Exodus 25:1-40:38 Summary

The Lord commanded Moses to collect offerings from the people to build a Tabernacle for the Lord along with its furnishings. The Lord instructed him to have the people build an ark and to put stone tablets with the terms of the covenant inside. Two molded cherubim were to be placed on either side of the cover, which would be the place of atonement. The Lord would then speak to Moses from above the atonement cover between the cherubim. The Lord then gave specific instructions for a worship table upon which the bread of the presence would remain; an ornate lampstand (25); the Tabernacle itself, which would house the ark in the most holy place, set apart from the rest of the tabernacle by curtains (26); an altar and the necessary instruments for burnt offerings; and a large courtyard area for the Tabernacle. The lampstand would be placed in front of the most holy place and Aaron and his sons would be required to keep the lamps burning for the Lord all night (27). The Lord commanded Moses to call Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar as priests. The Lord gave detailed instructions for special vestments that they were to wear to set them apart from the people, and help them perform their priestly duties (28). The Lord explained a seven-day ordination ceremony, which included washing with water, offerings of bread and wine, animal sacrifice, the sprinkling of blood, and anointing with oil (29). The Lord gave specific instructions for an incense altar upon which incense was to be burned each morning and evening in the Lord’s presence; a head tax to be paid to maintain the Tabernacle; and the creation of holy water, oil, and incense that were to be used only for sacred rituals (30). The Lord appointed Bezalel of Judah and Oholiab of Dan to oversee all this work. The last thing the Lord told Moses before sending him down from Mount Sinai with two stone tablets with the terms of the covenant written on them by the finger of God was that all must observe the Sabbath or face the death penalty (31).

Moses had been away a long time, so the people asked Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship. The Lord was furious, but Moses convinced the Lord not to destroy the people. When Moses made his way down the mountain, he smashed the stone tablets in anger, destroyed the calf, punished the people, and ordered his fellow Levites to kill those who did not stand with him. The Lord sent a plague against the people to show that he was with Moses (32). As Moses prepared to lead the people into the land that God had promised them, he asked the Lord to be with him. The Lord allowed Moses to see his glory to demonstrate his ongoing faithfulness (33). Moses again met with the Lord on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. He received two more stone tablets with the terms of the covenant written on them. When he returned to the people his face had a radiant glow that had to be hidden from the people (34).

Moses called the people together, reemphasized the importance of the Sabbath, took an offering for the construction of the Tabernacle, and appointed Bezalel and Oholiab to oversee its construction (35). The people gave more than enough for its construction, so Bezalel began his work. Bezalel made the Tabernacle (36), the ark of the covenant, the worship table, the ornate lampstand, the incense altar (37), the altar for burnt offerings and its utensils, and the large courtyard area for the Tabernacle. This was all built from the offerings of the people and the taxes paid by 603,550 men. The total included 2,193 pounds of gold, 7,545 pounds of silver, and 5,310 pounds of bronze (38). Bezalel also made the priestly vestments. When it was all finished, Moses inspected the work and blessed the Israelites for making it according to the Lord’s instructions (39). The Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the new year, and Moses consecrated it. Then he anointed Aaron and his sons as priests. Finally, he placed the stone tablets inside the ark of the covenant in the most holy place of the Tabernacle. When everything was finished, the cloud of God’s presence entered the Tabernacle. Whenever the cloud moved from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel followed (40).