Study Desk

"This is the one who was in ^(C1)the ^(F1)assembly in the wilderness together with ^(C2)the angel who spoke to him at length on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received ^(C3)living ^(C4)words to pass on to you.

"Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him; on the contrary they ^(C1)rejected him and turned back to Egypt in their hearts,

^(C1)saying to Aaron, 'MAKE US ^(F1)A GOD WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT—WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.'

"^(F1)At that time ^(C1)they made a ^(F2)calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in ^(C2)the works of their hands.

"But God ^(C1)turned away and gave them over to ^(F1)serve the heavenly ^(F2)lights; as it is written in the book of the prophets: '^(C2)YOU DID NOT OFFER ME VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES ^(C3)FOR FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, DID YOU, HOUSE OF ISRAEL?

'^(C1)YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF YOUR GOD ^(F1)ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL DEPORT YOU BEYOND BABYLON.'

"Our fathers had ^(C1)the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it ^(C2)according to the pattern which he had seen.

"Our fathers in turn received it, and they also ^(C1)brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the ^(F1)nations that God drove out from our fathers, until the time of David.

"^(F1)(C1)David found favor in God's sight, and ^(C2)asked that he might ^(F2)find a dwelling place for the ^(F3)house of Jacob.

"But it was ^(C1)Solomon who built a house for Him.

"However, ^(C1)the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

'^(C1)HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND THE EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET; WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord, 'OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REST?

-'^(C1)WAS IT NOT MY HAND THAT MADE ALL THESE THINGS?'