Delphi Septuagint

by Lancelot C L Brenton (ed)

  Chapter 30

  [1] And thou shalt make the altar of incense of incorruptible wood. [2] And thou shalt make it a cubit in length, and a cubit in breadth: it shall be square; and the height of it shall be of two cubits, its horns shall be of the same piece. [3] And thou shalt gild its grate with pure gold, and its sides round about, and its horns; and thou shalt make for it a wreathen border of gold round-about. [4] And thou shalt make under its wreathen border two rings of pure gold; thou shalt make it to the two corners on the two sides, and they shall be bearings for the staves, so as to bear it with them. [5] And thou shalt make the staves of incorruptible wood, and shalt gild them with gold. [6] And thou shalt set it before the veil that is over the ark of the testimonies, wherein I will make myself known to thee from thence. [7] And Aaron shall burn upon it fine compound incense every morning; whensoever he trims the lamps he shall burn incense upon it. [8] And when Aaron lights the lamps in the evening, he shall burn incense upon it; a constant incense-offering always before the Lord for their generations. [9] And thou shalt not offer strange incense upon it, nor and offering made by fire, nor a sacrifice; and thou shalt not pour a drink-offering upon it. [10] And once in the year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns, he shall purge it with the blood of purification for their generations: it is most holy to the Lord.

  [11] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [12] If thou take account of the children of Israel in the surveying of them, and they shall give every one a ransom for his soul to the Lord, then there shall not be among them a destruction in the visiting of them. [13] And this is what they shall give, as many as pass the survey, half a didrachm which is according to the didrachm of the sanctuary: twenty oboli go to the didrachm, but the half of the didrachm is the offering to the Lord. [14] Every one that passes the survey from twenty years old and upwards shall give the offering to the Lord. [15] The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than the half didrachm in giving the offering to the Lord, to make atonement for your souls. [16] And thou shalt take the money of the offering from the children of Israel, and shalt give it for the service of the tabernacle of testimony; and it shall be to the children of Israel a memorial before the Lord, to make atonement for your souls. [17] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [18] Make a brazen laver, and a brazen base for it, for washing; and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of witness and the altar, and thou shalt pour forth water into it. [19] And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet with water from it. [20] Whensoever they shall go into the tabernacle of witness, they shall wash themselves with water, so they shall not die, whensoever they advance to the altar to do service and to offer the whole burnt-offerings to the Lord. [21] They shall wash their hands and feet with water, whensoever they shall go into the tabernacle of witness; they shall wash themselves with water, that they die not; and it shall be for them a perpetual statute, for him and his posterity after him. [22] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [23] Do thou also take sweet herbs, the flower of choice myrrh five hundred shekels, and the half of this two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cinnamon, and two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling calamus, [24] and of cassia five hundred shekels of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. [25] And thou shalt make it a holy anointing oil, a perfumed ointment tempered by the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil. [26] And thou shalt anoint with it the tabernacle of witness, and the ark of the tabernacle of witness, [27] and all its furniture, and the candlestick and all its furniture, and the altar of incense, [28] and the altar of whole burnt-offerings and all its furniture, and the table and all its furniture, and the laver. [29] And thou shalt sanctify them, and they shall be most holy: every one that touches them shall be hallowed. [30] And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them that they may minister to me as priests. [31] And thou shalt speak to the children of Israel, saying, This shall be to you a holy anointing oil throughout your generations. [32] On man’s flesh it shall not be poured, and ye shall not make any for yourselves according to this composition: it is holy, and shall be holiness to you. [33] Whosoever shall make it in like manner, and whosoever shall give of it to a stranger, shall be destroyed from among his people.

