New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Exodus 25
1
The Lord said to Moses,
2
"Tell the people of Israel to bring me an offering. You must receive the offering for me from all whose hearts move them to give.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 9:7
Ezra 2:68
Nehemiah 11:2
Ezra 1:6
Psalm 110:3
References Israel
Judges 5:9
Sacrifice
Ezra 7:16
Ezra 3:5
Numbers 18:24
3
"Here are the offerings you must receive from them. "gold, silver and bronze
4
blue, purple and bright red yarn and fine linen goat hair
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 19:8
5
ram skins that are dyed red the hides of sea cows acacia wood
6
olive oil for the lights spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense
Reference
Light
Exodus 27:20
7
onyx stones and other jewels for the linen apron and chest cloth
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 28:4
8
"Have them make a sacred tent for me. I will live among them.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 6:13
Exodus 29:45
Zechariah 2:10
Hebrews 3:6
Zechariah 8:3
Isaiah 12:6
Numbers 5:3
Temple
2 Corinthians 6:16
Revelation 21:3
9
Make the holy tent and everything that belongs to it. Make them exactly like the pattern I will show you.
Reference
10
"Have them make a chest out of acacia wood. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide and high.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 9:4
11
Cover it inside and outside with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 25:24
12
"Make four gold rings for it. Join them to its four bottom corners. Put two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
13
"Then make poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold.
14
Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it.
15
The poles must remain in the rings of the chest. Do not remove them.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 8:8
17
"Make its cover out of pure gold. The cover is the place where sin will be paid for. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide.
Reference
Grace
Hebrews 9:5
Exodus 37:6
Hebrews 4:16
Exodus 40:20
1 Chronicles 28:11
Parallel theme
Romans 3:25
19
Put one cherub on each end of it. Make the cherubim as part of the cover itself.
20
The cherubim must have their wings spread up over the cover. The cherubim must face each other and look toward the cover.
Reference
21
"Place the cover on top of the chest. I will give you the tablets of the covenant. Put them into the chest.
Reference
22
"The chest is the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. I will meet with you above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark. There I will give you all of my commands for the people of Israel.
Reference
Grace
Numbers 7:89
Leviticus 16:2
Exodus 30:6
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 4:4
Psalm 99:1
References Israel
Isaiah 37:16
Psalm 80:1
2 Kings 19:15
Witness
Numbers 17:4
Exodus 30:36
23
"Make a table out of acacia wood. Make it three feet long, one foot six inches wide and two feet three inches high.
Reference
24
Cover it with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 25:11
25
Also make a rim around it that is three inches wide. Put a strip of gold around the rim.
26
"Make four gold rings for the table. Join them to the four corners, where the four legs are.
27
The rings must be close to the rim. They must hold the poles that will be used to carry the table.
28
"Make the poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. Use them to carry the table.
29
"Make its plates and dishes out of pure gold. Also make its pitchers and bowls out of pure gold. Use the pitchers and bowls to pour out drink offerings.
Reference
30
"Put the holy bread on the table. It must be near my holy throne on the ark of the covenant at all times.
Reference
31
"Make a lampstand out of pure gold. Hammer out its base and stem. Its buds, blooms and cups must branch out from it.
Reference
32
"Six branches must come out from the sides of the lampstand. Make three on one side and three on the other.
33
On one branch make three cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms. Then put three on the next branch. Do the same with all six branches that come out from the lampstand.
34
"On the lampstand there must be four cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms.
35
One bud must be under the first pair of branches that come out from the lampstand. Put a second bud under the second pair. And put a third bud under the third pair. Make a total of six branches.
36
The buds and branches must come out from the lampstand. "The whole lampstand must be one piece that is hammered out of pure gold.
37
"Then make its seven lamps. Set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.
Reference
38
The trays and wick cutters must be made out of pure gold.
39
Use 75 pounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and everything that is used with it.
Summary of Exodus 25
Exodus 25 begins a new section of the book. Moses is still on Mount Sinai, where God has been communicating with him. God instructs Moses on how the Israelites are to prepare a special place where He will dwell among them. The instructions concern the offerings needed for the work, the Ark of the Covenant, the table for the bread, and the golden candlestick.
God instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel to bring an offering. Each person is to give willingly, from the heart. The people are to bring gold, silver, and brass. They are to bring blue, purple, and scarlet cloth, fine linen, goat's hair, ram skins dyed red, and other animal skins. Acacia wood is needed as well. The people are to bring oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and incense, and precious stones.
These items will be used to construct and furnish the sanctuary. God instructs Moses to build the sanctuary, for God has chosen to make the people a sanctuary in which He may dwell among them. This is one of the key truths in this chapter: God has brought his people out of Egypt and has made a covenant with them. God is giving them a way that His presence may dwell with them, revealed to them among the people.
God instructs Moses to make everything in a manner according to the pattern shown to him. Moses is to build the sanctuary as instructed. The people are to bring gold, silver, and brass. They are to bring blue, purple, and scarlet cloth, fine linen, goat's hair, ram skins dyed red, and other animal skins. Acacia wood is needed as well. The people are to bring oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and incense, and precious stones.
The first furnishings described are the Ark of the Covenant. The Israelites are to make this from acacia wood. It is to be about two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. The exact measurement of a cubit is unknown, but it is an ancient measure based generally on the length of the forearm.
The Ark is to be covered inside and out with pure gold. A crown or border of gold is placed around it. Four gold rings are attached to its four corners so that poles can be placed through the rings. The poles are also made from acacia wood and covered with gold. They are used to carry the Ark. The poles are to be fastened to the rings so that the Ark is always carried and never lifted.
God instructs Moses to make the mercy seat for the Ark. It is to be made of pure gold. It is to fit over the top of the Ark. Two cherubim of gold are to be made and placed at the two ends of the mercy seat. Their wings are to stretch upwards and cover the mercy seat, while their faces face in towards it. The cherubim are to face each other.
God tells Moses that He will meet with him there. He will speak with him from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are over the Ark of the Testimony. The Ark will, therefore, not just be a store for the ten commandments; it will be the special vessel associated with God's meetings with His servant Moses.
The next item to be constructed is the table for the showbread. It is to be made of acacia wood and covered with pure gold. It is to be two cubits long, one cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high. Like the Ark of the Covenant, it is to have a gold border.
The table is to have rings and poles so that it may be carried. Various dishes, spoons, bowls, and containers for offerings are to be made of pure gold. Bread is to be placed on the table before God continually. This bread will later be referred to as the showbread or bread of the presence.
The chapter describes the instructions for the making of the candlestick. This is to be made of pure gold. Unlike a simple stand with a lamp on it, this candlestick is to have a central shaft from which branches extend out from both sides. Three branches come from one side and three branches from the other.
The branches are to have almond-shaped ornaments, knops, and flowers. The central shaft is to have similar decorations. Seven lamps are to be made for the candlestick, and these are to be arranged so that they shine in front of it.
The candlestick and all of its parts are to be made from a single quantity of pure gold. Moses is to make the items used with the lamps, including the tongs and other items. The amount of gold needed for the candlestick is one talent.
The final instructions in the chapter concern Moses's instruction to make everything as described to him on the mountain. This is important because the sanctuary, its furnishings, and its equipment are to be made according to a pattern revealed by God.
Exodus 25 introduces the main items that will stand in the centre of Israel's worship. The Ark symbolizes God's covenant with Israel and the place where His presence will be made known. The table holds the bread that is continually placed before Him. The candlestick provides the light within the holy place.
The chapter also suggests that the people will contribute much of what is needed. They are to give willingly, and their gold, silver, cloth, wood, oil, spices, and precious stones will become a part of the sanctuary. Their contributions will, therefore, be closely associated with the place where they will worship God.
The main message of Exodus 25 is that God intends to dwell among His people, and He has given Moses clear instructions for preparing the sanctuary. The work is to be done with care in mind of the materials and the manner of its making. Nothing is to be done carelessly, for the sanctuary will be set apart for the worship of God.
At this point, the construction has not yet begun. Moses has received the instructions, but the Israelites still have to gather the materials and carry out the work. The following chapters continue these instructions and describe how the sanctuary, its curtains, furnishings, priestly clothing, and other items are to be made.
God instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel to bring an offering. Each person is to give willingly, from the heart. The people are to bring gold, silver, and brass. They are to bring blue, purple, and scarlet cloth, fine linen, goat's hair, ram skins dyed red, and other animal skins. Acacia wood is needed as well. The people are to bring oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and incense, and precious stones.
These items will be used to construct and furnish the sanctuary. God instructs Moses to build the sanctuary, for God has chosen to make the people a sanctuary in which He may dwell among them. This is one of the key truths in this chapter: God has brought his people out of Egypt and has made a covenant with them. God is giving them a way that His presence may dwell with them, revealed to them among the people.
God instructs Moses to make everything in a manner according to the pattern shown to him. Moses is to build the sanctuary as instructed. The people are to bring gold, silver, and brass. They are to bring blue, purple, and scarlet cloth, fine linen, goat's hair, ram skins dyed red, and other animal skins. Acacia wood is needed as well. The people are to bring oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and incense, and precious stones.
The first furnishings described are the Ark of the Covenant. The Israelites are to make this from acacia wood. It is to be about two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. The exact measurement of a cubit is unknown, but it is an ancient measure based generally on the length of the forearm.
The Ark is to be covered inside and out with pure gold. A crown or border of gold is placed around it. Four gold rings are attached to its four corners so that poles can be placed through the rings. The poles are also made from acacia wood and covered with gold. They are used to carry the Ark. The poles are to be fastened to the rings so that the Ark is always carried and never lifted.
God instructs Moses to make the mercy seat for the Ark. It is to be made of pure gold. It is to fit over the top of the Ark. Two cherubim of gold are to be made and placed at the two ends of the mercy seat. Their wings are to stretch upwards and cover the mercy seat, while their faces face in towards it. The cherubim are to face each other.
God tells Moses that He will meet with him there. He will speak with him from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are over the Ark of the Testimony. The Ark will, therefore, not just be a store for the ten commandments; it will be the special vessel associated with God's meetings with His servant Moses.
The next item to be constructed is the table for the showbread. It is to be made of acacia wood and covered with pure gold. It is to be two cubits long, one cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high. Like the Ark of the Covenant, it is to have a gold border.
The table is to have rings and poles so that it may be carried. Various dishes, spoons, bowls, and containers for offerings are to be made of pure gold. Bread is to be placed on the table before God continually. This bread will later be referred to as the showbread or bread of the presence.
The chapter describes the instructions for the making of the candlestick. This is to be made of pure gold. Unlike a simple stand with a lamp on it, this candlestick is to have a central shaft from which branches extend out from both sides. Three branches come from one side and three branches from the other.
The branches are to have almond-shaped ornaments, knops, and flowers. The central shaft is to have similar decorations. Seven lamps are to be made for the candlestick, and these are to be arranged so that they shine in front of it.
The candlestick and all of its parts are to be made from a single quantity of pure gold. Moses is to make the items used with the lamps, including the tongs and other items. The amount of gold needed for the candlestick is one talent.
The final instructions in the chapter concern Moses's instruction to make everything as described to him on the mountain. This is important because the sanctuary, its furnishings, and its equipment are to be made according to a pattern revealed by God.
Exodus 25 introduces the main items that will stand in the centre of Israel's worship. The Ark symbolizes God's covenant with Israel and the place where His presence will be made known. The table holds the bread that is continually placed before Him. The candlestick provides the light within the holy place.
The chapter also suggests that the people will contribute much of what is needed. They are to give willingly, and their gold, silver, cloth, wood, oil, spices, and precious stones will become a part of the sanctuary. Their contributions will, therefore, be closely associated with the place where they will worship God.
The main message of Exodus 25 is that God intends to dwell among His people, and He has given Moses clear instructions for preparing the sanctuary. The work is to be done with care in mind of the materials and the manner of its making. Nothing is to be done carelessly, for the sanctuary will be set apart for the worship of God.
At this point, the construction has not yet begun. Moses has received the instructions, but the Israelites still have to gather the materials and carry out the work. The following chapters continue these instructions and describe how the sanctuary, its curtains, furnishings, priestly clothing, and other items are to be made.