
Pharaoh was drawing near. 
They were terrified and 
cried out to Yahweh. 
{I}11_{/}Then they said 
to Moses, "Were there no 
tombs in Egypt? Why have 
you brought us to the 
desert to die? 
{I}12_{/}What have you 
done by bringing us out 
of Egypt? Isn't this what 
we said when we were in 
Egypt: Let us work for 
the Egyptians. Far better 
serve Egypt than to die 
in the desert!"
{I}13_{/}Moses said to 
the people, "Have no 
fear! Stay where you are 
and see the work Yahweh 
will do to save you 
today. The Egyptians whom 
you see today, you will 
never see again! 
{I}14_{/}Yahweh will 
fight for you and all you 
have to do is to keep 
still."
{I}15_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Why do you cry to 
me? Tell the people of 
Israel to go forward. 
{I}16_{/}You will raise 
your staff and stretch 
your hand over the sea 
and divide it to let the 
Israelites go dryfoot 
through the sea. 
{I}17_{/}I will so harden 
the minds of the 
Egyptians that they will 
follow you. {I}18_{/}And 
I will have glory at the 
expense of Pharaoh, his 
army, his chariots and 
horsemen. The Egyptians 
will know that I am 
Yahweh when I gain glory 
for myself at the cost of 
Pharaoh and his army!"
{I}19_{/}The Angel of God 
who had gone ahead of the 
Israelites now placed 
himself behind them. The 
pillar of cloud changed 
its position 
{I}20_{/}from the front 
to the rear, between the 
camps of the Israelites 
and the Egyptians. For 
one army the cloud 
provided light, for the 
other darkness so that 
throughout the night the 
armies drew no closer to 
each other. 
{I}21_{/}Moses stretched 
his hand over the sea and 
Yahweh made a strong east 
wind blow all night and 
dry up the sea.
The  waters  divided  
{I}22_{/}and  the  sons  
of Israel went on dry 
ground through the middle 
of the sea, with the 
waters forming a wall to 
their  right and to their  
left.  {I}23_{/}The  
Egyptians followed them 
and all Pharaoh's horses, 
his chariots and horsemen 
moved forward in the 
middle of the sea.
{I}24_{/}It happened that 
in the morning watch, 
Yahweh in the pillar of 
cloud and  fire, looked 
towards the Egyptian camp 
and threw it into 
confusion. {I}25_{/}He so 
clogged their chariot 
wheels that they could 
hardly move. Then the 
Egyptians said, "Let us 
flee from the Israelites 
for Yahweh is fighting 
for them against Egypt."
{I}26_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Moses, "Stretch your 
hand over the sea and let 
the waters come back over 
the Egyptians, over their 
chariots and horsemen." 
{I}27_{/}Moses stretched 
out his hand over the 
sea.
At daybreak the sea 
returned to its place. As 
the Egyptians tried to 
flee, Yahweh swept them 
into the sea.
{I}28_{/}The waters 
flowed back and engulfed 
the chariots and horsemen 
of the whole army of 
Pharaoh that had followed 
Israel into the sea. Not 
one of them escaped. 
{I}29_{/}As for the 
Israelites they went 
forward on dry ground in 
the middle of the sea, 
the waters forming a wall 
on their right and their 
left.
{I}30_{/}On that day 
Yahweh delivered Israel 
from the power of the 
Egyptians and Israel saw 
the Egyptians lying dead 
on the seashore. 
{I}31_{/}They understood 
what wonders Yahweh had 
done for them against 
Egypt, and the people 
feared Yahweh. They 
believed in Yahweh and in 
Moses, his servant.
{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}Then Moses and 
the people sang this song 
to Yahweh:
I will sing to Yahweh, 
the glorious one,
horse and rider he has 
thrown into the sea.
{I}2_{/}Yahweh is my 
strength and my song,
and he is my salvation.
He is my God and I will 
praise him;
the God of my father: I 
will extol him.
{I}3_{/}Yahweh is a 
warrior; Yahweh is his 
name.
{I}4_{/}The chariots of 
Pharaoh and his army
he has hurled into the 
sea;
his chosen officers were 
drowned in the Red Sea.
{I}5_{/}The deep covers 
them;
they went down like a 
stone.
{I}6_{/}Your hand, O 
Yahweh, glorious and 
powerful,
your right hand, O 
Yahweh, shatters the 
enemy.
{I}7_{/}In the splendor 
of your majesty you crush 
your foes;
you send forth your fury, 
which devours them like 
stubble.
{I}8_{/}At the blast of 
your nostrils the waters 
piled up,
the surging waters stood 
firm in a heap;
the deeps congealed in 
the heart of the sea.
{I}9_{/}The enemy said, 
"I will give chase and 
overtake,
I will divide the spoil 
and make a feast of it.
I shall draw my sword and 
my hand will destroy 
them."
{I}10_{/}A breath of 
yours and the sea covered 
them;
they sank like lead in 
the mighty waters.
{I}11_{/}Who among the 
gods is like you, Yahweh?
Who is like you, majestic 
in holiness,
awesome in power, doing 
wonders?
{I}12_{/}You stretched 
out your right hand;
the earth swallowed them.
{I}13_{/}In unfailing 
love you guided the 
people you redeemed,
in strength you led them 
to your holy house.
{I}14_{/}Hearing this, 
the nations tremble;
anguish grips the people 
of Philistia.
{I}15_{/}The chieftains 
of Edom are dismayed;
the leaders of Moab are 
seized with trembling;
the people of Canaan melt 
away.
{I}16_{/}Terror and dread 
fall upon them,
your powerful arm leaves 
them still as stone
until your people pass 
by, O Yahweh!
till the people you have 
purchased pass by.
{I}17_{/}You will bring 
them in and plant them
on the mountain of your 
inheritance,
the place you chose to 
dwell in, O Yahweh,
the sanctuary prepared by 
your hands.
{I}18_{/}Yahweh will 
reign forever!
{I}19_{/}When Pharaoh's 
chariots, horses and 
horsemen went into the 
sea, Yahweh brought back 
the waters over them, 
while the people of 
Israel walked on dry 
ground through the sea.
{I}20_{/}Then Miriam, the 
prophetess, sister of 
Aaron, took a tambourine 
in her hand and all the 
women followed her 
dancing and playing 
tambourines. 
{I}21_{/}Miriam sang to 
them, "Sing to Yahweh the 
glorious one; horse and 
rider he has thrown into 
the sea."
THROUGH THE DESERT{/}

{I}22_{/}Moses then led 
Israel from the Red Sea 
towards the wilderness of 
Shur. They walked in the 
desert for three days 
without finding water.
{I}23_{/}They reached 
Marah but could not drink 
the water there as it was 
bitter. That is why the 
place is called Marah. 
{I}24_{/}The people 
grumbled against Moses 
and said, "What shall we 
drink?" {I}25{/}Moses 
then cried out to Yahweh 
who showed him a piece of 
wood, and when he threw 
it in the water, the 
water became sweet. 
There Yahweh gave the 
people statutes and laws. 
There he tested them 
{I}26_{/}and said, "If 
you listen carefully to 
the voice of Yahweh, your 
God, and if you do what 
is right in his eyes, if 
you obey his commands and 
statutes, I will not 
inflict on you any of the 
diseases I brought on the 
Egyptians, for I am 
Yahweh, the One who heals 
you."
{I}27_{/}Then they came 
to Elim where there are 
twelve springs and 
seventy palm trees, and 
there they pitched their 
camp beside the water.
THE MANNA{/}

{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}The Israelites 
left Elim and the entire 
community reached the 
desert of Sin, between 
Elim and Sinai, on the 
fifteenth day of the 
second month after 
leaving Egypt.
{I}2_{/}In the desert the 
whole community of Israel 
grumbled against Moses 
and Aaron {I}3_{/}and 
said to them, "If only we 
had died by the hand of 
Yahweh in Egypt when we 
sat down to caldrons of 
meat and ate all the 
bread we wanted, whereas 
you have brought us to 
this desert to let the 
whole assembly die of 
starvation!"
{I}4_{/}Yahweh then said 
to Moses, "Now I am going 
to rain down bread from 
heaven for you. Each day 
the people are to gather 
what is needed for that 
day. In this way I will 
test them to see if they 
will follow my Teaching 
or not. {I}5_{/}On the 
sixth day when they 
prepare what they have 
brought in, they will 
find that there is twice 
as much as they gather 
each day."
{I}6_{/}Then Moses and 
Aaron said to the people 
of Israel, "In the 
evening you will know 
that it was Yahweh who 
brought you out of Egypt, 
{I}7_{/}and in the 
morning you will see the 
Glory of Yahweh. For he 
has heard your grumbling 
against him, because: who 
are we that you should 
grumble against us?
{I}8_{/}In the evening 
Yahweh will give you meat 
to eat and in the morning 
bread to satisfy your 
hunger, because Yahweh 
heard your grumbling. You 
are not grumbling against 
us but against Yahweh, 
for who are we?" 
{I}9_{/}Then Moses 
directed Aaron to say to 
the whole community of 
Israel, "Draw near to 
Yahweh for he has heard 
your complaints."
{I}10_{/}It happened that 
as Aaron was speaking to 
the full assembly of 
Israel, they turned 
towards the desert and 
saw the Glory of Yahweh 
in the midst of the 
cloud.
{I}11_{/}Then Yahweh 
spoke to Moses, 
{I}12_{/}"I have heard 
the complaints of Israel. 
Speak to them and say: 
Between the two evenings 
you will eat meat, and in 
the morning you will have 
bread to your heart's 
content; then you shall 
know that I am Yahweh, 
your God!"
{I}13_{/}In the evening 
quails came up and 
covered the camp. And in 
the morning, dew had 
fallen around the camp. 
{I}14_{/}When the dew 
lifted, there was on the 
surface of the desert a 
thin crust like 
hoarfrost. {I}15_{/}The 
people of Israel upon 
seeing it said to one 
another, "What is it?" 
for they didn't know what 
it was. Moses told them, 
"It is the bread that 
Yahweh has given you to 
eat."
{I}16_{/}"This is what 
Yahweh commanded: Gather 
it according to the 
amount each one eats, 
about four liters a 
piece, and according to 
the number of persons 
each of you has in his 
tent."
{I}17_{/}This is what the 
people of Israel did. 
They gathered it, some 
more, others less. 
{I}18_{/}But when they 
measured it with an omer, 
he that had gathered more 
didn't have too much 
while the man who had 
gathered less didn't have 
too little. Each one had 
as much as he needed.
GIVE US OUR DAILY 
BREAD{/}

{I}19_{/}And Moses said 
to them, "Let no one 
leave any of it till the 
morning." {I}20_{/}But 
they did not listen to 
Moses and some of them 
left it till morning. It 
bred worms and became 
foul, and Moses was angry 
with them.
{I}21_{/}Every morning 
each one gathered as much 
as he could eat, and when 
the sun grew hot it 
melted.
{I}22_{/}On the sixth day 
they gathered the double 
amount of bread, two 
omers each, and the 
leader of the people came 
to tell Moses. 
{I}23_{/}He said to them, 
"This is what Yahweh 
commanded: Tomorrow you 
shall rest, for that day 
is a Rest - or sabbath - 
sacred to Yahweh. 
{I}24_{/}Bake today what 
you have to bake and boil 
what you have to boil, 
and you shall put aside 
what is left over to be 
kept till the next day."
So they put it aside 
until morning as Moses 
had ordered and its smell 
was not foul and it was 
free of maggots. 
{I}25_{/}And Moses said, 
"Eat it today, for this 
is a day of Rest - or 
sabbath - in honor of 
Yahweh. Today you will 
not find it in the 
fields. {I}26_{/}For six 
days you will gather it, 
but on the seventh day, 
the Sabbath, there will 
be none."
{I}27_{/}Some of the 
people went out on the 
seventh day but found 
none. {I}28_{/}Then 
Yahweh said to Moses, 
"How long will you refuse 
to obey my commands and 
my laws? {I}29_{/}Yahweh 
has given you this 
Resting Day! That is why 
on the sixth day he gave 
you bread for two days. 
Let everyone stay where 
he is, and no one go out 
of his place on the 
seventh day." 
{I}30_{/}And so the 
people rested on the 
seventh day.
{I}31_{/}The people of 
Israel called this food 
manna. It was white like 
coriander seed and it 
tasted like wafers made 
with honey.

{I}32_{/}And Moses said, 
"This is what Yahweh 
commanded: 'Take a 
measure of manna and keep 
it for future generations 
to let them see the bread 
I gave you to eat in the 
desert when I brought you 
out of Egypt." 
{I}33_{/}Then Moses said 
to Aaron, "Take a jar and 
fill it with a measure of 
manna and place it before 
Yahweh for your 
descendants." 
{I}34_{/}Accordingly 
Aaron put a full measure 
of manna in the jar as 
Yahweh had commanded 
Moses and placed it 
before the slabs of 
divine statement to be 
kept there.
{I}35_{/}The people of 
Israel ate the manna 
until they came to an 
inhabited land. They ate 
it for forty years 
{I}36{/}up to the time 
they reached the border 
of Canaan.
WATER FROM THE ROCK{/}

{1}17{/}

{I}1_{/}The whole 
community of the people 
of Israel moved on from 
the desert of Sin going 
from place to place as 
Yahweh commanded, and 
encamped at Rephidim. But 
there was no water to 
drink.
{I}2_{/}The people 
complained to Moses and 
said, "Give us water to 
drink." But Moses 
replied, "Why do you find 
fault with me? Why do you 
put Yahweh to the test?"
{I}3_{/}But the people 
thirsted for water there 
and grumbled against 
Moses, "Why did you make 
us leave Egypt to have us 
die of thirst with our 
children and our cattle?"
{I}4_{/}So Moses cried to 
Yahweh, "What shall I do 
with the people? They are 
almost ready to stone 
me!" {I}5_{/}Yahweh said 
to Moses, "Go ahead of 
the people and take with 
you the elders of Israel. 
Take with you the staff 
with which you struck the 
Nile, and go. {I}6_{/}I 
will stand there before 
you on the rock at Horeb. 
You will strike the rock 
and water will flow from 
it and the people will 
drink." Moses did this in 
the presence of the 
elders of Israel.
{I}7_{/}The place was 
called Massah and Meribah 
because of the complaints 
of the Israelites, who 
tested Yahweh saying, "Is 
Yahweh with us or not?"
VICTORY OVER AMALEK{/}

{I}8_{/}When the 
Israelites were at 
Rephidim, the Amalekites 
came and attacked them. 
{I}9_{/}So Moses said to 
Joshua, "Choose some of 
our men and go out to 
fight the Amalekites in 
the morning. As for me, I 
will stand with God's 
staff in my hand at the 
top of the hill."
{I}10_{/}Joshua fought 
the Amalekites as Moses 
had directed, while 
Moses, Aaron and Hur went 
to the top of the hill. 
{I}11_{/}It happened that 
when Moses raised his 
hands, the Israelites 
would win but when he 
lowered them, the 
Amalekites would have the 
advantage.
{I}12_{/}As Moses' arms 
grew weary they placed a 
stone for him to sit on 
while Aaron and Hur on 
either side held up his 
arms which remained 
steadily raised until 
sunset. {I}13_{/}For his 
part Joshua mowed down 
Amalek and his people 
with the sword.
{I}14_{/}Yahweh then 
instructed Moses, "Write 
this in a book as 
something to be 
remembered, and make it 
known in the hearing of 
Joshua that I will wipe 
out the remembrance of 
Amalek from under 
heaven."
{I}15_{/}After that Moses 
built an altar and called 
it 'Yahweh is my banner,' 
{I}16_{/}for he said, 
"Raise up the standard of 
Yahweh; Yahweh is at war 
with the Amalekites from 
generation to 
generation."
MEETING WITH JETHRO{/}

