Study Book for Our Life and Preaching Meeting

SEPTEMBER 7-13

FINE-FINE LESSON FROM BIBLE | EXODUS 23-24

“No Join Do Bad Just Because Plenty People De Do-am”

(Exodus 23:1) “Make you no ever tell people story wey no be true. No join wicked person talk lie against another person.

w18.08 4 ¶7-8

You Really Know About the Matter?

⁷ E de sweet you to send message for phone or Internet give your friends and people wey you know? If na so, then when you hear new story for news or you hear fine experience, you fit want be the first person to tell people about-am. But before you send the message, or tell other people, first ask yourself say: ‘I dey sure say this story na true? I know everything about the story?’ If you no dey sure, e fit be say na lie you want spread among brothers and sisters. So if you no dey sure, delete the message!

⁸ When we hurry send message for Internet or with phone, another problem fit still come out. For some areas, they no de allow us preach as we suppose to; for other place, they even stop the preaching work. For this kind place wey they no like our work, they fit spread message about us so that fear go catch us, or so that we no go trust each other again. Make we use wetin happen for former Soviet Union as example. The secret police wey them de call KGB spread rumor say some brothers wey people respect for Jehovah’s organization don betray brothers and sisters. Many brothers believe this rumor. E pain us say because of this one, they leave the organization. We happy as many of them come back, but no be all of them. They allow the lie wey they hear make them leave Jehovah. (1 Tim. 1:19) Wetin we fit do make this kind thing no happen? No de spread bad news or news wey you no know the place wey e come from. No believe everything wey you hear. Make sure say the story na true.

(Exodus 23:2) No ever join do bad just because plenty people de do-am; no ever allow wetin plenty people want make you talk lie for any case and cause partial.

it-1 11 ¶3

Aaron

Na three times Bible talk say Aaron sin. But e clear say for the three times, no be Aaron start the sin. E be like say e allow other people or the way things be, make-am do wetin Jehovah hate. This one na true especially the first time wey e join people do wetin Jehovah hate. If to say e follow wetin dey Exodus 23:2, wey talk say: “No ever join do bad just because plenty people de do-am,” e for no enter trouble. Even with this one, Bible still use Aaron name for better way. And when Jesus dey this earth, e show say e support and respect the priest them wey come from the family of Aaron.​—Ps 115:10, 12; 118:3; 133:1, 2; 135:19; Mt 5:17-19; 8:4.

(Exodus 23:3) When you de handle poor person case, no ever judge the case to favor the poor person just because e poor.

it-1 343 ¶5

Blindness

Plenty place for the Law wey Jehovah give Israel people warn them say make them no take bribe, gift or favor one side. Why? Because this things fit cover judge eye and make-am do partial. When this kind thing happen we fit talk say this judge don blind. Na e make Bible talk say: “Bribe de blind people wey de see well.” (Ex 23:8) And e “de blind people wey get sense.” (De 16:19) So, no matter how judge good reach, when e collect gift from people wey e want judge, this one go surely affect e judgement. Bible show say no be only gift fit blind judge. The way the judge de feel about the person wey e want judge, fit still affect e judgement. Bible talk say: ‘No ever favor poor person just because e poor and no favor big man because of e money.’ (Le 19:15) So, judge no go bend case because of how e de feel or wetin plenty people want. E no go condemn rich people just because them rich.​—Ex 23:2, 3.

Fine-Fine Things Wey You See for Bible

(Exodus 23:9) “No ever treat stranger anyhow. Wuna know how person de feel when e be stranger because wuna don be stranger before for Egypt.

w16.10 9 ¶4

“De Treat Stranger Well”

⁴ Jehovah no force Israel people to treat stranger well. But e give them better reason wey go make them do-am. (Read Exodus 23:9.) E remind them how them feel when them be stranger for Egypt. Even when Israel people never be slave for Egypt, Egypt people hate them. This one fit be because Egypt people believe say na them better pass or because them hate the way Israel people de worship God. (Gen. 43:32; 46:34; Ex. 1:11-14) Israel people really suffer for the land of Egypt. But Jehovah want make them treat strangers like their own people.​—Lev. 19:33, 34.

