ImmerseBeginnings NLT - Flipbook - Page 157
38:19–39:3
E x od u s
145
scarlet thread. It was 30 feet long, and its height was 71/2 feet, just like the
curtains of the courtyard walls. It was supported by four posts, each set
securely in its own bronze base. The tops of the posts were overlaid with
silver, and the hooks and rings were also made of silver.
All the tent pegs used in the Tabernacle and courtyard were made of
bronze.
This is an inventory of the materials used in building the Tabernacle of
the Covenant. The Levites compiled the figures, as Moses directed, and
Ithamar son of Aaron the priest served as recorder. Bezalel son of Uri,
grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything just as the Lord
had commanded Moses. He was assisted by Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of
the tribe of Dan, a craftsman expert at engraving, designing, and embroidering with blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth.
The people brought special offerings of gold totaling 2,193 pounds,
as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. This gold was used
throughout the Tabernacle.
The whole community of Israel gave 7,545 pounds of silver, as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. This silver came from the tax
collected from each man registered in the census. (The tax is one beka,
which is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel.) The tax was collected from 603,550 men who had reached their twentieth birthday. The
hundred bases for the frames of the sanctuary walls and for the posts supporting the inner curtain required 7,500 pounds of silver, about 75 pounds
for each base. The remaining 45 pounds of silver was used to make the
hooks and rings and to overlay the tops of the posts.
The people also brought as special offerings 5,310 pounds of bronze,
which was used for casting the bases for the posts at the entrance to the
Tabernacle, and for the bronze altar with its bronze grating and all the
altar utensils. Bronze was also used to make the bases for the posts that
supported the curtains around the courtyard, the bases for the curtain at
the entrance of the courtyard, and all the tent pegs for the Tabernacle and
the courtyard.
The craftsmen made beautiful sacred garments of blue, purple, and scarlet
cloth—clothing for Aaron to wear while ministering in the Holy Place, just
as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Bezalel made the ephod of finely woven linen and embroidered it with
gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. He made gold thread by
hammering out thin sheets of gold and cutting it into fine strands. With
