Exodus Summary

Part 3: Rules, and the building of the tabernacle

Chapter 20:
     God speaks to the Israelites: "I am your god, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.
     "You shall have no other gods before me.
     "You shall not make any image of anything and worship it. I will deal with those who hate me, but I will show love to those who love me and keep my commandments.
     "You shall not take the name of God in vain.
     "Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days, you shall work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to God. You shall do no work that day.
     "Honor your father and mother.
     "You shall not kill.
     "You shall not commit adultery.
     "You shall not steal.
     "You shall not bear false witness.
     "You shall not covet anything that is somebody else's."
     Moses goes up the mountain. God tells him "Tell the Israelites to make an altar of earth for me, and sacrifice your offerings on it."

Chapter 21:
     God tells Moses various rules for the Israelites. For a list of the rules they were given, click here.

Chapter 22:
     God tells Moses various rules for the Israelites. For a list of the rules they were given, click here.

Chapter 23:
     God tells Moses various rules for the Israelites. For a list of the rules they were given, click here.

Chapter 24:
     Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel go up Mt. Sinai and meet God. God tells Moses "Come back up later, and I will give you tablets of stone with more instructions."

Chapter 25:
     God tells Moses to have the Israelites construct a moveable tabernacle for worship. It will include the furniture of an ark, a table, and a lampstand.

Chapter 26:
     God tells Moses how to construct the tent for the tabernacle.

Chapter 27:
     God tells Moses more about how to construct the tabernacle, including making an altar.

Chapter 28:
     God assigns Aaron and his sons to be priests of the tabernacle. He tells Moses how to make the priests' garments.

Chapter 29:
     God tells Moses how to have them ordained as priests.

Chapter 30:
     God tells Moses rules of how to worship in the tabernacle.

Chapter 31:
     God assigns Bezaleel (also called Bezalel) and Aholiab (also called Oholiab) to do the construction. "Remember the Sabbath day. Whomever does work on it, or profanes it, shall be put to death." God gives Moses two tablets of stone, on which are written the instructions.

Chapter 32:
     Moses has been up on the mountain for a long time. The Israelites tell Aaron "We don't know what happened to Moses. Create a god for us." Aaron makes a statue of a golden calf. The Israelites worship it (right).
     God tells Moses what the Israelites are doing. "Leave me alone, so that my wrath will burn against them. I will consume them. But of you I will make a great nation." Moses pleads "Don't. The Egyptians will say that you brought them out of Egypt to kill them. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You promised to multiply their descendants and give them the land of Canaan." God agrees.
     Moses goes down the mountain, carrying the tablets God had given him. He sees what the Israelites are doing. He gets angry. In a fury of anger, he accidentally breaks the tablets. He destroys the golden calf. He asks "Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me." The Levites come to him. They are made priests. Moses makes them kill 3000 of the Israelites.
     Moses goes back up the mountain. God sends a plague to punish the people.

Chapter 33:
     God speaks to Moses in a tent.

Chapter 34:
     Moses makes two new stone tablets, and goes up Mt. Sinai with them. God writes words on them. He tells Moses "The Israelites shall have the land of Canaan. The people who live in the land now will be driven out. Don't make any deals with them. Tear down their altars and pillars. Keep the feast of unleavened bread. Sacrifice the firstlings of your cattle to me. Remember the Sabbath Day. You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven. The sacrifice of the feast of Passover shall not be left until morning."
     Moses goes back to the Israelites. His face shines.

Chapter 35:
     Moses tells the rules to the Israelites. "Remember the Sabbath day. You shall not kindle fire in your home on that day." They begin constructing the tabernacle.

Chapter 36:
    The Israelites construct the tabernacle.

Chapter 37:
    The Israelites construct the furniture for the tabernacle: the ark, the table, the lampstand, and the altar.

Chapter 38:
    They finish building the tabernacle.

Chapter 39:
    They build the priests' garments.

Chapter 40:
    God tells Moses how to erect the tabernacle for worship. Now the Israelites have their own movable tabernacle for worship. Whenever the cloud of God is descended on the tabernacle, they will hold services. When the cloud is not descended on it, they will travel. They will continue this throughout their journeys.

End of Summary

Overall Summary          Part 1         Part 2          Part 3

Back to Exodus Summary Home Page

Back to Exodus Home Page