(Exodus 23:20, 21) “I go send my angel make e dey wuna front to protect wuna and lead wuna go the place wey I don prepare for wuna. ²¹ Make wuna listen to-am and obey-am. Make wuna no do strong-head because e no go forgive wuna, because e carry my name.

it-2 393

Michael

1. Angel Michael and Gabriel, na the two angels wey Bible mention their name. But na angel Michael Bible call “archangel.” (Jude 9) The first time wey Bible talk about angel Michael na for Daniel chapter ten. For there, Bible call-am “one of the prince wey get high position.” E come help another angel wey the “prince for the kingdom of Persia” block e road make e no go where e de go. Bible still call angel Michael “the prince of [Daniel] people,” and ‘the strong prince wey de fight to protect [Daniel] people.’ (Da 10:13, 20, 21; 12:1) This one de show say na Michael be the angel wey Jehovah use lead Israel people for wilderness. (Ex 23:20, 21, 23; 32:34; 33:2) Another reason why we believe this one na wetin Bible talk for Jude 9, say: ‘Michael the archangel argue with Devil about the body of Moses.’

SEPTEMBER 14-20

FINE-FINE LESSON FROM BIBLE | EXODUS 25-26

“The Most Important Thing for the Tabernacle”

(Exodus 25:9) Make wuna make the tabernacle and everything for inside, just the way I de show you.

it-1 165

Ark of the Covenant

The Way Them Make the Ark. When Jehovah de tell Moses make e build tabernacle, the first thing wey e talk about na how the Ark go be. Why? Because the Ark na the most important thing for the tabernacle and for all Israel people. The Ark long reach 2.5 cubits, e wide reach 1.5 cubits, and e high reach 1.5 cubits (c. 111 × 67 × 67 cm; 44 × 26 × 26 in.). Them make the body of the Ark with acacia wood, and cover the inside and outside with pure gold. And them use gold make fine design for all the corner of the Ark. The second part of the Ark na the cover. Them no make this part with wood wey them cover with gold. But na pure gold them use make-am. And na the same length and breadth with the body of the Ark. Them put two cherubs wey them form with gold ontop the cover of the Ark. The two cherubs dey the two end of the cover of the Ark. Them face each other but them bow their head. Their wing go up and cover the top of the Ark. (Ex 25:10, 11, 17-22; 37:6-9) Them still de call this cover “mercy seat” or “cover wey de cover sin.”​—Ex 25:17; Heb 9:5, ftn; go check PROPITIATORY COVER.

(Exodus 25:21) You go put the Ten Commandments wey I go give you inside the Ark, and use the cover of the Ark, cover the Ark.

it-1 166 ¶2

Ark of the Covenant

The Ark dey holy. And na inside the Ark Moses keep the Ten Commandments wey Jehovah give-am. (Ex 25:16) After, Moses still put the golden jar of manna and the rod of Aaron wey produce flower, inside the Ark. But by the time wey Solomon build temple, the golden jar and the rod of Aaron no dey inside the Ark again. (Heb 9:4; Ex 16:32-34; Nu 17:10; 1Ki 8:9; 2Ch 5:10) Just before Moses die, e give the priests wey de carry Jehovah Ark, the “book of the law” wey e write. And e tell them say make them put-am for the side of the Ark, so that them no go give excuse say them no know the Law.​—De 31:24-26.

