Aaron

8Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

NoteAmalek was a group of people who lived in the desert. The name means the whole family, like saying "the Amalek people."

9Moses said to Joshua, "Pick out some men for us. Go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I will hold the staff of God in my hand."

And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

NoteJoshua was a young man who helped Moses. Later he became the leader of Israel.

10Joshua did what Moses had told him. He fought with Amalek. Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

NoteAaron was Moses' older brother. Hur was another man who helped them.

11When Moses held his hand up, Israel was winning. When he let his hand down, Amalek was winning.

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

NoteLong ago, people often lifted their hands up in the air when they prayed.

12But Moses' hands got heavy. They took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one man on each side. So his hands stayed steady until the sun went down.

But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

NoteThe King James says Aaron and Hur "stayed up" his hands. "Stayed up" means held up so they would not fall.

13Joshua beat Amalek and his people with the sword.

And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

NoteThe King James says Joshua "discomfited" Amalek. That old word means he beat them badly in the fight.

1The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD. Bring Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu with you. Bring seventy of the elders of Israel, the older leaders of the people. All of you must worship from far away."

And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

NoteAaron was Moses' brother. Nadab and Abihu were two of Aaron's sons.

2"Only Moses may come close to the LORD. The others must not come near. The people must not go up with him."

And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

NoteComing near the LORD meant climbing higher up the mountain. Only Moses could go that far.

3Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD. He told them all the LORD's rules too. All the people answered together with one voice. They said, "We will do everything the LORD has said."

And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

NoteThe people all shouted the same answer at the same time. That is what "with one voice" means.

4Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up. He built an altar at the bottom of the mountain. He also set up twelve stone pillars, one for each tribe of Israel. The tribes were the twelve big family groups of Israel.

And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

NoteAn altar is a pile or table of stones. People put gifts for God on it. The twelve pillars were tall stones stood up in the ground. They were a way to remember the promise.

5He sent some young men of Israel. They offered burnt offerings, animals burned up as gifts to the LORD. They also killed oxen as peace offerings to the LORD.

And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.

NoteA burnt offering was an animal burned up on the altar as a gift to God. A peace offering was different. Only part of it was burned. The people cooked the rest and ate it together, like a happy meal with God. Oxen are big strong cattle, like large cows.

6Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls. He sprinkled the other half on the altar.

And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

NoteLong ago, blood was used to show that a promise was very serious. Sprinkling it meant the promise was now real and could not be taken back.

7Then he took the book of the covenant and read it out loud to the people. The people said, "We will do everything the LORD has said. We will obey."

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

NoteA covenant is a strong promise between two sides. Each side agrees to do certain things. The book of the covenant held the rules God had just given. Moses read it out loud so everyone could hear it.

8Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. He said, "Look, this is the blood of the covenant. The LORD has made this agreement with you about all these words."

And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

9Then Moses went up the mountain. Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up too.

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

NoteThey did not go all the way to the top. They stopped partway up the mountain.

10They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a floor made of sapphire, a bright blue stone. It was as clear as the sky itself.

And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

NoteSapphire is a stone the deep blue color of the sky. The King James says "paved work," which means a floor made of flat stones fitted together.

11God did not harm the leaders of Israel. They saw God, and they ate and drank.

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

NoteThe King James says God "laid not his hand" on them. That is an old way of saying he did not hurt them. "Nobles" means the important leaders.

1Bring your brother Aaron to you from among the people of Israel. Bring his sons with him. They will serve me as priests. A priest is someone who serves God for the people. Aaron's sons are Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.

NoteGod is speaking to Moses here. Aaron was Moses's older brother.

2Make holy clothes for your brother Aaron. Holy clothes are clothes set apart for God. They will give him glory and beauty.

And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.

NoteThese clothes were only for the priest to wear. They showed that his job was special.

3Speak to everyone who is wise in heart. I have filled them with a spirit of wisdom. They will make Aaron's clothes. The clothes will set him apart to serve me as priest.

And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Note"Wise in heart" means very good at making things. These were the best weavers and sewers.

4These are the clothes they will make. A breastplate, which is worn on the chest. An ephod. A robe. A coat with woven designs. A turban, which is cloth wrapped around the head. And a sash, which is a long belt of cloth. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and for his sons, so he can serve me as priest.

And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

NoteA coat here means a long shirt that reaches the feet. The breastplate was not metal armor. It was a folded piece of cloth worn on the chest, like a flat pouch. An ephod was a special piece of clothing the priest wore over his robe.

5They will use gold, and blue, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine linen. Linen is cloth made from a plant.

And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.

NoteBlue, purple, and bright red dyes cost a lot of money back then. Only rich or special things were colored this way.

