In
Exodus 31-40, BibleGod instructs
Moses to make him a lampstand. This is in the "
New International Version"; in the "
King James Version" it is referred to as a "
candlestick" but the other details are essentially the same, and since the thing is to be made of "pure gold," and must hold seven candles, it isn't what we would modernly think of as a "candlestick," so much as a
candelabrum -- almost a circular
menorah. But the NIV has a whole chapter (if a short one) titled, "The Lampstand." And it instructs:
31 Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
37 Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. 38 Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. 39 A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. 40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
Yes, he did refer right there at the end to a "
pattern" -- so, according to the Bible, its deity showed his numero uno
prophet a "pattern" for decorating purposes. Indeed, this is but a sampling of how all of Exodus 25, 26, and 27 is BibleGod being an
extremely fussy
interior decorator. There is literally a chapter's worth of material in the Bible about how BibleGod wants his
curtains. Really, really big (in
cubits translating to as much as forty feet long), with ten of them on the inside and eleven on the outside of the place, in
blue,
purple and
scarlet, with cherubim woven into them "by a skilled worker." And in Exodus 28, BibleGod, the dainty dandy that he is, branches into snap-snap-twirl
fashion maven, going on about
robes and
tunics and
breastpieces and
undergarments. Indeed, BibleGod instructs:
42 Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. 43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.
That's right; if you don't wear linen underwear in front of the altar, BibleGod will straight-up kill you. So, apparently BibleGod is into some pretty.... flowery.... stuff.
Who knew?