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7 On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. ^2 Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings. ^3 Together they brought six large wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the Lord in front of the Tabernacle.

^4 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^5 “Receive their gifts, and use these oxen and wagons for transporting the Tabernacle.Distribute them among the Levites according to the work they have to do.â€Â ^6 So Moses took the wagons and oxen and presented them to the Levites. ^7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonite division for their work, ^8 and he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarite division for their work. All their work was done under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. ^9 But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.

^10 The leaders also presented dedication gifts for the altar at the time it was anointed. They each placed their gifts before the altar. ^11 The Lord said to Moses, “Let one leader bring his gift each day for the dedication of the altar.â€

^12 On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab, leader of the tribe of Judah, presented his offering.

^13 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^14 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^15 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^16 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^17 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Nahshon son of Amminadab.

^18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, presented his offering.

^19 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^20 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^21 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^22 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^23 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Nethanel son of Zuar.

^24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the tribe of Zebulun, presented his offering.

^25 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^26 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^27 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^28 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^29 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Eliab son of Helon.

^30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the tribe of Reuben, presented his offering.

^31 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^32 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^33 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^34 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^35 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elizur son of Shedeur.

^36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the tribe of Simeon, presented his offering.

^37 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^38 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^39 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^40 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^41 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

^42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the tribe of Gad, presented his offering.

^43 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^44 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^45 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^46 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^47 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Eliasaph son of Deuel.

^48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the tribe of Ephraim, presented his offering.

^49 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^50 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^51 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^52 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^53 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elishama son of Ammihud.

^54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the tribe of Manasseh, presented his offering.

^55 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^56 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^57 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^58 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^59 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

^60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the tribe of Benjamin, presented his offering.

^61 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^62 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^63 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^64 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^65 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Abidan son of Gideoni.

^66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the tribe of Dan, presented his offering.

^67 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^68 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^69 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^70 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^71 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

^72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the tribe of Asher, presented his offering.

^73 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^74 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^75 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^76 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^77 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Pagiel son of Ocran.

^78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the tribe of Naphtali, presented his offering.

^79 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1â„4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3â„4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. ^80 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.^81 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, ^82 and a male goat for a sin offering. ^83 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahira son of Enan.

^84 So this was the dedication offering brought by the leaders of Israel at the time the altar was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver basins, and twelve gold incense containers. ^85 Each silver platter weighed 3 1â„4 pounds, and each silver basin weighed 1 3â„4 pounds. The total weight of the silver was 60 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). ^86 Each of the twelve gold containers that was filled with incense weighed four ounces (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). The total weight of the gold was three pounds. ^87 Twelve young bulls, twelve rams, and twelve one-year-old male lambs were donated for the burnt offerings, along with their prescribed grain offerings. Twelve male goats were brought for the sin offerings. ^88 Twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty one-year-old male lambs were donated for the peace offerings. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

^89 Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The Lordspoke to him from there.

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8 The Lord said to Moses, ^2 “Give Aaron the following instructions: When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand.â€Â ^3 So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ^4 The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the Lord had shown Moses.

^5 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^6 “Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean. ^7 Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification, and have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing. Then they will be ceremonially clean. ^8 Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering. ^9 Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle. ^10 When you present the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. ^11 Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the Lord’s service.

^12 “Next the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Present one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to purify the Levites and make them right with the Lord. ^13 Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and raise your hands and present them as a special offering to the Lord. ^14 In this way, you will set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel, and the Levites will belong to me. ^15 After this, they may go into the Tabernacle to do their work, because you have purified them and presented them as a special offering.

^16 “Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes. ^17 For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. ^18 Yes, I have claimed the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel. ^19 And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They will serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites and make sacrifices to purify the people so no plague will strike them when they approach the sanctuary.â€

^20 So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the Lord’s instructions to Moses. ^21 The Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron lifted them up and presented them to the Lord as a special offering. He then offered a sacrifice to purify them and make them right with the Lord. ^22 After that the Levites went into the Tabernacle to perform their duties, assisting Aaron and his sons. So they carried out all the commands that the Lord gave Moses concerning the Levites.

^23 The Lord also instructed Moses, ^24 “This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, ^25 and they must retire at the age of fifty. ^26 After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you must assign duties to the Levites.â€

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9 A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first month of that year he said, ^2 “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time, ^3 at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration.â€

^4 So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover ^5 in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the fourteenth day of the month. And they celebrated the festival there, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ^6 But some of the men had been ceremonially defiled by touching a dead body, so they could not celebrate the Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron that day ^7 and said, “We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting the Lord’s offering at the proper time with the rest of the Israelites?â€

^8 Moses answered, “Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the Lord.â€

^9 This was the Lord’s reply to Moses. ^10 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people now or in future generations are ceremonially unclean at Passover time because of touching a dead body, or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the Lord’s Passover. ^11 They must offer the Passover sacrifice one month later, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They must eat the Passover lamb at that time with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. ^12 They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover.

^13 “But those who neglect to celebrate the Passover at the regular time, even though they are ceremonially clean and not away on a trip, will be cut off from the community of Israel. If they fail to present the Lord’s offering at the proper time, they will suffer the consequences of their guilt. ^14 And if foreigners living among you want to celebrate the Passover to the Lord, they must follow these same decrees and regulations. The same laws apply both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.â€

^15 On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. ^16 This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. ^17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. ^18 In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. ^19 If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. ^20 Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. ^21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. ^22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. ^23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.

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4 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. ^2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

^3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. ^4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. ^5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. ^6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. ^7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.^8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!â€Â ^9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.â€

^10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

^11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, ^12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they see what I do,

they will learn nothing.

When they hear what I say,

they will not understand.

Otherwise, they will turn to me

and be forgiven.’â€

^13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? ^14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. ^15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. ^16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ^17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ^18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, ^19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. ^20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!â€