An artistic spirit

Exodus 35 ⁴Moses said to the Israelites, "The Lord commands you ⁵to give Him gifts. Let everyone who is willing give something to the Lord: gold, silver, or bronze, ⁶blue, purple, or scarlet wool, fine linen yarn, or goat hair, ⁷ red-dyed ram skins, dolphin skins, acacia wood, ⁸ lamp oil, incense for the anointing oil and for the incense offerings, ⁹onyx stones for the priest's apron or precious stones for the breastplate.

¹⁰ All skilled craftsmen shall come forward to make everything that the Lord has commanded:

• ¹¹ the lampstand with its covering and all its hooks, shelves, crossbars, posts, and bases,
• ¹² the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil,
• ¹³ the table with its carrying poles, all its accessories, and the bread of the Presence,
• ¹⁴ the lampstand with its accessories, the lamps, and the lamp oil,
• ¹⁵ the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain that screens the entrance to the tabernacle,
• ¹⁶ the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its carrying poles, and all its accessories,
• the basin with its stand,
• ¹⁷ the curtains for the enclosure, the posts, the bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the sanctuary,
• ¹⁸ the pegs and ropes for the tabernacle and for the enclosure,
• ¹⁹ and the official garments for service in the sanctuary, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments to be worn by his sons when they serve as priests.

(…) ³⁰ Moses said to the Israelites, "The Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³¹ He has filled him with the divine spirit, with wisdom, skill, and insight in all kinds of areas: ³² he can make designs and execute them in gold, silver, copper, and bronze, ³³ he can cut and set stones and work with wood, and he also masters all kinds of other skills to execute designs.

(…) 38 ²¹ ...a calculation of the quantities of material used for the tabernacle, for the tent in which the text of the covenant was kept. This calculation was made by the Levites on the instructions of Moses, under the leadership of Itamar, the son of the priest Aaron.  

The young Bezalel was the grandson of Hur, Moses' confidant and, according to some sources, his brother-in-law, as he was married to the prophetess Miriam. Like his grandmother, Bezalel was filled with God's spirit. This manifested itself in his artistic talent. What Moses saw in heaven, he was able to create on earth.

While Aaron's son Itamar took care of the administration and Bezalel led the craftsmen, Moses wrote down in prayer the laws of holy living and eating, the feast days, the various sacrifices, and the organization of the priests and Levites.

The tabernacle was heaven on earth: a portable construction kit with which the God of Sinai would travel with them – onward to the promised land.

Before the eyes of the people

Exodus 40 ¹⁷ In the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected:

• ¹⁸ Moses had the bases for the tabernacle set in place, he had the boards inserted, the crossbars attached, and the poles erected. ¹⁹ The second tent was spread over the tabernacle, and the outer tent coverings were laid over it, as YHWH had commanded Moses.
• ²⁰ He placed the covenant text in the ark, attached the carrying poles to the ark, and placed the mercy seat on top of it. ²¹ He placed the ark in the tabernacle and hung the veil to shield the ark containing the covenant text, as YHWH had commanded him.
• ²²He placed the table on the north side of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, in front of the curtain, ²³and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him. ²⁴He placed the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table, ²⁵and he lit the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him. ²⁶ He placed the golden altar in front of the curtain in the tent of meeting ²⁷ and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD had commanded him.
• ²⁸ He hung the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle, ²⁹ placed the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, as the LORD had commanded him.
• ³⁰ Between the tent of meeting and the altar he placed the laver and filled it with water; ³¹ with it Moses and Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet ³² before entering the tent of meeting or approaching the altar, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
• ³³ He fenced off the space around the tabernacle and the altar and hung the curtain at the entrance. Thus Moses completed the work.

Bezalel beamed as he showed Moses all the parts—neatly arranged and carefully placed. Surrounding them were the craftsmen: the carpenters and metalworkers, the spinners, the weavers, and the embroiderers. Moses, too, was as happy as a child.