{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}Jethro, the 
priest of Midian, father-
in-law of Moses, heard 
all that God had done for 
Moses and for Israel, his 
people, when Yahweh 
brought Israel out of 
Egypt.
{I}2_{/}After Moses had 
sent away Zipporah, his 
wife, Jethro, his father-
in-law, received her 
{I}3_{/}and her two sons. 
The first, Moses had 
called Gershom, to 
remember that he had been 
a guest in a foreign 
land, {I}4_{/}and the 
other Eliezer, for he 
said, "The God of my 
father came to my help 
and delivered me from the 
sword of Pharaoh."
{I}5_{/}So Jethro came 
with Moses' wife and sons 
to the desert where the 
people had encamped at 
the mountain of God.
{I}6_{/}Moses was told, 
"Your father-in-law 
Jethro is here. He has 
come with your wife and 
her two sons." {I}7_{/}So 
Moses went out to meet 
his father-in-law and 
bowing low before him, he 
kissed him, and when each 
had inquired about the 
other's health, they 
entered the tent. 
{I}8_{/}Moses then told 
his father-in-law all 
that Yahweh had done to 
Pharaoh and Egypt for the 
sake of Israel and all 
the difficulties they had 
met with on the way and 
how Yahweh had saved 
them.
{I}9_{/}Jethro rejoiced 
at all Yahweh's goodness 
to Israel in freeing them 
from the power of Egypt 
and he said, 
{I}10_{/}"Blessed be 
Yahweh who has delivered 
you from the power of 
Egypt and Pharaoh, and 
has rescued the people 
from the grip of Egypt. 
{I}11_{/}I know now that 
Yahweh is greater than 
all the gods, for he 
delivered his people when 
they were being 
oppressed."
{I}12_{/}Then Jethro 
brought a burnt offering 
and other sacrifices to 
offer to God; and Aaron 
came with all the elders 
of Israel to share this 
meal with Moses' father-
in-law in the presence of 
God.
APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES{/}

{I}13_{/}The next day 
Moses took his seat to 
administer justice for 
the people who stood 
around him from morning 
till night.
{I}14_{/}His father-in-
law, seeing all the work 
of Moses for the people, 
said to him, "What is 
this you are doing for 
the people? Why do you 
alone sit and judge while 
all the people stand 
around you from morning 
till night?" 
{I}15_{/}Moses answered, 
"It is the people who 
come to me to know God's 
will. {I}16_{/}When there 
is a dispute they bring 
it to me to decide 
between the two parties, 
and I teach them God's 
decrees and laws."
{I}17_{/}Jethro replied, 
"What you are doing is 
not good. {I}18_{/}You 
and your people will wear 
yourselves out, for the 
work is too heavy and you 
cannot do it alone. 
{I}19_{/}Now listen to 
the advice I am going to 
give you and God be with 
you. You will be the 
people's representative 
before God and bring 
their cases to him. 
{I}20_{/}You will teach 
them the statutes and 
laws and the way they 
must live and what they 
must do. {I}21_{/}But 
choose among the people, 
capable, God-fearing men, 
men of truth who hate a 
bribe, and appoint them 
as leaders for groups of 
a thousand, a hundred, 
fifty and ten.
{I}22_{/}They will 
administer justice at all 
times, bringing to your 
attention only those 
cases of major 
importance, while they 
deal with all those of 
lesser importance. That 
will ease your burden 
since they will be 
sharing it with you. 
{I}23_{/}If you do this, 
God will guide you and 
you will be able to cope 
with this duty; and all 
these people will reach 
their place in peace."
{I}24_{/}Moses followed 
his father-in-law's 
advice and did as he 
said. {I}25_{/}He chose 
capable men from among 
the Israelites and placed 
them as leaders for 
groups of a thousand, a 
hundred, fifty and ten. 
{I}26_{/}They 
administered justice at 
all times, bringing 
difficult cases to Moses 
but judging all other 
cases themselves.
{I}27_{/}Then Moses let 
his father-in-law return 
to his own country.
PREPARING FOR THE 
COVENANT{/}

{1}19{/}

{I}1_{/}Exactly two 
months after the 
Israelites had left 
Egypt, they arrived at 
the wilderness of Sinai. 
{I}2_{/}They arrived 
there coming from 
Rephidim and camped in 
the wilderness of Sinai.
{I}3_{/}The Israelites 
camped there in front of 
the mountain, but Moses 
went up to God and Yahweh 
called to him from the 
mountain, saying, "This 
is what you are to say 
and to explain to the 
Israelites: {I}4_{/}You 
have seen what I did to 
the Egyptians and how I 
carried you on eagle's 
wings and brought you to 
myself. {I}5_{/}Now if 
you listen to me and keep 
my covenant, you shall be 
my very own possession 
among all the nations. 
For all the earth is 
mine, {I}6_{/}but you 
will be for me a kingdom 
of priests and a holy 
nation."
And he added, "This is 
what you are to say to 
the people of Israel."
{I}7_{/}So Moses went and 
summoned all the elders 
of the people and related 
to them all that Yahweh 
had commanded him to say. 
{I}8_{/}All the people 
responded with one voice, 
"All that Yahweh has 
said, we will do." Moses 
then brought back to 
Yahweh the people's 
response.
{I}9_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses, "I am going to 
come to you in a dense 
cloud so that the people 
may hear me speaking with 
you and trust you 
always." Then Moses 
related to Yahweh what 
the people had said.
{I}10_{/}Again Yahweh 
spoke to Moses, "Go to 
the people and have them 
sanctified today and 
tomorrow; let them wash 
their garments 
{I}11_{/}and be ready for 
the third day. For on the 
third day Yahweh will 
come down on Mount Sinai 
in the sight of all the 
people. {I}12_{/}You will 
fix a limit for the 
people round about, 
saying: 'Take care not to 
go up to the mountain or 
touch its base. Whoever 
touches the mountain will 
die. {I}13_{/}No hand 
shall touch him but he 
will be stoned or shot 
down by arrows; be it man 
or beast he shall not 
live.' Only when the 
ram's horn sounds may 
some of them go up to the 
mountain."
{I}14_{/}Moses came down 
from the mountain to the 
people and purified them, 
and they washed their 
garments. {I}15_{/}He 
then said to the people, 
"Be ready in three days 
and abstain from sexual 
relations."
{I}16_{/}On the morning 
of the third day there 
was thunder and lightning 
and a dense cloud over 
the mountain, and a very 
loud trumpet blast was 
heard. All the people in 
the camp trembled. 
{I}17_{/}Moses then made 
the people leave the camp 
to meet God and stand at 
the foot of the mountain.
{I}18_{/}Mount Sinai was 
completely covered in 
smoke because Yahweh had 
come down in fire, and 
the smoke rose as from a 
furnace. The whole 
mountain shook violently, 
{I}19_{/}while the blast 
of the trumpet became 
louder and louder. Moses 
spoke and God replied in 
thunder.
{I}20_{/}When Yahweh had 
come down to the summit 
of Mount Sinai, God 
called Moses who went to 
the summit {I}21_{/}where 
Yahweh said to him, "Go 
down and give this 
warning to the people, 
lest they rush to see 
Yahweh and many of them 
perish. {I}22_{/}Even the 
priests who come near 
Yahweh must purify 
themselves lest Yahweh 
break out against them."
{I}23_{/}Moses answered 
Yahweh, "The people 
cannot ascend Mount Sinai 
because you yourself 
ordered us to put limits 
around the mountain, and 
set it apart as holy." 
{I}24_{/}Yahweh replied, 
"Go down and bring up 
Aaron with you, but do 
not let the priests and 
the people break through 
to come up to Yahweh or 
he will break out against 
them."
{I}25_{/}So Moses went 
down to the people and 
said to them...
THE DECALOGUE{/}

{1}20{/}

{I}1_{/}God spoke all 
these words. {I}2_{/}He 
said, "I am Yahweh your 
God who brought you out 
of the land of Egypt, out 
of the house of slavery.
{I}3_{/}Do not have other 
gods before me.
{I}4_{/}Do not make 
yourself a carved image 
or any likeness of 
anything in heaven, or on 
the earth beneath, or in 
the waters under the 
earth; {I}5_{/}you shall 
not bow down to them or 
serve them. For I, Yahweh 
your God, am a jealous 
God; for the sin of the 
fathers, when they rebel 
against me, I punish the 
sons, the grandsons and 
the great-grandsons; 
{I}6_{/}but I show 
steadfast love until the 
thousandth generation for 
those who love me and 
keep my commandments.
{I}7_{/}Do not take the 
name of Yahweh your God 
in vain for Yahweh will 
not leave unpunished 
anyone who takes his name 
in vain.
-{I}8_{/}Remember the 
sabbath day and keep it 
holy. {I}9_{/}For six 
days you will labor and 
do all your work, 
{I}10_{/}but the seventh 
day is a sabbath for 
Yahweh your God. Do not 
work that day, neither 
you, nor your son, nor 
your daughter nor your 
servants, men or women, 
nor your animals, nor the 
stranger who is staying 
with you. {I}11_{/}For in 
six days Yahweh made the 
heavens and the earth and 
the sea and all that is 
in them, but on the 
seventh day he rested; 
that is why Yahweh has 
blessed the sabbath day 
and made it holy.
- {I}12_{/}Honor your 
father and your mother 
that you may have a long 
life in the land that 
Yahweh has given you.
- {I}13_{/}Do not kill.
- {I}14_{/}Do not commit 
adultery.
- {I}15_{/}Do not steal.
- {I}16_{/}Do not give 
false witness against 
your neighbor.
- {I}17_{/}Do not covet 
your neighbor's house. Do 
not covet your neighbor's 
wife, or his servant, man 
or woman, or his ox, or 
his donkey, or anything 
that is his."
{I}18_{/}In the meantime, 
all the people witnessed 
the thunder and lightning 
and heard the blast of 
the trumpet and saw the 
mountain smoking. They 
trembled with fear and 
kept at a distance.
{I}19_{/}Then they said 
to Moses, "You yourself 
speak to us and we shall 
listen. But do not have 
God speak to us, lest we 
die." {I}20_{/}Moses 
answered the people, "Do 
not be afraid, for God 
has come to test you, so 
that the fear of God may 
be with you, and that you 
may not sin again." 
{I}21{/}So the people 
kept at a distance while 
Moses went forward to the 
cloud where God was.
THE CODE OF THE 
COVENANT{/}

{I}22_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses, "Say this to the 
people of Israel: You 
have seen for yourselves 
that I have spoken to you 
from the heavens. 
{I}23_{/}Do not make any 
gods of silver or gold to 
stand beside me.
{I}24_{/}For me you are 
to make an altar of 
earth, and on it you will 
sacrifice burnt offerings 
and peace offerings, your 
sheep and your cattle. In 
every place where you 
come to remember my name, 
I will come to you and 
bless you. {I}25_{/}If 
you build an altar of 
stone, do not make it of 
cut stones, for you will 
defile it by using tools 
on it. {I}26{/}And you 
will not ascend my altar 
on steps lest you expose 
your nakedness on it.
{1}21{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
laws you are to set 
before them: {I}2_{/}When 
you buy a Hebrew slave, 
he will serve you for six 
years and in the seventh 
year he shall go free, 
with nothing to pay.
{I}3_{/}If he came alone, 
he will leave alone. If 
he was married, his wife 
will leave with him. 
{I}4_{/}If his master 
gives him a wife and she 
bears him sons or 
daughters, the wife and 
her children belong to 
his master; he will leave 
alone.
{I}5_{/}But if the slave 
says: 'I love my wife, my 
master and my children, I 
will not go free,' 
{I}6_{/}his master shall 
bring him to God; he will 
take him to the door or 
the doorpost, then his 
master will pierce his 
ear with an awl, and he 
shall serve him for life.
{I}7_{/}When a man sells 
his daughter as a slave, 
she is not to go free as 
men slaves do. {I}8_{/}If 
she does not please the 
master who intended her 
for himself, he shall let 
another redeem her; he is 
not to sell her to 
foreigners because he has 
broken faith with her. 
{I}9_{/}If he intends her 
for his son, he will deal 
with her according to the 
rights of daughters. 
{I}10_{/}If he takes 
another for himself he 
will not diminish her 
food, her clothing or her 
marital rights. 
{I}11_{/}If he fails her 
in respect of these three 
rights she is to go free 
without any payment of 
money.
{I}12_{/}The man who 
strikes another and so 
causes his death shall 
die. {I}13_{/}If he did 
not want to kill him, but 
as it were, let it 
happen, then I will give 
you a place where he may 
find refuge. 
{I}14_{/}Instead, if a 
man willfully attacks 
another to kill him 
treacherously, you will 
take him away even from 
my altar and put him to 
death. {I}15_{/}Whoever 
strikes his father or 
mother shall be put to 
death.
{I}16_{/}Anyone who 
kidnaps another and 
either sells him or is 
found holding him 
captive, shall be put to 
death.
{I}17_{/}He who curses 
his father or mother 
shall be put to death.
{I}18_{/}When men quarrel 
and one strikes another 
with a stone or with his 
fist so that the man is 
confined to bed, 
{I}19_{/}but after that 
he gets up and walks 
about with the help of a 
stick, the man who struck 
the blow will not be held 
as a criminal. He will, 
however, pay the injured 
man for loss of time and 
see that he is completely 
healed.
{I}20_{/}When a man 
strikes his slave or his 
servant with a rod and 
the man dies at his 
hands, he shall be 
punished. {I}21_{/}But if 
the slave survives for a 
day or two, he will not 
be penalized since the 
slave is his property.
{I}22_{/}If men are 
fighting and a pregnant 
woman is hit, so that the 
child is born prematurely 
but she is not injured, 
the one who hurt her will 
pay the fine demanded by 
her husband and allowed 
by the court. 
{I}23_{/}But if there is 
serious injury you are to 
take life for life, 
{I}24_{/}eye for eye, 
tooth for tooth, foot for 
foot, {I}25_{/}burn for 
burn, wound for wound, 
bruise for bruise.
{I}26_{/}When a man 
strikes the eye of his 
slave, male or female, 
and the eye is lost, he 
will let the slave go 
free in compensation for 
the eye {I}27_{/}or if he 
knocks out a tooth he 
will likewise give the 
slave his freedom.
{I}28_{/}When an ox gores 
a man or woman to death, 
the ox will be stoned and 
its flesh will not be 
eaten, but the owner of 
the ox will not be 
punished.
{I}29_{/}If the ox had 
gored someone in the past 
and its owner had been 
warned but had not kept 
it fenced in, and if 
later it kills a man or 
woman, the ox will be 
stoned and its owner put 
to death. {I}30_{/}If the 
owner, however, is 
allowed to pay a fine to 
save his life, he must 
pay all that is demanded.
{I}31_{/}If the ox gores 
a boy or a girl the same 
law applies. {I}32_{/}If 
the ox gores a man or 
woman slave, the owner of 
the slave shall be paid 
thirty pieces of silver 
and the ox will be 
stoned.
{I}33_{/}When a man 
leaves a pit uncovered or 
when he digs a pit and 
leaves it open and an ox 
or a donkey falls into 
it, {I}34_{/}the owner of 
the pit will make 
compensation to the owner 
of the animal by paying 
him money, but he may 
keep the dead animal.
{I}35_{/}When a man's ox 
injures the ox of his 
neighbor and it dies, 
they will sell the live 
ox and share both the 
money and the meat of the 
dead animal. {I}36_{/}Or 
if it is known that the 
ox has been in the habit 
of goring and its owner 
has not kept it in, he 
must make good the loss 
by giving his neighbor a 
live ox but the dead ox 
will be his.
{I}37_{/}If a man steals 
an ox or a sheep and 
either slaughters or 
sells it, he must pay 
five oxen for the ox, 
four sheep for the sheep.
{1}22{/}