(Exodus 25:22) I go appear to you for there, and talk with you from ontop the cover. Na from the center of the two cherubs wey dey ontop the ark of the Covenant, I go tell you everything wey you go tell Israel people.

it-1 166 ¶3

Ark of the Covenant

The Ark Remind Israel People Say Jehovah Dey With Them. All the years wey Israel people use the Ark, them see-am as sign say Jehovah dey with them. Jehovah promise Moses say: ‘I go appear to you for there, and talk with you from ontop the cover, from the center of the two cherubs wey dey ontop the ark of the Covenant.’ ‘I go appear inside cloud ontop the cover.’ (Ex 25:22; Le 16:2) Prophet Samuel write for Bible say Jehovah ‘de sitdown ontop the two cherubs.’ (1Sa 4:4) So the cherubs de represent Jehovah chariot. (1Ch 28:18) Na e make “anytime wey Moses enter the tabernacle to talk with [Jehovah], e go hear the voice of God from ontop the cover of the ark of the Covenant, from the center of the two cherubs; and God go tell Moses wetin e want tell-am.” (Nu 7:89) Later, Joshua beg Jehovah for front of the Ark. And when Phinehas be high priest e still talk with Jehovah for front of the Ark. (Jos 7:6-10; Jg 20:27, 28) But every year for Atonement Day, na only the high priest de enter the Most Holy and see the Ark. E de enter there, no be to talk with Jehovah but to make sacrifice for e sin and the sin of the people.​—Le 16:2, 3, 13, 15, 17; Heb 9:7.

Fine-Fine Things Wey You See for Bible

(Exodus 25:20) The cherubs go spread their wings go up, and use-am cover the top of the ark. And they go face each other but they go bow their head face the cover.

it-1 432 ¶1

Cherub

For the tabernacle wey Israel people build for wilderness, them add fine-fine cherub design wey de represent the cherubs for heaven. For example, them use gold mold two cherubs and put them ontop the cover of the Ark. The two cherubs de face each other, but them bow their head face the cover of the Ark like say them bow to worship Jehovah. Them spread their wings go up and use-am cover the top of the Ark like say them de protect the Ark. (Ex 25:10-21; 37:7-9) Them still put cherub design for the tent cloth wey them use as inner cover for the tabernacle and the curtain wey separate the Holy from the Most Holy.​—Ex 26:1, 31; 36:8, 35.

(Exodus 25:30) And you go put the showbread ontop the table for my front every time.

it-2 936

Showbread

For the part of the tabernacle or temple wey them de call “Holy,” the priest de put twelve round-round bread ontop the table for there. Na this bread be showbread. Every Sabbath, them go remove the old ones and put fresh ones. (Ex 35:13; 39:36; 1Ki 7:48; 2Ch 13:11; Ne 10:32, 33) The meaning of the Hebrew word for showbread na “bread wey them put for person front.” And sometimes the word “front” fit mean say “the person dey there.” (2Ki 13:23). So, e just be like say Jehovah dey there de see the showbread wey the priest de put as offering for e front every time. (Ex 25:30, ftn) Them still de call the showbread, “layer bread” (2Ch 2:4), “bread of presentation” (Mr 2:26), or just “the bread” (Heb 9:2).

SEPTEMBER 21-27

FINE-FINE LESSON FROM BIBLE | EXODUS 27-28

“Wetin We Fit Learn From the Cloth Wey the Priests De Wear?”

(Exodus 28:30) You go put the Urim and the Thummim inside the breastpiece of judgment, and them must dey Aaron chest anytime wey e come stand for Jehovah front. And Aaron must carry [the U′rim and the Thum′mim] for e chest every time for Jehovah front, so that e go know wetin I don decide for Israel people.