"You have made everything that YHWH showed me."

Moses' visible rapture moved the people. This strange man, this Egyptian prince and Midianite shepherd, this prophet of Israel, had enabled them to perform this miracle. Someone fell to his knees and began to weep. Others knelt as well, and some began to sing. The men and women raised their rhythmically swaying hands, and Moses stood in their midst as if in a field of waving reeds. Moses also raised his hands, and the people fell silent.

            "May Yahweh bless you."

And in full view of the whole people, Moses had the blue, red, and purple sanctuary assembled. Amid loud cheers, the glittering golden ark was lifted and placed at the back of the tent, after which the veil embroidered with golden angels was hung to divide the tent in two. In front of the veil, Moses had the table placed, the fragrant altar of incense, and the seven-branched menorah, where he lit the oil lamps. All the objects were first shown to the enthusiastic spectators. Outside the tent, Moses designated the place for the enormous basin, which he had filled with water, and the altar of burnt offering, on which he lit the fire. Once again, singing could be heard. Finally, he had the fluttering enclosure of cream-colored linen placed around the sanctuary, hiding it from the eyes of the people.

The fire and the smoke

Exodus 19 ¹⁸ Sinai was completely shrouded in smoke, for YHWH had descended upon it in fire. The smoke rose like the smoke from a smelting furnace, and the mountain shook violently. 

40 ³⁴ Then the tent of meeting was covered by a cloud, and the tabernacle was filled with the majesty of YHWH. ³⁵Moses could no longer enter the tent of meeting, for the cloud rested upon it, and the majesty of YHWH filled the tabernacle. ³⁶ As long as their journey lasted, the Israelites did not move on until the cloud rose from the tabernacle. ³⁷ When the cloud did not rise, they did not move on; they waited until the cloud rose again. ³⁸ As long as their journey lasted, the cloud of YHWH rested on the tabernacle during the day, and at night a fire appeared in it, visible to all the Israelites.

Above the linen screens, the people saw the sign: first white clouds, then blue smoke, and finally a faint vibration in the air. In the evening, there were high flames, like fingers clawing at the sky. Everyone realized it: the God of Sinai, the God of thunder and lightning, the voice from the flame, had made His home among the people who had bound themselves to Him.

            "What kind of fire is that, mother?" asked young Eliezer. "Is it dangerous?"

            "Very dangerous, dear."

Aaron and his sons

Adapted from Leviticus 8, 9, and 6:24-26

 The people had gathered at the entrance to the newly built tabernacle. Moses called Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar to him and washed them with water. Then he put the linen tunic on Aaron. He tied the priestly apron around him, woven of gold thread, blue, purple, and scarlet wool. He then placed on him the breastplate with the twelve precious stones bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. He put the turban on him and placed the golden rosette, the sacred diadem, on the front of it, as YHWH had commanded him.

Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle with it. He sprinkled the oil seven times on the altar. In this way he consecrated everything. He poured some of the oil on Aaron's head and, by anointing him, consecrated him. Then Moses summoned Aaron's sons. He put tunics on them, girded them with sashes, and bound headbands on them, as YHWH had commanded him.

The bull for the purification sacrifice was brought forward. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the bull's head. Moses, as priest for the priests, slaughtered the animal and touched some of the blood to the horns of the altar with his finger. He poured the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. He took all the fat around the entrails, the smallest lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the kidney fat, and burned everything on the altar. Then two rams were sacrificed, each time with the hands of Aaron and his sons on the head of the animal. Moses sprinkled some blood on the right earlobe of Aaron and his sons, on their right thumbs, and on the big toe of their right feet.

From the basket of unleavened bread that had been brought to YHWH, he took a thick loaf prepared with olive oil and a thin loaf, which he placed on the fatty parts of the sacrificial animal and the right hindquarter. He placed all this on the palms of Aaron and his sons to lift it up before YHWH. Then he took the offering from their hands and burned it on the altar on top of the burnt offering. Thus it was a consecration offering, a fragrant gift to YHWH. Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons, "Cook the meat at the entrance of the tent of meeting and eat it there, together with the bread in the basket of the consecration offering. You must remain at the entrance to the tent of meeting for seven days, until the time of your consecration is over.