{I}1_{/}If a thief is 
caught breaking into a 
house and receives a 
mortal blow, the man who 
struck him will not be 
guilty of his death, 
{I}2_{/}but if it 
happened after dawn he 
will be guilty of murder. 
The thief must make full 
restitution. If he cannot 
do this he must be sold 
for what he has stolen. 
{I}3_{/}If what has been 
stolen is found alive in 
his possession, be it ox, 
donkey or sheep, he must 
pay double.
{I}4_{/}If a man puts his 
animals to graze and lets 
them stray and feed in 
another man's field or 
vineyard, he must make 
good the loss with the 
best of his own crop and 
the best of his vineyard.
{I}5_{/}When a fire 
breaks out and spreads 
through the thorn bushes 
and burns the grain that 
is either stacked or 
growing there, the one 
who started the fire must 
pay for the damage.
{I}6_{/}If a man gives 
money or goods to another 
to keep for him, and they 
are stolen, the thief, if 
he is found, shall pay 
back double. 
{I}7_{/}Should the thief 
not be found, the man who 
owns the house must swear 
before the judges that he 
has not stolen the other 
man's property.
{I}8_{/}Whenever there is 
a failure of trust 
whether it concerns an 
ox, donkey, sheep, 
clothing or any other 
lost object, the case 
shall come before the 
judges. The person the 
judges find guilty shall 
pay double to the other.
{I}9_{/}If a man entrusts 
to his neighbor his 
donkey, cow, sheep or 
other animal, and the 
animal dies or is 
injured, or is carried 
off without being seen, 
{I}10_{/}an oath before 
Yahweh shall prove that 
the man has not stolen 
the other's property. The 
owner of the animal shall 
accept the oath and the 
other shall not make 
restitution. {I}11_{/}But 
if the animal has been 
stolen from him, 
restitution shall be 
made. {I}12_{/}If the 
animal was killed by wild 
beasts, the man must 
bring the remains as 
evidence but shall not 
pay anything.
{I}13_{/}When a man 
borrows an animal from 
his neighbor and the 
animal is injured or dies 
when the owner is not 
present, the man who 
borrowed must pay for it. 
{I}14_{/}But if the owner 
is present the borrower 
need not repay.
{I}15_{/}If a man seduces 
a virgin who is not 
betrothed and lies with 
her, he shall pay the 
"bride price" and marry 
her. {I}16_{/}If her 
father refuses to give 
her to him, he shall pay 
money equal to that for a 
virgin given in marriage.
{I}17_{/}You shall not 
allow a sorceress to 
live.
{I}18_{/}Whoever has 
sexual relations with a 
beast shall die.
{I}19_{/}Whoever 
sacrifices to any god 
other than Yahweh shall 
die.
{I}20_{/}You shall not 
wrong or oppress a 
stranger, for you were 
strangers in the land of 
Egypt.
{I}21_{/}You shall not 
harm the widow or the 
orphan. {I}22_{/}If you 
do harm them and they cry 
out to me, I will hear 
them {I}23_{/}and my 
anger will blaze and I 
will kill you with the 
sword, and your own wives 
will be widows and your 
own children orphans.
{I}24_{/}If you lend 
money to any of my people 
who are poor, do not act 
like a moneylender and do 
not charge him interest.
{I}25_{/}If ever you take 
a person's cloak as a 
pledge, you must give it 
back to him by sunset, 
{I}26_{/}for it is all 
the covering he has for 
his body. In what else 
will he sleep? And when 
he cries to me I will 
hear him, for I am full 
of pity.
{I}27_{/}Do not revile 
God or curse a ruler of 
your people.
{I}28_{/}Do not delay in 
giving me my share of 
your wheat and your wine.
You shall give to me the 
firstborn of your sons. 
{I}29_{/}It shall be the 
same for your cattle and 
sheep. The firstborn 
shall stay with its 
mother for seven days; on 
the eighth day you shall 
give it to me. 
{I}30_{/}You are to be 
men consecrated to my 
service. Do not eat flesh 
that has been torn by 
wild animals; let it be 
given to the dogs.
{1}23{/}

{I}1_{/}Do not make false 
statements. And do not 
join hands with the 
wicked by being a 
malicious witness.
{I}2_{/}Do not follow the 
majority when they do 
evil, or when they 
pervert justice in a 
lawsuit. {I}3_{/}Do not 
be partial, not even to 
the poor.
{I}4_{/}If you see your 
enemy's ox or donkey 
going astray, take it 
back to him.
{I}5_{/}When you see the 
donkey of a man who hates 
you falling under its 
load, do not pass by but 
help him.
{I}6_{/}Do not deny 
justice to any of your 
poor in a lawsuit.
{I}7_{/}Keep away from 
lies.
Do not slay the innocent 
or the just, for I will 
not forgive the wicked.
{I}8_{/}And do not take a 
bribe, for a bribe blinds 
the eyes of the clear-
sighted and perverts the 
sentence of the just.
{I}9_{/}Do not oppress a 
stranger; you know what 
it is to be a stranger, 
for that is what you were 
in the land of Egypt.
{I}10_{/}For six years 
you will sow your fields 
and reap their produce, 
{I}11_{/}but in the 
seventh you will let the 
land rest and lie fallow. 
The poor may eat what it 
produces and what they 
leave the wild animals 
will eat. It will be the 
same for your vineyard 
and your olive grove.
{I}12_{/}For six days you 
shall work but on the 
seventh you shall rest, 
so that your ox and your 
donkey may also rest and 
the son of your slave 
girl and the stranger as 
well may have a breathing 
space.
{I}13_{/}Pay attention to 
all that I tell you and 
do not call upon other 
gods; don't let their 
names be heard on your 
lips.
{I}14_{/}Three times each 
year you shall celebrate 
a feast in my honor. 
{I}15_{/}You shall keep 
the feast of Unleavened 
Bread, as I commanded 
you, and eat unleavened 
bread for seven days at 
the appointed time in the 
month of Abib, for it was 
then that you left Egypt. 
And do not come to me 
empty-handed.
{I}16_{/}You shall keep 
the feast of the Harvest 
with the feast of the 
first harvest of what you 
sowed in your fields.
Then the feast of 
Ingathering at the end of 
the year when you gather 
in the fruit of your 
labor in the fields.
{I}17_{/}Three times 
during the year all your 
men shall present 
themselves before Yahweh.
{I}18_{/}Do not offer the 
blood of my sacrifice 
with leavened bread or 
let the fat of my feast 
remain until morning.
{I}19_{/}The first of the 
first fruits of your soil 
you will bring to the 
house of Yahweh, your 
God.
Do not boil a kid in its 
mother's milk.
{I}20_{/}See, I am 
sending an Angel before 
you to keep you safe on 
the way and bring you to 
the place I have made 
ready.
{I}21_{/}Be on your guard 
in his presence and 
listen to him; do not 
resist him for he will 
not pardon your wrong-
doing, for my name is in 
him.
{I}22_{/}If you listen to 
him and do what I say, I 
will be enemy to your 
enemies and the opponent 
of your opponents. 
{I}23_{/}My Angel will go 
before you and bring you 
to the land of the 
Amorites, the Hittites, 
the Perizzites, the 
Canaanites, the Hivites 
and the Jebusites; all 
these I will destroy.
{I}24_{/}You shall not 
bow down before their 
gods or serve them, or 
act according to their 
ways; rather you will 
destroy them utterly and 
smash their sacred 
stones.
{I}25_{/}If you serve 
Yahweh, your God, he will 
bless your bread and your 
water - and I will keep 
sickness away from you. 
{I}26_{/}No woman among 
you will miscarry or be 
barren. I will fulfill 
the number of your days.
{I}27_{/}Now I will send 
my terror ahead of you 
and throw into confusion 
all the people you 
encounter; I will make 
all your enemies turn and 
flee before you.
{I}28_{/}I will send 
hornets ahead of you to 
drive out the Hivites, 
the Canaanites and the 
Hittites. {I}29_{/}I will 
not drive them out in a 
single year lest the land 
become a desert and the 
wild beasts increase and 
molest you. {I}30_{/}I 
will drive them out 
before you little by 
little until your number 
increase and you are able 
to take possession of the 
land.
{I}31_{/}I will fix your 
boundaries from the Red 
Sea to the sea of the 
Philistines and from the 
Wilderness to the 
Euphrates; for I will 
deliver into your power 
the inhabitants of the 
land and I will drive 
them out before you.
{I}32_{/}You shall make 
no treaty with them or 
with their gods. 
{I}33_{/}They shall not 
live in your country lest 
they lead you to sin 
against me and to serve 
their gods. That would 
surely be a snare for 
you."
{1}24{/}

{I}1_{/}Then he said to 
Moses, "Go up  to Yahweh, 
you, Aaron, Nadab and 
Abihu with seventy of the 
elders of Israel, and let 
them worship from a 
distance. {I}2_{/}Moses 
alone shall go forward to 
Yahweh but not the 
others, nor shall the 
people go up with him."
CONCLUSION OF THE 
COVENANT{/}

{I}3_{/}Moses came and 
told the people all the 
words of Yahweh and all 
his laws. The people 
replied with one voice: 
"Everything that Yahweh 
has said, we shall do."
{I}4_{/}Moses wrote down 
all the words of Yahweh, 
then rose early in the 
morning and built an 
altar at the foot of the 
mountain with twelve 
raised stones for the 
twelve tribes of Israel.
{I}5_{/}He then sent 
young men from among the 
sons of Israel to offer 
burnt offerings and 
sacrifice bullocks as 
peace offerings to 
Yahweh.
{I}6_{/}And Moses took 
half the blood and put it 
in basins; and with the 
other half of the blood 
he sprinkled the altar.
{I}7_{/}He then took the 
Book of the Covenant and 
read it in the hearing of 
the people. They said, 
"All that Yahweh said we 
shall do and obey."
{I}8_{/}Moses then took 
the blood and sprinkled 
it on the people saying, 
"Here is the blood of the 
covenant that Yahweh has 
made with you in 
accordance with all these 
words."
{I}9_{/}Then Moses went 
up with Aaron, Nadab, 
Abihu and the seventy 
elders of Israel. 
{I}10_{/}They saw the God 
of Israel. Under his feet 
there was what seemed 
like a pavement of 
sapphire, clear as the 
sky itself. {I}11_{/}And 
he did not let his hand 
overpower these chosen 
men from among the sons 
of Israel; they looked on 
God and ate and drank.
MOSES IS GIVEN THE LAW{/}

{I}12_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Come up to me on 
the mountain and stay 
there. I will give you 
the slabs of stone, the 
Teaching and commandment 
which I have written for 
their instruction."
{I}13_{/}So Moses arose 
with his servant, Joshua, 
and before going up the 
mountain of God, 
{I}14_{/}Moses said to 
the elders, "Remain here 
until we come back to 
you. Aaron and Hur are 
with you; let whoever has 
a dispute to settle, go 
to them."
{I}15_{/}When Moses went 
up the mountain a cloud 
covered it. {I}16_{/}The 
Glory of Yahweh rested on 
Mount Sinai and the cloud 
covered it for six days. 
On the seventh day He 
called to Moses from 
within the cloud.
{I}17_{/}The Glory of 
Yahweh appeared like a 
consuming fire on the top 
of the mountain: so it 
was as it appeared to the 
Israelites.
{I}18_{/}And Moses 
entered the cloud and 
went up the mountain.
Moses stayed on the 
mountain forty days and 
forty nights.
THE HOLY TENT (1ST 
PART){/}

{1}25{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses and said, 
{I}2_{/}"Tell the sons of 
Israel to set aside a 
contribution for me; you 
shall accept this 
contribution from every 
man who gives from the 
heart.
{I}3_{/}The things you 
shall accept from them 
are these: gold, silver, 
and bronze, 
{I}4_{/}purple cloth of 
violet shade and red, 
crimson cloth, fine 
linen, goats' hair; 
{I}5_{/}rams' skins dyed 
red, fine leather, acacia 
wood; {I}6_{/}oil for the 
lamps, spices for the 
chrism and for the 
fragrant incense; 
precious stones and gems 
to be set in priestly 
vestments.
{I}7{/}-{I}8_{/}For they 
must build me a sanctuary 
so that I may dwell among 
them, {I}9_{/}and you 
shall make the tabernacle 
and its furnishings 
following exactly the 
pattern I shall show you.
{I}10_{/}You are to make 
me an ark of acacia wood, 
two and a half cubits 
long, one and a half 
cubits wide, one and a 
half cubits high. 
{I}11_{/}You are to cover 
it with pure gold inside 
and out, and decorate it 
all around with a gold 
molding. {I}12_{/}You 
will cast four gold rings 
for the ark and fix them 
to its four supports: two 
rings on one side and two 
rings on the other. 
{I}13_{/}You will also 
make poles of acacia wood 
covered with gold 
{I}14_{/}and pass the 
poles through the rings 
on the sides of the ark, 
to carry the ark by 
these. {I}15_{/}The poles 
must remain in the rings 
of the ark and not be 
withdrawn. 
{I}16_{/}Inside the ark 
you will place the 
Statement that I shall 
give you.
{I}17_{/}Further, you are 
to make the mercy Seat of 
pure gold, two and a half 
cubits long, and one and 
a half cubits wide. 
{I}18_{/}For the two ends 
of the mercy Seat you are 
to make two golden 
cherubim of hammered 
gold. {I}19_{/}Make the 
first cherub for one end 
and the second for the 
other, and fasten them to 
the two ends of the cover 
so that they may make one 
piece with it. 
{I}20_{/}The cherubim are 
to have their wings 
spread upward so that 
they overshadow the mercy 
Seat. They must face one 
another, their faces 
towards the mercy Seat. 
{I}21_{/}You must place 
the mercy Seat on the top 
of the ark. Inside the 
ark you must place the 
stone tablets that I 
shall give you. 
{I}22_{/}There I shall 
come to meet you; there, 
from above the mercy Seat 
from between the two 
cherubim on it, I shall 
give you all my commands 
for the people of Israel.
THE TABLE AND THE 
LAMPSTANDS{/}

