In the end the glory of the Lord leaves one mountain to take up residence upon another; but even this is just the beginning.

Moses calls the people to shape the pieces of the tabernacle and then assemble it — according to a ritual more ancient than mankind.

The Lord finally gives Moses his answer, and sends him back down the mountain with the evidence in his hands and on his face.

Moses enters into a lengthy period of negotiation on his people’s behalf. Will he persuade God to reconsider his judgement on Israel, or is this the end of the relationship?

Moses returns from forty days on the mountain to find that everything has fallen apart in his absence.