The LORD instructed Moses to collect offerings from the Israelites — gold, silver, and brass; blue, purple, and scarlet; fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red; badger skin; shittim wood; oil; spices; and onyx and other precious stones. These were to be freewill offerings, given from the heart. The purpose of these materials was to construct a sanctuary so that the LORD could live among his people.

The LORD then gave Moses precise instructions for building the ark of the testimony. It was to be a chest made of shittim wood, overlaid inside and out with pure gold, with a gold molding around it. Gold rings were to be attached to its four feet, through which shittim wood poles — also overlaid with gold — would be inserted for carrying. Into the ark, Moses was to place the testimony that God would provide.

The lid of the ark, called the mercy seat, is also described in detail. It was to be made of pure gold, with two golden cherubim crafted at each end, their wings spread upward to overshadow the cover and their faces turned toward it. The LORD declared that he would meet with Moses and speak to him from above this cover, between the two cherubim.

Next, the LORD gave instructions for a table, also made of shittim wood overlaid with gold and fitted with gold rings and carrying poles. The table was to hold the shewbread, and various dishes and spoons made of pure gold were to be made to accompany it.

Finally, the LORD described the candlestick, which was to be made entirely of pure hammered gold. It would have a central shaft with six branches extending from its sides — three on each side — each branch adorned with cup-shaped blossoms in the style of almond flowers. The candlestick was to have seven lamps set on it to give light, along with accompanying tools such as tongs and snuffdishes, all made of pure gold. God noted that the entire candlestick and its accessories were to be made according to the exact pattern he had shown Moses on the mountain.