Now all the people saw the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. And the people looked and they trembled and they stood at a distance. And they said to Moses, “You speak with us and we will hear; and do not let an ELOHIYM speak with us, lest we die.”
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, because in order to test you, the ELOHIYM has come so that His fear may be upon your faces, so that you may not sin.” And the people stood from a distance, and Moses approached the thick darkness where the ELOHIYM was.
And YAHWEH said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘You have seen from the heavens I have spoken with you. You shall not make with Me ELOHIYM of silver and ELOHIYM of gold; you shall not make for yourselves. An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I bring to memory My name, I will come to you, and I will bless you. And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; because when you use your tool on it, you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not uncovered on it. Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them.”
And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which YAHWEH has said we will do.”
And Moses wrote all the words of YAHWEH. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to YAHWEH. And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that YAHWEH has said we will do, and be obedient.” And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which YAHWEH has made with you according to all these words.”
And Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the ELOHIYM of Israel. (Exodus 24:3-9)
The judgments in Hebrew are called “The MISHPATIM.” Below is a summary of the judgments:
(1) Laws Concerning Hebrew Slaves (21:2-11)
(2) The Laws Related to Violence (21:12-27)
(3) Laws Related to Damages Done by Animals (21:28-36)
(4) Laws Related to Property (22:1-15)
(5) Moral and Ceremonial Laws (22:16-31)
(6) Laws for Justice (23:1-9)
(7) The Law of Shabbats (23:10-13)
(8) Laws of the Three Annual Feasts (23:14-19)
(9) Instructions to Obey YAHWEH’s Messenger (23:20-33)
(10) Instructions to Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, & the seventy of the elders of Israel (24:1-2)
PART 2
And Moses came (down) and told the people all the words of YAHWEH and all of the MISHPATIM.
Moses has completed three trips up and down Mount Sinai. ELOHIYM has just finished speaking to the Israelites from the top of the mountain. The following account begins with Exodus 20:18.
YAHWEH called Moses to go higher up the mountain where he was given instructions.
(1) Offerings for the Sanctuary (25:1-9)
(2) The Ark of the Testimony (25:10-16)
(3) The Mercy Seat (25:17-22)
(4) The Table for the Shewbread (25:23-30)
(5) The Gold Lampstand (25:31-40)
(6) The Tabernacle (26:1-36)
(7) The Altar of Burnt Offering (27:1-8)
(8) The Court of the Tabernacle (27:9-19)
(9) The Care of the Lampstand (27:20-21)
(10) Garments for the Priesthood (28:1-4)
(11) The Ephod (28:5-14)
(12) The Breastplate (28:15-30)
(13) Other Priestly Garments (28:31-43)
(14) Instructions for the Consecration of Aaron and His Sons (29:1-37)
(15) The Daily Offerings (29:38-46)
(16) The Altar of Incense (30:1-10)
(17) The Ransom Money (30:11-16)
(18) The Bronze Laver (30:17-21)
(19) The Anointing Oil (30:22-33)
(20) The Incense (30:34-38)
(21) The Craftsmen for Building the Tabernacle (31:1-11)
(22) The Shabbat Law (31:12-17)
Now pay close attention to what the text says next.