it-2 1143

Urim and Thummim

Some people wey de talk about things wey dey inside Bible talk say the Urim and Thummim be like dice for Ludo. For James Moffatt Bible, them translate Urim and Thummim as “the holy dice” for Exodus 28:30. Some talk say the Urim and Thummim, na three dice with “yes” for one, “no” for the second one, and nothing dey the third one. If them want get answer for any question, the priest go put hand inside the breastpiece and bring one dice come out. If na “yes” come out, the answer na yes, if na “no,” the answer na no. But if na the one wey them no write anything, e mean say no answer. Other people feel say the Urim and Thummim, fit be two flat stone. And each of the stone get white and black side. When them want get answer, them go throw the two stone for ground. If two white side show, e mean say the answer na “yes” and if na two black side, e mean say the answer na “no.” But if na one black side and one white side show, e mean say no answer. One time wey Saul want know whether make e go attack Philistia people again, the priest help-am ask Jehovah whether make them go, but Jehovah no answer. As Jehovah no answer, e make Saul feel say one of e soldiers don sin. So e beg say make Jehovah answer with Thummim. Then the Thummim show say na Saul or Jonathan commit the sin. So them throw dice to know which of them do-am. For this story, e be like say to answer with Thummim and to throw dice no be the same thing. But the story still show say connection fit dey between to answer with Thummim and to throw dice.​—1Sa 14:36-42.

(Exodus 28:36) “You go make flat pure gold wey de shine and you go carve, ‘Jehovah na holy God’ ontop-am, the way them de carve stamp.

it-1 849 ¶3

Forehead

High Priest for Israel. High priest for Israel that time, de wear wetin them de call turban for head. Flat pure gold dey the front of the turban. When the high priest wear the turban, the pure gold go dey e forehead. For the pure gold wey be “the holy sign of dedication,” them write say: “Jehovah na holy God.” (Ex 28:36-38; 39:30) Them write this thing the way them de carve stamp that time. Na the high priest dey in charge of Jehovah worship for Israel. So e dey important make the high priest dey holy for everything wey e de do. This one still de remind Israel people say as them de worship Jehovah, them must always dey holy. And e still de show the kind high priest wey Jesus Christ be. Na Jehovah appoint-am as high priest. And as high priest, Jesus go continue to show say Jehovah na holy God.​—Heb 7:26.

(Exodus 28:42, 43) And you go still use linen material sew knicker to cover their nakedness. The knicker go long from waist to their knee. ⁴³ Before Aaron and e sons enter the tabernacle or near the altar to do their work for the holy place, them must wear-am so that them no go sin and die. This one go be law for [Aaron] and all e pikin forever.

w08 8/15 15 ¶17

Dress the Way E Go Show Honor to Jehovah

¹⁷ E really dey important make we show deep respect when we want worship Jehovah. Ecclesiastes 5:1 talk say: ‘Make you dey careful anytime wey you de go the house of the true God.’ One time, Jehovah tell Moses say make e remove e sandals because the place wey e dey na holy place. One angel still tell Joshua make e remove e sandals. (Ex. 3:5; Josh. 5:15) The reason why them go remove their sandals na to show say them get deep respect for God. Jehovah command the priests for Israel say make them wear knicker wey them sew with linen material, “to cover their nakedness.” (Ex. 28:42, 43) This one go make them no expose their nakedness for the altar when them go do their work. Everybody from the family of priest must dress as Jehovah say make them dress.

Fine-Fine Things Wey You See for Bible

(Exodus 28:15-21) “Na person wey de use thread design cloth, go make the breastpiece of judgment. E go make-am like the ephod, with gold, blue thread, purple wool, red material, and fine linen wey them twist. ¹⁶ The breastpiece of judgment go be square when you fold-am into two, and the length and width go be about 8.75 inch. ¹⁷ You go put some precious stones for the front, and you go arrange the stones for four rows. Ruby, topaz, and emerald go dey the first row. ¹⁸ Turquoise, sapphire, and jasper go dey the second row. ¹⁹ Lesh′em stone, agate, and amethyst go dey the third row. ²⁰ Chrys′o·lite, onyx, and jade go dey the fourth row. You go wire each one round with gold. ²¹ The stones go be the same number with the names of the 12 sons of Israel. And you go carve the name of the 12 tribe ontop each stone. Make you carve-am the way them de carve stamp.

w12 8/1 26 ¶1-3

You Know?

