Study Desk

And you are to tell the Israelites, 'This will be My sacred anointing oil for the generations to come.

You are never to use this formula to make incense for yourselves; you shall regard it as sacred to the LORD.

to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.

as well as the woven garments, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests,

in addition to the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them according to all that I have commanded you."

"Tell the Israelites, 'Surely you must observe My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it must surely be put to death. Whoever does work on that day must be cut off from his people.

For six days work may be done, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.

The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it as a lasting covenant for the generations to come.

It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'"

Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!"

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down at once! For your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.

How quickly they have turned aside from the way I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, 'O Israel, this is your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.'"

They told me, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!'

Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies.

So Moses stood at the entrance of the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites gathered around him.

Afterward, Moses said, "Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so He has bestowed a blessing on you this day."

The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."

So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed; they have made gods of gold for themselves.

Now go, lead the people to the place I told you. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin."