Parashat Vayakhel

Offerings for the Tabernacle

35 Then Moses assembled all the congregation of Bnei-Yisrael and said to them, “These are the words which Adonai has commanded you to do. ² Work is to be done for six days, but the seventh day is a holy day for you, a Shabbat of complete rest to Adonai. Whoever does any work then will die. ³ Do not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on Yom Shabbat.”

⁴ Moses also said to all the congregation of Bnei-Yisrael, “This is the word which Adonai commanded saying: ⁵ Take from among you an offering for Adonai. Whoever has a willing heart, let him bring Adonai’s offering: gold, silver and bronze; ⁶ blue, purple and scarlet cloth; fine linen and goat hair; ⁷ ram skins dyed red, sealskins and acacia wood; ⁸ oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; ⁹ onyx stones, and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastplate.

¹⁰ “Let every wise-hearted man among you come and make everything that Adonai has commanded, including ¹¹ the Tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its clasps and its boards, its crossbars, its pillars and its bases; ¹² the Ark and the poles, the atonement cover and the curtain screen; ¹³ the table and its poles with all of its utensils, along with the bread of the Presence; ¹⁴ also the menorah for light with its utensils, its lamps and the oil for the light; ¹⁵ the altar of incense and its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the screen for the entrance of the Tabernacle; ¹⁶ the altar of burnt offering with its grating of bronze, its poles and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; ¹⁷ the hangings of the courtyard, the pillars and their bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard; ¹⁸ the pegs of the Tabernacle and of the courtyard, along with their cords; ¹⁹ the woven garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the kohen and for his sons, to minister as kohanim.”

²⁰ Then all the congregation of Bnei-Yisrael departed from before Moses. ²¹ Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit was willing came and brought Adonai’s offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting and for all its service as well as for the holy garments. ²² So they came, both men and women, everyone whose heart compelled him, and brought nose rings, earrings, signet rings, bracelets, and all kinds of golden jewels—everyone who brought a wave offering of gold to Adonai. ²³ Everyone who had blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red or sealskins brought them. ²⁴ Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought Adonai’s offering, and every man who had acacia wood of any use for service brought it. ²⁵ Also all the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought what they had woven—the blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen. ²⁶ All the women whose heart stirred them up with wisdom spun the goat hair. ²⁷ Also the leaders brought onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastplate, ²⁸ along with the spice, the oil for the light and for anointing and for the sweet incense. ²⁹ Every man and woman whose heart made them willing gave toward all the work that Adonai had commanded to be done by Moses’ hand. So Bnei-Yisrael brought it as a freewill offering to Adonai.

³⁰ Then Moses said to Bnei-Yisrael, “See, Adonai has called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³¹ He has filled him with the Ruach of God, with wisdom, understanding and knowledge, in all manner of craftsmanship, ³² to make ingenious designs, to work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ as well as cutting gemstones for setting, wood carving, to make all kinds of skillful craftsmanship. ³⁴ He has also placed in his heart the ability to teach—both he and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. ³⁵ He has filled them with wisdom of heart to forge all the works of an engraver, an artisan, and an embroiderer in blue, purple, scarlet and in fine linen, as well as weaving—they can perform every craft and ingenious designs.

More Than Enough!

36 “So Bezalel and Oholiab are to work, along with every wise-hearted man in whom Adonai has placed insight and understanding to know how to perform all the labor for the service of the Sanctuary, according to everything Adonai has commanded.”

² Then Moses called Bezalel, Oholiab and all the wise-hearted men in whose minds Adonai had set wisdom, along with everyone whose heart stirred him up to come do the work. ³ They received from Moses the entire offering that Bnei-Yisrael had brought for the work of the service of the Sanctuary, to build it. They brought freewill offerings to him morning after morning. ⁴ Then all the skilled men who were doing all the work of the Sanctuary came, one by one from the work he was doing, ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the work of this construction that Adonai has commanded to be done.”

⁶ So Moses gave an order, and they proclaimed it throughout the camp saying, “Let neither man nor woman make anything else as an offering for the Sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing more. ⁷ For the work material they had was sufficient for all the work, with much left over.

