Read Exodus 29.

The LORD instructed Moses on how to consecrate Aaron and his sons for the priesthood. The ceremony required specific animals and bread offerings to be prepared in advance: a young bullock, two rams without blemish, and unleavened bread, cakes mixed with oil, and wafers anointed with oil, all made from wheat flour. These were to be placed in a basket and presented at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Moses was then directed to bring Aaron and his sons to the tabernacle door and wash them with water. He was to dress Aaron in the priestly garments — the coat, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself, the breastplate, and the curious girdle of the ephod — and place the mitre on his head with the holy crown attached. Aaron's sons were also to be clothed with coats, girdles, and bonnets. This act of dressing them in their garments constituted an anointing and consecration to the priesthood.

The first animal sacrifice was the bullock, offered as a sin offering. Aaron and his sons were to lay their hands on its head at the tabernacle door, after which Moses would slay it. Moses was to take some of the bullock's blood and put it on the horns of the altar with his finger, pouring the rest at the base of the altar. The fat, the caul over the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat were to be burned on the altar, while the flesh, skin, and dung of the bullock were to be burned outside the camp, as it was a sin offering.

The first ram was then to be offered as a burnt offering. Aaron and his sons would lay their hands on its head before it was slain, and its blood was to be sprinkled around the altar. The ram was to be cut into pieces, with its head, pieces, and fat washed and then burned entirely on the altar. This was described as a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

The second ram served as the ram of consecration. After Aaron and his sons laid their hands on it and it was slain, Moses was to take some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot, and likewise for each of Aaron's sons. The remaining blood was to be sprinkled on the altar. Moses was then to take of the blood from the altar and the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his sons and their garments, consecrating them and their garments together.

Following this, Moses was to take the fat portions of the ram, the rump, the fat covering the inwards, the caul of the liver, the two kidneys with their fat, and the right shoulder. From the basket of unleavened bread, he was to add one loaf, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and place all of these into the hands of Aaron and his sons to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering. Moses would then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar as a burnt offering, a sweet savor before the Lord. The breast of the ram was also to be waved before the Lord and was Moses' portion as the officiating priest, while the heave shoulder belonged to Aaron and his sons as their due from the children of Israel in all future offerings.

The LORD then established the sacred garments of Aaron as a lasting inheritance. After Aaron's death, his garments were to be passed to his sons, who would wear them during their own seven-day anointing and consecration in the tabernacle. Each day of the consecration period, a bullock was to be offered as a sin offering to make atonement, and the altar itself was to be purified and anointed to make it most holy.

Following the seven days of consecration, the regular daily offerings were prescribed. Each morning and evening, a year-old lamb was to be offered on the altar as a continual burnt offering, accompanied by a tenth deal of flour mingled with beaten oil and a fourth part of a hin of wine as a drink offering. These daily offerings were to be maintained throughout all generations at the door of the tabernacle, where the LORD promised to meet with Moses and with the children of Israel. The LORD declared that He would sanctify the tabernacle and the altar, and He would dwell among the Israelites as their God.

Read Exodus 28.

The LORD instructed Moses to bring forward his brother Aaron and Aaron's sons — Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar — to serve as priests before Him. To mark them for this sacred office, the LORD commanded that holy garments be made for Aaron, both "for glory and for beauty." He directed Moses to call upon all who were wise-hearted and filled with the spirit of wisdom to craft these garments, which would consecrate Aaron to the priesthood.

The first and most prominent garment described was the ephod, a ceremonial vestment to be made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet threads woven with fine linen. It was to have two shoulder pieces joined at its two edges. A skillfully woven belt of the same materials was to be attached to it. Two onyx stones were to be engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel — six names on each stone — and set in gold filigree settings on the shoulders of the ephod. These stones were to serve as memorial stones before the LORD, so that Aaron would bear the names of the children of Israel upon his shoulders as a continual remembrance.

