Laws for the Sabbath

1Moses called together the people of Israel and told them that the LORD had said:

2You have six days in which to do your work. But the seventh day must be dedicated to me, your LORD, as a day of rest. Whoever works on the Sabbath will be put to death.35.2: Ex 20.8-11; 23.12; 31.15; 34.21; Lv 23.3; Dt 5.12-14. 3Don't even build a cooking fire at home on the Sabbath.

Offerings and gifts for the sacred tent and the priestly clothes

Offerings for the sacred tent

(Exodus 25.1-9; 35.10-19)

4Moses told the people of Israel that the LORD had said:

5I would welcome an offering from anyone who wants to give something. You may bring gold, silver, or bronze; 6blue, purple, or red wool; fine linen; goat hair; 7tanned ram skin or fine leather; acacia wood; 8olive oil for the lamp; sweet-smelling spices for the oil of dedication and for the incense; or 9onyx35.9 onyx: See the note at 25.7. stones or other gems for the sacred apron and breastpiece.

10If you have any skills, you should use them to help make what I have commanded: 11the sacred tent with its covering and hooks, its framework and crossbars, and its post and stands; 12the sacred chest with its carrying poles, its place of mercy, and the curtain in front of it; 13the table with all that goes on it, including the sacred bread; 14the lamp with its equipment and oil; 15the incense altar with its carrying poles and sweet-smelling incense; the ordination oil; the curtain for the entrance to the sacred tent; 16the altar for sacrifices with its bronze grating, its carrying poles, and its equipment; the large bronze bowl with its stand; 17the curtains with the posts and stands that go around the courtyard; 18the pegs and ropes for the tent and the courtyard; 19and the finely woven priestly clothes for Aaron and his sons.

Gifts for the LORD

20Moses finished speaking, and everyone left. 21Then those who wanted to bring gifts to the LORD, brought them to be used for the sacred tent, the worship services, and the priestly clothes. 22Men and women came willingly and gave all kinds of gold jewellery such as pins, earrings, rings, and necklaces. 23Everyone brought their blue, purple, and red wool, their fine linen, and their cloth made of goat hair, as well as their ram skins dyed red and their fine leather. 24Anyone who had silver or bronze or acacia wood brought it as a gift to the LORD.

25The women who were good at weaving cloth brought the blue, purple, and red wool and the fine linen they had made. 26And the women who knew how to make cloth from goat hair were glad to do so.

27The leaders brought different kinds of jewels to be sewn on the special clothes and the breastpiece for the high priest. 28They also brought sweet-smelling spices to be mixed with the incense and olive oil that were for the lamps and for ordaining the priests. 29Moses had told the people what the LORD wanted them to do, and many of them decided to bring their gifts.

Bezalel and Oholiab

(Exodus 31.1-11)

30Moses said to the people of Israel:

The LORD has chosen Bezalel35.30 Bezalel: See the note at 31.2. of the Judah tribe. 31-33Not only has the LORD filled him with his Spirit, but he has given him wisdom and made him a skilled craftsman who can create objects of art with gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood. 34The LORD is urging him and Oholiab35.34 Oholiab: Hebrew “Oholiab son of Ahisamach”. from the tribe of Dan to teach others. 35And he has given them all kinds of artistic skills, including the ability to design and embroider with blue, purple, and red wool and to weave fine linen.