⁸ So all the wise-hearted men among them did the work. They made the Tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen, along with blue, purple and scarlet, with cheruvim—the work of a skillful craftsman. ⁹ The length of each curtain was 28 cubits and the width of each curtain was four cubits. All the curtains had one measure. ¹⁰ Then he coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he also coupled together. ¹¹ He made blue loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost within the first set. He did the same along the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set. ¹² He made 50 loops in one curtain and 50 loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set, so that the loops were opposite to one another. ¹³ Also he made 50 clasps of gold and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps, so the Tabernacle was one.

¹⁴ Then he made curtains from goat hair for a tent over the Tabernacle. He made 11 curtains. ¹⁵ The length of each curtain was 30 cubits, and the width of each was four cubits. The 11 curtains had one measure. ¹⁶ He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six other curtains by themselves. ¹⁷ He made 50 loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the first set and 50 loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set. ¹⁸ Also he made 50 bronze clasps to couple the tent together, so that it would be one. ¹⁹ Then he made a covering for the tent of ram skins, dyed red, along with a covering of sealskins above.

²⁰ He also made the framework of boards for the Tabernacle from acacia wood, standing upright. ²¹ The length of a board was ten cubits, the width was a cubit and a half. ²² Each board had two supports, joined one to another. He did this for all the boards of the Tabernacle. ²³ So he built the boards for the Tabernacle, 20 boards from the south side southward. ²⁴ And he made 40 silver bases under the 20 boards, two bases under one board for its two supports, and two bases under another board for its two supports. ²⁵ Also for the second side of the Tabernacle, on the north side, he made 20 boards, ²⁶ along with their 40 silver bases, two under one board and two under the next. ²⁷ For the back part of the Tabernacle westward he made six boards. ²⁸ He also made two boards for the corners of the Tabernacle in the back, ²⁹ so that they could be doubled underneath, and in same way to be fixed to the top, at the first ring. He did this for both of them at the two corners. ³⁰ So there were eight boards, along with their silver bases, 16 in all, two under each board.

³¹ Then he made crossbars from acacia wood, five for the boards on one side of the Tabernacle, ³² five for the boards on the other side of the Tabernacle, and five crossbars for the boards of the Tabernacle for the back part, westward. ³³ He built the middle crossbar to pass through, in the center of the boards, from one end to the other. ³⁴ He overlaid the boards with gold and made golden rings for them, as holders for the crossbars, and overlaid the crossbars with gold.

³⁵ Then he made the curtain of blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen, along with the cheruvim, the work of a skillful craftsman. ³⁶ He made four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold, having golden hooks, and he cast four silver bases for them. ³⁷ Then he made a parokhet for the entrance of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen, the work of a color weaver. ³⁸ Also he made the five pillars with their hooks, and overlaid their capitals and bands with gold, along with their five bronze bases.

Ark, Table, Menorah, Incense Altar

37 Bezalel also made the Ark from acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. ² He overlaid it with pure gold inside and out, and made a crown of gold for it all around. ³ He cast four golden rings for it, in the four feet, two rings on the one side, and two on the other. ⁴ He also made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. ⁵ Then he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the Ark, to carry the Ark.

⁶ He made an atonement cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide. ⁷ Then he forged two cheruvim of gold, from hammered work, at the two ends of the atonement cover, ⁸ one cheruv at one end, and one cheruv at the other. He made the atonement cover from a single piece with the cheruvim on the two ends. ⁹ So the cheruvim spread out their wings on high, overshadowing the atonement cover with their wings, with their faces to one another, and the faces of the cheruvim toward the atonement cover.

¹⁰ Then he made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. ¹¹ He overlaid it with pure gold and made a golden crown all around. ¹² Also he made a border for it, a hand-width around, and made a golden crown for the border all around. ¹³ He cast four golden rings for it, and put the rings into the four corners that were on the four feet. ¹⁴ The rings were close to the borders, as holders for the poles to carry the table. ¹⁵ He also made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. ¹⁶ He forged the articles that were on the table, the dishes, pans, bowls and jars, with which to pour, out of pure gold.

