Through the Bible – Day 35

₁Bezalel built an altar of acacia wood for offering sacrifices. It was two and a quarter metres square and one and a third metres high ₂with each of its four corners sticking up like the horn of a bull, and it was completely covered with bronze. ₃The equipment for the altar was also made of bronze—the pans for the hot ashes, the shovels, the meat forks, and the fire pans. ₄Half-way up the altar he built a ledge around it and covered the bottom half of the altar with a decorative bronze grating. ₅Then he attached a bronze ring beneath the ledge at the four corners to put the poles through. ₆He covered two acacia wood poles with bronze and ₇put them through the rings for carrying the altar, which was shaped like an open box.

₈Bezalel made a large bowl and a stand out of bronze from the mirrors of the women who helped at the entrance to the sacred tent.

_9-17Around the sacred tent Bezalel built a courtyard forty-four metres long on the south and north and twenty-two metres wide on the east and west. He used twenty bronze posts on bronze stands for the south and north and ten for the west. Then he hung a curtain of fine linen on the posts along each of these three sides by using silver hooks and rods. He placed three bronze posts on each side of the entrance at the east and hung a curtain six and two thirds metres wide on each set of posts.

_18-19For the entrance to the courtyard, Bezalel made a curtain nine metres long, which he hung on four bronze posts that were set on bronze stands. This curtain was the same height as the one for the rest of the courtyard and was made of fine linen embroidered and woven with blue, purple, and red wool. He hung the curtain on the four posts, using silver hooks and rods. ₂₀The pegs for the tent and for the curtain around the tent were made of bronze.

_21-23Bezalel had worked closely with Oholiab, who was an expert at designing and engraving, and at embroidering blue, purple, and red wool. The two of them completed the work that the LORD had commanded.

Moses made Aaron's son Ithamar responsible for keeping record of the metals used for the sacred tent. ₂₄According to the official weights, the amount of gold given was a thousand kilogrammes, ₂₅and the silver that was collected when the people were counted came to three thousand four hundred and thirty kilogrammes. ₂₆Everyone who was counted paid the required amount, and there was a total of 603,550 men who were twenty years old or older.

₂₇Thirty-four kilogrammes of the silver were used to make each of the one hundred stands for the sacred tent and the curtain. ₂₈The remaining thirty kilogrammes of silver were used for the hooks and rods and for covering the tops of the posts.

₂₉Two thousand four hundred and twenty-five kilogrammes of bronze were given. ₃₀And it was used to make the stands for the entrance to the tent, the altar and its grating, the equipment for the altar, ₃₁the stands for the posts that surrounded the courtyard, including those at the entrance to the courtyard, and the pegs for the tent and the courtyard.

₁Beautiful priestly clothes were made of blue, purple, and red wool for Aaron to wear when he performed his duties in the holy place. This was done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

_2-3The entire priestly apron was made of fine linen, woven with blue, purple, and red wool. Thin sheets of gold were hammered out and cut into threads that were skilfully woven into the apron. _4-5It had two shoulder straps to support it and a sash that fastened around the waist. ₆Onyx stones were placed in gold settings, and each one was engraved with the name of one of Israel's sons. ₇Then these were attached to the shoulder straps of the apron, so the LORD would never forget his people. Everything was done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₈The breastpiece was made with the same materials and designs as the priestly apron. ₉It was twenty-two centimetres square and folded double ₁₀with four rows of three precious stones: a carnelian, a chrysolite, and an emerald were in the first row; ₁₁a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond were in the second row; ₁₂a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst were in the third row; ₁₃and a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper were in the fourth row. They were mounted in a delicate gold setting, ₁₄and on each of them was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

_15-18Two gold rings were attached to the upper front corners of the breastpiece and fastened with two braided gold chains to gold settings on the shoulder straps. ₁₉Two other gold rings were attached to the lower inside corners next to the apron, ₂₀and two more near the bottom of the shoulder straps just above the sash. ₂₁To keep the breastpiece in place, a blue cord was used to tie the two lower rings on the breastpiece to those on the apron. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₂₂The priestly robe was made of blue wool ₂₃with an opening in the centre for the head. The material around the collar was bound so as to keep it from fraying. _24-26Along the hem of the robe were woven pomegranates of blue, purple, and red wool with a bell of pure gold between each of them. This robe was to be worn by Aaron when he performed his duties.

