« | Exodus 40 |
1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
2 "Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year.
3 Place the Ark of the Covenant inside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place.
4 Then bring in the table, and arrange the utensils on it. And bring in the lampstand, and set up the lamps.
5 "Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
6 Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance.
7 Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water.
8 Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance.
9 "Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all its furnishings to consecrate them and make them holy.
10 Anoint the altar of burnt offering and its utensils to consecrate them. Then the altar will become absolutely holy.
11 Next anoint the washbasin and its stand to consecrate them.
12 "Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water.
13 Dress Aaron with the sacred garments and anoint him, consecrating him to serve me as a priest.
14 Then present his sons and dress them in their tunics.
15 Anoint them as you did their father, so they may also serve me as priests. With their anointing, Aaron's descendants are set apart for the priesthood forever, from generation to generation."
16 Moses proceeded to do everything just as the LORD had commanded him.
17 So the Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year.
18 Moses erected the Tabernacle by setting down its bases, inserting the frames, attaching the crossbars, and setting up the posts.
19 Then he spread the coverings over the Tabernacle framework and put on the protective layers, just as the LORD had commanded him.
20 He took the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. Then he attached the carrying poles to the Ark, and he set the Ark's cover-- the place of atonement-- on top of it.
21 Then he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Tabernacle and hung the inner curtain to shield it from view, just as the LORD had commanded him.
22 Next Moses placed the table in the Tabernacle, along the north side of the Holy Place, just outside the inner curtain.
23 And he arranged the Bread of the Presence on the table before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
24 He set the lampstand in the Tabernacle across from the table on the south side of the Holy Place.
25 Then he lit the lamps in the LORD's presence, just as the LORD had commanded him.
26 He also placed the gold incense altar in the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place in front of the inner curtain.
27 On it he burned the fragrant incense, just as the LORD had commanded him.
28 He hung the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle,
29 and he placed the altar of burnt offering near the Tabernacle entrance. On it he offered a burnt offering and a grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him.
30 Next Moses placed the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar. He filled it with water so the priests could wash themselves.
31 Moses and Aaron and Aaron's sons used water from it to wash their hands and feet.
32 Whenever they approached the altar and entered the Tabernacle, they washed themselves, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
33 Then he hung the curtains forming the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar. And he set up the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard. So at last Moses finished the work.
34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.
35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.
36 Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it.
37 But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted.
38 The cloud of the LORD hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.
The New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation (NLT) is a modern English translation of the Bible that aims to make the Scriptures accessible and engaging for contemporary readers. First published in 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, the NLT was conceived as an effort to create a translation that combines both accuracy and readability. Unlike many other translations that focus on a word-for-word rendering of the original texts, the NLT employs a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, also known as dynamic equivalence. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and message of the original texts in a way that is natural and understandable in modern English.
One of the defining features of the NLT is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators, a team of over 90 evangelical scholars, aimed to create a text that would be approachable for a wide audience, including those who may find traditional translations challenging to read. The NLT’s language is contemporary and conversational, making it particularly effective for public reading, teaching, and personal study. This emphasis on readability helps ensure that the profound messages of the Bible are easily grasped and retained by readers from various backgrounds and levels of biblical knowledge.
The NLT also incorporates a rich array of study aids designed to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These include book introductions, footnotes, cross-references, and explanatory notes that provide historical, cultural, and theological context. These features are particularly useful for readers who seek a deeper comprehension of the Scriptures and their application to modern life. The translation also includes clear and concise headings that help guide readers through the narrative and thematic structure of each book, making it easier to follow and comprehend the overall message.
Despite its many strengths, the New Living Translation has faced some criticism, particularly from those who favor more literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach, while making the text more readable, can sometimes result in a loss of the precise nuances and literary qualities of the original languages. Some scholars believe that certain theological concepts might be oversimplified in the process of making the text more accessible. Nevertheless, the NLT remains one of the most popular and widely used translations today, valued for its readability, clarity, and ability to convey the timeless truths of the Bible in a way that resonates with contemporary readers.