The Lampstand
(Exodus 25:31–40; Exodus 37:17–24)

1 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And spoke) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֥ה (Moses), לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2 דַּבֵּר֙ (Speak) אֶֽל־ (to) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron) וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ (and say) אֵלָ֑יו (to him), בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ (When you lift up) אֶת־ (-) הַנֵּרֹ֔ת (the lamps), אֶל־ (to) מוּל֙ (the front of) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה (of the lampstand), יָאִ֖ירוּ (shall give light) שִׁבְעַ֥ת (seven) הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃ (the lamps).

3 וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (And did) כֵּן֙ (so) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron). אֶל־ (Toward) מוּל֙ (the front) פְּנֵ֣י (face) הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה (of the lampstand) הֶעֱלָ֖ה (he lifted up) נֵרֹתֶ֑יהָ (the lamps), כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) צִוָּ֥ה (had commanded) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (Moses).

4 וְזֶ֨ה (And this) מַעֲשֵׂ֤ה (was the workmanship) הַמְּנֹרָה֙ (of the lampstand) מִקְשָׁ֣ה (hammered) זָהָ֔ב (gold), עַד־ (from) יְרֵכָ֥הּ (its shaft) עַד־ (to) פִּרְחָ֖הּ (its flowers) מִקְשָׁ֣ה (hammered work) הִ֑וא (it was); כַּמַּרְאֶ֗ה (according to the pattern) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) הֶרְאָ֤ה (had shown) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), כֵּ֥ן (so) עָשָׂ֖ה (he made) אֶת־ (-) הַמְּנֹרָֽה׃פ (the lampstand).

Cleansing the Levites

5 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And spoke) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֥ה (Moses), לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 6 קַ֚ח (Take) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) מִתּ֖וֹךְ (from the midst) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וְטִהַרְתָּ֖ (and cleanse) אֹתָֽם׃ (them). 7 וְכֹֽה־ (Thus) תַעֲשֶׂ֤ה (you shall do) לָהֶם֙ (to them) לְטַֽהֲרָ֔ם (to cleanse them): הַזֵּ֥ה (Sprinkle) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (on them) מֵ֣י (waters) חַטָּ֑את (of purification) וְהֶעֱבִ֤ירוּ (pass) תַ֙עַר֙ (and let a razor) עַל־ (over) כָּל־ (all) בְּשָׂרָ֔ם (their flesh), וְכִבְּס֥וּ (and let them wash) בִגְדֵיהֶ֖ם (their clothes) וְהִטֶּהָֽרוּ׃ (and make themselves clean).

8 וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ (And let them take) פַּ֣ר (a bull), בֶּן־ (a son) בָּקָ֔ר (of the herd), וּמִנְחָת֔וֹ (and its grain offering) סֹ֖לֶת (of fine flour) בְּלוּלָ֣ה (mixed) בַשָּׁ֑מֶן (with the oil), וּפַר־ (and bull) שֵׁנִ֥י (a second) בֶן־ (son) בָּקָ֖ר (of the herd) תִּקַּ֥ח (you shall take) לְחַטָּֽאת׃ (as a sin offering). 9 וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֙ (And you shall bring) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face of) אֹ֣הֶל (the Tent) מוֹעֵ֑ד (of Meeting). וְהִ֨קְהַלְתָּ֔ (And you shall gather together) אֶֽת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) עֲדַ֖ת (the congregation) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 10 וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֥ (And you shall bring) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֖ם (the Levites) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), וְסָמְכ֧וּ (and shall lay) בְנֵי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (-) יְדֵיהֶ֖ם (their hands) עַל־ (on) הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (the Levites). 11 וְהֵנִיף֩ (And shall offer) אַהֲרֹ֨ן (Aaron) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֤ם (the Levites) תְּנוּפָה֙ (a wave offering) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) מֵאֵ֖ת (from) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וְהָי֕וּ (that) לַעֲבֹ֖ד (they may perform) אֶת־ (-) עֲבֹדַ֥ת (the service) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 12 וְהַלְוִיִּם֙ (And the Levites) יִסְמְכ֣וּ (shall lay) אֶת־ (-) יְדֵיהֶ֔ם (their hands) עַ֖ל (on) רֹ֣אשׁ (the heads) הַפָּרִ֑ים (of the young bulls), וַ֠עֲשֵׂה (and you shall offer) אֶת־ (-) הָאֶחָ֨ד (the one) חַטָּ֜את (for a sin offering) וְאֶת־ (and) הָאֶחָ֤ד (the one) עֹלָה֙ (for a burnt offering) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH), לְכַפֵּ֖ר (to make atonement) עַל־ (upon) הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (the Levites).

13 וְהַֽעֲמַדְתָּ֙ (And you shall stand) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) אַהֲרֹ֖ן (Aaron), וְלִפְנֵ֣י (and) בָנָ֑יו (his sons), וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥ (and wave) אֹתָ֛ם (them) תְּנוּפָ֖ה (as a wave offering) לַֽיהוָֽה׃ (to YHWH). 14 וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ֙ (And you shall separate) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) מִתּ֖וֹךְ (from the midst) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וְהָ֥יוּ (and shall be) לִ֖י (unto Me) הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (the Levites). 15 וְאַֽחֲרֵי־ (And after) כֵן֙ (that) יָבֹ֣אוּ (shall go in) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) לַעֲבֹ֖ד (to serve) אֶת־ (-) אֹ֣הֶל (at the Tent) מוֹעֵ֑ד (of Meeting). וְטִֽהַרְתָּ֣ (And you shall cleanse) אֹתָ֔ם (them) וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥ (and offer) אֹתָ֖ם (them) תְּנוּפָֽה׃ (as a wave offering).

