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Exodus 19:3–40:38

Israel at Mt. Sinai

The Ten Commandments

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. aresponsibilities to Yahweh20:3–7
  2. bresponsibilities to each other20:8–17

Civil laws

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. 1case ("casuistic") laws21:2–22:27
  2. 2imperatival ("apodictic") laws22:28–23:19

Tabernacle instructions

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    narrative introduction24:12–18Moses goes up to receive stone tablets; accompanied by Joshua, Moses tells others to wait; Aaron in charge; Moses stays forty days
  2. b
    instructions for building tabernacle, I25:1–27:19no accompanying instructions for using items; items in order from most holy to least holy
  3. c
    regular (tāmîd) maintenance of lamps27:20–21before Yahweh; from evening to morning
  4. d
    CENTER: priestly garments and dedication28:1–29:37
  5. c′
    regular (tāmîd) maintenance of daily sacrifices29:38–46before Yahweh; evening and morning; conclusion: 29:44–46
  6. b′
    additional instructions for building and maintaining tabernacle30:1–31:17instructions involve warnings; regulations for priests and people
  7. a′
    narrative conclusion31:18–34:28Moses receives stone tablets; while he stays forty days on mountain with Joshua, people tire of waiting; Aaron, whom Moses left in charge, leads Israel in sin with the golden calf

Building the tabernacle

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    introduction: Moses' face shines from God's glory on Mount Sinai34:29–35glory so intense, people cannot approach Moses unless he veils himself
  2. b
    opening convocation35:1–36:7Moses assembles people and instructs them about properly making tabernacle and priestly garments; people bring to Moses all the materials for tabernacle and priests' garments
  3. c
    people carry out work36:8–38:20seven parts of the tabernacle, arranged from most holy to least holy
  4. d
    CENTER: materials used for making tabernacle and priestly garments38:21–31
  5. c′
    people carry out work39:1–31priestly garments, arranged in seven(?) parts, perhaps moving from most holy to least holy
  6. b′
    closing convocation39:32–40:33people bring to Moses all the completed work; Moses inspects and approves their work, and he sets up the tabernacle and dresses Aaron in priestly garments
  7. a′
    CLIMAX: tabernacle filled with God's glory40:34–38glory so intense, even Moses cannot approach it (supersedes glory on Sinai)