  [34] And the Lord said to Moses, Take for thyself sweet herbs, stacte, onycha, sweet galbanum, and transparent frankincense; there shall be and equal weight of each. [35] And they shall make with it perfumed incense, tempered with the art of a perfumer, a pure holy work. [36] And of these thou shalt beat some small, and thou shalt put it before the testimonies in the tabernacle of testimony, whence I will make myself known to thee: it shall be to you a most holy incense. [37] Ye shall not make any for yourselves according to this composition; it shall be to you a holy thing for the Lord. [38] Whosoever shall make any in like manner, so as to smell it, shall perish from his people.

  Chapter 31

  [1] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [2] Behold, I have called by name Beseleel the son of Urias the son of Or, of the tribe of Juda. [3] And I have filled him with a divine spirit of wisdom, and understanding, and knowledge, to invent in every work, [4] and to frame works, to labour in gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and spun scarlet, [5] and works in stone, and for artificers’ work in wood, to work at all works. [6] And I have appointed him and Eliab the son of Achisamach of the tribe of Dan, and to every one understanding in heart I have given understanding; and they shall make all things as many as I have appointed thee, — [7] the tabernacle of witness, and the ark of the covenant, and the propitiatory that is upon it, and the furniture of the tabernacle, [8] and the altars, and the table and all its furniture, [9] and the pure candlestick and all its furniture, and the laver and its base, [10] and Aaron’s robes of ministry, and the robes of his sons to minister to me as priests, [11] and the anointing oil and the compound incense of the sanctuary; according to all that I have commanded thee shall they make them.

  [12] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [13] Do thou also charge the children of Israel, saying, Take heed and keep my sabbaths; for they are a sign with me and among you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord that sanctifies you. [14] And ye shall keep the sabbaths, because this is holy to the Lord for you; he that profanes it shall surely be put to death: every one who shall do a work on it, that soul shall be destroyed from the midst of his people. [15] Six days thou shalt do works, but the seventh day is the sabbath, a holy rest to the Lord; every one who shall do a work on the seventh day shall be put to death. [16] And the children of Israel shall keep the sabbaths, to observe them throughout their generations. [17] It is a perpetual covenant with me and the children of Israel, it is a perpetual sign with me; for in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth, and on the seventh day he ceased, and rested. [18] And he gave to Moses when he left off speaking to him in mount Sina the two tables of testimony, tables of stone written upon with the finger of God.

  Chapter 32

  [1] And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people combined against Aaron, and said to him, Arise and make us gods who shall go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us forth out of the land of Egypt — we do not know what is become of him. [2] And Aaron says to them, Take off the golden ear-rings which are in the ears of your wives and daughters, and bring them to me. [3] And all the people took off the golden ear-rings that were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. [4] And he received them at their hands, and formed them with a graving tool; and he made them a molten calf, and said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [5] And Aaron having seen it built an altar before it, and Aaron made proclamation saying, To-morrow is a feast of the Lord. [6] And having risen early on the morrow, he offered whole burnt-offerings, and offered a peace-offering; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

  [7] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Go quickly, descend hence, for thy people whom thou broughtest out of
the land of Egypt have transgressed; [8] they have quickly gone out of the way which thou commandedst; they have made for themselves a calf, and worshipped it, and sacrificed to it, and said, (9) These are thy gods, O Israel, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [9] 10 And now let me alone, and I will be very angry with them and consume them, and I will make thee a great nation. [11] And Moses prayed before the Lord God, and said, Wherefore, O Lord, art thou very angry with thy people, whom thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt with great strength, and with thy high arm? [12] Take heed lest at any time the Egyptians speak, saying, With evil intent he brought them out to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from off the earth; cease from thy wrathful anger, and be merciful to the sin of thy people, [13] remembering Abraam and Isaac and Jacob thy servants, to whom thou hast sworn by thyself, and hast spoken to them, saying, I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of heaven for multitude, and all this land which thou spokest of to give to them, so that they shall possess it for ever. [14] And the Lord was prevailed upon to preserve his people.