6They will make the ephod with skilled work. They will use gold, and blue, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine twisted linen.

And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

7It will have two shoulder pieces. The shoulder pieces will be joined at its two edges, so it holds together.

It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.

8The woven belt on the ephod must be made the same way, as one piece with it. It will use gold, and blue, purple, and bright red yarn, and fine twisted linen.

And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

9Take two onyx stones. Carve on them the names of the sons of Israel.

And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

NoteIsrael was another name for a man called Jacob. He had twelve sons. Their families grew into the twelve family groups of Israel. Onyx is a smooth stone with stripes of color in it.

10Put six of their names on one stone. Put the other six names on the other stone. Put them in the order the sons were born.

Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

11Carve the two stones the way a stone worker carves a seal. Carve the names of the sons of Israel on them. Then set the stones in gold settings.

With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

NoteA seal was a small stone with a name cut into it. People pressed it into soft clay to sign something. The letters had to be cut very carefully.

12Put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod. They are stones that keep the sons of Israel remembered. Aaron will carry their names on his two shoulders before the LORD, as a reminder.

And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

13Make settings of gold.

And thou shalt make ouches of gold;

NoteA setting is a little gold frame. It holds a stone in place so it will not fall out.

14Also make two chains of pure gold at the ends. Twist them like rope. Fasten the twisted chains to the gold settings.

And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.

1This is what you must do to set them apart for me. They will serve me as priests. Take one young bull and two rams. The animals must have nothing wrong with them.

And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest’s office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,

NoteA ram is a grown male sheep. A bull is a grown male cow. "Without blemish" means the animal had no cuts, no sores, and nothing broken. People gave God their best animals. Priests were the men who did God's work for the people.

2Also take bread made without yeast. Make flat cakes mixed with oil. Make thin wafers brushed with oil. Use fine wheat flour for all of them.

And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them.

NoteYeast is what makes bread rise and turn soft and puffy. Bread made without yeast stays flat, a little like a cracker.

3Put them all in one basket. Bring the basket, the bull, and the two rams.

And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams.

4Bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the meeting tent. That is the tent where God meets his people. Wash them with water.

And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

NoteWashing with water was part of the ceremony. It showed the men were clean and ready to serve God.

5Take the special clothes. Put the long shirt on Aaron. Then put on the robe and the ephod. Then put the chest piece on him. Tie the woven belt of the ephod around him.

And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:

NoteAn ephod was like a fancy apron worn over the other clothes. The chest piece was a square of cloth with twelve jewels on it. Each jewel stood for one family group of Israel. The ephod is a vest the priest wears.

6Put the turban on his head. Fasten the holy crown to the turban.

And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.

NoteA turban is a long strip of cloth wrapped around the head. The holy crown was a small gold plate tied on the front of it.

7Then take the special oil. Pour it on his head. This oil shows that he is set apart for God.

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

NotePouring oil on someone's head was how people showed that person was chosen. Kings and priests both had oil poured on them.

8Bring his sons too. Put long shirts on them.

And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.

9Tie sashes around Aaron and his sons. Put headbands on them. Being priests will be their work always. That is a rule that never ends. This is how you set Aaron and his sons apart.

And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest’s office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

NoteA sash is a long cloth belt tied around the waist. A headband is a cloth wrapped around the head.

1Moses was up on the mountain a long time. The people saw that he was slow to come down. So they crowded around Aaron. They said, "Get up and make us gods to walk ahead of us. This Moses brought us out of Egypt. We do not know what happened to him."

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

NoteMoses had climbed the mountain to talk with God. He had been gone about forty days. The people below got tired of waiting. Aaron was Moses' brother.

2Aaron said to them, "Take the gold earrings off your wives, your sons, and your daughters. Bring them to me."

And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

NoteBack then men and women both wore gold rings in their ears. Gold jewelry was how a family kept its riches safe.

3So all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.

And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

4Aaron took the gold from their hands. He melted it and shaped it with a carving tool into a calf. The people said, "Israel, these are your gods! They brought you up out of Egypt."

And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

NoteA calf is a baby cow. People in the lands nearby made statues of calves and bulls. They set them up as gods and bowed down to them.

5When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf. Then Aaron called out, "Tomorrow we will have a feast for the LORD."

And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

NoteAn altar is a stone table. People burned gifts to God on top of it. A feast day meant food, singing, and worship all together.

6Early the next day they got up. They burned whole animals as gifts, and they brought peace offerings too. Then the people sat down to eat and drink. Afterward they got up to play.

And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

NoteA burnt offering was an animal given to God and burned up completely. A peace offering was different. Part of it was burned, and the people ate the rest together.

