Exodus 25:10-22 Ark of the Covenant

 Exodus 25:10-22 Ark of the Covenant

Read Exodus 25:10-22 here

God told them to build a acacia wood ark, 2 ½ cubits long, 1 1/2cubits wide, 1 ½ cubits high. It is to be overlayed with gold inside and out.  They should make a gold molding around us.  

The ark was to be carried in a specific way:

Exodus 25:12-15

Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it. The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.

Moses was to put the ark of the testimony that God was to give to him.  

They were to make a mercy seat of pure gold, 2 ½ cubits long and 1 ½ cubits wide.  Make 2 cherubim of gold. The cherubim were to be put at each end of the mercy seat.  The wings should be spread upward and cover the mercy seat.  The mercy seat was to be put on top of the ark.  

Exodus 25:1-9 Offering of the Sanctuary

 Exodus 25:1-9 Offering of the Sanctuary

Read Exodus 25:1-9 Here

God told Moses to get from every man an offering

Exodus 25:3-7

These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

Then He told them to build him a sanctuary.  God was going to give them the plan for the sanctuary. 

Exodus 24:1-18 People Affirm Their Covenant with God

 Exodus 24:1-18  People Affirm Their Covenant with God

Read Exodus 24:1-18 Here

God told Moses to bring with him:

• Aaron

• Nawab 

• Abinu

• Seventy of the elders of Israel

They were to go up and worship at a distance.  

Moses came and told the Israelites all that he had been told.  The people agree to all of it.  Moses wrote down all that Gold told him.  The next morning he built an altar that had 12 pillars which represented the 12 tribes.  Moses had some of the young Isreal men take bulls and sacrifice them.  Moses put some of the blood in the basins and also some of the blood on the altar.  

Exodus 24:7-8

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”

Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Then Moses and the others went up and saw the Lord.  Under him there was a material of sapphire that was as clear as the sky.  The Lord told Moses to come up to him to get the tables with the laws on them.  Moses left Aaron and the elders in charge of the people.  

When Mose went up the mountain there was a cloud that covered the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. 

Exodus 23:20-33 Conquest of the Land

 Exodus 23:20-33 Conquest of the Land

Read Exodus 23:20-33 here

God was going to send an angel to go ahead so the Isrealites and to guard them.  The angel would bring the Isrealites to the place God had prepared for them.  

Exodus 23:21-23

Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out.

The Isrealites were to not:

• Worship their gods

• Serve them 

• Do according to their deeds

They were to totally overthrow them and destroy their sacred items. Instead they should serve their Lord only and he would bless your bread and water also he would remove sickness from them.  God was going to take care of the Isrealites and destroy their enemies.  

The last 2 verses are important to keep in mind as we read along. 

Exodus 23:32-33

Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.”

Exodus 23:14-19 Three National Feasts

 Exodus 23:14-19 Three National Feasts

Read Exodus 23:14-19 here

This section tells about 3 feasts.

1. Feast of Unleavened Bread (vs 15) - seven days only unleavened bread, this was in remembrance of the Israelites coming out of Egypt 

2. Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labor (vs 16)- This is from what you sow in the field.

3. The Feast of Ingathering (vs 16) - This is from what you have harvested 

These are the three times all the males will appear before the Lord God.  These things you should observe\do:

• Should not use any leavened bread 

• Keep anything overnight

• Bring the best of your first fruits of your soil into the temple 

• Boil a young goat in the milk of its mother

Exodus 23:10-13 The Sabbath and Land

 Exodus 23:10-13 The Sabbath and Land

Read Exodus 21:10-13 here

The next section is about the land and how to use it.

• For six years you should plant and harvest your field but in the seventh year you should not plant anything but let it rest.  During this time the needy and the animal may eat from the field. 

• You should do the same with the vineyard and olive grove.  

• Six days you are to do your work but on the seventh day you should rest.  Your ox, donkey, son of your female slave, and your stranger may also rest.  

• Don’t mention the name of other gods.