On the eighth day, Moses summoned Aaron and his sons, as well as the elders of Israel. Now Aaron and his sons had to offer the sacrifices: a young bull, a ram, and a grain offering.

Moses said, "Do this, and the majesty of the LORD will appear to you."

After Aaron had offered the sacrifices, he came down from the altar and entered the tent of meeting with Moses. When they came out again, Aaron spread his arms over the people and said,

"The LORD bless you and keep you,

the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you,

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Then a fierce flame came out of the sanctuary and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar.

When the people saw this, they rejoiced and fell prostrate.

The deaths of Nadab and Abihu

Adapted from Leviticus 10

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu put burning coals in their fire pans and placed incense on them. They too wanted to offer fire to YHWH, but they did not do it exactly as Moses had shown them. A fierce fire broke out and burned them. They died there, in the presence of YHWH.

Moses was horrified. "I told you that the fire of YHWH is holy!"

Aaron stood frozen and distraught beside the charred bodies of his eldest sons. He could not utter a word.

Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, his cousins, to him.

"Come here and carry your brothers out of the camp."

To Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar he said, "You must remain by the tabernacle. You must not mourn or weep. Do not let your hair hang loose and do not tear your clothes, otherwise you too will die and YHWH will be angry with the whole community.

Aaron saw Eleazar take a sip of wine. "Stop," he said. "We are not allowed to drink wine or beer anymore when we kindle the fire of YHWH here. Otherwise, you will die too."

Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, "Eat the rest of the grain offering that has been offered to Yahweh, and eat it in the form of unleavened bread, beside the altar, for such are the rules for the offering. And what happened to the meat of the goat that Nadab and Abihu sacrificed?"

            No one knew. Moses rushed out of the tabernacle and went around asking the Levites, "What happened to that goat?"

Finally, he found out that the charred goat had been burned and removed. Moses was angry.

"Why didn't you eat the meat of the purification offering? You know the rules, don't you?"

Aaron said to Moses, "My sons offered their purification sacrifice and their burnt offering to YHWH today and ate it, but I did not.

I couldn't swallow a bite after the death of Nadab and Abihu this morning. And even if I could have, would that have been right in the eyes of YHWH?"

Then Moses was ashamed. He embraced his brother and said, "I'm sorry, Aaron. I'm just concerned about you. This fire requires absolute attention and dedication."

A priest like Melchizedek

Leviticus 16 ¹After the death of Aaron's two sons, who died when they came into the presence of YHWH, ²YHWH said to Moses, "Tell your brother Aaron that he must not enter the holy place behind the curtain. It would mean his death, for there, above the mercy seat that rests on the ark, is the place where I appear in a cloud.

Gershom heard about it. "Why doesn't Father let me tend the fire in the sanctuary? I've done it so many times for Grandfather. I know how to do it safely."

            Zipporah looked at her son with pain in her heart. "Israel has been freed from slavery. Your father wants them to worship God themselves in the tabernacle of Israel, not to become yet another tribe in the alliance of Midian."

            "But I am also an Israelite," he said angrily, "and Midian is also a son of Abraham, isn't he?"

Zipporah sighed and sat down next to him.

"You are more than an Israelite or a child of Abraham, my dear. We are priests of the Most High God. Will you fetch us some flour and water?"

Gershom quickly returned and found his mother and Eliezer at the brick kiln. Eliezer fed the fire with branches and blew on it. With some water, salt, and olive oil, Zipporah kneaded the flour into a smooth dough. She divided it into three parts and made each part into a thin flat disc. Then she placed them on the heated baking stone. Shortly afterwards, she took a deliciously fragrant flatbread from the stone and asked the boys to come and sit with her.