Where Israel people see the precious stones wey them put for the breastpiece wey dey the high priest cloth?

Na when Israel people dey wilderness after them comot from Egypt, God tell them to make the breastpiece of judgment. (Exodus 28:15-21) And them go put some precious stones like ruby, topaz, emerald, turquoise, sapphire, jasper, leshem, agate, amethyst, chrysolite, onyx, and jade for the breastpiece. How Israel people go take get all this precious stones?

For Bible time, people really value precious stones. And them even de buy and sell precious stones. For example, people for Egypt that time de buy precious stones from far place like Iran, Afghanistan, and maybe even India. Egypt people de dig some of the different-different precious stone from underground. All the precious stones wey de come from all the area wey Egypt people de control that time, na their kings de collect-am. Job talk how people for e time de dig ground to find precious stones. And sapphire and topaz dey among the precious stones wey Job talk about.​—Job 28:1-11, 19.

The book of Exodus talk say before Israel people comot from Egypt, them collect plenty good things from Egypt people. (Exodus 12:35, 36) So e fit be say this precious stones wey them put for the high priest breastpiece na part of the plenty better things wey them collect from Egypt.

(Exodus 28:38) E go dey for Aaron forehead, and Aaron go answer when anybody no handle the holy things wey e want give God, the way e suppose handle-am. Israel people must give this things as holy gift to God. E must always dey [Aaron] forehead so that Jehovah go accept the people.

it-1 1130 ¶2

Holiness

Animals and Things Wey People Harvest From Farm. The first male wey animals like cattle, sheep, and goat born, dey holy to Jehovah. They no go buy them back from Jehovah. The priests go sacrifice the animals to Jehovah and some parts of the animals go be their own. (Nu 18:17-19) The first things wey Israel people harvest, the tithe, all their sacrifice, and all the things wey them give to support the work for the tabernacle dey holy to Jehovah. (Ex 28:38) Everything wey them give Jehovah, dey holy. So they no go ever use this things play or handle them anyhow. One example na the law wey concern tithe. If person don keep some things like wheat wey e want give as tithe, and the person or anybody for e house take some of those things by mistake and use-am, the person don break the law wey concern the holy things. The Law talk say if this kind thing happen, the person go pay the full amount of wetin e first promise. Then e go divide the full amount into five part, and add one part join the full amount wey e don first pay. E go still use one better ram do sacrifice for e sin. So this one de make the people show deep respect for the things wey dey holy to Jehovah.​—Le 5:14-16.

SEPTEMBER 28–OCTOBER 4

FINE-FINE LESSON FROM BIBLE | EXODUS 29-30

“Contribution to Jehovah”

(Exodus 30:11, 12) Then Jehovah tell Moses say: ¹² “Anytime wey you count the people of Israel and register them, each person must pay money to buy e life back from Jehovah, the time wey you de register them. Them go do this one so that when you register them, bad thing no go happen to them.

it-2 764-765

Registration

For Sinai. The first time wey Jehovah tell Moses say make e register Israel people, na when them dey Sinai. This one happen for the second month of the second year after they come out from Egypt. Jehovah tell Moses to choose one mature man from each tribe to handle the work wey concern to register people for their tribe. The Law talk say make them register all the men from 20 years go up; people wey go fit serve for army. The Law still talk say make each person wey them register pay half shekel ($1.10) as tax. Them go use this money support the work for tabernacle. (Ex 30:11-16; Nu 1:1-16, 18, 19) The total number of people wey them register na 603,550, but them no register the Levites. The Levites no go inherit any land for the land wey Jehovah promise them. Them no go de pay tax for the tabernacle and them no go serve for army.​—Nu 1:44-47; 2:32, 33; 18:20, 24.