¹⁷ Then he made the menorah of pure gold, of hammered work, even its base, its stem, its cups, its bulbs and its flowers, were one piece with it. ¹⁸ There were six branches going out of the sides, three branches out of one side, and three branches out of the other. ¹⁹ Three cups made like almond blossoms were in one branch, a bulb within a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the next branch, another bulb within a flower. It was just so for the six branches going out of the menorah. ²⁰ Also within the menorah were four cups made like almond blossoms, bulbs and flowers, ²¹ with a bulb under two branches of one piece, a second bulb under two branches of another piece, and a bulb under two branches of a third piece, for six branches extending out of it. ²² Their bulbs and their branches were one piece with it, an entire hammered work of pure gold.

²³ He also made the seven lamps, along with tongs and censers of pure gold. ²⁴ He made them from a talent of pure gold, along with all the pieces.

²⁵ He made the altar of incense from acacia wood, a cubit long, a cubit wide, squared, and two cubits high. The horns were one piece with it. ²⁶ Then he overlaid it with pure gold on top, on the sides all around and over its horns. Also he made a crown of gold for it all around. ²⁷ He made two golden rings for it underneath the crown, on two sides as holders for poles in order to carry it. ²⁸ He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.

²⁹ Then he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, the blend of a perfumer.

Altar for Sacrifices

38 He then made the altar for burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. ² He also made the horns on the four corners from one piece, and overlaid it with bronze. ³ Then he made all the utensils for the altar—the pots and the shovels, the basins, the forks and the fire pans. He made all the utensils from bronze. ⁴ He also made a bronze grating net for the altar, under the ledge around it, reaching halfway up. ⁵ He cast four rings for the four ends of the bronze grating, to be holders for the poles. ⁶ He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze. ⁷ Then he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it, and he made it hollow, out of boards.

⁸ He made the basin and the base from bronze, with mirrors from the women who served at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

⁹ Then he made the courtyard. For the south side the hangings of the courtyard were finely twisted linen, 100 cubits long. ¹⁰ There were 20 pillars and 20 bronze bases. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. ¹¹ Likewise, for the north side, 100 cubits long, with 20 bronze pillars and bases, and the hooks for the pillars and their bands were silver. ¹² For the west side the hangings were 50 cubits, with ten pillars and their ten bases, as well as the hooks for the pillars and their silver bands. ¹³ Likewise, for the east side, 50 cubits long. ¹⁴ The hangings for one side of the gate were fifteen cubits, with three pillars and their bases. ¹⁵ Similarly for the other side, on either side of the gate of the courtyard were hangings of 15 cubits, with their three pillars and three bases. ¹⁶ All the hangings of the courtyard all around were of finely twisted linen. ¹⁷ The bases for the pillars were bronze, the hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver, the overlaying of their capitals were silver, and all the pillars of the courtyard were ringed with silver.

¹⁸ The curtain for the gate of the courtyard was the work of a color weaver, of blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen. It was 20 cubits long and five cubits high, like the hangings of the courtyard. ¹⁹ Their four pillars and four bases were bronze. Their hooks along with the overlaying of their capitals and their bands were silver. ²⁰ All the pegs of the Tabernacle and the courtyard all around were bronze.

Messiah Enters the Heavenly Holies

9 Now even the first one had regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary. ^{[a] 2} For a tent was prepared: in the outer^[b] part were the menorah, the table, and the presentation of the bread^[c]—this is called the Holy Place. ³ Beyond the second curtain^[d] was a dwelling called the Holy of Holies. ^{[e] 4} It held a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, completely covered with gold. In the ark was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant^[f]— ⁵ and above it, cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.^[g] But it is not now possible to speak in detail about these things.

⁶ Now with these things prepared this way,

the kohen gadol alone^[j]—and not without blood which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins^[k] of the people. ⁸ By this the Ruach ha-Kodesh makes clear that the way into the Holies has not yet been revealed while the first tent is still standing. ⁹ It is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly, gifts and sacrifices are being offered that cannot make the worshiper perfect with respect to conscience. ¹⁰ These relate only to food and drink and various washings^[l]—regulations for the body imposed until a time of setting things straight.