Exodus 23:1-9 Justice for All

 Exodus 23:1-9 Justice for All

Read Exodus 23:1-9 Here

• You shall not lie as a witness, nor should you be a malicious witness with wick men

These next questions are so good for the times: 

Exodus 23:2-3

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

• If you see your enemies ox or donkey wondering you should return it

• If you see a donkey with a heavy load of a person that hates you, release it

• Do not prevent justice for you brothers sake

• Do not take a bride for it will make you bias

• Do not oppress a stranger because you were one a stranger in Egypt 

Exodus 22:16-31 Moral and Ceremonial Principles

 Exodus 22:16-31 Moral and Ceremonial Principles

Read Exodus 22:16-31 Here

This section is about moral and ceremonial principles.  

• If a man sleeps with a virgin than he must pay the bride price and if her father refuses to give her to him than he must pay the bride-price of virgins

• All sorceress should be put to death

• Any on the lies with an animal should be put to death

• If you sacrifice to any god other god you should be put to death

• You should not mistreat or oppress a stranger, because you were strangers in Egypt 

• You should not afflict any widow or fatherless child.  If you do, God's wrath will be upon you and you will be killed by the sword.  And your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.  

• If you lend money to the poor you cannot charge interest or take anything as collateral

• You should not criticize God nor curse your ruler.

• You should give all of your first fruits to good.  

• You should stay hold and not eat torn meat by men

Exodus 22:1- 15 Protection of Property

 Exodus 22:1- 15 Protection of Property 

Read Exodus 22:1-15 here

This section is about protection of property. 

• If you steal a ox or sheep and slaughter it or sell it, you must repay five head of cattle for ox or four sheep for sheep

• If someone is caught breaking in and that person is killed the person that killed them is not guilty as long as it is night.  If this happens during the day then the killer should pay restitution or he will be sold. If the theft is found with an ox or donkey then he should repay double.  

• If there is a fire and it destroys grain or field than the person that caused the fire needs to make restitution 

• If your neighbor gives to you money or articles to keep and it is stolen than if the thief is found than he shall pay double, if the thief is not found than the owner of the house must be brought to a judge to determine if the owner stole the items.  

• If there is any type of trespass both parties are to be brought to the judge to determine who is guilty and that party should pay double.  

• If your neighbor brings you an animal to keep and if it dies, is hurt or runs away if the owner says he has nothing to do with it then he is free from punishment but if he did do it than he must make restitution to the neighbor.  If it is torn then he can bring it and then will not be punished. 

• If you borrow anything from your neighbor and it become injured or dies than you must make it right.

Exodus 21:12-36 Personal Injuries

 Exodus 21:12-36 Personal Injuries

Read Exodus 21:12-36 here

The section is about the laws around personal Injuries.  

• Strike a man and he dies. That man is put to death. If it is by accident then he is to flee to a specific place.  If it is planned then he is to be put to death.  

• If anyone attacks his father or mother he is to be put to death.  

• Anyone that kidnaps someone and sells him or is caught he is to be put to death. 

• If you curse your mother or father you are to be put to death.  

• If you quarrel with a man and if you hit the other person with a stone or fist and that man lives, then the person is responsible for him until he is completely healed.  

• If you beat your slave and he dies you should be punished.  If the slave lives but is in bed for a day or two then nothing should be done.  

• If you hit a pregnant woman and she goes into labor but the baby is fine than the husband will determine the payment.  But if the injury is serious you are to take a life for a life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.  

• If you hit a manservant or maidservant and they are injured you must let them go for compensation of the injury.  

• If a bull gores a man or woman (son or daughter) to death the bull should be stoned to death.  If the owner knows that the bull has a habit of goring then the owner should also be put to death.  The owner can pay a payment to be redeemed to save his life.  If it is a male or female slave the owner must pay 30 shekels of silver and also the bull must be stoned. 

• If you dig a pit or uncover one and an animal falls in it.  The owner of the pit must pay for the loss and the dead animal is his.  

• If your bull injures the bull of another and it  dies then they should take the live one and sell it and then divide the money and the dead animal equally.  But if the bull is known for goring then they  must pay and the dead animal will be his.

Exodus 21:2-11 Hebrew Servants

 Exodus 21:2-11 Hebrew Servants

Read Exodus 21:2-11 here

When an Isrealite bought a Hebrew servant they were to work for them for six years.  The seventh year the servant was to be set free.  If the servant had a wife they would be set free together. 