Next came the breastplate of judgment, crafted with the same fine workmanship and materials as the ephod. It was to be square and folded double, forming a kind of pouch. Set into it were twelve precious stones arranged in four rows of three, each stone engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The stones specified were sardius, topaz, and carbuncle in the first row; emerald, sapphire, and diamond in the second; ligure, agate, and amethyst in the third; and beryl, onyx, and jasper in the fourth — all set in gold settings. The breastplate was to be attached to the ephod by gold rings and chains of pure gold, bound at the top and secured with blue lace at the bottom so that it would not come loose. In this way, Aaron was to bear the names of the twelve tribes over his heart whenever he entered the holy place, as a continual memorial before God.

Within the breastplate, Aaron was to carry the Urim and the Thummim, sacred objects used for discerning God's judgment. These were to rest over Aaron's heart whenever he came before the LORD, so that he would perpetually bear the judgment of the children of Israel before Him.

God then described the robe of the ephod, which was to be made entirely of blue. It was to have a woven opening at the top for the head, reinforced like the collar of a coat of armor so that it would not tear. Along the hem, alternating pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet — made of linen — and golden bells were to be attached all around. Aaron was to wear this robe when he ministered, so that the sound of the bells would be heard as he entered and exited the holy place before the LORD. This detail was given with a solemn warning: The bells were to ensure Aaron did not die in the LORD's presence.

Following the robe, God commanded that a plate of pure gold be made and engraved with the words "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." This golden plate was to be fastened with a blue lace to the front of Aaron's mitre and worn upon his forehead. Its purpose was to bear any iniquity attached to the holy offerings of Israel, so that the people's gifts might be accepted before the LORD.

The remaining garments — a coat, a mitre, and a girdle — were to be made for Aaron with fine linen. God also specified that linen coats, girdles, and bonnets were to be made for Aaron's sons. In addition, linen breeches were to be fashioned for both Aaron and his sons, reaching from the waist to the thighs, to cover their nakedness as they served at the altar, so that they would not bear iniquity and die.

Exodus 28 concludes by stating that these garments were to be put upon Aaron and his sons when they were anointed and consecrated to serve in the priest's office. This was declared to be a statute forever, to be observed by Aaron and his descendants.

Read Exodus 27.

Exodus 27 opens with the LORD giving Moses detailed instructions for constructing the altar of burnt offering for the tabernacle. The altar was to be built from shittim wood and measured five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits tall, making it a large square structure. The LORD directed that horns be fashioned at each of its four corners as part of the same piece, and that the entire altar be overlaid with brass. All of the altar's utensils — including pots, shovels, basins, forks, and fire pans — were also to be made of brass.

The LORD then instructed Moses to make a brass grating in the form of a network, to be placed beneath the altar's ledge, with a brass ring at each of its four corners. Carrying poles made of shittim wood and covered in brass were to be inserted through these rings, allowing the altar to be transported. The altar itself was to be constructed as a hollow shell made of planks.

Exodus 27 then turns to the instructions for the courtyard of the tabernacle. The courtyard was to be enclosed by linen curtains hanging from brass posts set in brass bases, with the south and north sides each measuring one hundred cubits and the east and west sides measuring fifty cubits. The posts were to have silver hooks and silver bands.

Special attention was given to the entrance of the courtyard, which faced east. The gateway was to be twenty cubits wide and screened with a decorative curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn along with finely twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer. The four posts supporting this curtain were also to have silver hooks and bands, set in brass bases.

Finally, the LORD commanded that the Israelites be required to bring pure, pressed olive oil to keep the lamps of the tabernacle burning continually. This was to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, observed by Aaron and his sons from evening until morning before the LORD.

Read Exodus 26.

The LORD instructed Moses on the construction of the tabernacle. It was to be built using ten curtains made of finely twisted linen, woven with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and decorated with artistic designs of cherubim. Each curtain was the same size, and they were to be joined together in two sets of five, with loops of blue material and gold clasps linking the two sets into a single unified covering.

An additional set of eleven curtains made of goat hair was to be placed over the linen curtains as a protective outer covering. These goat hair curtains were slightly larger than the linen ones, and they too were joined in sets — five together and six together — with brass clasps fastening them. The extra length of these curtains was designed to hang down over the back and sides of the tabernacle, providing full coverage and protection.

Over the goat hair curtains, the LORD directed Moses to place two more layers of coverings: one made of ram skins dyed red, and another outermost layer made of badger skins, shielding the entire structure from the elements.

