God is still giving Moses instructions about how to furnish the tabernacle. The bronze wash basin in the lower left of this image, and the altar of incense in front of the veil, are described in this chapter.
Exodus 30
“You shall make an altar to burn incense on: of acacia wood you shall make it.
Chapter 28 described how to make the garments for Aaron and his sons to wear as they minister in the office of the priesthood. This chapter instructions Moses to put the garments on them and consecrate them. This is the ordination service but we are still receiving instructions and not doing any of the things yet.
Exodus 29
“This is what you shall do to consecrate them, to serve me in the priest’s office: Take one bull and two rams without blemish,
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This is a longer chapter than some we have read recently and it’s all about the garments Aaron and his sons are to wear as they serve as priests.
Exodus 28
“Take your brother Aaron and his sons with him from among the children of Israel, that he may serve me in the priest’s office, Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
Yeah I know, it’s an old joke. But right now in the Read the Bible series we are in Exodus 27 and Moses is in the process of receiving the Law as well as instructions for building the tabernacle and everything associated with it. Do Christians need to keep the law and the feasts and do everything in the Old Testament? No. Do Christians need to read the Old Testament? Absolutely, it should be considered a must. You can learn a lot about God reading the Old Testament. Jesus quoted the Old Testament directly nearly 80 times and some scholars believe there are as many as 300 references or allusions. Not everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus but certainly everything about the tabernacle, animal sacrifice, priests, High Priest and entering the Most Holy Place are about Jesus. They help us understand who he is and what he does.
This is a short chapter that gives instructions for the wall around the outer court and for the altar. Tomorrow we will talk about how to dress a priest. Tell you fashion friends.
“You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be square: and the height of it shall be three cubits.
The Tabernacle is the tent version of the temple. We have the same details in Exodus 26 that the people who built the original had; perhaps minus “the pattern” God refers to that was shown to Moses on Mount Sinai. There are a couple more pics after the text. Here is a link to Hebrews 8, but wait until the end of the audio if you haven’t played it yet.
Exodus 26
“You shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work you shall make them.
Chapter 25 is the beginning of instructions; nothing is built until after all the instructions have been given, which will take a few chapters. Pictured above is one of many artist conceptions of how the ark of the covenant, or ark of the testimony, may have looked. (Notice that is not the same Bible picture I’ve used since March 1st.) The only problem with that image is the height. It’s width and height should be the same, approximately 27 inches. or a little more than two feet. If you have seen Raiders of the Lost Ark that’s a pretty good representation; just don’t buy into all the theology you are presented.
Moses tells the people everything God said. He wrote it all in a book and read it to them. Both times they say “All that God has said we will do.” Sacrifices are made, blood is sprinkled, and 74 men go up the mountain and see God. He then calls on Moses alone to come closer.
Exodus 24
He said to Moses “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship at a distance.
The header above this section in the New American Standard Bible says Various Laws. It works but you could describe all of 21, 22 and 23 as various. There is more to explain in this chapter than in 22 so here we go.
Exodus 23
“You shall not share a false report: do not put your hand in with the wicked to be a malicious witness.