Exodus 21:4

If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

If the man decides that he loves his master and his family and that he wants to say then the master will take him before the judge.  He would have an ear pierced and  be the masters for life.  

If the servant is a girl there are different rules:

Exodus 21:7-11

“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

Exodus 20:22-21:1 Idols and Altars

 Exodus 20:22-21:1 Idols and Altars

 

Read Exodus 20:21-21:1 here

Exodus 20:22

Idols and Altars

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:

God told the people to not have any gods, not silver or gold.  Gold also told them to make an altar that they could sacrifice burnt offering on whenever he told them to.  They were not to use any tools to make the altar. 

Exodus 20:1-21 The Ten Commandments

 Exodus 20:1-21 The Ten Commandments

Read Exodus 20:1-20 here

1. You Shall not have no other gods before me (vs 3)

2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven (vs 4) 

3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, (vs 7)

4. Remember this sabbath day by keeping it holy (vs 8)

5. Honor your father and your mother (vs 12)

6. You shall not murder (vs 13)

7. You shall not commit adultery (vs 15)

8. You shall not steal (vs 15

9. You shall not lie (vs 16)

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s possessions (vs 17)

Exodus 20:18-21

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Exodus 19:1- 25 At Mount Sinai

 Exodus 19:1- 25 At Mount Sinai

Read Exodus 19:1-25 here

Exactly 3 month for when the Israelites had left Egypt they came to the Desert of Sinai.  The Israelites set up their camp right in front of Mount Sinai.  

The Lord told Moses to tell the people that if they obey him fully they will be his treasured possession.  He also added that the whole world was his.  Moses went and told the people what the Lord had said.  

Exodus 19:8

The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

Moses went back and told the Lord what the people had said.  The Lord told Moses to have the people to consecrate themselves for 3 days including washing their clothing and on the 3rd day because the Lord was to come down on Mount Sinai. The people were not to go up the mountain or even put their foot on the mountain.  If they did they would die.  Not even the animals were to go up the mount.  There would be a long blast of a ram’s horn and this would be a sight that it was safe to go up the mountain again.  They people did as Moses told them.  

On the third say the Lord came as fire on the Mount of Sinai which caused a large amount of smoke to cover the Mountain.  There was thunder and lightning and a very loud trumpet sound.  This made the people afraid. 

Exodus 19:18-19

Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

The Lord called Moses up to the mountain.  Moses did as the Lord told him to do.  The Lord told Moses to go get Aaron and warn the people to not force there way up the mountain.  

Exodus 18:1- 27 Jethro Visits Moses

 Exodus 18:1- 27 Jethro Visits Moses 

Read Exodus 18:1-27 Here

Jethro Moses' father-in-law heard how God had let his people out of Israel.  

Exodus 18:2-4

After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have become an alien in a foreign land”; and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 

Jethro, Moses’ sons and wife come to Mosesin the desert where Moses was camped.  Moses went to were Jethro was and Moses bowed down and kissed him. Moses went in to a tent with his father in law and told him all that had happened.  Jethro was pleased by all that God had done for them all.  

Jethro brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God.  Aaron and all of the elders of Israel come in and eat bread in the presence of God.  

The next day Moses went and judge the Isrealites day until night.  Jethro thought this was not a good idea.  It was too much work for Moses on his own. 

Exodus 18:21-22

But select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain–and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

Moses did as Jethro told him to do.  After this Moses sent Jethro on his way.

Exodus 17:8-16 The Amalekites Defeated

 Exodus 17:8-16 The Amalekites Defeated

Read Exodus 17:8-16 Here

This section starts with the Amalekites attacking the Israelites.  Moses told Joshua to choose men and go fight the Amalekites.  And Moses was going to the top of the hill with his staff of God in his hands.  Joshua did as he was told.  Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  When Moses held up his hands the Israelites were winning but if he lowered them they would not be winning.  They brought a stone for Moses to set on and Aaron and Hur held his hands up on on each side.  This continued until sunset.  This was enough time for the Israelites’ army to over take the Amalekites.  

God told Moses to write this down as something for them to always remember.  God wanted to make sure that Joshua knew this.  Moses built and alter and named it the Lord is my Banner.  

Exodus 17:15-16

Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”