After they had conquered the land, the entire community of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tent of the LORD's presence.

'From the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen any city in all the land of Israel in which a temple should be built where I would be worshiped. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.' "

From the time I rescued the people of Israel from Egypt until now I have never lived in a temple; I have always lived in tents and moved from place to place.

In all my traveling with the people of Israel I never asked any of the leaders that I appointed why they had not built me a temple made of cedar.'

The LORD said, "I will go with you, and I will give you victory."

Moses replied, "If you do not go with us, don't make us leave this place.

Because of this, Moses could not go into the Tent.

As long as the cloud stayed there, they did not move their camp.

"If after all of this punishment you still do not listen to me, but continue to defy me,

then I will turn on you and punish you seven times harder than before.

"If after all of this you still continue to defy me and refuse to obey me,

then in my anger I will turn on you and again make your punishment seven times worse than before.

When the people left Sinai, the holy mountain, they traveled three days. The LORD's Covenant Box always went ahead of them to find a place for them to camp.

Whenever the Covenant Box started out, Moses would say, "Arise, LORD; scatter your enemies and put to flight those who hate you!"

Keep your camp ritually clean, because the LORD your God is with you in your camp to protect you and to give you victory over your enemies. Do not do anything indecent that would cause the LORD to turn his back on you.

How can God's temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God! As God himself has said, "I will make my home with my people and live among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: "This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands.

Moses put down its bases, set up its frames, attached its crossbars, and put up its posts.

He spread out the covering over the Tent and put the outer covering over it, just as the LORD had commanded.

Then the cloud covered the Tent and the dazzling light of the LORD's presence filled it.

"Our ancestors had the Tent of God's presence with them in the desert. It had been made as God had told Moses to make it, according to the pattern that Moses had been shown.