{I}23_{/}You are to make 
a table of acacia wood, 
two cubits long, one 
cubit wide, and one and a 
half cubits high. 
{I}24_{/}You are to cover 
it with pure gold and 
decorate it all around 
with a gold edge. 
{I}25_{/}You are to 
surround it with a frame 
three inches wide, and 
decorate these with a 
golden edge. {I}26_{/}You 
are to make for it four 
gold rings and fix these 
at the four corners where 
the four legs are. 
{I}27_{/}The rings must 
be close to the frame to 
hold the poles for 
carrying the table. 
{I}28_{/}You are to make 
the poles of acacia wood 
and cover them with gold. 
The table is to be 
carried by these. 
{I}29_{/}You are to make 
dishes, cups, jars and 
bowls to be used for the 
wine offerings; you are 
to make these of pure 
gold. {I}30_{/}On the 
table, before me, you 
must place the bread of 
continual offering.
{I}31_{/}You are to make 
a lampstand of pure gold; 
the lampstand must be of 
hammered gold, both its 
base and stem. Its 
decorative flowers, 
including buds and 
petals, must be of one 
piece with it. 
{I}32_{/}Six branches 
must extend from its 
sides, three from one 
side, three from the 
other. {I}33_{/}Each of 
the six branches of the 
lampstand is to have 
three decorative flowers 
shaped like almond 
blossoms, each with its 
bud and petals. 
{I}34_{/}The lampstand 
itself is to have four 
decorative flowers shaped 
like almond blossoms, 
each with its bud and 
petals, thus: 
{I}35_{/}one bud under 
the first two branches 
extending from the 
lampstand, one under the 
next pair, one under the 
last pair: corresponding 
to the six branches 
extending from the 
lampstand. {I}36_{/}The 
buds and the branches 
must be of one piece with 
the lampstand, and the 
whole made from a single 
piece of pure hammered 
gold. {I}37_{/}Then you 
are to make lamps for it, 
seven of them, and set 
them so that they throw 
their light toward the 
front of it. 
{I}38_{/}Tongs for 
extinguishing the burning 
lamps and trays must be 
of pure gold. 
{I}39_{/}You are to use 
seventy-five pounds of 
pure gold for making the 
lampstand and all its 
accessories. {I}40_{/}See 
that you make them 
according to the pattern 
shown you on the 
mountain. 
THE HOLY TENT{/}

{1}26{/}

{I}1_{/}The Holy Tent 
itself you are to make 
with ten sheets of fine 
twined linen, of purple 
wool, violet shade and 
red, and of crimson wool; 
you are to have these 
sheets finely embroidered 
with angels. {I}2_{/}The 
length of a single sheet 
is to be twenty-eight 
cubits, its width four 
cubits, all the sheets to 
be of the same size. 
{I}3_{/}Five of the 
sheets must be sewed 
together, and the other 
five, also. {I}4_{/}You 
must attach loops of 
violet wool to the border 
of the last sheet in one 
set, and do the same for 
the border of the last 
sheet in the other set. 
{I}5_{/}You are to put 
fifty loops on the first 
sheet and, matching them 
one by one, fifty loops 
on the border of the last 
sheet in the second set. 
{I}6_{/}And you are to 
make fifty gold clasps to 
draw the sheets together. 
In this way the Holy Tent 
will be a unified whole.
{I}7_{/}You are to make 
sheets of goats' hair to 
form a cover over the 
Holy Tent. There will be 
eleven sheets. 
{I}8_{/}The length of a 
single sheet is to be 
thirty cubits, its width 
four cubits, the eleven 
sheets to be all of the 
same size. {I}9_{/}You 
must sew five of these 
sheets together into one 
sheet, the remaining six 
into another; the sixth 
you will fold double over 
the front of the cover.
{I}10_{/}You must attach 
fifty loops to the border 
of the last sheet in one 
set, and do the same for 
the border of the last 
sheet in the second set. 
{I}11_{/}You must make 
fifty bronze clasps and 
put them into one of the 
loops, so as to draw the 
two sets together to form 
one tent over the Holy 
Tent.
{I}12_{/}One sheet will 
be left over, half of 
which is to hang over the 
back of the Holy Tent. 
{I}13_{/}This extra cubit 
is to hang over the sides 
of the Holy Tent as a 
covering for it.
{I}14_{/}For the Holy 
Tent you will make 
further coverings, one of 
rams' skins dyed red, and 
to spread over this, 
another covering of fine 
leather.
{I}15_{/}You are to make 
frames of acacia wood for 
the Holy Tent which will 
stand upright. 
{I}16_{/}Each board is to 
be ten cubits long and 
one and a half cubits 
wide. {I}17_{/}Each board 
shall have two arms that 
shall serve to fasten the 
boards in line; for all 
the frames of the Holy 
Tent you must do this. 
{I}18_{/}There will be 
twenty boards for the 
southern side of the Holy 
Tent. {I}19_{/}You are to 
make forty silver bases 
for putting under the 
twenty boards thus: two 
bases under the first 
board to receive its two 
matching arms, and so on 
for the other boards. 
{I}20_{/}The other side 
of the tabernacle, on the 
north, is to have also 
twenty boards 
{I}21_{/}supported by 
forty silver bases, two 
bases under each board. 
{I}22_{/}For the back of 
the Holy Tent on the 
west, you must make six 
boards, {I}23_{/}and also 
two boards for the 
corners at the back of 
the Holy Tent. 
{I}24_{/}These boards 
must be joined at the 
bottom and also at the 
top, up to the level of 
the first ring; and the 
same for the two boards 
that are to form the two 
corners. {I}25_{/}So 
there will be eight 
boards with their sixteen 
silver bases: two bases 
under the first board and 
so on.
{I}26_{/}You are to make 
five crossbars of acacia 
wood to hold together the 
boards for one side of 
the tabernacle, 
{I}27_{/}and five to hold 
the boards that form the 
other side of the Holy 
Tent. {I}28_{/}They will 
run halfway up the 
boards, from one end to 
the other. {I}29_{/}The 
boards are to be covered 
with gold, and with gold 
rings on them to take the 
crossbars which you are 
to cover with gold. 
{I}30_{/}This is how you 
are to set up the Holy 
Tent according to the 
model shown to you on the 
mountain.
{I}31_{/}You are to make 
a veil of purple wool, 
violet shade and red, of 
crimson wool, and of fine 
twined linen; you are to 
have it finely 
embroidered with 
Cherubim. {I}32_{/}You 
are to hang it on four 
posts of acacia wood 
covered with gold and 
furnished with gold hooks 
and set in four silver 
bases. {I}33_{/}You must 
hang the veil from the 
clasps and there behind 
the veil you must place 
the ark of the Statement 
and the veil will serve 
to separate the Holy 
Place from the Holy of 
Holies. {I}34_{/}The 
mercy Seat you must place 
on top of the ark inside 
the Holy of Holies. 
{I}35_{/}Outside the 
veil, you shall set the 
table and the lampstand 
on the south side of the 
Holy Tent, opposite the 
table, for the table will 
be on the north side. 
{I}36_{/}Finally, for the 
entrance to the Tent you 
are to make a curtain of 
purple wool, violet shade 
and red, and of crimson 
stuffs and fine twined 
linen, the work of a 
skilled embroiderer. 
{I}37_{/}And you shall 
have for this curtain 
five posts of acacia wood 
covered with gold, with 
gold hooks; for these you 
are to cast five bronze 
bases.
THE ALTAR OF THE 
HOLOCAUST{/}

{1}27{/}

{I}1_{/}You are to make 
an altar out of acacia 
wood, a square five 
cubits long and five 
cubits wide, its height 
to be three cubits. 
{I}2_{/}At its four 
corners you are to put 
horns, the horns to be of 
one piece with it, 
covering it with bronze. 
{I}3_{/}For the service 
of the altar you are to 
make pans for the ashes 
for burning the fat, as 
well as shovels, 
sprinkling basins, fire 
pans; you must make all 
the vessels for the altar 
out of bronze. 
{I}4_{/}You are also to 
make a grating for it of 
bronze network, and on 
the four corners of this 
put four bronze rings. 
{I}5_{/}You shall set it 
under the altar's ledge, 
below, so that it reaches 
halfway up the altar. 
{I}6_{/}And for the 
carrying of the altar you 
are to make poles of 
acacia wood and cover 
them with bronze. 
{I}7_{/}These are to be 
passed through the rings, 
so that they are on 
either side of the altar 
when it is carried. 
{I}8_{/}You are to make 
the altar of hollowed-out 
boards; in the same way 
that was shown to you on 
the mountain.
{I}9_{/}You are to make 
also the court of the 
Holy Tent. The hangings 
of the court on the side 
facing south are to be of 
fine twined linen, one 
hundred cubits long for 
one side. {I}10_{/}Their 
twenty bronze posts are 
to be set in the twenty 
bronze bases and to have 
hooks and rods of silver. 
{I}11_{/}So too for the 
northern side there are 
to be hangings one 
hundred cubits long, and 
twenty posts set in 
twenty bases, with their 
hooks and rods of silver. 
{I}12_{/}Across the width 
of the court, on the 
western side, there are 
to be fifty cubits of 
hangings, carried on ten 
posts set in ten bases. 
{I}13_{/}The width of the 
court on the eastern side 
facing the sunrise is to 
be fifty cubits. 
{I}14_{/}On one side of 
the gateway there are to 
be fifteen cubits of 
hangings, carried on 
three posts set in three 
bases. {I}15_{/}On the 
other side of the gateway 
there are also to be 
fifteen cubits of 
hangings, carried on 
three posts set in three 
bases. {I}16_{/}The 
gateway to the court is 
to consist of a curtain 
twenty cubits wide made 
of purple wool, violet 
shade and red, of crimson 
wool and fine twined 
linen, the work of a 
skilled embroiderer, 
carried on four posts set 
in their four bases. 
{I}17_{/}All the posts 
enclosing the court are 
to be connected by silver 
rods; their hooks are to 
be of silver, their bases 
of bronze. {I}18_{/}The 
length of the court is to 
be one hundred cubits, 
its width fifty cubits, 
its height five cubits. 
All the hangings are to 
be made of fine twined 
linen, and their bases of 
bronze. {I}19_{/}All the 
furnishings for whatever 
use in the tabernacle, 
all the pegs of it and of 
the court, must be of 
bronze.
{I}20_{/}You are to 
command the people of 
Israel to bring you pure 
olive oil for the light, 
and to keep a flame 
burning there 
perpetually. 
{I}21_{/}Aaron and his 
sons are to set this 
flame in the Tent of 
Meeting, outside the veil 
that is before the 
Statement. It must burn 
there before Yahweh from 
evening to morning 
perpetually. This command 
is to be kept forever by 
the people of Israel.
THE PRIESTLY VESTMENTS{/}

{1}28{/}

{I}1_{/}Set apart of the 
sons of Israel your 
brother Aaron and his 
sons, and summon them to 
be priests in my service: 
Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, 
Eleazar and Ithamar. 
{I}2_{/}For Aaron, your 
brother, you are to make 
sacred vestments to give 
him dignity and 
magnificence. {I}3_{/}You 
are to instruct all the 
ablest craftsmen (I 
myself filled them with 
wisdom), to make Aaron's 
vestments for his 
consecration to my 
priesthood. {I}4_{/}These 
are the vestments they 
must make: Breastpiece, 
Ephod, robe, embroidered 
tunic, turban and belt. 
Your brother, Aaron, and 
his sons will serve me 
with these sacred 
vestments. {I}5_{/}For 
them you shall use gold, 
purple wool, violet shade 
and red, crimson wool, 
and fine twined linen.
{I}6_{/}They are to make 
the Ephod of gold, purple 
wool, violet shade and 
red, crimson wool and 
fine twined linen, the 
work of a skilled 
embroiderer. {I}7_{/}It 
must have two shoulder 
straps fitted to it to 
join its two ends 
together. {I}8_{/}The 
woven band on it to hold 
it on is to be of similar 
workmanship and to form 
one piece with it: this 
must be of gold thread, 
purple wool, violet shade 
and red, crimson wool, 
and fine twined linen. 
{I}9_{/}You will then 
take two precious stones 
and engrave them with the 
names of the sons of 
Israel, {I}10_{/}six of 
their names on one stone, 
the remaining six on the 
other, in the order of 
their birth. 
{I}11_{/}With the art of 
a jeweler, of an engraver 
of seals, you are to 
engrave the two stones 
with the names of  the 
sons of Israel, and mount 
them in settings of gold 
mesh. {I}12_{/}You are to 
fasten the two stones 
commemorating the sons of 
Israel to the shoulder 
straps of the Ephod. In 
this way Aaron will bear 
their names on his 
shoulders in the presence 
of Yahweh, that he may 
remember them. 
{I}13_{/}You must also 
make golden rosettes, 
{I}14_{/}and two chains 
of pure gold twisted like 
cord; you are to attach 
these cordlike chains to 
the rosettes.
{I}15_{/}You are to make 
the Breastpiece of 
judgment, finely 
embroidered, of the same 
workmanship as the apron. 
You are to make it of 
gold, purple wool, violet 
shade and red, crimson 
wool, and fine twined 
linen. {I}16_{/}It is to 
be square and doubled 
over nine inches wide. 
{I}17_{/}In this you are 
to set four rows of 
stones: sard, topaz, 
carbuncle, for the first 
row; {I}18_{/}emerald, 
sapphire, diamond for the 
second row; {I}19_{/}for 
the third row, hyacinth, 
ruby, amethyst; 
{I}20_{/}and for the 
fourth row, beryl, onyx, 
jasper. These are to be 
mounted in gold settings. 
{I}21_{/}There are to be 
twelve according to the 
number of the sons of 
Israel whose names are 
engraved on them. They 
are to be engraved like 
seals, each with the name 
of one of the twelve 
tribes.
{I}22_{/}For the 
Breastpiece you will make 
chains of pure gold 
twisted like cords, 
{I}23_{/}and also two 
gold rings and fix them 
to its two upper corners. 
{I}24_{/}You must fasten 
the two gold cords to the 
two rings fixed on the 
corners of the 
Breastpiece. {I}25_{/}The 
other two ends of the 
cords you must fasten to 
the two rosettes, so that 
they will be attached to 
the shoulder straps of 
the Ephod, on the front. 
{I}26_{/}You are to make 
two gold rings and fix 
them to the two lower 
corners of the 
Breastpiece, on the inner 
hem, next to the Ephod, 
on the front. 
<{I}27_{/}You are to make 
two more gold rings and 
fix them low down on the 
front of the two shoulder 
pieces of the Ephod, 
close to the seam, above 
the woven band of the 
Ephod. {I}28_{/}You must 
secure the Breastpiece by 
passing a ribbon of 
violet-purple through its 
rings and those of the 
Ephod, so that the 
Breastpiece will sit 
above the woven band and 
not come apart from the 
Ephod.
{I}29_{/}So when Aaron 
enters the sanctuary 
wearing the Breastpiece 
of judgment, he will bear 
the names of the sons of 
Israel on his breast to 
call them to mind 
continually in the 
presence of Yahweh. 
{I}30_{/}In the 
Breastpiece of judgment 
you will put the Urim and 
the Thummim by means of 
which he takes the 
decisions for the 
Israelites. Aaron shall 
have them on his breast 
when he goes into 
Yahweh's presence.
{I}31_{/}You are to make 
the robe of the Ephod 
entirely of violet-
purple. {I}32_{/}In the 
center it must have an 
opening for the head, 
with a border woven 
around the neck to keep 
the robe from being torn. 
{I}33_{/}You shall 
decorate the lower hem 
with pomegranates of 
purple wool, violet shade 
and red, crimson wool, 
and fine twined linen, 
{I}34_{/}and you shall 
fit gold bells between: 
gold bells and 
pomegranates will be 
alternately all around 
the lower hem of the 
robe. {I}35_{/}Aaron is 
to wear this robe when he 
serves before God, so 
that the tinkling of the 
bells will be heard 
whenever he enters the 
sanctuary and goes into 
Yahweh's presence, or 
leaves it; if he does 
not, he will die.
{I}36_{/}You are to make 
a plate of pure gold and 
engrave on it 
'Consecrated to the 
Lord.' {I}37_{/}You will 
tie this to the front of 
the headpiece with a 
ribbon of violet-purple. 
{I}38_{/}Aaron is to wear 
it on his forehead, and 
so take on himself any 
sins which the sons of 
Israel may have committed 
in any of their sacred 
offerings. Aaron must 
always wear this plate on 
his forehead, to draw 
down on the Israelites 
the goodwill of Yahweh.
{I}39_{/}You shall also 
weave the shirt of fine 
linen, and make a 
headpiece of fine linen, 
and a belt, the work of a 
skilled embroiderer.
{I}40_{/}You are to make 
shirt and belt and 
headdress for the sons of 
Aaron to make them 
dignified and beautiful.
{I}41_{/}You will put all 
these ornaments on your 
brother Aaron and his 
sons. You will then 
anoint and invest and 
consecrate them to serve 
me in the priesthood. 
{I}42_{/}You are to make 
them linen shorts to 
cover their nakedness 
from waist to thigh. 
{I}43_{/}Aaron and his 
sons must wear these when 
they go into the Tent of 
Meeting and when they 
approach the altar to 
serve the sanctuary. If 
they do not, they will be 
guilty and die. This is a 
permanent rule for Aaron 
and for his descendants 
after him. 
THE CONSECRATION OF THE 
PRIESTS{/}

