Sinai & The Law

the tapestries for the courtyard, with their posts and sockets; the screen for the gateway of the courtyard;

the tent pegs for the tabernacle; the tent pegs for the courtyard, with their ropes;

the garments for officiating, for serving in the Holy Place; and the holy garments for Aharon the cohen and the garments for his sons, so that they can serve in the office of cohen.'"

Then the whole community of the people of Isra'el withdrew from Moshe's presence;

and they came, everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit made him willing, and brought ADONAI's offering for the work on the tent of meeting, for the service in it and for the holy garments.

Both men and women came, as many as had willing hearts; they brought nose-rings, earrings, signet-rings, belts, all kinds of gold jewelry - everyone bringing an offering of gold to ADONAI.

Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn; fine linen; tanned ram skins or fine leather brought them.

Everyone contributing silver or bronze brought his offering for ADONAI, and everyone who had acacia-wood suitable for any of the work brought it.

All the women who were skilled at spinning got to work and brought what they had spun, the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and the fine linen.

Likewise the women whose heart stirred them to use their skill spun the goat's hair.

The leaders brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set, for the ritual vest and the breasplate;

the spices; and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.

Thus every man and woman of the people of Isra'el whose heart impelled him to contribute to any of the work ADONAI had ordered through Moshe brought it to ADONAI as a voluntary offering.

Moshe said to the people of Isra'el, "See, ADONAI has singled out B'tzal'el the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Y'hudah.

He has filled him with the Spirit of God -with wisdom, understanding and knowledge concerning every kind of artisanry.

He is a master of design in gold, silver, bronze,

cutting precious stones to be set, woodcarving and every other craft.

[ADONAI] has also given him and Oholi'av the son of Achisamakh, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

He has filled them with the skill needed for every kind of work, whether done by an artisan, a designer, an embroiderer using blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen, or a weaver - they have the skill for every kind of work and design.

"B'tzal'el and Oholi'av, along with all the craftsmen whom ADONAI has endowed with the wisdom and skill necessary to carry out the work needed for the sanctuary, are to do exactly according to everything ADONAI has ordered."

Moshe summoned B'tzal'el, Oholi'av and every craftsman to whom ADONAI had given wisdom, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come and take part in the work.

They received from Moshe all the offering which the people of Isra'el had brought for the work of building the sanctuary. But they still kept bringing voluntary offerings every morning,

until all the craftsmen doing the work for the sanctuary left the work they were involved with

to tell Moshe, "The people are bringing far more than is needed to do the work ADONAI has ordered done."

So Moshe gave an order which was proclaimed throughout the camp: "Neither men nor women are to make any further efforts for the sanctuary offering." In this way, the people were restrained from making additional contributions.