  [15] And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tables of testimony were in his hands, tables of stone written on both their sides: they were written within and without. [16] And the tables were the work of God, and the writing the writing of God written on the tables. [17] And Joshua having heard the voice of the people crying, says to Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. [18] And Moses says, It is not the voice of them that begin the battle, nor the voice of them that begin the cry of defeat, but the voice of them that begin the banquet of wine do I hear.

  [19] And when he drew nigh to the camp, he sees the calf and the dances; and Moses being very angry cast the two tables out of his hands, and broke them to pieces under the mountain. [20] And having taken the calf which they made, he consumed it with fire, and ground it very small, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel to drink it. [21] And Moses said to Aaron, What has this people done to thee, that thou hast brought upon them a great sin? [22] And Aaron said to Moses, Be not angry, my lord, for thou knowest the impetuosity of this people. [23] For they say to me, Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this man Moses, who brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what is become of him. [24] And I said to them, If any one has golden ornaments, take them off; and they gave them me, and I cast them into the fire, and there came out this calf. [25] And when Moses saw that the people was scattered, — for Aaron had scattered them so as to be a rejoicing to their enemies, — [26] then stood Moses at the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come to me. Then all the sons of Levi came to him. [27] And he says to them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every one his sword on his thigh, and go through and return from gate to gate through the camp, and slay every one his brother, and every one his neighbour, and every one him that is nearest to him. [28] And the sons of Levi did as Moses spoke to them, and there fell of the people in that day to the number of three thousand men. [29] And Moses said to them, Ye have filled your hands this day to the Lord each one on his son or on his brother, so that blessing should be given to you.

  [30] And it came to pass after the morrow had begun, that Moses said to the people, Ye have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up to God, that I may make atonement for your sin. [31] And Moses returned to the Lord and said, I pray, O Lord, this people has sinned a great sin, and they have made for themselves golden gods. [32] And now if thou wilt forgive their sin, forgive it; and if not, blot me out of thy book, which thou hast written. [33] And the Lord said to Moses, If any one has sinned against me, I will blot them out of my book. [34] And now go, descend, and lead this people into the place of which I spoke to thee: behold, my angel shall go before thy face; and in the day when I shall visit I will bring upon them their sin. [35] And the Lord smote the people for the making the calf, which Aaron made.

  Chapter 33

  [1] And the Lord said to Moses, Go forward, go up hence, thou and thy people, whom thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, into the land which I swore to Abraam, and Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed. [2] And I will send at the same time my angel before thy face, and he shall cast out the Amorite and the Chettite, and the Pherezite and Gergesite, and Evite, and Jebusite, and Chananite. [3] And I will bring thee into a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up with thee, because thou art a stiff-necked people, lest I consume thee by the way. [4] And the people having heard this grievous saying, mourned in mourning apparel. [5] For the Lord said to the children of Israel, Ye are a stiff-necked people; take heed lest I bring on you another plague, and destroy you: now then put off your glorious apparel, and your ornaments, and I will shew thee what I will do to thee. [6] So the sons of Israel took off their ornaments and their array at the mount of Choreb. [7] And Moses took his tabernacle and pitched it without the camp, at a distance from the camp; and it was called the Tabernacle of Testimony: and it came to pass that every one that sought the Lord went forth to the tabernacle which was without the camp. [8] And whenever Moses went into the tabernacle without the camp, all the people stood every one watching by the doors of his tent; and when Moses departed, they took notice until he entered into the tabernacle. [9] And when Moses entered into the tabernacle, the pillar of the cloud descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and God talked to Moses. [10] And all the people saw the pillar of the cloud standing by the door of the tabernacle, and all the people stood and worshipped every one at the door of his tent. [11] And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as if one should speak to his friend; and he retired into the camp: but his servant Joshua the son of Naue, a young man, departed not forth from the tabernacle.

