כי תשא

On Mount Sinai, God gave Moses careful instructions for the people. When the Israelites were counted, every man age twenty and up had to give the same gift: a half-shekel. It was called a “ransom,” so the counting would not bring a plague. The rich did not give more, and the poor did not give less. The silver was used for the service of the Tent of Meeting, as a reminder before God.

God also told Moses to make a copper laver, a basin of water placed between the Tent and the altar. Aaron and his sons had to wash their hands and feet before entering the Tent or serving at the altar.

Then God described sacred anointing oil made from special spices and olive oil, used to anoint the Tent, the Ark, and the priests. It was not to be copied for ordinary use. God also gave instructions for holy incense. Finally, God chose Bezalel and Oholiab, and other skilled workers, to build everything exactly. God reminded Israel to keep Shabbat, the Sabbath rest, as a sign of the covenant.

Moses stayed on the mountain so long that the people panicked. They crowded around Aaron and demanded, “Make us a god to go before us.” Aaron told them to bring gold rings, and he cast the gold into a molten calf. The people shouted that it was the god who brought them out of Egypt. Aaron built an altar and announced a festival to God, and the next day the camp ate, drank, and danced.

God told Moses to hurry down, calling the people “stiffnecked,” and warned of destruction. Moses pleaded, reminding God of the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and God held back.

Moses came down carrying the two stone tablets written by God. When he saw the calf and the dancing, he threw the tablets and shattered them. He burned the calf, ground it to powder, scattered it on water, and made the Israelites drink. The Levites gathered to Moses, and about three thousand died. Afterward God sent a plague, and told Moses an angel would lead them, but God would not go in their midst. The people mourned and removed their finery.

Moses pitched the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. When he entered, a pillar of cloud came down at the entrance, and God spoke with Moses as one person speaks to another. Moses begged, “Unless You go in the lead, do not make us leave this place.” God agreed to go with them.

Moses asked to behold God’s Presence. God said His goodness would pass by, but no one can see His face and live. God placed Moses in a cleft of rock and sheltered him as He passed.

Then God told Moses to carve two new stone tablets like the first. Early in the morning Moses went up alone. God came down in a cloud and proclaimed the name God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, full of kindness and faithfulness, forgiving yet holding people accountable. God renewed the covenant and commanded Israel not to make molten gods, and to keep sacred times.

Moses stayed forty days and nights without bread or water and wrote the covenant on the tablets. When he came down, his face shone, so he spoke to the people and then covered his face with a veil.