Exodus 27:1-21
The Altar for Burnt Offerings
“Build an altar out of acacia wood. It must be four feet six inches high and seven feet six inches square. Make a horn stick out from each of its upper four corners. The horns and the altar must be all one piece. Cover the altar with bronze. Make everything for the altar out of bronze. Make its pots to remove the ashes. Make its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and pans for carrying ashes. Make a bronze grate for the altar. Make a bronze ring for each of the four corners of the grate. Put the grate halfway up the altar on the inside. Make poles out of acacia wood for the altar. Cover them with bronze. Put the poles through the rings. They will be on two sides of the altar for carrying it. Make the altar out of boards. Leave it hollow. It must look just like what I showed you on the mountain.
The Courtyard
“Make a courtyard for the holy tent. The south side must be 150 feet long. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen. The curtains must be hung on 20 posts that have 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them. The north side must also be about 150 feet long. It must have curtains with 20 posts that have 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.
“The west end of the courtyard must be 75 feet wide. It must have curtains with ten posts that have ten bases. The east end of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, must also be 75 feet wide. On one side of the entrance you must put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base. On the other side you must also put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.
“For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain 30 feet long. Make it out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have someone who sews skillfully make it. Hang it on four posts. Each post must have a base. All the posts that are around the courtyard must have silver bands and hooks. They must also have bronze bases. The courtyard must be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen. They must be seven feet six inches high. The posts must have bronze bases. Make out of bronze all the other things used for any purpose in the holy tent. That includes all the tent stakes for the tent and the courtyard.
Oil for the Lampstand
“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil made from pressed olives. Use it to keep the lamps burning and giving light. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the tent of meeting. The lamps will be outside the curtain in front of the tablets of the covenant law. The lamps must be kept burning in front of the Lord from evening until morning. This is a law for the Israelites that will last for all time to come.
Exodus 28:1-43
The Clothes for the Priests
“Have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites. His sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar must also be brought. They will serve me as priests. Make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron. When he is wearing them, people will honor him. They will have respect for him. Speak to all the skilled workers. I have given them the skill to do this kind of work. Tell them to make clothes for Aaron. He will wear them when he is set apart to serve me as priest. The workers must make a chest cloth, a linen apron and an outer robe. They must also make an inner robe, a turban and a belt. They must make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons. Then they will serve me as priests. Have the workers use thin gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and fine linen.
The Linen Apron
“Make the linen apron out of thin gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen. Have a skilled worker make it. It must have two shoulder straps joined to two of its corners. Its skillfully made waistband must be like the apron. The waistband must be part of the apron itself. Make the waistband out of thin gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen.
“Get two onyx stones. Carve the names of the sons of Israel on them. Arrange them in the order of their birth. Carve six names on one stone and six on the other. Carve the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a jewel cutter would carve them. Then put the stones in fancy gold settings. Connect them to the shoulder straps of the linen apron. The stones will stand for the sons of Israel. Aaron must carry the names on his shoulders as a constant reminder while he is serving the Lord. Make fancy gold settings. Make two braided chains out of pure gold. Make them like ropes. Join the chains to the settings.
The Chest Cloth
“Make a chest cloth that will be used for making decisions. Have a skilled worker make it. Make it like the linen apron. Use thin gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and finely twisted linen. Make it nine inches square. Fold it in half. Put four rows of valuable jewels on it. Put carnelian, chrysolite and beryl in the first row. Put turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald in the second row. Put jacinth, agate and amethyst in the third row. And put topaz, onyx and jasper in the fourth row. Put them in fancy gold settings. Use a total of 12 stones. Use one for each of the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone must be carved with the name of one of the 12 tribes.
“Make braided chains out of pure gold for the chest cloth. Make them like ropes. Make two gold rings for the chest cloth. Connect them to two corners of it. Join the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the chest cloth. Join the other ends of the chains to the two settings. Join them to the shoulder straps on the front of the linen apron. Make two gold rings. Connect them to the other two corners of the chest cloth. Put them on the inside edge next to the apron. Make two more gold rings. Connect them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the apron. Put them close to the seam. Put them right above the waistband of the apron. The rings of the chest cloth must be tied to the rings of the apron. Tie them to the waistband with blue cord. Then the chest cloth will not swing out from the linen apron.
“When Aaron enters the Holy Room, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart. Their names will be on the chest cloth of decision. They will be a continuing reminder while he is serving the Lord. Also put the Urim and Thummim into the chest cloth. Then they will be over Aaron’s heart when he comes to serve the Lord. In that way, Aaron will always have what he needs to make decisions for the people of Israel. He will carry the Urim and Thummim over his heart while he is serving the Lord.
More Clothes for the Priests
“Make the outer robe of the linen apron completely out of blue cloth. In the center of the robe, make an opening for the head of the priest. Make an edge like a collar around the opening. Then it will not tear. Make pomegranates out of blue, purple and bright red yarn. Sew them around the hem of the robe. Sew gold bells between them. Sew a gold bell between every two pomegranates all around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear the robe when he serves as priest. The bells will jingle when he enters the Holy Room while he is serving the Lord. And they will jingle when he goes out. Then he will not die.
“Make a plate out of pure gold. Carve words on it as if it were an official seal. Carve the words
Set Apart for the Lord.
Tie the plate to the front of the turban with a blue cord. Aaron must wear this plate on his forehead all the time. He will be held responsible for all the sacred gifts the Israelites set apart. Then the Lord will accept the gifts.
“Make the inner robe out of fine linen. And make the turban out of fine linen. The belt must be made by a person who sews skillfully. Make inner robes, belts and caps for Aaron’s sons. When they are wearing them, people will honor his sons. They will also have respect for them. Put all these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons. Then pour olive oil on them and prepare them to serve me. Set them apart to serve me as priests.
“Make linen underwear that reaches from the waist to the thigh. Aaron and the priests in his family line must wear it when they enter the tent of meeting. They must also wear it when they approach the altar to serve in the Holy Room. Then they will not be found guilty and die.
“For all time to come, that will be a law for Aaron and the priests in his family line.
