Exodus 27

1 “You shall also make an altar of setim wood, which will have five cubits in length, and the same in width, that is, four equal sides, and three cubits in height.

“Tell them to make an altar from acacia wood. It is to be square, (7-1/2 feet/2.2 meters) on each side, and make it (4-1/2 feet/1.3 meters) high.

2 Now there shall be horns at the four corners of it, and you shall cover it with brass.

[They] must make [a projection that looks like] a horn on each of the top corners. The projections must be carved from the same block of wood as the altar. [Tell them to] cover the whole altar with gold.

3 And you shall make, for its uses, pans to receive the ashes, and tongs as well as small hooks, and receptacles for fire. You shall fabricate all of its vessels from brass,

[They must] make pans in which to put the [greasy] ashes [from the animal sacrifices]. Also [they must] make shovels for cleaning out the ashes, basins and forks for turning the meat as it cooks, and buckets for carrying hot coals/ashes. All of these things must be made from bronze.

4 along with a grating of brass in the manner of a net. At its four corners there shall be four rings of brass,

Also [tell them to] make a bronze grating to hold the wood and burning coals. They must fasten to each of the corners of the altar a bronze ring for carrying the altar.

5 which you shall place under the base of the altar. And the grating will extend even to the middle of the altar.

[They must] put the grating under the rim that is around the altar. [They must] make it so that it is [inside the altar], halfway down.

6 You shall also make, for the altar, two bars of setim wood, which you shall cover with layers of brass.

For [carrying] the altar, [they must] make poles from acacia wood and cover them with bronze.

7 And you shall lead them through the rings, and they will be on both sides of the altar to carry it.

[They must] put the poles through the rings on each side of the altar. The poles are for carrying the altar.

8 You shall not make it solid, but empty and hollow at the interior, just as it was shown to you on the mountain.

The altar will be like a box, made from boards [of acacia wood]. [They must] make it according to these instructions that I am giving you [here] on [this] mountain.”

9 You shall also make the atrium of the tabernacle, at the southern part of which, opposite the meridian, there shall be hangings of fine twisted linen: one side extending for one hundred cubits in length.

“Around the Sacred Tent there is to be a courtyard. To form the courtyard, [tell them to] make curtains of fine linen. On the south side, the curtain is to be (50 yards/44 meters) long.

10 And you shall make twenty columns with the same number of bases of brass, the heads of which, with their engravings, shall be made of silver.

[To support/hang the curtain], [tell them to] make twenty bronze posts, and one bronze base for each post. To fasten the curtains to the posts, [they must] make silver hooks, and [metal] rods [covered with] silver [to fasten the curtains to the hooks].

11 In like manner also, throughout the length of the north side, there shall be hangings of one hundred cubits, and twenty columns, and the same number of bases of brass, and their heads with their engravings of silver.

[They must] make the same kind of curtains for the north side of the courtyard.

12 Yet truly, along the width of the atrium that looks out toward the west, there shall be hangings of fifty cubits, and ten columns, and the same number of bases.

On the west side [of the courtyard] they must make a curtain (25 yards/22 meters) long. The curtains are to be supported by ten posts, with a base under [each] post.

13 Likewise, along the width of the atrium that looks out toward the east, there shall be fifty cubits,

On the east side, [where the entrance is], the courtyard must also be (25 yards/22 meters) wide.

14 along which there shall be assigned hangings of fifteen cubits for one side, and three columns, and the same number of bases.

[Tell them to] make a curtain (22-1/2 feet/6.6 meters) wide for each side of the entrance [to the courtyard].

15 And, along the other side, there shall be hangings occupying fifteen cubits, with three columns and the same number of bases.

16 Yet truly, at the entrance of the atrium, there shall be made a hanging of twenty cubits, of hyacinth and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twisted linen, wrought with embroidery. It shall have four columns, with the same number of bases.

They must make a curtain (30 feet/9 meters) long for the entrance. A skilled weaver must embroider it with blue, purple, and red yarn/thread. It must be (supported by/hung from) four posts, each one with a base under it.

17 All the columns surrounding the atrium shall be clothed with layers of silver, with silver heads, and with bases of brass.

All the posts around the courtyard must be connected with metal rods covered with silver. The clasps/fasteners must be made of silver, and the bases must be made of bronze.

18 In length, the atrium shall occupy one hundred cubits, in width, fifty; the height shall be of five cubits. And it shall be made of fine twisted linen, and it shall have bases of brass.

The whole courtyard, [from the east entrance to the west end], must be (50 yards/44 meters) long, and the curtains that enclose it must be (7-1/2 feet/2.3 meters) high. All the curtains must be made of fine linen, and all the bases [under the posts] must be made of bronze.

19 All the vessels of the tabernacle, for all uses and ceremonies, even to the tent pegs for its atrium, you shall make of brass.

All the things [that are not made of gold] that are to be used inside the Sacred Tent and in the courtyard, and all the tent pegs to support the Sacred Tent and the curtains, must be made of bronze.

20 Instruct the sons of Israel so that they may bring you the purest oil of the olive trees, crushed with a pestle, so that a lamp may always burn

“Command the Israeli people that they must bring to you the best kind of olive oil to [burn in] the lamps. [They must bring this oil to you continually], in order that the lamps can burn continually.

21 in the tabernacle of the testimony, outside of the veil that enshrouds the testimony. And Aaron and his sons shall arrange it, so that it may give light in the presence of the Lord, until morning. This shall be a perpetual observance among the sons of Israel, throughout their successions.”

They must put the lampstand outside of the curtain which is in front of [the sacred chest which contains the stone slabs on which I have written] my commandments. Aaron must take care of the lamps. [After he dies], his descendants must do this work. The lamps are to burn every night, from evening until morning. The Israeli people must obey this regulation throughout all future generations.”