¹¹ But when Messiah appeared as Kohen Gadol of the good things that have now come, passing through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands (that is to say not of this creation),

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A Doctor Charts the Facts

1 Now many have undertaken to organize an account of the events fulfilled among us, ² just as they were handed down to us from the start by the eyewitnesses and reporters of the word. ³ Therefore it seemed best to me also, because I have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, to write for you an orderly record, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ so you may know for sure the truth of the words you have been taught.

Prophecy of Birth to the Barren

⁵ In the days of Herod, King of Judah, there was a kohen named Zechariah from the priestly division of Abijah.^[a] Elizabeth, his wife, was from the daughters of Aaron. ⁶ Together they were righteous before Adonai, walking without fault in all His commandments and instructions. ⁷ But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren and both of them were elderly.

⁸ Now it happened to be Zechariah’s time to serve as kohen before Adonai in the order of his division. ⁹ According to the custom of the priestly office, it became his lot to enter the Holy Place of Adonai to burn incense. ^{[b] 10} And the whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of incense burning. ¹¹ An angel of Adonai appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² Zechariah was in turmoil when he saw the angel, and fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to your son, and you will name him John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ He will be great before Adonai; and he should not drink wine and intoxicating beverage,^[c] but he will be filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh just out of his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ Many of Bnei-Yisrael will turn to Adonai their God. ¹⁷ And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to the children^[d] and the disobedient ones to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Adonai a prepared people.

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? I’m an old man, and my wife is well-advanced in age.”

¹⁹ And speaking to him, the angel declared, “I am Gabriel, the one standing in God’s presence. I was commissioned to tell you and proclaim to you this good news. ²⁰ So look, you will be silent and powerless to speak until the day these things happen, since you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering about his long delay in the Holy Place. ²² But when he came out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the Holy Place. He was making signs to them but remained mute. ²³ When the days of his priestly service had been completed, he went home. ²⁴ After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and hid herself for five months, saying, ²⁵ “Adonai has done this for me! In these days He looked upon me, to take away my disgrace among the people.”^[e]

Prophecy of Birth to the Virgin

²⁶ Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret ²⁷ and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam. ²⁸ And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.^[f]” ²⁹ But at the message, she was perplexed and kept wondering what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua. ^{[g] 32} He will be great and will be called Ben-Elyon. Adonai Elohim will give Him the throne of David,^[h] His father. ³³ He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end.”^[i]

³⁴ Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am not intimate with a man?”^[j]

³⁵ And responding, the angel said to her, “The Ruach ha-Kodesh will come upon you, and the power of Elyon will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One being born will be called Ben-Elohim. ³⁶ Behold, even your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son in her old age; and the one who was called barren is six months pregnant. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.”^[k]

³⁸ So Miriam said, “Behold, the servant of Adonai. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.

Elizabeth Greets Miriam with Joy

³⁹ Now in those days, Miriam got up and quickly traveled into the hill country, to a town in Judah. ⁴⁰ She entered Zechariah’s home and happily greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Miriam’s greeting, the unborn child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was completely filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh. ⁴² She then cried out with a great shout, saying, “You are blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³ Who am I, that the mother of my Master should come to me? ⁴⁴ For even when I just heard the sound of your greeting in my ear, the unborn child leaped with joy in my womb. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who trusted that there would be a fulfillment of those things spoken to her by Adonai.”

⁴⁶ Then Miriam said,

Zechariah Breaks His Silence

⁵⁶ Miriam stayed with her for three months and then returned to her home. ⁵⁷ Upon Elizabeth’s full term to deliver, she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard how Adonai had shown her His great mercy, and they began to rejoice with her.

⁵⁹ Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child,^[n] and they kept trying to call him by his father’s name, Zechariah. ⁶⁰ But his mother declared, “No, he will be called John.”

⁶¹ But they said to her, “No one among your relatives is called by this name.” ⁶² So they began making signs to his father, as to what he wanted him named.

