Study Desk

When they left Rephidim, they came to the Desert of Sinai and camped in the desert in front of the mountain.

The Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and have them spend today and tomorrow preparing themselves. They must wash their clothes

After Moses went down from the mountain to the people, he made them prepare themselves for service to God, and they washed their clothes.

Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

The Lord said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people that they must not force their way through to see me. If they do, many of them will die.

The Lord said to him, "Go down and bring Aaron up with you, but don't allow the priests or the people to force their way through. They must not come up to the Lord , or I will punish them."

When the people heard the thunder and the trumpet, and when they saw the lightning and the smoke rising from the mountain, they shook with fear and stood far away from the mountain.

Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself, and we will listen. But don't let God speak to us, or we will die."

"If a man's bull kills another man's bull, they must sell the bull that is alive. Both men will get half of the money and half of the bull that was killed.

If you do, and they cry out to me for help, I certainly will hear their cry.

Then he took the Book of the Agreement and read it so the people could hear him. And they said, "We will do everything that the Lord has said; we will obey."

These leaders of the Israelites saw God, but God did not destroy them. Then they ate and drank together.

Make the plates and bowls for the table, as well as the jars and cups, out of pure gold. They will be used for pouring out the drink offerings.

"Then make seven small oil lamps and put them on the lampstand so that they give light to the area in front of it.

These are the clothes they must make: a chest covering, a holy vest, an outer robe, a woven inner robe, a turban, and a cloth belt. The craftsmen must make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons. Then they may serve me as priests.

"Make a chest covering to help in making decisions. The craftsmen should make it as they made the holy vest, using gold and blue, purple and red thread, and fine linen.

And put the Urim and Thummim inside the chest covering so that they will be on Aaron's heart when he goes before the Lord . They will help in making decisions for the Israelites. So Aaron will always carry them with him when he is before the Lord .

Put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, and pour olive oil on their heads to appoint them as priests. Make them belong to me so they may serve me as priests.

Aaron and his sons must wear these underclothes when they enter the Meeting Tent and anytime they come near the altar to serve as priests in the Holy Place. If they do not wear these clothes, they will be guilty of wrong, and they will die. This will be a law that will last from now on for Aaron and all his descendants.

They are to be the regular share which the Israelites will always give to Aaron and his sons. It is the gift the Israelites must give to the Lord from their fellowship offerings.