_27-29Everything that Aaron and his sons wore was made of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool, including their robes and turbans, their fine caps and underwear, and even their sashes that were embroidered with needlework.

₃₀“Dedicated to the LORD” was engraved on a narrow strip of pure gold, ₃₁which was fastened to Aaron's turban. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₃₂So the people of Israel finished making everything the LORD had told Moses to make. ₃₃Then they brought it all to Moses: the sacred tent and its equipment, including the hooks, the framework and crossbars, and its posts and stands; ₃₄the covering of tanned ram skins and fine leather; the inside curtain; ₃₅the sacred chest with its carrying poles and the place of mercy; ₃₆the table with all that goes on it, including the sacred bread; ₃₇the lampstand of pure gold, together with its equipment and oil; ₃₈the gold-covered incense altar; the ordination oil and the sweet-smelling incense; the curtain for the entrance to the tent; ₃₉the bronze altar for sacrifices with its bronze grating, its carrying poles, and its equipment; the large bronze bowl with its stand; ₄₀the curtain with its posts and cords, and its pegs and stands that go around the courtyard; everything needed for the sacred tent; ₄₁and the finely woven priestly clothes for Aaron and his sons.

_42-43When Moses saw that the people had done everything exactly as the LORD had commanded, he gave them his blessing.

₁The LORD said to Moses:

₁₆Moses followed the LORD's instructions. ₁₇And on the first day of the first month of the second year, the sacred tent was set up. ₁₈The posts, stands, and framework were put in place, ₁₉then the two layers of coverings were hung over them. ₂₀The stones with the Ten Commandments written on them were stored in the sacred chest, the place of mercy was put on top of it, and the carrying poles were attached. ₂₁The chest was brought into the tent and set behind the curtain in the most holy place. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₂₂The table for the sacred bread was put along the north wall of the holy place, ₂₃after which the bread was set on the table. ₂₄The lampstand was put along the south wall, ₂₅then the lamps were attached to it there in the presence of the LORD. ₂₆The gold incense altar was set up in front of the curtain, ₂₇and sweet-smelling incense was burnt on it. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₂₈The curtain was hung at the entrance to the sacred tent. ₂₉Then the altar for offering sacrifices was put in front of the tent, and animal sacrifices and gifts of grain were offered there. ₃₀The large bronze bowl was placed between the altar and the entrance to the tent. It was filled with water, ₃₁then Moses and Aaron, together with Aaron's sons, washed their hands and feet. ₃₂In fact, they washed each time before entering the tent or offering sacrifices at the altar. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₃₃Finally, Moses had the curtain hung around the courtyard.

₃₄Suddenly the sacred tent was covered by a thick cloud and filled with the glory of the LORD. ₃₅And so, Moses could not enter the tent. ₃₆Whenever the cloud moved from the tent, the people would break camp and follow; ₃₇then they would set up camp and stay there, until it moved again. ₃₈No matter where the people travelled, the LORD was with them. Each day his cloud was over the tent, and each night a fire could be seen in the cloud.

₂₃Jesus had gone into the temple and was teaching when the chief priests and the leaders of the people came up to him. They asked, “What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

₂₄Jesus answered, “I have just one question to ask you. If you answer it, I will tell you where I got the right to do these things. ₂₅Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human being?”

They thought it over and said to each other, “We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn't believe John. ₂₆On the other hand, these people think that John was a prophet, and we are afraid of what they might do to us. That's why we can't say that it was merely some human who gave John the right to baptize.” ₂₇So they told Jesus, “We don't know.”

Jesus said, “Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do.”

₂₈Jesus said:

“The elder one,” the chief priests and leaders answered.

Then Jesus told them:

₃₃Jesus told the chief priests and leaders to listen to this story:

₄₀Jesus asked, “When the owner of that vineyard comes, what do you suppose he will do to those tenants?”

₄₁The chief priests and leaders answered, “He will kill them in some horrible way. Then he will let his vineyard to people who will give him his share of grapes at harvest time.”

₄₂Jesus replied, “Surely you know that the Scriptures say,

₄₅When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard these stories, they knew that Jesus was talking about them. ₄₆So they looked for a way to arrest Jesus. But they were afraid to, because the people thought he was a prophet.