{1}29{/}

{I}1_{/}This is the 
ceremony you must use 
when you consecrate them 
to serve me in the 
priesthood. Take one 
young bull and two rams 
without any defects, 
{I}2_{/}unleavened cakes 
mixed with oil, and 
unleavened wafers spread 
with oil, made from fine 
wheat flour. {I}3_{/}You 
must put these things 
into a basket and present 
them in the basket, at 
the same time as the 
young bull and the two 
rams.
{I}4_{/}Then you shall 
bring Aaron and his sons 
to the entrance of the 
Tent of Meeting after 
they have been bathed. 
{I}5_{/}Take the 
vestments and dress Aaron 
in the shirt, the robe 
over the Ephod, the Ephod 
and the Breastpiece, and 
embroidered belt. 
{I}6_{/}Put the headdress 
on his head and tie on it 
the sacred plate. 
{I}7_{/}Then take the 
chrism oil and pour it on 
his head, and so anoint 
him. {I}8_{/}Next, bring 
his sons and clothe them 
with shirts, {I}9_{/}pass 
the belts around their 
waists and put the 
headdresses on their 
heads. With this the 
priesthood will be theirs 
forever.
This is how you are to 
ordain Aaron and his 
sons. {I}10_{/}You are to 
bring the bull in front 
of the Tent of Meeting. 
Aaron and his sons are to 
lay their hands on its 
head. {I}11_{/}Kill the 
bull there before Yahweh 
at the entrance to the 
Tent of Meeting. 
{I}12_{/}Then take some 
of its blood and with 
your finger put it on the 
horns of the altar. Next, 
pour out the rest of the 
blood at the foot of the 
altar. {I}13_{/}And then 
take all the fat that 
covers the inner organs, 
the fatty mass which is 
over the liver, the two 
kidneys with their 
covering fat, and burn 
them on the altar. 
{I}14_{/}As for the 
bull's flesh, its skin 
and its intestines, you 
must burn them outside 
the camp, for it is an 
offering to take away the 
sins of the priests.
{I}15_{/}Next you are to 
take one of the rams. 
Aaron and his sons are to 
lay their hands on its 
head. {I}16_{/}You are to 
kill the ram, take up its 
blood and pour it out on 
the sides of the altar. 
{I}17_{/}Next, divide the 
ram in pieces and wash 
the inner organs and legs 
and put them on top of 
the head and the other 
pieces. {I}18_{/}Then 
burn the whole ram on the 
altar. This is a fire 
offering to Yahweh, a 
fragrant offering by 
fire.
{I}19_{/}Next you are to 
take the other ram. Aaron 
and his sons are to lay 
their hands on its head. 
{I}20_{/}You are to kill 
the ram, take some of its 
blood and put it on the 
lobe of Aaron's right 
ear, on the lobes of his 
sons' right ears, the 
thumbs of their right 
hands, and the big toes 
of their right feet, and 
pour out the rest of the 
blood on the sides of the 
altar. {I}21_{/}Then take 
some of the blood that 
remains on the altar, 
together with the chrism 
oil, and sprinkle it on 
Aaron and his vestments 
and on his sons and their 
vestments so that he and 
his vestments will be 
consecrated and his sons, 
too, and their vestments.
{I}22_{/}You are to take 
the fatty parts of the 
ram: the tail, the fat 
that covers the inner 
organs, the fatty mass 
which is over the liver, 
the two kidneys with 
their covering fat and 
also the right thigh, for 
this is a ram for the 
clothing ceremony. 
{I}23_{/}You are to take 
a loaf of bread, a cake 
of bread made with oil, 
and a wafer, from the 
basket of unleavened 
bread placed before 
Yahweh, {I}24_{/}and put 
it all into Aaron's hands 
and those of his sons and 
make the gesture of 
offering before Yahweh. 
{I}25_{/}Then you are to 
take them back and burn 
them on the altar, on top 
of the burnt offering, as 
a sweet-smelling offering 
which pleases Yahweh.
{I}26_{/}You are to take 
the breast of the ram and 
make the gesture of 
offering before Yahweh; 
this is to be your own 
portion. {I}27_{/}You are 
to consecrate the breast 
that has been thus 
offered, as also the 
thigh that is set aside - 
the breast, that is, 
which has been offered 
and the thigh that has 
been set aside from the 
ram. {I}28_{/}This, by 
perpetual law, will be 
the portion that Aaron 
and his sons are to 
receive from the sons of 
Israel; this is the 
portion set aside, a 
portion the sons of 
Israel are to set aside 
from their communion 
sacrifices, the portion 
they owe to Yahweh.
{I}29_{/}Aaron's sacred 
vestments are to pass to 
his sons after him, and 
they will wear them for 
their anointing and 
consecration. 
{I}30_{/}The son of Aaron 
who comes after him in 
the priesthood and enters 
the Tent of Meeting to 
serve in the sanctuary 
must wear them for seven 
days.
{I}31_{/}You are to take 
the ram used for the 
ordination and cook its 
meat in a holy place. 
{I}32_{/}Aaron and his 
sons will eat the meat of 
the ram, and also the 
bread that is in the 
basket, at the entrance 
to the Tent of Meeting. 
{I}33_{/}They are to eat 
what was used in the 
ceremony of forgiveness 
during their ordination. 
No layman may eat these; 
they are holy things. 
{I}34_{/}If any of the 
meat from the ordination 
sacrifice, or the bread, 
should be left till 
morning, you must put 
what is left in the fire. 
It is not to be eaten; it 
is a holy thing. 
{I}35_{/}For Aaron and 
his sons, you are to do 
exactly as I have 
commanded you: you are to 
spend seven days in 
ordaining them.
{I}36_{/}On each day of 
this week you are also to 
offer a bull as a 
sacrifice for sin, in 
atonement; by offering an 
atonement sacrifice for 
sin, you will take away 
sin from the altar; then 
you must anoint it, and 
so consecrate it. 
{I}37_{/}For seven days 
you are to repeat the 
atonement sacrifice for 
the altar and consecrate 
it. So it will be 
extremely holy, and 
whatever touches it will 
become holy.
{I}38_{/}This is what you 
are to offer on the 
altar: two yearling lambs 
day by day continually. 
{I}39_{/}The first lamb 
you must offer in the 
morning, the second in 
the evening twilight. 
{I}40_{/}With the first 
lamb you must offer two 
pounds of fine flour 
mixed with one quart of 
purest oil, and pour out 
one quart of wine as an 
offering. {I}41_{/}The 
second lamb you must 
offer in the evening 
twilight; do this with 
the same amounts of 
flour, olive oil and wine 
as in the morning. This 
is a sweet-smelling 
offering which pleases 
Yahweh. {I}42_{/}This is 
the perpetual offering 
which is to be offered 
from generation to 
generation, at the 
entrance to the Tent of 
Meeting in the presence 
of Yahweh.
That is where I shall 
meet you and speak to 
you. {I}43_{/}There I 
will teach the people of 
Israel, and this place 
will be consecrated by 
the presence of my glory. 
{I}44_{/}In this way I 
will consecrate the Tent 
of Meeting and the altar, 
and Aaron too, and his 
sons, to be priests in my 
service. {I}45_{/}For I 
will remain with the 
people of Israel, and I 
will be their God. 
{I}46_{/}And so they will 
know that it is I, their 
God, who brought them out 
of the land of Egypt to 
live among them: I, their 
God.
THE INCENSE, THE WATER 
AND THE ANOINTING OIL{/}

{1}30{/}

{I}1_{/}You must make an 
altar on which to burn 
incense; you are to make 
it out of acacia wood. 
{I}2_{/}It is to be one 
cubit long, and one cubit 
wide - that is to say, 
square - and to stand two 
cubits high; its horns 
are to be one piece with 
it. {I}3_{/}The top of 
the altar, its 
surrounding sides, and 
its horns, are to be 
covered with pure gold, 
and decorated with a gold 
edge all around. 
{I}4_{/}You are to put 
two gold rings on it 
below the edge on its two 
opposite sides: these are 
to hold the poles used 
for carrying it. 
{I}5_{/}These poles you 
must make of acacia wood 
and cover with gold. 
{I}6_{/}You are to set up 
the altar before the veil 
that protects the ark of 
the Statement opposite 
the ark and the mercy 
Seat from where I speak 
to you.
{I}7_{/}On this altar 
Aaron must burn fragrant 
incense each morning when 
he prepares the lamps, 
{I}8_{/}and in the 
evening twilight when 
Aaron puts the lamps 
back, he must burn it 
again. You must make 
these offerings of 
incense before Yahweh 
unfailingly from 
generation to generation. 
{I}9_{/}You must not 
offer unholy incense on 
this altar or animal or 
grain offering, or pour 
out any wine offering on 
it. {I}10_{/}Once a year 
Aaron is to perform the 
atonement on the horns of 
this altar; he shall do 
this atonement with the 
blood of the victim to 
take away sins. And you 
shall do the same once a 
year in the generations 
to come. This ceremony 
will be extremely holy in 
the eyes of Yahweh."
{I}11_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses and said, 
{I}12_{/}"When you take a 
census and make a 
register of the people of 
Israel, each is to pay 
Yahweh a ransom for his 
life, so that no disaster 
comes on them when the 
census is being made. 
{I}13_{/}Everyone subject 
to the census must pay 
the required amount of 
money, weighed according 
to the official standard, 
and this shall be set 
aside for Yahweh. 
{I}14_{/}Everyone subject 
to the census, that is to 
say of twenty years and 
over, must pay the sum 
set aside for Yahweh. 
{I}15_{/}The rich man is 
not to give more, nor the 
poor man less, when they 
pay this amount for their 
lives. {I}16_{/}You will 
use this ransom money 
given to you by the 
people of Israel for the 
upkeep of the Tent of 
Meeting. It will remind 
Yahweh of the people of 
Israel and will be the 
ransom for your lives."
{I}17_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses and said, 
{I}18_{/}"You must also 
make a bronze basin on a 
stand, for washing. You 
must place it between the 
Tent of Meeting and the 
altar and put water in 
it. {I}19_{/}In this, 
Aaron and his sons must 
wash their hands and 
feet. {I}20_{/}When they 
are about to enter the 
Tent of Meeting they must 
wash in water lest they 
die, and when they have 
to approach the altar for 
their service, to burn 
the offering burned in 
honor of Yahweh, 
{I}21_{/}they must wash 
their hands and feet lest 
they die. This is a 
lasting rule for them, 
for Aaron and for his 
descendants from 
generation to 
generation."
{I}22_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses and said, 
{I}23_{/}"Take the 
choicest spices: twelve 
pounds of liquid myrrh, 
six pounds of sweet-
smelling cinnamon, six 
pounds of scented cane 
and twelve pounds 
{I}24_{/}of cassia (all 
weighed according to the 
official standard) and 
one gallon of olive oil. 
{I}25_{/}These you are to 
make into a holy oil for 
anointing, such a blend 
as the perfumer might 
make. {I}26_{/}With it 
you are to anoint the 
Tent of Meeting and the 
ark of the Statement, 
{I}27_{/}the table and 
all its furnishings, the 
lampstand and all its 
accessories, {I}28_{/}the 
altar of incense, the 
altar of burnt offering 
with all its furnishings, 
and the basin with its 
stand. {I}29_{/}In this 
way you shall consecrate 
{I}30_{/}them and they 
will remain extremely 
holy; and whatever 
touches them will become 
holy. You must anoint 
Aaron and his sons and 
consecrate them, so that 
they may be priests in my 
service. {I}31_{/}Then 
you are to say to the 
people of Israel: 'Such 
will be the oil of holy 
anointing from generation 
to generation. 
{I}32_{/}It is not to be 
poured on the bodies of 
common men, nor are you 
to make any other oil of 
the same mixture. It is a 
holy thing and you must 
consider it holy. 
{I}33_{/}Whoever makes 
any like it or uses it on 
a layman shall be 
outlawed from his 
people."
{I}34_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Take sweet 
spices: storax, onycha, 
galbanum, sweet spices 
and pure frankincense in 
equal parts, {I}35_{/}and 
make an incense, such as 
the perfumer might make, 
salted, pure, and holy. 
{I}36_{/}Crush a part of 
it into a fine powder, 
and put some of this in 
front of the ark of the 
Statement in the Tent of 
Meeting, the place 
appointed for my meetings 
with you. You must regard 
it as most holy. 
{I}37_{/}You are not to 
make any incense like it 
for your own use. You 
must hold it to be a holy 
thing, reserved for 
Yahweh. {I}38_{/}Whoever 
copies it for use as 
perfume shall be outlawed 
from his people."
THE CRAFTSMEN FOR THE 
SANCTUARY{/}

{1}31{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Moses and said, 
{I}2_{/}"See, I have 
chosen Bezalel son of 
Uri, son of Hur, of the 
tribe of Judah. {I}3_{/}I 
have filled him with the 
spirit of God, with 
wisdom, understanding, 
skill, and ability for 
every kind of craft: 
{I}4_{/}for the art of 
designing and working in 
gold and silver and 
bronze; {I}5_{/}for 
cutting stones to be set, 
for carving in wood, for 
every kind of craft. 
{I}6_{/}Here and now I 
give him a partner, 
Oholiab son of Ahisamach, 
one of the tribe of Dan; 
and to all the men that 
have skill I have given 
more, for them to carry 
out all that I have 
commanded you: 
{I}7_{/}the Tent of 
Meeting; the ark of 
Statement and the mercy 
Seat that is on top of 
the ark, {I}8_{/}and all 
the furniture of the Holy 
Tent; the table and its 
furnishings; the pure 
lampstand and all its 
accessories; the altar of 
incense; {I}9_{/}the 
altar of burnt offering 
with all its furnishings; 
the basin with its stand; 
{I}10_{/}the beautiful 
priestly vestments, that 
is, the sacred vestment 
of Aaron the priest and 
the vestments of his 
sons, for the priestly 
functions; {I}11_{/}the 
anointing oil and the 
fragrant incense for the 
sanctuary. In this they 
are to do exactly as I 
have directed you."
THE SABBATH REST{/}