⁶³ Asking for a small tablet, he wrote, “John is his name.” They were all astonished! ⁶⁴ And his mouth was immediately unlocked as well as his tongue, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵ Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these matters were talked about throughout the hill country of Judah. ⁶⁶ Everyone who heard pondered these things in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” For the hand of Adonai was on him.

The Kohen’s Song of Prophecy

⁶⁷ His father Zechariah was filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and prophesied, saying,

⁸⁰ And the child kept growing and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Parashat Pekudei

²¹ These are the accounts of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were recorded according to the commandment of Moses, by the service of the Levites, under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the kohen. ²² Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah made all that Adonai commanded Moses. ²³ Along with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman, a skillful workman, and a weaver of colors, in blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen.

²⁴ The entirety of the gold that was used for the work of the Sanctuary, including the gold of the offering, was 29 talents^[a] and 730 shekels, according to the Sanctuary shekel. ²⁵ The silver from those numbered from the congregation was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the Sanctuary shekel— ²⁶ that is, a beka, or half a shekel per head, according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, for everyone who was recorded, from 20 years old and upward, for 603,550 men. ²⁷ The 100 talents of silver were for casting the bases of the Sanctuary, and the bases for the inner curtain, 100 bases for 100 talents, a talent for each base. ²⁸ The 1,775 shekels he made into hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made bands for them.

²⁹ The bronze from the offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. ³⁰ With it he made the bases for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating, all the utensils for the altar, ³¹ along with the bases of the courtyard all around, the bases for the gate of the courtyard, as well as all the pegs of the Tabernacle and the pegs for the courtyard all around.

Holy Garments for Aaron and His Sons

39 Next they made woven garments of blue, purple and scarlet, for ministering in the holy place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as Adonai commanded Moses.

² He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen. ³ They hammered the gold into thin plates, and cut it into threads, to work it in with the blue, purple and scarlet, within the fine linen, the work of a skillful craftsman. ⁴ Then they made shoulder pieces for it, joined together at the two ends. ⁵ The artfully woven band on the ephod, with which to gird it, was of the same piece and the same kind of workmanship of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen, as Adonai commanded Moses.

⁶ They placed the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, etched with the engravings of a signet seal, according to the names of Bnei-Yisrael. ⁷ He put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, to be memorial stones for Bnei-Yisrael, as Adonai commanded Moses.

⁸ He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful craftsman, like the work of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen. ⁹ It was square and folded doubled, a span long and a span wide. ¹⁰ They mounted within it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz and emerald were the first row. ¹¹ In the second row were a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond. ¹² In the third row were a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst, ¹³ and in the fourth row were a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. They were enclosed in fittings of gold within their settings. ¹⁴ The stones corresponded to the names of Bnei-Yisrael, like the engravings of a signet seal, each one according to its name for the twelve tribes.

¹⁵ They attached braided chains to the breastplate, of wreathed work from pure gold. ¹⁶ They made two settings of gold, and two golden rings, and set the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. ¹⁷ They attached the two golden chains to the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. ¹⁸ The other two ends of the chains they placed on the two settings, and fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, in the front. ¹⁹ They also made two golden rings, and set them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge that was toward the side of the ephod facing inward. ²⁰ They made two more rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder pieces of the ephod underneath, in the front, enclosed by their coupling, above the artfully woven band of the ephod. ²¹ Then they bound the breastplate by the rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue thread, so that it would rest on the artfully woven band and not be loosened from the ephod, as Adonai commanded Moses.

²² He also made the robe of the ephod from woven work, all of blue, ²³ with a hole in the center of the robe, and a binding woven around the hole as a collar, so that it would not be torn. ²⁴ They also made, on the hem of the robe, pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet and twisted linen. ²⁵ Then they made bells of pure gold and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe all around, between the pomegranates, ²⁶ a bell and a pomegranate, then another bell and a pomegranate, all around on the hem of the robe, to minister in, as Adonai commanded Moses.

²⁷ Then they made the sashes of fine linen, woven work for Aaron and for his sons, ²⁸ the turban of fine linen, the headwear, the linen undergarments of finely twisted linen, ²⁹ along with the tunic of checkered work, in blue, purple and scarlet, the work of a color weaver, as Adonai commanded Moses.

