CHAPTER 35

1          Moshe assembled the whole Israelite community (Kohl Edat B’nei Yisrael) and said to them, "These are the things YHWH has commanded you to do:

2          For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your set apart day, a Sabbath of rest (Shabbat Shabbathown) to YHWH. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.

3          Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Shabbat day (Yom Shabbat)."

4          Moshe said to the whole Israelite community (Kohl Edat B’nei Yisrael), "This is what YHWH has commanded:

5          From what you have, take an offering for YHWH. Everyone who is willing is to bring to YHWH an offering of gold, silver and bronze.

6          Also blue, purple, scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair.

7          Or you may give dyed red ram skins, other animal hides of indeterminate species; acacia wood;

8          olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.

9          Bring onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast plate.

10        All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything YHWH has commanded:

11        the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]) with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases;

12        the ark (aron) with its poles and the atonement cover (kapporeth) and the curtain (poreketh [po-reh’-keth]) that shields it;

13        the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence;

14        the lamp-stand (menorah) that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light;

15        the altar (mizbeach [miz-bay’-ach) of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the Mishkan;

16        the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand;

17        the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;

18        the tent pegs for the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]) and for the courtyard, and their ropes;

19        the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary-- both the sacred garments for Aharon the priest (Kohen) and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests (Koheniym)."

20        Then the whole Israelite community (Kol Edat B’nei Yisrael) withdrew from Moshe's presence,

21        and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to YHWH for the work on the Tent of Meeting (Ohel Moed [o`-hel mow-ade`]), for all its service and for the sacred garments.

22        All who were willing, men and women alike came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to YHWH.

23        Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or other animal hides (of indeterminate source) brought them.

24        Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to YHWH and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.

25        Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun including blue, purple, scarlet yarn or fine linen.

26        And all the skillful women who were willing spun the goat hair.

27        The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast plate.

28        They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil, as well as for the fragrant incense.

29        Every willing man and woman of B’nei Yisrael brought to YHWH, freewill offerings for all the work YHWH through Moshe had commanded them to do.

30        Then Moshe said to B’nei Yisrael. "See, YHWH has chosen Bezalel (Betsal’el [in the protection of El]) son of Uri (Fiery), the son of Hur (Hole) of the tribe of Judah (Yahudah [praised]),

31        and he has filled him with the Spirit of Elohiym (wind, breath, mind of the [elohiym= rulers, judges, magistrates etc.] Mighty One), with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts

32        to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze.

33        He gave them the ability to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.

34        And He has given both him and Oholiab (Father’s tent [chief assistant in the building of the tabernacle]) son of Ahisamach (my brother is support) of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

35        He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers. All of them are master craftsmen and designers.

Shemot (Exod) 36:1-38

CHAPTER 36

1          So Bezalel (Betsal’el [in the protection of El]), Oholiab (Father’s tent [chief assistant in the building of the tabernacle])and every skilled person to whom YHWH has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary (set apart place) are to do the work just as YHWH has commanded."

2          Then Moshe summoned Bezalel (Betsal’el [in the protection of El]) and Oholiab (Father’s tent [chief assistant in the building of the tabernacle]) and every skilled person to whom YHWH had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work.

3          They received from Moshe all the offerings B’nei Yisrael had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.

4          So all the wise men (ha chakamiym), the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary (set apart place) left their work

5          and said to Moshe, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work YHWH commanded to be done."

6          Then Moshe gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary (set apart place)." And so the people were restrained from bringing more,

7          because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

8          All the skilled men among the workmen made the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]) with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman.

9          All the curtains were the same size-- twenty-eight cubits (approx 42 feet) long and four cubits (approx 6 feet) wide.

10        They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five.

11        Then they made loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set and did the same with the end curtain in the other set.

12        They made fifty loops on one curtain and also fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other.

13        Then they made fifty gold hooks and used them to fasten the two sets of curtains together so that the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]) was a unit.

14        They made eleven curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]).

15        All eleven curtains were the same size, thirty cubits (approx 45 feet) long and four cubits (approx 6 feet) wide.

16        They joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another set.

17        Then they made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set.

18        They made fifty bronze hooks to fasten the tent together as a unit.

19        Then they made a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red and over that a covering of tanned hides, the leather was from an undetermined animal.

20        They made upright boards of acacia wood for the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]).

21        Each board was ten cubits (approx 15 feet) long and a cubit and a half (approx 2 1/4inches) wide,

22        with two projections (tenons) set parallel to each other. They made all the boards of the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]) in this way.

23        They made twenty boards for the south side of the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place])

24        and made forty silver bases to go under them two bases for each board, one under each projection.

25        For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]), they made twenty boards

26        and forty silver bases, two under each board.

27        They made six boards for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]),

28        and two boards were made for the corners of the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]) at the far end.

29        At these two corners the boards were double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both were made alike.

30        So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases-- two under each board.

31        They also made crossbars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]),

32        five for those on the other side and five for the boards on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]).

33        They made the center crossbar so that it extended from end to end at the middle of the boards.

34        They overlaid the boards with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

35        They made the curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman.

36        They made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold. They made gold hooks for them and cast their four silver bases.

37        For the entrance to the tent they made a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen-- the work of an embroiderer;

38        and they made five posts with hooks for them. They overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold and made their five bases of bronze.