{I}12_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, {I}13_{/}"Speak to 
the people of Israel and 
say: 'You shall keep my 
sabbaths carefully, 
because the sabbath is a 
sign between myself and 
you from generation to 
generation to show that 
it is I, Yahweh, who have 
made you my own people. 
{I}14_{/}You must keep 
the sabbath, then; it is 
to be held sacred by you. 
Whoever does not keep it, 
but works on that day, 
must be put to death. 
{I}15_{/}Work is to be 
done for six days, but 
the seventh day must be a 
day of complete rest, 
consecrated to Yahweh.
Whoever does any work on 
the sabbath day must be 
put to death. 
{I}16_{/}The people of 
Israel are to keep the 
sabbath, observing it 
from generation to 
generation: this is a 
lasting covenant. 
{I}17_{/}Between myself 
and the people of Israel 
the sabbath is a sign 
forever, since in six 
days Yahweh made the 
heavens and earth, but on 
the seventh day he rested 
and drew breath." 
{I}18_{/}When Yahweh had 
finished speaking to 
Moses about all these 
things, he gave him the 
two slabs of the 
Statement, slabs of stone 
written with the finger 
of God.
THE MOLTEN CALF{/}

{1}32{/}

{I}1_{/}When  the  people  
saw that Moses was so 
long in coming down from 
the mountain they 
assembled around Aaron 
and said to him, "Come, 
make us gods to walk 
ahead of us; as for this 
Moses who brought us out 
of Egypt, we don't know 
what has happened to 
him."
{I}2_{/}And Aaron said to 
them, "Take the gold 
earrings from your wives, 
your sons and daughters 
and bring them to me." 
{I}3_{/}So all the people 
took off their earrings 
and brought them to 
Aaron. {I}4_{/}He took 
what they gave him and 
with a graving tool made 
the gold into a molten 
calf.
They then said, "These 
are your gods, O Israel, 
who brought you out of 
Egypt."
{I}5_{/}Now, when Aaron 
saw this, he built an 
altar before the molten 
calf and cried out, 
"Tomorrow will be a 
feastday for Yahweh."
{I}6_{/}So next day they 
rose early and sacrificed 
burnt offerings and 
brought peace offerings. 
They then sat down to eat 
and drink and got up to 
make merry.
{I}7_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Moses, "Go down at 
once, for your people, 
whom you brought up from 
the land of Egypt, have 
corrupted themselves. 
{I}8_{/}They have quickly 
turned from the way I 
commanded them and have 
made for themselves a 
molten calf; they have 
bowed down before it and 
sacrificed to it and 
said: 'These are your 
gods, Israel, who brought 
you out of Egypt."
{I}9_{/}And Yahweh said 
to Moses, "I see that 
these people are a stiff-
necked people. 
{I}10_{/}Now just leave 
me that my anger may 
blaze against them. I 
will destroy them, but of 
you I will make a great 
nation."
{I}11_{/}But Moses calmed 
the anger of Yahweh, his 
God, and said, "Why, O 
Yahweh, should your anger 
burst against your people 
whom you brought out of 
the land of Egypt with 
such great power and with 
a mighty hand? 
{I}12_{/}Let not the 
Egyptians say: 'Yahweh 
brought them out with 
evil intent, for he 
wanted to kill them in 
the mountains and wipe 
them from the face of the 
earth.' Turn away from 
the heat of your anger 
and do not bring disaster 
on your people. 
{I}13_{/}Remember your 
servants, Abraham, Isaac 
and Jacob, and the 
promise you yourself 
swore: I will multiply 
your descendants like the 
stars of heaven, and all 
this land I spoke about I 
will give to them as an 
everlasting inheritance."
{I}14_{/}Yahweh then 
changed his mind and 
would not yet harm his 
people. {I}15_{/}Moses 
then returned and came 
down from the mountain 
carrying in his hand the 
two slabs of the 
Statement, slabs written 
on both sides, back and 
front. {I}16_{/}These 
slabs were the work of 
God and the writing 
graven on the slabs was 
the writing of God.
{I}17_{/}When Joshua 
heard the noise of the 
people who were shouting 
he said to Moses, "There 
is a sound of war in the 
camp." {I}18_{/}But Moses 
answered, "It is not a 
victory song, nor the cry 
of defeat that I hear, 
but the sound of 
singing."
{I}19_{/}When he drew 
near to the camp and saw 
the calf and the dancing, 
his anger burst forth and 
he threw the slabs from 
his hands and shattered 
them against the base of 
the mountain. 
{I}20_{/}Then he seized 
the calf they had made 
and burned it in the 
fire, grinding it into a 
powder that he scattered 
over the surface of the 
water, and this he made 
the Israelites drink.
{I}21_{/}Moses said to 
Aaron, "What did these 
people do to you that you 
brought such a great sin 
on them?"
{I}22_{/}And Aaron said, 
"Don't let your anger be 
roused. You know this 
people and how evil they 
are. {I}23_{/}They said 
to me: 'Make us gods to 
go before us; as for this 
Moses, the man who 
brought us out of Egypt, 
we don't know what has 
happened to him.' 
{I}24_{/}I then said to 
them that whoever had 
gold was to give it over 
to me. I threw it in the 
fire and out came this 
calf!"
{I}25_{/}Moses saw that 
the people were out of 
control, for Aaron had 
let them run wild, to a 
point that would make 
them an easy prey for 
their opponents.
{I}26_{/}Then Moses stood 
at the gate of the camp 
and said, "All those for 
Yahweh, come to me." And 
all the sons of Levi 
rallied round him.
{I}27_{/}Then he said to 
them, "This is what 
Yahweh, the God of Israel 
commands: Let each one 
carry a sword at his 
side. Go back and forth 
from door to door and 
don't hesitate to kill 
even your brothers, your 
companions and your 
relatives."
{I}28_{/}The Levites did 
what Moses had ordered 
and that day about three 
thousand men fell.
{I}29_{/}Moses then said, 
"From now on your hands 
are consecrated to Yahweh 
for each of you has been 
able to turn against his 
very sons and brothers. 
Because of this, Yahweh 
gives you today his 
blessing."
MOSES INTERCEDES FOR THE 
PEOPLE{/}

{I}30_{/}The next day 
Moses said to the people, 
"You have committed a 
very grave sin, but now I 
am going up to Yahweh; 
perhaps I will obtain 
pardon for your sin."
{I}31_{/}So Moses went 
towards Yahweh and said, 
"Ah! This people has 
committed a very great 
sin; they made a god out 
of gold. {I}32_{/}And now 
please forgive their 
sin... if not, blot me 
out of the book you have 
written."
{I}33_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Whoever has 
sinned against me, I will 
blot him out from my 
book. {I}34_{/}Go now! 
Lead the people where I 
told you. My Angel will 
walk before you and on 
the day of punishment I 
will punish them for 
their sin." {I}35_{/}And 
so Yahweh punished the 
people with a plague 
because of the calf Aaron 
had made for them.
THE MERCY OF YAHWEH FOR 
THE PEOPLE{/}

{1}33{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Go now! Leave 
this place, you and the 
people you brought out 
from the land of Egypt 
and go to the land I 
promised on oath to 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 
when I said: 'I will give 
it to your descendants.' 
{I}2_{/}I will send an 
Angel before you to drive 
out the Canaanites, the 
Amorites, the Hittites 
and the Perizzites, the 
Hivites and the 
Jebusites. {I}3_{/}But I 
will not go with you to 
this land flowing with 
milk and honey, for you 
are a stiff-necked people 
and I might destroy you 
on the way."
{I}4_{/}When the people 
heard these distressing 
words they were very sad 
and none of them put on 
any ornaments.
{I}5_{/}Yahweh then said 
to Moses, "Say to the 
sons of Israel: 'You are 
a stiff-necked people. If 
I were to go with you, 
even for a moment, I 
would destroy you! Now, 
take off your orna-ments 
that I may know what I 
shall do to you."
{I}6_{/}And so the 
Israelites gave up their 
ornaments before leaving 
Mount Horeb.
THE TENT OF MEETING{/}

{I}7_{/}Moses then took 
the Tent and pitched it 
for himself outside the 
camp, at a distance from 
it, and called it the 
Tent of Meeting. Whoever 
sought Yahweh would go 
out to the Tent of 
Meeting outside the camp. 
{I}8_{/}And when Moses 
went to the tent all the 
people would stand, each 
one at the entrance to 
his tent and keep looking 
towards Moses until he 
entered the tent.
{I}9_{/}Now, as soon as 
Moses entered the tent, 
the pillar of cloud would 
come down and remain at 
the entrance to the tent, 
while Yahweh spoke with 
Moses.
{I}10_{/}When all the 
people saw the pillar of 
cloud at the entrance to 
the tent, they would 
arise and worship, each 
one at the entrance to 
his own tent.
{I}11_{/}Then Yahweh 
would speak to Moses face 
to face, as a man speaks 
with his neighbor, and 
then Moses would return 
to the camp, but his 
servant Joshua, son of 
Nun, would not leave the 
tent.
{I}12_{/}Then Moses said 
to Yahweh, "You say to 
me: 'Lead this people 
up,' but you haven't told 
me who you will send with 
me and yet you have said 
that you know me by name 
and that I have found 
favor in your sight. 
{I}13_{/}And now if I 
have found favor in your 
sight, let me know your 
ways, that I may know you 
and so find favor in your 
sight. Look, this people 
is your own people."
{I}14_{/}Yahweh said, "My 
Face will go with you and 
I will give you rest." 
{I}15_{/}And Moses said, 
"If your Face does not 
come with us, do not take 
us from here. 
{I}16_{/}And how will 
anyone here know that you 
look kindly on me and my 
people? Will it not be 
because you go with us? 
In that way, I myself and 
your people will be 
distinguished from every 
other nation on the face 
of the earth."
{I}17_{/}Yahweh then said 
to Moses, "What you have 
said I will do, for I 
look kindly on you and I 
have known you by name."
YAHWEH PASSES BEFORE 
MOSES{/}

{I}18_{/}Moses said, 
"Then let me see your 
Glory." {I}19_{/}And He 
said, "I will make all my 
goodness pass before you 
and proclaim the name of 
Yahweh before you. For I 
am gracious to whom I 
want to be gracious and I 
am merciful to whom I 
want to be merciful."
{I}20_{/}Then Yahweh 
said, "You cannot see my 
face because man cannot 
see me and live." 
{I}21_{/}And he added, 
"See this place near me; 
you shall stand on the 
rock {I}22_{/}and when my 
Glory passes I will put 
you in a hollow of the 
rock and cover you with 
my hand until I have 
passed by. {I}23_{/}Then 
I will take away my hand 
and you shall see my 
back, but my face shall 
not be seen."
{1}34{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
Moses, "Cut two slabs of 
stone like the first, and 
I will write on the slabs 
the words that were on 
the former slabs that you 
broke.
{I}2_{/}Be ready in the 
morning and come up to 
Mount Sinai and wait for 
me on the top of the 
mountain. {I}3_{/}No one 
will go up with you and 
no one is to be seen 
anywhere on the mountain. 
Even the sheep and the 
cattle are not to graze 
near the mountain."
{I}4_{/}So Moses cut two 
slabs of stone like the 
first. Then he rose early 
in the morning and went 
up Mount Sinai as Yahweh 
had commanded, taking in 
his hands the two slabs 
of stone.
{I}5_{/}And Yahweh came 
down in a cloud and stood 
there with him, and Moses 
called on the name of 
Yahweh.
{I}6_{/}Then Yahweh 
passed in front of him 
and cried out, "Yahweh, 
Yahweh is a God full of 
pity and mercy, slow to 
anger and abounding in 
truth and loving-
kindness. {I}7_{/}He 
shows loving-kindness to 
the thousandth generation 
and forgives wickedness, 
rebellion and sin; yet he 
does not leave the guilty 
without punishment, even 
punishing the children 
and their children for 
the sin of the fathers to 
the third and fourth 
generation."
{I}8_{/}Moses hastened to 
bow down to the ground 
and worshiped. {I}9_{/}He 
then said, "If you really 
look kindly on me, my 
Lord, please come and 
walk in our midst and 
even though we are a 
stiff-necked people, 
pardon our wickedness and 
our sin and make us 
yours."
THE LAW OF THE 
COVENANT{/}

{I}10_{/}Yahweh said, "I 
am making a covenant with 
you; in the presence of 
all the people I will do 
marvels never yet done in 
any land or nation so 
that all the people among 
whom you live may see how 
awesome is the work of 
Yahweh that I will do for 
you.
{I}11_{/}Obey what I 
command you today. I will 
drive out before you the 
Amorites, the Canaanites, 
the Hittites, the 
Perizzites, the Hivites 
and the Jebusites. 
{I}12_{/}Take care to 
make no treaty with the 
inhabitants of the 
country you enter, lest 
it be a snare for you. 
{I}13_{/}Rather shall you 
knock down their altars 
and smash their sacred 
stones and cut down their 
Asherah poles.
{I}14_{/}Do not worship 
another god, for Yahweh 
whose name is jealous, is 
a jealous God! 
{I}15_{/}So make no 
treaty with those who 
live in the land, for 
they prostitute 
themselves to their gods 
and sacrifice to them; 
otherwise they will 
invite you and you will 
eat of their sacrifices. 
{I}16_{/}Then you will 
take their daughters for 
your sons and as those 
daughters prostitute 
themselves to their gods, 
they will lead your sons 
to do the same.
{I}17_{/}Make no molten 
gods for yourself.
{I}18_{/}Keep the feast 
of Unleavened Bread; for 
seven days in the month 
of Abib you are to eat 
unleavened bread, for 
that was the month you 
went out of Egypt.
{I}19_{/}All that first 
opens the womb is mine 
and every firstborn male 
of your livestock, sheep 
and cattle. {I}20_{/}You 
shall redeem the 
firstborn of a donkey 
with a lamb. If you do 
not redeem it you must 
break its neck. Every 
firstborn of your sons 
you shall redeem; and no 
one shall appear before 
me empty-handed.
{I}21_{/}You shall work 
for six days and rest on 
the seventh day; even at 
the time of plowing and 
harvesting you shall 
rest.
{I}22_{/}Celebrate the 
Feast of Weeks with the 
firstfruits of the wheat 
harvest and the Feast of 
Ingathering at the 
turning of the year. 
{I}23_{/}Three times each 
year all your men shall 
appear before Yahweh, God 
of Israel. {I}24_{/}I 
will drive out nations 
before you and extend 
your boundaries. No one 
shall covet your country 
when you go up three 
times each year to appear 
before Yahweh, your God.
{I}25_{/}Do not offer the 
blood of a sacrifice to 
me together with leavened 
bread and do not let 
anything from the 
Passover Feast remain 
until morning.
{I}26_{/}Bring the very 
best of the firstfruits 
of your soil to the house 
of Yahweh, your God.
Do not boil a kid in the 
milk of its mother."
{I}27_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Moses, "Write down 
these words, for these 
are the requirements of 
the covenant that I have 
made with you and with 
Israel."
{I}28_{/}Moses remained 
there with Yahweh forty 
days and forty nights 
without eating bread or 
drinking water. He wrote 
on the slabs the words of 
the Covenant - the Ten 
Commandments.
MOSES COMES DOWN FROM THE 
MOUNTAIN{/}