The framework of the tabernacle was to be constructed from upright frames made of shittim wood, each overlaid with gold. These frames were fitted with silver bases and connected by gold-covered crossbars running through rings, creating a sturdy and stable structure. Specific numbers and dimensions were given for each side — twenty frames for the north and south sides, eight for the west — ensuring precise and uniform construction.

Finally, the LORD gave instructions for the inner curtain, or veil, which was to be made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, again with cherubim worked into it. This veil was to be hung on four gold-overlaid shittim posts with gold hooks and silver bases, and it served as the dividing barrier separating the holy place from the most holy place, where the ark of the testimony would rest. A second curtain was to be made for the entrance of the tent, hung on five posts.

Read Exodus 25.

The LORD instructed Moses to collect offerings from the Israelites — gold, silver, and brass; blue, purple, and scarlet; fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red; badger skin; shittim wood; oil; spices; and onyx and other precious stones. These were to be freewill offerings, given from the heart. The purpose of these materials was to construct a sanctuary so that the LORD could live among his people.

The LORD then gave Moses precise instructions for building the ark of the testimony. It was to be a chest made of shittim wood, overlaid inside and out with pure gold, with a gold molding around it. Gold rings were to be attached to its four feet, through which shittim wood poles — also overlaid with gold — would be inserted for carrying. Into the ark, Moses was to place the testimony that God would provide.

The lid of the ark, called the mercy seat, is also described in detail. It was to be made of pure gold, with two golden cherubim crafted at each end, their wings spread upward to overshadow the cover and their faces turned toward it. The LORD declared that he would meet with Moses and speak to him from above this cover, between the two cherubim.

Next, the LORD gave instructions for a table, also made of shittim wood overlaid with gold and fitted with gold rings and carrying poles. The table was to hold the shewbread, and various dishes and spoons made of pure gold were to be made to accompany it.

Finally, the LORD described the candlestick, which was to be made entirely of pure hammered gold. It would have a central shaft with six branches extending from its sides — three on each side — each branch adorned with cup-shaped blossoms in the style of almond flowers. The candlestick was to have seven lamps set on it to give light, along with accompanying tools such as tongs and snuffdishes, all made of pure gold. God noted that the entire candlestick and its accessories were to be made according to the exact pattern he had shown Moses on the mountain.

Read Exodus 24.

Moses relayed to the people all the words and ordinances the LORD had spoken, and the people responded with unanimous agreement, pledging to obey everything God had commanded. Moses then wrote down all the LORD's words and rose early the next morning to build an altar at the foot of Mount Sinai, along with twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He sent young Israelite men to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice oxen as peace offerings to the LORD.

Moses took half of the blood from the sacrifices and put it in basins, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. He then read the book of the covenant aloud to the people, who again affirmed their commitment to obey all that the LORD had spoken. Moses sprinkled blood on the people, declaring it the blood of the covenant that God had made with them based on all these words.

Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel then ascended the mountain, where they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, as clear as the sky itself. God did not strike down these leaders of Israel — they saw Him, and they ate and drank together in His presence.

Afterward, the LORD called Moses to come up higher on the mountain to receive the stone tablets on which God had written the law and commandments. Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, instructing the elders to wait and to refer any disputes to Aaron and Hur in his absence. As Moses went up, a cloud covered the mountain, and the glory of the LORD settled upon Mount Sinai for six days. On the seventh day, the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.

To the Israelites watching below, the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire blazing on top of the mountain. Moses entered the cloud and went up the mountain, where he stayed for forty days and forty nights.

Read Exodus 23.

Exodus 23 continues the LORD God's instructions to Moses and the children of Israel by outlining a series of laws governing justice, honesty, and fair treatment among the Israelites. The LORD commanded that no one spread false reports or join with the wicked to act as a malicious witness. The people were told not to follow a crowd in doing wrong, nor to pervert justice simply by siding with the majority. Even showing partiality to the poor in a lawsuit was forbidden.

The LORD also instructed the Israelites on how to treat their enemies fairly. Even if a person disliked his neighbor, he was still required to return a stray ox or donkey and to help an overburdened animal, regardless of whether the owner was a friend or foe. In the courts, the people were not to deny justice to the poor, they were to avoid false charges, and they were to not accept bribes, since bribes blind the wise and twist the words of the innocent.