  [12] And Moses said to the Lord, Lo! thou sayest to me, Lead on this people; but thou hast not shewed me whom thou wilt send with me, but thou hast said to me, I know thee above all, and thou hast favour with me. [13] If then I have found favour in thy sight, reveal thyself to me, that I may evidently see thee; that I may find favour in thy sight, and that I may know that this great nation is thy people. [14] And he says, I myself will go before thee, and give thee rest. [15] And he says to him, If thou go not up with us thyself, bring me not up hence. [16] And how shall it be surely known, that both I and this people have found favour with thee, except only if thou go with us? So both I and thy people shall be glorified beyond all the nations, as many as are upon the earth. [17] And the Lord said to Moses, I will also do for thee this thing, which thou hast spoken; for thou hast found grace before me, and I know thee above all. [18] And Moses says, Manifest thyself to me. [19] And God said, I will pass by before thee with my glory, and I will call by my name, the Lord, before thee; and I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and will have pity on whom I will have pity. [20] And God said, Thou shalt not be able to see my face; for no man shall see my face, and live. [21] And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me: thou shalt stand upon the rock; [22] and when my glory shall pass by, then I will put thee into a hole of the rock; and I will cover thee over with my hand, until I shall have passed by. [23] And I will remove my hand, and then shalt thou see my back parts; but my face shall not appear to thee.

  Chapter 34

  [1] And the Lord said to Moses, Hew for thyself two tables of stone, as also the first were, and come up to me to the mountain; and I will write upon the tables the words, which were on the first tables, which thou brokest. [2] And be ready by the morning, and thou shalt go up to the mount Sina, and shalt stand there for me on the top of the mountain. [3] And let no one go up with thee, nor be seen in all the mountain; and let not the sheep and oxen feed near that mountain. [4] And Moses hewed two tables of stone, as also the first were; and Moses having arisen early, went up to the mount Sina, as the Lord appointed him; and Moses took the two tables of stone. [5] And the Lord descended in a cloud, and stood near him there, and called by the name of the Lord. [6] And the Lord passed by before his face, and proclaimed, The Lord God, pitiful and merciful, l
ongsuffering and very compassionate, and true, [7] and keeping justice and mercy for thousands, taking away iniquity, and unrighteousness, and sins; and he will not clear the guilty; bringing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and to the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation. [8] And Moses hasted, and bowed to the earth and worshipped; [9] and said, If I have found grace before thee, let my Lord go with us; for the people is stiff-necked: and thou shalt take away our sins and our iniquities, and we will be thine.

  [10] And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, I establish a covenant for thee in the presence of all thy people; I will do glorious things, which have not been done in all the earth, or in any nation; and all the people among whom thou art shall see the works of the Lord, that they are wonderful, which I will do for thee. [11] Do thou take heed to all things whatsoever I command thee: behold, I cast out before your face the Amorite and the Chananite and the Pherezite, and the Chettite, and Evite, and Gergesite and Jebusite: [12] take heed to thyself, lest at any time thou make a covenant with the dwellers on the land, into which thou art entering, lest it be to thee a stumbling-block among you. [13] Ye shall destroy their altars, and break in pieces their pillars, and ye shall cut down their groves, and the graven images of their gods ye shall burn with fire. [14] For ye shall not worship strange gods, for the Lord God, a jealous name, is a jealous God; [15] lest at any time thou make a covenant with the dwellers on the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and they call thee, and thou shouldest eat of their feasts, [16] and thou shouldest take of their daughters to thy sons, and thou shouldest give of thy daughters to their sons; and thy daughters should go a whoring after their gods, and thy sons should go a whoring after their gods. [17] And thou shalt not make to thyself molten gods. [18] And thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, as I have charged thee, at the season in the month of new corn; for in the month of new corn thou camest out from Egypt. [19] The males are mine, everything that opens the womb; every first-born of oxen, and every first-born of sheep. [20] And the first-born of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep, and if thou wilt not redeem it thou shalt pay a price: every first-born of thy sons shalt thou redeem: thou shalt not appear before me empty.