{I}29_{/}When Moses came 
down from Mount Sinai, 
with the two slabs of the 
Statement in his hands, 
he was not aware that the 
skin of his face was 
radiant after speaking 
with Yahweh.
{I}30_{/}Aaron and all 
the sons of Israel saw 
that Moses' face was 
radiant and they were 
afraid to go near him. 
{I}31_{/}But Moses called 
them, and Aaron with all 
the leaders of the 
community drew near, and 
Moses spoke to them. 
{I}32_{/}Afterwards all 
the Israelites came near 
and he told them all that 
Yahweh had commanded him 
on Mount Sinai. 
{I}33_{/}When Moses had 
finished speaking with 
them, he put a veil over 
his face.
{I}34_{/}Whenever Moses 
went before Yahweh to 
speak with him, he took 
off the veil until he 
came out again. And when 
he came out and told them 
what he had been 
commanded, {I}35_{/}the 
Israelites saw that his 
face was radiant. Moses 
would then replace the 
veil over his face until 
he went again to speak 
with Yahweh.
THE HOLY TENT (2ND 
PART){/}

{1}35{/}

{I}1_{/}Moses  assembled  
the  whole community of 
the people of Israel and 
said to them, "This is 
what Yahweh has ordered 
to be done: {I}2_{/}Work 
is to be done for six 
days, but the seventh is 
to be a holy day for you, 
a day of complete rest, 
consecrated to Yahweh. 
Whoever does any work on 
that day shall be put to 
death. {I}3_{/}You must 
not light a fire on the 
sabbath day in any of 
your homes."
THE MATERIALS ARE 
COLLECTED{/}

{I}4_{/}Moses spoke to 
the whole community of 
the people of Israel, 
"This is what Yahweh has 
commanded: {I}5_{/}Set 
aside a contribution for 
Yahweh out of your 
possessions. Let all give 
willingly and bring this 
contribution for Yahweh: 
gold, silver, and bronze; 
{I}6_{/}purple wool, of 
violet shade and red, 
crimson wool, fine linen, 
goats' hair, 
{I}7_{/}rams' skins dyed 
red and fine leather, 
acacia wood, {I}8_{/}oil 
for the light, spices for 
the anointing oil and for 
the fragrant incense; 
{I}9_{/}precious stones 
and gems to be set in 
Ephod and Breastpiece. 
{I}10_{/}Let all the most 
skilled craftsmen among 
you come and make all 
that Yahweh has 
commanded: {I}11_{/}the 
Holy Tent, its tent and 
its covering, its hooks 
and its frames, its 
crossbars, its posts, and 
its bases; {I}12_{/}the 
ark with its poles, the 
mercy Seat on the ark and 
the veil that screens it; 
{I}13_{/}the table with 
its poles and all the 
furnishings for it, and 
the loaves of offering; 
{I}14_{/}the lampstand 
for the light, with its 
accessories, its lamps, 
and the oil for the 
light; {I}15_{/}the altar 
of incense with its 
poles, the anointing oil, 
the fragrant incense, and 
the screen for the 
entrance to the Holy 
Tent; {I}16_{/}the altar 
of burnt offering with 
its bronze grating, its 
poles, and all the 
furnishings for it, the 
basin and its stand; 
{I}17_{/}the hangings of 
the court, its posts, its 
bases, and the screen for 
the gateway to the court; 
{I}18_{/}the pegs of the 
Holy Tent and of the 
court, together with 
their cords; {I}19_{/}the 
beautiful priestly 
vestments for  service in 
the sanctuary, that is, 
the sacred vestments for 
Aaron the priest and the 
vestments of his sons for 
the priestly functions."
{I}20_{/}Then the whole 
community of Israel 
withdrew from Moses' 
presence. {I}21_{/}And 
all those who wanted to 
give came, bringing their 
contribution for Yahweh 
for making the Tent of 
Meeting, for all its 
functions and for the 
sacred vestments. 
{I}22_{/}They came, men 
and women, all giving 
willingly, bringing 
brooches, rings, 
bracelets, necklaces, 
gold things of every kind 
- the gold which each one 
had offered to Yahweh. 
{I}23_{/}All those who 
happened to own purple 
wool, of violet shade or 
red, crimson wool, fine 
linen, goats' hair, rams' 
skins dyed red, or fine 
leather, brought them. 
{I}24_{/}All who could 
contribute to the 
collection of silver and 
bronze brought their 
contribution for Yahweh. 
And all who happened to 
own acacia wood, suitable 
for any of the work to be 
done, brought it. 
{I}25_{/}All the skilled 
women set their hands to 
spinning, and brought 
purple wool, of violet 
shade and red, crimson 
wool and fine linen, from 
what they had spun. 
{I}26_{/}All the women 
willingly used their 
special skill and spun 
the goats' hair. 
{I}27_{/}The leaders 
brought precious stones 
and gems to be set in 
Ephod and Breastpiece, 
{I}28_{/}and the spices 
and oil for the light, 
for the anointing oil and 
for the fragrant incense. 
{I}29_{/}All the men and 
women of Israel who 
wanted to contribute to 
all the work that Yahweh 
had ordered through Moses 
to be done brought their 
free offering to Yahweh.
THE CRAFTSMEN FOR THE 
SANCTUARY{/}

{I}30_{/}Moses said to 
the people of Israel, 
"See, Yahweh has chosen 
Bezalel son of Uri, son 
of Hur, of the tribe of 
Judah. {I}31_{/}He has 
filled him with the 
spirit of God and given 
him understanding, skill, 
and ability for every 
kind of craft: 
{I}32_{/}for the art of 
designing and working in 
gold and silver and 
bronze; {I}33_{/}for 
cutting stones to be set, 
for carving in wood, for 
every kind of craft.  
{I}34_{/}And to him and 
Oholiab son of Ahisamach, 
of the tribe of Dan, he 
has given the gift of 
teaching. {I}35_{/}He has 
filled them with skill to 
carry out all the crafts 
of engraver, weaver of 
fine linen, embroiderer 
in purple wool, of violet 
shade and red, in crimson 
wool and fine linen, as 
well as of the common 
weaver; they are able to 
do work of all kinds, and 
are skillful designers."
{1}36{/}

{I}1_{/}Bezalel and 
Oholiab and all the 
skilled craftsmen to whom 
Yahweh had given skill 
and understanding to 
carry out all that was 
required for the building 
of the sanctuary, did 
their work exactly as 
Yahweh had directed.
{I}2_{/}Moses then called 
Bezalel and Oholiab and 
all the skilled craftsmen 
to whom Yahweh had given 
ability and who felt able 
to do the work. 
{I}3_{/}They received 
from Moses all that the 
people of Israel had 
brought as contributions 
for the work of building 
the sanctuary. In the 
meantime, the people 
continued each morning to 
bring their offerings. 
{I}4_{/}So the skilled 
craftsmen who did all the 
sacred work, besides 
their own work, 
{I}5_{/}went to tell 
Moses, "The people are 
bringing more than what 
is needed for the work 
which Yahweh has told us 
to do." {I}6{/}Moses then 
sent this command 
throughout the camp: "Let 
no one, man or woman, do 
anything more toward the 
collection for the 
sanctuary." So the people 
were stopped from 
bringing any more; 
{I}7_{/}the material they 
had was enough, and more 
than enough, to complete 
all the work.
{I}8_{/}All the most 
skilled craftsmen among 
the workers made the Holy 
Tent. They made it with 
ten sheets of fine twined 
linen, of purple wool, 
violet shade and red, and 
of crimson wool, finely 
embroidered with angels. 
{I}9_{/}The length of a 
single sheet was twenty-
eight cubits, its width 
four cubits, all the 
sheets being of the same 
size. {I}10_{/}They sewed 
five of the sheets 
together, and the other 
five also. {I}11_{/}They 
attached loops of violet 
wool to the border of the 
last sheet in one set, 
and did the same for the 
border of the last sheet 
in the other set. 
{I}12_{/}They put fifty 
loops on the first sheet 
and, matching them one by 
one, fifty loops on the 
border of the last sheet 
in the second set. 
{I}13_{/}They made fifty 
gold clasps and with them 
joined the two sets into 
one piece.
{I}14_{/}Next they made 
sheets of goats' hair to 
form a tent over the Holy 
Tent; they made eleven of 
these. {I}15_{/}The 
length of a single sheet 
was thirty cubits, its 
width four cubits; the 
eleven sheets were all of 
the same 
size.{I}16_{/}They joined 
five of these sheets 
together into one set, 
the remaining six into 
another. {I}17_{/}They 
attached fifty loops to 
the border of the last 
sheet in the first set, 
and fifty loops to the 
border of the last sheet 
in the second set. 
{I}18_{/}And they made 
fifty bronze clasps, to 
join the two sets so as 
to form one cover. 
{I}19_{/}They made 
another covering of rams' 
skins dyed red to be put 
over the Holy Tent and a 
covering of fine leather 
to spread over that.
{I}20_{/}The Holy Tent 
was made with boards of 
acacia wood, which stood 
upright. {I}21_{/}Each 
board was ten cubits long 
and one and a half cubits 
wide. {I}22_{/}Each board 
was fitted with two 
matching arms; this they 
did for all the boards of 
the Holy Tent. 
{I}23_{/}They made twenty 
boards for the southern 
side, {I}24_{/}with forty 
silver bases to put under 
the twenty boards: two 
bases under the first 
board to receive its two 
matching arms, and so on 
for the other boards. 
{I}25_{/}For the other 
side on the north, they 
made twenty boards 
{I}26_{/}and forty silver 
bases, two bases under 
each board. {I}27_{/}For 
the back on the west, 
they made six boards. 
{I}28_{/}And they made 
two boards for the 
corners at the back of 
the Holy Tent. 
{I}29_{/}These boards 
were joined at the bottom 
and also at the top, up 
to the level of the first 
ring; this they did with 
the two boards that were 
to form the two corners. 
{I}30_{/}In this way 
there were eight boards 
with their sixteen silver 
bases; two bases under 
each board. {I}31_{/}They 
made crossbars of acacia 
wood: five to hold the 
boards together that were 
to form one side of the 
Holy Tent, {I}32_{/}five 
on the other side to hold 
the boards that were to 
form the northern side. 
{I}33_{/}They made the 
middle bar, fixed halfway 
up, to run from one end 
to the other. 
{I}34_{/}They covered the 
boards with gold, and put 
gold rings on them to 
take the crossbars which 
they covered with gold.
{I}35_{/}They made the 
veil of purple wool, 
violet shade and red, of 
crimson wool, and of fine 
twined linen, skillfully 
embroidered with 
Cherubim. {I}36_{/}For 
hanging this veil they 
made four posts of acacia 
wood and covered them 
with gold, with gold 
hooks, and they cast four 
silver bases for them. 
{I}37_{/}For the entrance 
to the tent they made a 
curtain of purple wool, 
violet shade and red, and 
of crimson wool and fine 
twined linen, the work of 
a skilled embroiderer. 
{I}38_{/}For the hanging 
of this they made five 
posts with hooks; their 
tops and rods they plated 
with gold; their five 
bases were of bronze.
{1}37{/}

{I}1_{/}Bezalel made the 
ark of acacia wood, two 
and a half cubits long, 
one and a half cubits 
wide, one and a half 
cubits high. {I}2_{/}He 
covered it, inside and 
out, with pure gold, and 
decorated it all around 
with a gold edge. 
{I}3_{/}He cast four gold 
rings for the ark, 
attaching them to its 
four feet: two rings on 
one side and two rings on 
the other. {I}4_{/}He 
also made poles of acacia 
wood covering them with 
gold; {I}5_{/}and he 
passed the poles through 
the rings on the sides of 
the ark, for carrying it. 
{I}6_{/}Also he made of 
pure gold the mercy Seat, 
two and a half cubits 
long, and one and a half 
cubits wide. {I}7_{/}For 
the two ends of the mercy 
Seat he made two golden 
Cherubim of hammered 
gold, {I}8_{/}the first 
Cherub for one end and 
the second for the other,  
and fastened them to the 
two ends of the mercy 
Seat so that they made 
one piece with it. 
{I}9_{/}The Cherubim had 
their wings spread upward 
so that they overshadowed 
the mercy Seat. They 
faced one another.
{I}10_{/}He made the 
table of acacia wood, two 
cubits long, one cubit 
wide, and a half cubit 
high. {I}11_{/}He covered 
it with pure gold, and 
decorated it all around 
with a gold edge. 
{I}12_{/}He surrounded it 
with a frame three inches 
wide, and decorated this 
with a gold edge. 
{I}13_{/}He cast four 
gold rings for it and 
fixed these at the four 
corners where the four 
legs were. {I}14_{/}The 
rings lay close to the 
frame to hold the poles 
for carrying the table. 
{I}15_{/}He made the 
poles of acacia wood and 
covered them with gold; 
these were for carrying 
the table. {I}16_{/}He 
made furnishings of pure 
gold for the table: 
dishes, cups, jars and 
bowls to be used for the 
wine offerings.
{I}17_{/}He made the 
lampstand of pure gold, 
and made the lampstand, 
base and stem, of 
hammered gold. Its 
decorative flowers 
including buds and petals 
were of one piece with 
it. {I}18_{/}Six branches 
extended from the sides 
of it, three from one 
side, three from the 
other. {I}19_{/}The first 
branch carried three 
decorative flowers shaped 
like almond blossoms, 
each with its bud and 
petals; the second 
branch, too, carried 
three decorative flowers 
shaped like almond 
blossoms, each with its 
bud and petals, and 
similarly all six 
branches extending from 
the lampstand.
{I}20_{/}The lampstand 
itself carried four 
decorative flowers shaped 
like almond blossoms, 
each with its bud and 
petals: {I}21_{/}one bud 
under the first two 
branches extending from 
the lampstand, one under 
the next pair, one under 
the last pair: for there 
were six branches 
extending from the 
lampstand. {I}22_{/}The 
buds and the branches 
were of one piece with 
the lampstand, and the 
whole was made from a 
single piece of pure 
hammered gold. 
{I}23_{/}Then he made the 
lamps for it, seven of 
them, with tongs and 
trays of pure gold. 
{I}24_{/}He used seventy-
five pounds of pure gold 
for making the lampstand 
and all its accessories.
{I}25_{/}He made the 
altar of incense out of 
acacia wood. It was one 
cubit long, and one cubit 
wide that is to say, 
square - and two cubits 
high; its horns were one 
piece with it. 
{I}26_{/}The top of it, 
its surrounding sides, 
and its horns, he covered 
with pure gold, and 
decorated it all around 
with a gold edge. 
{I}27_{/}He fixed two 
gold rings to it below 
the edge on its two 
opposite sides, to hold 
the poles used for 
carrying it. 
{I}28_{/}These poles he 
made of acacia wood and 
covered them with gold. 
{I}29_{/}He also made the 
sacred anointing oil and 
the pure, fragrant 
incense, blending it as 
perfumers do.
{1}38{/}