(Exodus 30:13-15) All the people wey you go register go pay half shekel and e go match the measurement of shekel for the holy place. Twenty ge′rahs na one shekel. And na half shekel them go contribute to Jehovah. ¹⁴ All the people wey them register from 20 years go up, go give Jehovah this contribution. ¹⁵ Whether na rich man or poor man, na the same half shekel they go pay as contribution to Jehovah to buy their life back.

it-1 502

Contribution

For the Law wey Jehovah give Israel people, some of the contribution wey them de do na must. When Moses register the people of Israel, all the men from 20 years go up, ‘pay half shekel [e fit be $1.10] and e match the measurement of shekel for the holy place.’ This na contribution to Jehovah wey each person go pay to buy e life back from Jehovah. And they go still use the money support the work for tabernacle. (Ex 30:11-16) Josephus na Jew person wey write about Jew people. For one of e book (The Jewish War, VII, 218 [vi, 6]) e write say they later start to pay this “holy tax” every year.​—2Ch 24:6-10; Mt 17:24; go check TAXATION.

(Exodus 30:16) You go take the silver money wey Israel people pay to buy their life back, and use-am for the work wey them de do for the tabernacle. E go be payment for their life, so that Jehovah go de remember them.”

w11 11/1 12 ¶1-2

You Know?

How them de get the money wey them de use for Jehovah temple for Jerusalem?

Na the money wey them de tax people, them de use support the work for temple. Tithe na the main way them de use get money for the temple, and the Law say they must pay this tithe. Different-different type of tax still dey wey them de use get money to support the work. For example, the people of Israel do contribution when them de build the tabernacle. That time, Jehovah tell Moses say make e take half shekel from all the people of Israel wey they register and the money go be “contribution to Jehovah.”​—Exodus 30:12-16.

As time de go, Jew people start to contribute this money every year as the temple tax. Na this tax Jesus tell Peter say make e take coin from the mouth of fish and use-am pay.​—Matthew 17:24-27.

Fine-Fine Things Wey You See for Bible

(Exodus 29:10) “Now you go bring the bull come the front of the tabernacle, and Aaron and e sons go put their hand ontop the head of the bull.

it-1 1029 ¶4

Hand

To Put Hand Ontop Person or Something. Plenty reason dey why them de put hand ontop person or something, no be just to hold-am. The main reason why people de put hand ontop person or something that time, na to show say them don choose or don gree say them don choose the person or thing for special work. For example, the time wey them de make Aaron and e sons priests, Aaron and e sons put their hands for the head of the bull and the two ram wey they go sacrifice. This one na to show say they gree say them de sacrifice this animals for them as they want become Jehovah priests. (Ex 29:10, 15, 19; Le 8:14, 18, 22) Another example na when Jehovah say make Moses hand over to Joshua. As Moses put e hand ontop Joshua, e make Joshua get the sense wey e use lead the people of Israel well. (De 34:9) Them de put hand ontop person when them want bless-am. (Ge 48:14; Mr 10:16) When Jesus want heal some people, e touch them or put hand ontop them. (Mt 8:3; Mr 6:5; Lu 13:13) Some people receive holy spirit when the apostles put hand ontop them.​—Ac 8:14-20; 19:6.

(Exodus 30:31-33) “You go tell the people of Israel say, ‘This oil go continue to be holy anointing oil to me for all wuna generation. ³² Make person no ever rub-am for e skin and wuna no go ever make anything with the ingredients wey them de use make this oil. Na holy oil, and e go continue to dey holy for wuna. ³³ Anybody wey make this kind oil and anybody wey use-am anoint person wey no come from Aaron family, wuna must kill the person.’”

it-1 114 ¶1

Anointed, Anointing

For the Law wey Jehovah give Moses, e tell-am how e go make the anointing oil. Na the best ingredients like myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and olive oil Moses use make the anointing oil. And na Jehovah tell-am the exact amount wey e go use. (Ex 30:22-25) Anybody wey make this kind oil and use-am for e self or person wey no come from Aaron family, must die. (Ex 30:31-33) This one de show say when they anoint person with this oil, the work wey e want do dey important and holy.