³⁰ Finally they made the plate of the holy coronet from pure gold, and wrote an inscription on it, like the engraving of a signet seal: HOLY TO Adonai. ³¹ They tied to it a blue thread, to fasten onto the turban above, as Adonai commanded Moses.

³² So all the work of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was finished. Bnei-Yisrael did everything according to what Adonai had commanded Moses—they did it just so. ³³ Then they brought the Tabernacle to Moses, along with the tent and all of its furnishings, its clasps, its boards, its crossbars, its pillars, and its bases; ³⁴ along with the covering of ram skins dyed red, and the covering of sealskins, the veil of the curtain; ³⁵ as well as the Ark of the Testimony with its poles, and the atonement cover; ³⁶ the table and all of its utensils, the showbread; ³⁷ the pure menorah with its lamps to be set in order, along with all of its utensils, and oil for the light; ³⁸ the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the curtain for the entrance of the tent; ³⁹ the bronze altar, its grating and its poles along with all of its utensils, and the basin and its base; ⁴⁰ the hangings for the courtyard, with its pillars, its bases and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, with its cords and its pegs, along with all the instruments for the service of the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting; ⁴¹ as well as the woven garments for ministering in the Sanctuary, the holy garments for Aaron the kohen and for his sons to serve as kohanim.

⁴² According to everything that Adonai had commanded Moses, Bnei-Yisrael had done all the work just so. ⁴³ When Moses saw the entire work, and that they had done it just as Adonai had commanded, Moses blessed them.

Setting up the Tabernacle

40 Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying, ² “On the first day of the first month, you will set up the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. ³ You are to put the Ark of the Testimony there, and screen off the Ark with the curtain. ⁴ Then bring in the table, and set in order the bread that is on it. Bring in the menorah and light its lamps. ⁵ Set the golden incense altar in front of the Ark of the Testimony, and hang the curtain over the entrance of the Tabernacle.

⁶ “Set the altar of burnt offering before the entrance of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. ⁷ Set up the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. ⁸ Set up the courtyard all around, and hang the curtain of the gate of the courtyard.

⁹ “Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle, and everything within it, and consecrate it, along with all of its furnishings, and it will be holy. ¹⁰ Also you are to anoint the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils and consecrate the altar. The altar will be most holy. ¹¹ Then you are to anoint the basin along with its base and sanctify it.

¹² “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. ¹³ Put the holy garments on Aaron, anoint him and consecrate him, so that he may minister to Me as a kohen. ¹⁴ Also bring his sons and put tunics upon them. ¹⁵ You are to anoint them, as you did their father, so that they too may minister to Me as kohanim. Their anointing will be for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” ¹⁶ Moses did so, just as Adonai had commanded him.

¹⁷ Now it happened during the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the Tabernacle was raised up. ¹⁸ Moses raised the Tabernacle, and laid its bases, set up the framework of boards, put in the crossbars and set up its pillars. ¹⁹ Then he spread the tent over the Tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on it, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

²⁰ He placed the Testimony into the Ark, set the poles on the Ark, and put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. ²¹ He brought the Ark into the Tabernacle, set up the curtain as a screen, and screened off the Ark of the Testimony, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

²² Then he set up the table inside the Tent of Meeting, on the side of the Tabernacle northward, outside the curtain. ²³ He set a row of bread in order upon it before Adonai, just as Adonai had commanded Moses. ²⁴ Then he placed the menorah in the Tent of Meeting, over against the table, on the south side of the Tabernacle. ²⁵ Then he lit the lamps before Adonai, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

²⁶ Next he placed the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the curtain, ²⁷ and he burned sweet spices of incense there, just as Adonai had commanded Moses. ²⁸ He hung the curtain over the entrance of the Tabernacle. ²⁹ Then he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

³⁰ Next he set up the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, ³¹ so that Moses, Aaron and his sons could wash their hands and their feet there. ³² When they went into the Tent of Meeting and when they came near to the altar, they washed, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

³³ He set up the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar and set up the screen at the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.