Shemot (Exod) 37:1-29

CHAPTER 37

1          Bezalel (Betsal’el [in the protection of El]) made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits (approx 3 feet, 9 inches) long, a cubit and a half (approx 2 feet, 3 inches) wide, and a cubit and a half (approx 2 feet, 3 inches) high.

2          He plated it inside and out with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.

3          He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet with two rings on one side and two rings on the other.

4          Then he made acacia wood poles and plated them with gold.

5          And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

6          He made the atonement cover (kapporeth) of pure gold, two and a half cubits (approx 3 feet, 9 inches) long and a cubit and a half (approx 2 feet, 3 inches) wide.

7          Then he made two cherubim out of one piece of gold, hammered at the ends of the cover (kapporeth).

8          He made one cherub on one end and another cherub on the other end and he made them of one piece with the cover (kapporeth).

9          The cherubim had their wings spread upward shading the cover (kapporeth). The cherubim were facing each other and looking down toward the cover (kapporeth).

10        They made the table (shulchan) of acacia wood, two cubits (approx 3 feet) long, a cubit (approx 18 inches) wide, and a cubit and a half (approx 2 feet, 3 inches) high.

11        Then they plated it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.

12        They also made around it a rim a hand breadth (approx 4 inches) wide and put a gold molding on the rim.

13        They cast four gold rings for the table (shulchan) and fastened them to the four corners where the four legs were.

14        The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table (shulchan).

15        The poles for carrying the table (shulchan) were made of acacia wood and were plated with gold.

16        And the articles for the table (shulchan), they made from pure gold, its plates and dishes, bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.

17        They made the lamp-stand (menorah) of one piece of pure gold, hammered out, including the base and shaft and its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms.

18        Six branches extended from the sides of the lamp-stand (menorah), three on one side and three on the other.

19        On each branch there were three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. All six branches were the same and extended out from the lamp-stand (menorah).

20        And on the lamp-stand (menorah) there were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.

21        One bud was under the first pair of branches and extended from the lamp-stand (menorah), a second bud under the second pair and a third bud under the third pair, making six branches in all.

22        The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lamp-stand (menorah) and they also were hammered out of pure gold.

23        They made its seven lamps of pure gold along with its gold wick trimmers and trays.

24        They made the lamp-stand (menorah) and all its accessories from one talent of pure gold. (Figuring the price of a troy ounce of (not pure) gold at $600.00, a talent (33 kg) would be worth about $660,000 today.)

25        They made the altar (mizbeach [miz-bay'-akh[) of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long (approx 18 inches) and a cubit (approx 18 inches) wide, and two cubits (approx 3 feet) high and its horns were of one piece with the altar (mizbeach [miz-bay'-akh[).

26        They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.

27        They made two gold rings below the molding, two on the opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it.

28        They made the poles of acacia wood and plated them with gold.

29        They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense which was the work of a skilled perfumer.

Shemot (Exod) 38:1-20

CHAPTER 38

1          They built the altar (mizbeach [miz-bay'-akh[) of burnt offering out of acacia wood, three cubits (approx 45 feet) high; it was square, five cubits (approx 7 feet, 6 inches) long and five cubits (approx 7 feet, 6 inches) wide.

2          They made a horn at each of the four corners and the horns and the altar (mizbeach [miz-bay'-akh[) were of one piece and they plated this altar (mizbeach [miz-bay'-akh[) with bronze (nechosheth = brass, copper, bronze).

3          They made all its utensils out of bronze. These implements included its pots and shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and fire-pans.

4          They made a latticework grating for the altar (mizbeach [miz-bay'-akh[) as a bronze network.  The grating was to be under its ledge and halfway up the altar (mizbeach [miz-bay'-akh[).

5          They cast bronze rings to hold the poles for the four corners of the bronze latticework grating.

6          They made the poles of acacia wood and plated them with bronze.

7          They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar (mizbeach [miz-bay'-akh[) for carrying it. They made it hollow and out of boards.

8          They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors (mar'ah = vision mode of revelation or mirror) of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting ([or of an appointed time, place or a set feast] Ohel Moed [o`-hel mow-ade`]).

9          Next they made the enclosed courtyard. The south side was a hundred cubits (approx 150 feet) long and had curtains of finely twisted linen,

10        with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

11        The north side was also a hundred cubits (approx 7 feet, 6 inches) long and had twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, each with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

12        The west end was fifty cubits (approx 7 feet, 6 inches) wide and had curtains, also with ten posts and ten bases, each with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

13        The east end, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits (approx 7 feet, 6 inches) wide.

14        Curtains fifteen cubits long were on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases,

15        and curtains fifteen cubits (approx 22 feet, 6 inches) long were on the other side of the entrance to the courtyard, with three posts and three bases.

16        All the curtains around the courtyard were of finely twisted linen.

17        The bases for the posts were made of bronze. The hooks and bands on the posts were silver and their tops were plated with silver; so all the posts of the enclosed courtyard had silver bands.

18        The curtain for the entrance to the enclosed courtyard was of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer. It was twenty cubits (approx 30 feet) long and like the curtains of the enclosed courtyard were five cubits (approx 7 feet, 6 inches) high,

19        with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks and bands were silver and their tops were plated with silver.

20        All the tent pegs of the tabernacle (Mishkan [dwelling place]) and of the surrounding enclosed courtyard were made of bronze.