VIII. The Building of the Tabernacle and the Descent of God’s Glory Upon It

Sabbath Regulations. 1Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them,a “These are the words the Lord has commanded to be observed. 2On six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy to you as the sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. Anyone who does work on that day shall be put to death. 3You shall not even light a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day.”

Collection of Materials. 4Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5b Receive from among you contributions for the Lord. Everyone, as his heart prompts him, shall bring, as a contribution to the Lord, gold, silver, and bronze; 6violet, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; 7rams’ skins dyed red, and tahash skins; acacia wood; 8oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and on the breastpiece.

Call for Artisans. 10c “Let every artisan among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded: 11the tabernacle, with its tent, its covering, its clasps, its frames, its bars, its columns, and its pedestals; 12the ark, with its poles, the cover, and the curtain veil; 13the table, with its poles and all its utensils, and the showbread; 14the menorah, with its utensils, the lamps, and the oil for the light; 15the altar of incense, with its poles; the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense; the entrance curtain for the entrance of the tabernacle; 16the altar for burnt offerings, with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin, with its stand; 17the hangings of the court, with their columns and pedestals; the curtain for the gate of the court; 18the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the court, with their ropes; 19the service cloths for use in the sanctuary; the sacred vestments for Aaron, the priest, and the vestments for his sons in their ministry.”

The Contribution. 20When the whole Israelite community left Moses’ presence, 21all, as their hearts moved them and their spirit prompted, brought a contribution to the Lord for the work of the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the sacred vestments. 22Both the men and the women, all as their heart prompted them, brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and various other gold articles.d Everyone who could presented an offering of gold to the Lord. 23Everyone who happened to have violet, purple, or scarlet yarn, fine linen or goat hair, rams’ skins dyed red or tahash skins, brought them. 24Whoever could make a contribution of silver or bronze offered it to the Lord; and everyone who happened to have acacia wood for any part of the work, brought it. 25All the women who were expert spinners brought hand-spun violet, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen thread. 26All the women, as their hearts and skills moved them, spun goat hair. 27The tribal leaders brought onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and on the breastpiece; 28as well as spices, and oil for the light, anointing oil, and fragrant incense. 29Every Israelite man and woman brought to the Lord such voluntary offerings as they thought best, for the various kinds of work which the Lord, through Moses, had commanded to be done.

The Artisans. 30Moses said to the Israelites:e “See, the Lord has singled out Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31and has filled him with a divine spirit of skill and understanding and knowledge in every craft: 32in the production of embroidery, in making things of gold, silver, or bronze, 33in cutting and mounting precious stones, in carving wood, and in every other craft. 34He has also given both him and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35He has endowed them with skill to execute all types of work: engraving, embroidering, the making of variegated cloth of violet, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen thread, weaving, and all other arts and crafts.