16 כִּי֩ (For) נְתֻנִ֨ים (being given) נְתֻנִ֥ים (are given) הֵ֙מָּה֙ (they) לִ֔י (to Me) מִתּ֖וֹךְ (from the midst) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel). תַּחַת֩ (Instead) פִּטְרַ֨ת (of him who opens) כָּל־ (every) רֶ֜חֶם (the womb), בְּכ֥וֹר (the firstborn) כֹּל֙ (of all) מִבְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), לָקַ֥חְתִּי (I have taken) אֹתָ֖ם (them) לִֽי׃ (for Myself). 17 כִּ֣י (For) לִ֤י (Mine are) כָל־ (all) בְּכוֹר֙ (the firstborn) בִּבְנֵ֣י (among the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), בָּאָדָ֖ם (the man) וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה (and the beast). בְּי֗וֹם (On the day) הַכֹּתִ֤י (that I struck) כָל־ (all) בְּכוֹר֙ (the firstborn) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt), הִקְדַּ֥שְׁתִּי (I sanctified) אֹתָ֖ם (them) לִֽי׃ (to Myself). 18 וָאֶקַּח֙ (And I have taken) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) תַּ֥חַת (instead) כָּל־ (of all) בְּכ֖וֹר (the firstborn) בִּבְנֵ֥י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 19 וָאֶתְּנָ֨ה (And I have given) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֜ם (the Levites) נְתֻנִ֣ים׀ (as a gift) לְאַהֲרֹ֣ן (to Aaron) וּלְבָנָ֗יו (and his sons) מִתּוֹךְ֮ (from the midst) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel), לַעֲבֹ֞ד (to do) אֶת־ (-) עֲבֹדַ֤ת (the work) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) בְּאֹ֣הֶל (in the Tent) מוֹעֵ֔ד (of Meeting), וּלְכַפֵּ֖ר (and to make atonement) עַל־ (upon) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וְלֹ֨א (and no) יִהְיֶ֜ה (there will be) בִּבְנֵ֤י (among the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) נֶ֔גֶף (plague) בְּגֶ֥שֶׁת (at the coming of) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ (the sanctuary).

20 וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (And did) מֹשֶׁ֧ה (Moses) וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן (and Aaron) וְכָל־ (and all) עֲדַ֥ת (the congregation) בְּנֵי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) לַלְוִיִּ֑ם (to the Levites). כְּ֠כֹל (According to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֨ה (commanded) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) לַלְוִיִּ֔ם (concerning the Levites), כֵּן־ (so) עָשׂ֥וּ (did) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 21 וַיִּֽתְחַטְּא֣וּ (And cleansed themselves from sin) הַלְוִיִּ֗ם (the Levites), וַֽיְכַבְּסוּ֙ (and they washed) בִּגְדֵיהֶ֔ם (their clothes). וַיָּ֨נֶף (And presented) אַהֲרֹ֥ן (Aaron) אֹתָ֛ם (them) תְּנוּפָ֖ה (as a wave offering) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), וַיְכַפֵּ֧ר (and made atonement) עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם (upon them) אַהֲרֹ֖ן (Aaron) לְטַהֲרָֽם׃ (to cleanse them). 22 וְאַחֲרֵי־ (And after) כֵ֞ן (that), בָּ֣אוּ (went in) הַלְוִיִּ֗ם (the Levites) לַעֲבֹ֤ד (to do) אֶת־ (-) עֲבֹֽדָתָם֙ (their work) בְּאֹ֣הֶל (in the Tent) מוֹעֵ֔ד (of Meeting) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) אַהֲרֹ֖ן (Aaron) וְלִפְנֵ֣י (and) בָנָ֑יו (his sons). כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (As) צִוָּ֨ה (commanded) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) עַל־ (concerning) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites), כֵּ֖ן (so) עָשׂ֥וּ (they did) לָהֶֽם׃ס (to them).

Retirement for Levites

23 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And spoke) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֥ה (Moses), לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 24 זֹ֖את (This is) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (what) לַלְוִיִּ֑ם (is unto the Levites): מִבֶּן֩ (From a son) חָמֵ֨שׁ (of five) וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים (and twenty) שָׁנָה֙ (years) וָמַ֔עְלָה (and above), יָבוֹא֙ (one may enter) לִצְבֹ֣א (to perform) צָבָ֔א (the service) בַּעֲבֹדַ֖ת (in the work) אֹ֥הֶל (of the Tent) מוֹעֵֽד׃ (of Meeting). 25 וּמִבֶּן֙ (And from a son) חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים (of fifty) שָׁנָ֔ה (years), יָשׁ֖וּב (they must cease) מִצְּבָ֣א (from the host) הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה (of the service), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יַעֲבֹ֖ד (shall serve) עֽוֹד׃ (anymore).

26 וְשֵׁרֵ֨ת (And they may minister) אֶת־ (with) אֶחָ֜יו (their brothers) בְּאֹ֤הֶל (in the Tent) מוֹעֵד֙ (of Meeting), לִשְׁמֹ֣ר (to keep) מִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת (the charge) וַעֲבֹדָ֖ה (and work) לֹ֣א (not) יַעֲבֹ֑ד (they shall do). כָּ֛כָה (Thus) תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (you shall do) לַלְוִיִּ֖ם (for the Levites) בְּמִשְׁמְרֹתָֽם׃פ (in their duties).