Glory Fills the Tabernacle

³⁴ Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of Adonai filled the Tabernacle. ³⁵ Moses was unable to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud resided there and the glory of Adonai filled the Tabernacle.

³⁶ Now whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle, Bnei-Yisrael went onward, throughout all their journeys. ³⁷ But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not move out until the day that it was. ³⁸ For the cloud of Adonai was on the Tabernacle by day and a fire was there by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

⁵¹ When all the work that King Solomon did in Adonai’s House was finished, Solomon brought in the things that his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold and the vessels—and put them in the treasuries of the House of Adonai.

Dedicating the Temple

8 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel—all the heads of the tribes and the ancestral chieftains of the children of Israel—to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring the ark of the covenant of Adonai up from the city of David, which is Zion. ² All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at the Feast in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month. ³ Then all the elders of Israel came and the kohanim brought up the ark. ⁴ They brought up the ark of Adonai, the Tent of Meeting and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent the kohanim and the Levites brought them up.

⁵ Now King Solomon—and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled to him—were with him before the ark sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be numbered or counted. ⁶ The kohanim brought the ark of the covenant of Adonai to its place, into the inner Sanctuary of the House, to the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cheruvim. ⁷ For the cheruvim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cheruvim covered the ark and its poles from above. ⁸ But the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner Sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; there they are to this day. ⁹ Nothing was in the ark except the two tables of stone that Moses put there at Horeb,^[a] when Adonai cut a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt.

¹⁰ Now when the kohanim came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the House of Adonai, ¹¹ so that the kohanim could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of Adonai filled the House of Adonai. ¹² Then Solomon spoke: “Adonai said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. ¹³ I have surely built You a magnificent House, a place for Your dwelling forever.”

¹⁴ Then the king turned his face about and blessed the whole congregation of Israel while the whole congregation of Israel was standing. ¹⁵ He said: “Blessed be Adonai, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and has fulfilled it by His hand, saying: ¹⁶ ‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out from Egypt, I have not chosen a city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a House where My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

¹⁷ “Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a House for the Name of Adonai, the God of Israel. ¹⁸ But Adonai said to my father David: ‘Because it was in your heart to build a House for My Name, you did well that it was in your heart. ¹⁹ Nevertheless you will not build the House, but your son who will come out of your loins, he shall build the House for My Name.’ ²⁰ Now Adonai has fulfilled His word that He spoke, for I have risen in the place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as Adonai promised. Also I have built the House for the Name of Adonai, the God of Israel, ²¹ and have set there a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of Adonai, which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

Yeshua, Mediator of a Better Covenant

8 Now here is the main point being said. We do have such a Kohen Gadol, who has taken His seat at the right hand^[a] of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. ² He is a priestly attendant of the Holies and the true Tent—which Adonai set up, not man. ³ For every kohen gadol is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, so it is necessary for this One also to have something to offer. ^{[b] 4} Now if He were on earth, He would not be a kohen at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Torah. ⁵ They offer service in a replica^[c] and foreshadower of the heavenlies—one that is just as Moses was instructed by God when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For He says, “See that you make everything according to the design that was shown to you on the mountain.” ^{[d] 6} But now Yeshua has obtained a more excellent ministry, insofar as He is the mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted on better promises.

⁷ For if that first one had been faultless, there would not have been discourse seeking a second. ⁸ For finding fault with them, He says,

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Yeshua’s Birth in Bethlehem

2 Now it happened in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world’s inhabitants. ² This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ Everyone was traveling to be registered in his own city.

⁴ Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David. ^{[a] 5} He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

⁶ But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth— ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and set Him down in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.

Shepherds Witness Angelic Praises

⁸ Now there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and guarding their flock at night. ⁹ Suddenly an angel of Adonai stood before them, and the glory of Adonai shone all around them; and they were absolutely terrified.

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I proclaim Good News to you, which will be great joy to all the people. ¹¹ A Savior is born to you today in the city of David, who is Messiah the Lord. ¹² And the sign to you is this: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly a multitude of heavenly armies appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁵ And when the angels departed from them into the heavens, the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which Adonai has made known to us!” ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Miriam and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen this, they made known the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard were amazed at the things the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Miriam treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.

Temple Prophets Rejoice

²¹ When eight days had passed for His brit-milah,^[b] He was named Yeshua, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. ²² And when the days of their purification were fulfilled,^[c] according to the Torah of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present to Adonai. ²³ As it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to Adonai.” ^{[d] 24} So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the Torah of Adonai: “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.”^[e]

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel.^[f] The Ruach ha-Kodesh was on him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Ruach ha-Kodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Anointed One of Adonai. ²⁷ So in the Ruach, Simeon came into the Temple; and when the parents brought the Child Yeshua to do for Him according to the custom of the Torah, ²⁸ Simeon received Him into his arms and offered a bracha to God, saying,

³³ And His father and mother were marveling at the things that were said about Him. ³⁴ And Simeon offered a bracha over them and said to Miriam His mother, “Behold, this One is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that is opposed, ³⁵ so the thoughts of many hearts may be uncovered. (And even for you, a sword will pierce through your soul.)”

³⁶ Now Anna, a daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, was a prophetess. She was well advanced in age, having lived with a husband only^[i] seven years ³⁷ and then as a widow until age eighty-four. She never left the Temple, serving night and day with fasting and prayers. ³⁸ And coming up at that very instant, she began praising God and speaking about the Child to all those waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.^[j]

³⁹ When Joseph and Miriam had completed everything according to the Torah of Adonai, they returned to the Galilee, to their own city of Natzeret. ⁴⁰ The Child kept growing and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.

The Boy Astonishes Jerusalem Scholars

⁴¹ Now His parents were going every year to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. ^{[k] 42} When He became twelve years old, they were going up according to festival custom. ⁴³ As they headed home after completing the days, the boy Yeshua remained in Jerusalem, but His parents didn’t know. ⁴⁴ Supposing He was in the caravan, they went a day’s journey, then began looking for Him among relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

⁴⁶ After three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the center of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all those hearing Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers. ⁴⁸ When His parents saw Yeshua, they were overwhelmed. And His mother said to Him, “Child, why did you do this to us? Look! Your father and I were searching for You frantically!”

⁴⁹ He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about the things of My Father?” ⁵⁰ But they did not grasp the message He was telling them.

⁵¹ Then He went down with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these words in her heart. ⁵² And Yeshua kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

John the Immerser at the Jordan

3 It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of the Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. ² During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came upon John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. ³ And he came into all the surrounding region of the Jordan, proclaiming an immersion of repentance for the removal of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

⁷ Therefore John was saying to the crowds that came out to be immersed by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance; and don’t even begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’! For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees, so every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!”

¹⁰ The crowds were asking him, “What should we do?”

¹¹ He answered them, saying, “Whoever has two coats, let him give to the one who has none; and whoever has food, let him do the same.”^[m]

¹² Tax collectors also came to him to be immersed. “Teacher,” they said to him, “what should we do?”

¹³ He said to them, “Do not take more than you are supposed to.”

¹⁴ Also soldiers asked him, saying, “And what should we do?”

He said to them, “Do not take things from anyone by force, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be content with your wages.”^[n]

¹⁵ Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts about John, whether he might be the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered them all, saying, “As for me, I immerse you with water. But One is coming who is mightier than I am; I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals! He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with inextinguishable fire.” ^{[o] 18} So with many other exhortations, John proclaimed Good News to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch—after being rebuked by John because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things Herod had done— ²⁰ added even this on top of them all: he shut up John in prison.

²¹ Now when all the people were immersed, Yeshua also was immersed. And while He was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Ruach ha-Kodesh came down upon Him in bodily form like a dove. And from out of heaven came a voice, “You are My Son, whom I love—with You I am well pleased!”^[p]

The Lineage of Yeshua Ben-David Ben-Elohim

²³ Yeshua was about thirty years old when He began his ministry. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵ the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷ the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸ the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹ the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰ the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹ the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ^{[q] 32} the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Yitzhak, the son of Abraham,^[r] the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶ the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, ³⁸ the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam,^[s] the son of God.