{I}1_{/}He made the altar 
of burnt offering out of 
acacia wood, a square 
five cubits long and five 
cubits wide, and three 
cubits high. {I}2_{/}At 
its four corners he put 
horns, the horns being of 
one piece with it, and 
covered it with bronze. 
{I}3_{/}He made all the 
altar vessels: caldrons, 
shovels, sprinkling 
basins,  pans for the 
ashes, fire pans; he made 
all the vessels for the 
altar out of bronze. 
{I}4_{/}He made a grating 
for it of bronze network 
which he set under the 
ledge, below, so that it 
reached halfway up the 
altar. {I}5_{/}He cast 
four rings and fixed them 
on the four corners of 
the bronze grating to 
hold the poles. 
{I}6_{/}He made the poles 
of acacia wood and 
covered them with bronze 
{I}7_{/}and placed them 
through the rings on the 
sides of the altar for 
carrying it. He made the 
altar hollow, of boards.
{I}8_{/}He also made the 
bronze basin and its 
bronze base from the 
mirrors of the women who 
served at the entrance to 
the Tent of Meeting.
{I}9_{/}He made the 
court. For the southern 
side of the court, facing 
the south country, there 
were one hundred cubits 
of hangings of fine 
twined linen. 
{I}10_{/}Their twenty 
posts with their twenty 
bases were of bronze, 
their hooks and rods of 
silver. {I}11_{/}For the 
northern side there were 
one hundred cubits of 
hangings. Their twenty 
posts with their twenty 
bases were of bronze, 
their hooks and rods of 
silver. {I}12_{/}For the 
western side, there were 
fifty cubits of hangings, 
carried on ten posts set 
in ten bases, with their 
hooks and rods of silver. 
{I}13_{/}Fifty cubits, 
too, for the eastern side 
facing the sunrise. 
{I}14_{/}On one side of 
the gateway there were 
fifteen cubits of 
hangings carried on three 
posts set in three bases. 
{I}15_{/}On the other 
side there were fifteen 
cubits of hangings, with 
their three posts and 
their three bases. 
{I}16_{/}All the hangings 
enclosing the court were 
of fine twined linen. 
{I}17_{/}The bases for 
the posts were of bronze 
and their hooks of silver 
like the rods at the top. 
The tips of the posts 
were of silver and had 
rods of silver. 
{I}18_{/}The screen for 
the gateway of the court, 
the work of a skilled 
embroiderer, was made of 
purple wool, violet shade 
and red, of crimson wool, 
and fine twined linen. It 
was twenty cubits long 
and, along the width of 
it, five cubits high like 
the hangings of the 
court. {I}19_{/}Its four 
posts with their four 
bases were of bronze. The 
hooks for the posts were 
of silver, like the 
plating at the top and 
like their rods. 
{I}20_{/}The pegs for the 
Holy Tent and for the 
court enclosure were all 
of bronze.
{I}21{/}Here is the 
account of metals used 
for the Holy Tent - the 
Tent of Meeting - the 
account drawn up by the 
Levites under the 
direction of Ithamar son 
of Aaron, the priest, as 
Moses had ordered.
{I}22_{/}Bezalel son of 
Uri, son of Hur, of the 
tribe of Judah, made all 
that Yahweh had 
commanded. {I}23_{/}His 
partner was Oholiab son 
of Ahisamach, of the 
tribe of Dan, engraver, 
weaver of fine linen, 
embroiderer in purple 
wool, of violet shade and 
red, in crimson wool and 
fine linen.
{I}24_{/}The amount of 
gold used in the work - 
the entire work for the 
sanctuary - (this was 
gold consecrated by 
offering) weighed 2,195 
pounds, weighed according 
to the official standard. 
{I}25_{/}The silver 
collected when the census 
of the community was 
taken weighed 7,550 
pounds, weighed according 
to the official standard. 
{I}26_{/}A census of all 
those of twenty years and 
over was made. They were 
six hundred and three 
thousand five hundred and 
fifty; each of them paid 
a small silver coin. 
{I}27_{/}The 7,500 pounds 
of silver were used for 
casting the one hundred 
bases for the sanctuary 
and the veil, 75 pounds 
for each base. 
{I}28_{/}With the 
remaining 50_pounds of 
silver he made the hooks 
for the posts, the 
plating for their tops, 
and their rods. 
{I}29_{/}The bronze 
consecrated by offering 
amounted to 5,310 pounds, 
{I}30_{/}and with this he 
made the bases for the 
entrance of the Tent of 
Meeting, the bronze altar 
with its grating of 
bronze and all the 
furnishings for it, 
{I}31_{/}the bases for 
the enclosure of the 
court, those for the 
gateway to the court, all 
the pegs for the Holy 
Tent, and all the pegs 
for the court enclosure.
{1}39{/}

{I}1_{/}From the purple 
wool, violet shade and 
red, the crimson wool, 
and the fine linen they 
made beautiful priestly 
vestments for service  in 
the sanctuary. They made 
the sacred vestments for 
service for Aaron, as 
Yahweh had directed 
Moses.
{I}2_{/}They made the 
Ephod of gold thread, 
purple wool, violet shade 
and red, crimson wool, 
and fine twined linen. 
{I}3_{/}They beat gold 
into thin plates, and cut 
these into fine strips to 
weave into the purple 
wool, violet shade and 
red, into the crimson 
wool and the fine linen, 
as does the weaver of 
fine linen. {I}4_{/}For 
the Breastpiece they made 
two shoulder straps, 
joined to it at its two 
ends. {I}5_{/}The woven 
band on it to hold it 
formed one piece with it 
and was of similar 
workmanship: this was of 
gold thread, purple wool, 
violet shade and red, 
crimson wool, and fine 
twined linen, as Yahweh 
had directed Moses. 
{I}6_{/}They fashioned 
the precious stones, 
mounted in settings of 
gold mesh and engraved, 
as a seal is engraved, 
with the names of the 
sons of Israel. 
{I}7_{/}They fastened the 
stones to the shoulder 
straps of the 
Breastpiece, stones 
commemorating the sons of 
Israel, as Yahweh had 
directed Moses.
{I}8_{/}They made the 
Breastpiece, finely 
embroidered, of the same 
workmanship as the Ephod, 
of gold thread, purple 
wool, violet shade and 
red, and fine twined 
linen. {I}9_{/}It was 
square and folded double, 
nine inches long and nine 
inches wide. {I}10_{/}In 
this they set four rows 
of stones: sard, topaz, 
carbuncle, for the first 
row; {I}11_{/}emerald, 
sapphire, diamond, for 
the second row; 
{I}12_{/}for the third 
row, hyacinth, ruby, 
amethyst; {I}13_{/}and 
for the fourth row, 
beryl, onyx, jasper. 
These were mounted in 
settings of gold mesh 
{I}14_{/}and bore the 
names of the twelve sons 
of Israel. They were 
engraved as seals are, 
each with the name of one 
of the twelve tribes. 
{I}15_{/}For the 
Breastpiece they made 
chains of pure gold 
twisted like cords. 
{I}16_{/}They made two 
gold rosettes and two 
gold rings, {I}17_{/}and 
they fastened the two 
gold cords to the two 
rings fixed on the 
corners of the 
Breastpiece. {I}18_{/}The 
other two ends of the 
cords they fastened to 
the two rosettes; they 
were thus attached to the 
shoulder straps of the 
Ephod, on the front. 
{I}19_{/}They made two 
gold rings and fixed them 
to the lower corners of 
the Breastpiece, on the 
inner hem, next to the 
Ephod. {I}20_{/}And they 
made two more gold rings 
and fixed them low down 
on the front of the two 
shoulder straps of the 
Ephod, close to the seam, 
above the woven band of 
the apron. {I}21_{/}They 
secured the Breastpiece 
by passing a ribbon of 
violet-purple through its 
rings and those of the 
apron, so that the 
Breastpiece would sit 
above the woven band and 
not come apart from the 
Ephod, as Yahweh had 
directed Moses.
{I}22_{/}Then they made 
the robe of the Ephod 
woven entirely of violet-
purple. {I}23_{/}The 
opening in the center of 
it was like the neck of a 
shirt and around the 
opening was a border to 
keep the robe from 
tearing. {I}24_{/}The 
lower hem of the robe 
they decorated with 
pomegranates of purple 
wool, violet shade and 
red, crimson wool, and 
fine twined linen. 
{I}25_{/}They also made 
bells of pure gold and 
placed them all around 
the lower hem of the robe 
between the pomegranates, 
{I}26_{/}bells and 
pomegranates alternately 
all around the lower hem 
of the robe, as Yahweh 
had directed Moses.
{I}27_{/}Then they made 
the shirts of finely 
woven linen for Aaron and 
his sons, {I}28_{/}the 
headdress of fine linen, 
the shorts of fine twined 
linen, {I}29_{/}the belts 
of fine twined linen, of 
purple wool, violet shade 
and red, and of crimson 
wool, finely embroidered, 
as Yahweh had directed 
Moses.
{I}30_{/}They also made 
the plate, the holy plate 
of pure gold, and 
engraved on it 
"Consecrated to Yahweh," 
as a man engraves a seal. 
{I}31_{/}They tied to 
this a ribbon of violet-
purple to secure it to 
the top of the turban, as 
Yahweh had directed 
Moses.
{I}32_{/}So all the work 
of the tabernacle, that 
is the Tent of Meeting, 
was completed. In 
carrying it out the sons 
of Israel had done 
exactly as Yahweh had 
directed Moses.
{I}33_{/}Then they 
brought to Moses all 
these things, the Tent of 
Meeting, and all its 
furnishings: its hooks, 
frames, crossbars, posts, 
bases, {I}34_{/}the 
covering of rams' skins 
dyed red, the covering of 
fine leather, and the 
screening veil; 
{I}35_{/}the ark of the 
Statement with its poles 
and the mercy Seat; 
{I}36_{/}the table with 
all its furnishings, and 
the loaves of offering; 
{I}37_{/}the lampstand of 
pure gold with its lamps 
- the lamps that were to 
be set on it - and all 
its accessories; the oil, 
too, for the light; 
{I}38_{/}the golden 
altar, the anointing oil, 
the fragrant incense, the 
curtain for the entrance 
to the tent; {I}39_{/}the 
bronze altar with its 
grating of bronze, its 
poles and all its 
furnishings; the basin 
and its stand; 
{I}40_{/}hangings of the 
court with their posts 
and bases, and the 
curtain for the gateway 
to the court, its cords, 
its pegs, and all the 
furniture for the service 
in the Holy Tent, the 
Tent of Meeting; 
{I}41_{/}the beautiful 
priestly vestments for 
service in the sanctuary, 
that is, the sacred 
vestments for Aaron the 
priest, and the vestments 
for his sons for the 
priestly functions. 
{I}42_{/}The Israelites 
had done all the work 
exactly as Yahweh had 
directed Moses.
{I}43_{/}Moses examined 
the whole work, and he 
could see they had done 
it as Yahweh had directed 
him. And Moses blessed 
them.
THE SANCTUARY ERECTED AND 
CONSECRATED{/}

{1}40{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh  spoke  to  
Moses  and said, 
{I}2_{/}"On the first day 
of the first month you 
are to erect the Holy 
Tent, the Tent of 
Meeting, {I}3_{/}and 
place the ark of the 
Statement in it, 
screening it with the 
veil. {I}4_{/}Bring in 
the lampstand, too, and 
set up its lamps. 
{I}5_{/}Place the golden 
altar of incense in front 
of the ark of the 
Statement, and set up the 
screen at the entrance of 
the Holy Tent. 
{I}6_{/}Place the altar 
for burnt offerings in 
front of the entrance to 
the Holy Tent, the Tent 
of Meeting. {I}7_{/}Place 
the basin between the 
Tent of Meeting and the 
altar, and fill it with 
water. {I}8_{/}Set up the 
enclosure of the court 
and hang the curtain at 
the gateway of the court. 
{I}9_{/}Then, taking the 
sacred oil, anoint the 
Holy Tent and everything 
in it, consecrating it 
with its furniture, to 
make it a holy place. 
{I}10_{/}Anoint the altar 
for burnt offerings with 
all its furnishings; and 
consecrate the altar 
which, henceforth, will 
be a most holy thing. 
{I}11_{/}Anoint the basin 
with its stand, and 
consecrate it. 
{I}12_{/}Bring Aaron and 
his sons to the entrance 
of the Tent of Meeting 
and see that they bathe. 
{I}13_{/}Then clothe 
Aaron with the priestly 
garments and anoint and 
consecrate him, to serve 
me in the priesthood. 
{I}14_{/}Next, bring his 
sons and clothe them with 
shirts. {I}15{/}Anoint 
them as you have anointed 
their father, to serve me 
in the priesthood. This 
anointing of them is to 
confer the priesthood on 
them forever from 
generation to 
generation."
{I}16_{/}Moses did this; 
he did exactly as Yahweh 
had commanded him. 
{I}17_{/}The Holy Tent 
was set up on the first 
day of the first month in 
the second year. 
{I}18_{/}Moses set up the 
Holy Tent. He fixed the 
bases for it, put up its 
frames, put its crossbars 
in position, set up its 
posts. {I}19_{/}He spread 
the tent over the Holy 
Tent and on top of this 
the covering for the 
tent, as Yahweh had 
commanded Moses. 
{I}20_{/}He took the 
Statement and placed it 
inside the ark. He set 
the poles to the ark in 
place and put the mercy 
Seat on it. {I}21_{/}He 
brought the ark into the 
Holy Tent and put the 
screening veil in place; 
thus he screened the ark 
of Yahweh, as Yahweh had 
commanded Moses. 
{I}22_{/}He placed the 
table in the Tent of 
Meeting, on the north 
side of the Holy Tent, 
outside the veil, 
{I}23_{/}and on it 
arranged the loaves 
before Yahweh, as Yahweh 
had commanded Moses. 
{I}24_{/}He put the 
lampstand in the Tent of 
Meeting, opposite the 
table, on the southern 
side of the Holy Tent, 
{I}25_{/}and he set up 
the lamps before Yahweh, 
as Yahweh had commanded 
Moses. {I}26_{/}He put 
the golden altar in the 
Tent of Meeting in front 
of the veil, {I}27_{/}and 
on it burned fragrant 
incense, as Yahweh had 
commanded Moses. 
{I}28_{/}Then he put the 
screen at the entrance to 
the Holy Tent. 
{I}29_{/}Then he put the 
altar for the burnt 
offerings at the entrance 
to the Tent of Meeting, 
and on it offered the 
burnt offering and grain 
offering, as Yahweh had 
commanded Moses. 
{I}30_{/}He put the basin 
between the Tent of 
Meeting and the altar, 
and filled it with water. 
{I}31_{/}This was for 
Aaron and his sons to 
wash their hands and 
feet: {I}32_{/}whenever 
they entered the Tent of  
Meeting or approached the 
altar they washed, as 
Yahweh had commanded 
Moses. {I}33_{/}Moses 
then set up the court 
around the Holy Tent and 
the altar and placed the 
screen at the gateway to 
the court. Thus Moses 
completed the work.
YAHWEH TAKES POSSESSION 
OF THE SANCTUARY{/}

{I}34_{/}Then the cloud 
covered the Tent of 
Meeting and the Glory of 
Yahweh filled the Holy 
Tent. {I}35_{/}Moses 
could not enter the Tent 
of Meeting because of the 
cloud that rested on it 
and because of the Glory 
of Yahweh that filled the 
Holy Tent. 
{I}36_{/}At every stage 
of their journey, 
whenever the cloud rose 
from the Holy Tent the 
people of Israel would 
continue their march. 
{I}37_{/}If the cloud did 
not rise, they waited and 
would not move their camp 
until it did. 
{I}38_{/}For the cloud 
rested on the Holy Tent 
by day, and a fire shone 
within the cloud by night 
for all the House of 
Israel to see. And so it 
was for every stage of 
their journey.