            "Melchizedek was the king of Salem in the days of our father Abraham," she said. "When Abraham and his men traveled through his city, he brought them bread and wine."

She placed a loaf of bread in front of each of them and poured in the water. "Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High. It was he who blessed Abraham."

She held out her open hands. The boys followed her example so that their hands touched and formed a triangle around the meal.

"We are blessed by God, the Most High,

the creator of heaven and earth."

"We bring our family before God's heavenly throne."

After a moment, Eliezer said, "Our Father."

In the silence that followed, his face came to their minds.

Then Gershom continued: "Nadab and Abihu, because they died."

"Eleazar and Ithamar, because they were left behind."

"Our grandfather, who taught us so much."

"My sisters, because I miss them," Zipporah concluded.

"We bless our God, the Most High,

He delivers us from all enmity."

The Passover meal

Numbers 9 ¹ In the first month of the second year after the exodus from Egypt, YHWH spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert. He said: ² "The Israelites must prepare the Passover sacrifice at the appointed time. ³ This must be done on the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, at the appointed time, in accordance with all the regulations and rules that apply to it."

A few days after the death of Nadab and Abihu, Moses returned home. He looked exhausted.

"I have missed you," he said.

Zipporah embraced him. "I'm glad you're here."

Moses had brought a freshly slaughtered lamb. "Will you prepare this?"

He asked the boys to gather all the bread scraps in and around the tent and burn them in the fire. Meanwhile, he kneaded the bread dough and made flat cakes, just as Zipporah had done. But then he pricked dozens of holes in the cakes.

            "Why are you doing that, Dad?"

            "To make sure that the flour won't rise, Eliezer."

            "But why?"

            "It reminds me of what YHWH did for me when I left Egypt last year." He looked at his son lovingly and happily. "With a mighty hand and powerful miracles, he freed us from Egypt, from slavery. We had to leave so quickly that the bread dough did not have time to rise. That is why we will only eat bread that has not risen for the next week."

That night they slept together. Moses snuggled up to Zipporah, his arm around her waist.

            "How I have longed for this," he sighed.

But he did not kiss her. His hand did not caress her breasts, and his fingers did not seek her desire. 

            Moses fell asleep and Zipporah lay awake. His breathing gave her no rest, his arm no shelter. She felt trapped in the cage of a hopeless marriage. Violent thoughts filled her mind, like storm gusts battering the tent canvas. She clenched her fists. "I am so angry with you," she whispered, "so terribly angry."

And she feared the darkness that was growing in her heart.

*      *      *

Suggestions for reading groups

• Check in with the group and with yourself, seek stillness/humility.

• First share the story. For Moses, the tabernacle is a piece of heaven on earth through which the God of Sinai can travel with the people to the promised land. This is wonderful for the people, who otherwise experience little of God. But at the same time, it takes attention away from the spirituality that Zipporah experiences at home and within herself. What did you read?

• Encourage, comfort, inspire. How do you see the relationship between organized religion, your home situation, and your personal spirituality? Is one more important to you than the other? Do they reinforce each other?

Reflecting on Exodus 35-40 and Leviticus 1-10, giving the sacred a place among us

The last six chapters of Exodus seem to be a repetition of the instructions for building the tabernacle. But now it is about its construction in physical reality and the joy that everything has been made exactly as it was designed. The chapters from Leviticus further elaborate on the sacrificial service of the priests.

• Encourage, comfort, exhort. How do you experience enjoying "symbolic" architecture and rituals in a faith community? How important is quality compared to the idea that everyone can participate (with the risks of star allure or amateurism)? And how do you deal with your possessions? Are they yours, society's, or God's, and what are the consequences of such thoughts?

• Leave room for silence and contemplation. Perhaps you will 'see' or 'hear' something from 'God'. Like Moses and Zipporah, do you dare to enter into conversation with that voice? What answer wells up within you? How do you test that answer?