15Moses turned and went down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with God's words on them. The tablets had writing on both sides, front and back.

And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.

NoteThe King James Bible calls them "tables." In 1611 a table could mean a flat stone for writing on. These are not tables you eat at.

16God himself had made the tablets. The writing was God's own writing, cut into the stone.

And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

17Joshua heard the people shouting. He said to Moses, "That sounds like war down in the camp."

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.

NoteJoshua was Moses' helper. He had waited partway up the mountain while Moses met with God.

18Moses said, "It is not the sound of people shouting because they won. It is not the sound of people crying because they lost. What I hear is the sound of singing."

And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

19Moses came close to the camp. He saw the calf, and he saw the dancing. His anger burned hot. He threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

20He took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire. He ground it into powder and sprinkled it on the water. Then he made the people of Israel drink it.

And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

NoteMaking them drink the gold dust showed the calf was really gone. It was only powder floating in water now.

21Moses said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you? You have brought such a big sin on them."

And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

NoteSin means doing what is wrong, especially wrong against God.

22Aaron said, "Please do not be angry, my lord. You know these people. Their hearts are set on doing wrong.

And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

23They said to me, 'Make us gods to walk ahead of us. This Moses brought us out of Egypt. We do not know what happened to him.'

For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

24So I told them, 'Whoever has gold, take it off.' They gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

12"Bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tent of meeting. Wash them with water."

And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

NoteWashing with water showed they were ready to serve God.

13"Put the holy clothes on Aaron. Pour the oil on him and set him apart. Then he can serve me as a priest, a man who works for God at the tent."

And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

NoteThe holy clothes were made just for the priest. No one else was allowed to wear them.

14"Bring his sons too. Put their long coats on them."

And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

NoteThese coats were long white shirts. They reached all the way down to the feet.

15"Pour oil on them, just as you did on their father. Then they can serve me as priests too. This oil makes them priests for all time, and their children after them."

And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

NoteThis meant Aaron's family would always be the priests. His sons, and their sons after them, would do this work.

16Moses did all this. He did everything just as the LORD told him.

Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

1The LORD spoke to Moses. He said:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

NoteLORD written in big letters stands for God's own special name.

2"Take Aaron and his sons with you. Bring their special clothes and the holy oil. Bring a young bull for the sin offering. Bring two rams and a basket of flat bread made without yeast.

Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;

NoteAaron and his sons were about to become priests. A priest was a man who helped people worship God. The holy oil was olive oil poured on people or things to show God had chosen them. A sin offering was a gift given when someone had done wrong. A ram is a grown male sheep. Yeast is what makes bread puff up and rise. Flat bread with no yeast was used for holy meals.

3Then gather all the people at the door of the tent of meeting. That is the tent where the people came to meet with God."

And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

NoteThe tent of meeting was a big cloth tent used like a church. The people could take it down and carry it as they traveled.

4Moses did what the LORD told him to do. The people gathered at the door of the tent of meeting.

And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

5Moses said to the people, "This is what the LORD said must be done."

And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.

6Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward. He washed them with water.

And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

NoteWashing with water showed they were clean and ready for God's work.

7He put the coat on Aaron and tied the sash around him. He put the robe on him. Then he put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him to hold it in place.

And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.

NoteThese were special clothes that only priests could wear. The ephod was worn over the robe, like a fancy apron. An ephod was a special apron-like vest.

8Then he put the breastpiece on Aaron. He put the Urim and the Thummim inside the breastpiece.

And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.

NoteThe Urim and Thummim were two small objects kept in the priest's pocket. The priest used them to ask God questions.

9He put the turban on Aaron's head. On the front of the turban he put the gold plate, the holy crown. He did just what the LORD told Moses to do.

And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.

NoteA turban is a long cloth wrapped around the head. The gold plate had words on it saying the priest belonged to God.

10Then Moses took the holy oil. He poured it on the tent and on everything inside it. In this way he set them apart for God.

And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.

NoteTo anoint means to pour oil on someone or something. It showed they were now God's, and no one else's. That is what "set apart for God" means.

11He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times. He put oil on the altar and on all its tools. He also put oil on the big washing bowl and its stand. In this way he set them apart for God.

And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.

NoteAn altar was a big table where gifts to God were burned. The big washing bowl held water for the priests to wash their hands and feet. Seven was the number people used for something finished and complete.

12He poured some of the holy oil on Aaron's head. In this way he set Aaron apart for God.

And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

13Moses brought Aaron's sons forward. He put coats on them and tied sashes around them. He put caps on their heads. He did just what the LORD told Moses to do.

And Moses brought Aaron’s sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.