Exodus 23 then turns to the sabbatical laws governing agricultural life. The Israelites were commanded to sow and harvest their fields for six years, but in the seventh year they were to let the land rest and lie fallow, allowing poor people and wild animals to eat whatever grew on its own. Similarly, they were to work for six days each week but rest on the seventh, so that their servants, animals, and foreigners among them could also be refreshed.

The LORD then gave three specific commands related to religious integrity. The people were told not to invoke the names of other gods or even let those names be heard on their lips. They were required to observe three annual feasts: the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of harvest, and the feast of ingathering. All men were to appear before the LORD God three times a year in connection with these celebrations. Additional instructions accompanied these feasts — no one was to offer the blood of a sacrifice along with leavened bread, the fat of a festival offering was not to remain until morning, and the best of the firstfruits of the land were to be brought to the house of the LORD. The well-known prohibition against boiling a young goat in its mother's milk was also given here.

Exodus 23 closes with the LORD's promise to send an Angel before the Israelites to guard them on the way and bring them to the land prepared for them. He warned the people to pay attention to this Angel and obey him, for the LORD's name was in him and he would not pardon sin. If the Israelites obeyed and did not worship the gods of the Canaanite peoples, the LORD promised to be an enemy to their enemies and to oppose those who opposed them. The Angel would go before them and drive out the various peoples of Canaan little by little, so that the land would not become desolate and overrun by wild animals before Israel could fill it.

Finally, the LORD defined the boundaries of the land Israel would inhabit — from the Red sea to the sea of the Philistines, and "from the desert unto the river." He charged the people not to make any covenants with the inhabitants of Canaan or with their gods, and not to allow those peoples to live in the land with them; if the Israelites let them to stay, they would become a snare, drawing Israel into sin and unfaithfulness to the LORD God.

Read Exodus 22.

Exodus 22 continues the legal code God gave to Moses, opening with laws concerning theft and property damage. If a man stole an ox or sheep and slaughtered or sold it, he was required to pay back multiple animals in restitution. A thief caught in the act at night could be struck down without guilt, but killing a thief in daylight carried the penalty of blood guilt. If a thief had nothing to repay, he was to be sold into servitude. If the stolen animal was found alive in his possession, he repaid double.

The law then addressed damages caused by grazing animals and fire. If a man let his livestock graze in another's field or vineyard, he was to make restitution from the best of his own produce. If a fire spread and destroyed another's grain or field, whoever started the fire was required to make full restitution.

God then gave laws governing disputes over property held in trust. If a man entrusted money or goods to a neighbor for safekeeping, and those items were stolen, the thief — if found — paid double. If the thief was not found, the matter was brought before the judges to determine whether the keeper had taken the goods himself. Similarly, disputes over borrowed or hired animals were to be settled before the judges, and the outcome depended on whether negligence or unavoidable misfortune was to blame.

Exodus 22 then turns to social and moral laws. If a man seduced an unbetrothed virgin, he was required to pay the dowry and marry her. If her father refused to give her to him, the man still had to pay the dowry. Witches were not to be permitted to live, and anyone who lay with an animal was to be put to death. Those who sacrificed to any god other than the LORD alone were to be destroyed.

God then commanded Israel to show compassion to the vulnerable. Foreigners were not to be mistreated or oppressed, since Israel itself had been foreigners in Egypt. Widows and orphans were not to be exploited; if they cried out to God, He warned that His anger would burn and He would strike down the oppressors, leaving their own wives as widows and children as orphans. The poor were to be treated with fairness; if a man lent money to the poor, he was not to charge excessive interest. If a neighbor's cloak was taken as a pledge, it had to be returned before sunset, since it was his only covering for the night.

Exodus 22 closes with several brief but weighty commands. "The gods" (possibly the judges) were not to be scorned, and the rulers of the people were not to be cursed. The firstfruits of harvests and the firstborn of sons and livestock were to be given to God. Finally, Israel was called to be a holy people, which in this context meant they were not to eat meat torn by wild animals in the field — such meat was to be thrown to the dogs.