Exodus 40

Moses sets up the dwelling

1 The LORD spoke to Moses:

2 Set up the meeting tent dwelling on the first day of the first month.

3 Place the chest containing the covenant inside the dwelling. Hide the chest from view with the veil.

4 Bring in the table and arrange its items. Bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.

5 Place the gold altar for burning incense in front of the chest containing the covenant. Set up the screen at the dwelling's entrance.

6 Put the altar for entirely burned offerings in front of the entrance to the meeting tent dwelling.

7 Put the washbasin between the meeting tent and the altar and put water in it.

8 Set up the courtyard all around. Hang up the screen at the courtyard gate.

9 Then take the anointing oil and anoint the dwelling and everything in it. Make holy the dwelling and all its equipment, and it will be holy.

10 Anoint the altar for entirely burned offerings and all its equipment. Make the altar holy, and the altar will be most holy.

11 Anoint the washbasin with its stand and make it holy.

12 Then bring Aaron and his sons to the meeting tent's entrance and wash them with water.

13 Dress Aaron in the holy clothes. Anoint him and make him holy so that he may serve me as priest.

14 Then bring his sons and dress them in tunics.

15 Anoint them like you anointed their father so that they may serve me as priests. Their anointing is to the priesthood for all time in every generation.

16 Moses did everything exactly as the LORD had commanded him.

17 In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the dwelling was set up.

18 Moses set up the dwelling. He laid out its bases. He set up its boards, inserted its bars, and raised up its posts.

19 He spread the tent out over the dwelling, and he put the covering of the tent over it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

20 He took the covenant document and placed it inside the chest. He put the poles on the chest, and he set the cover on top of the chest.

21 He brought the chest into the dwelling. He set up the veil as a screen to hide from view the chest containing the covenant, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

22 He placed the table in the meeting tent, on the north side of the dwelling, outside the veil.

23 He set the bread in its proper place on the table in the LORD's presence, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

24 He put the lampstand in the meeting tent, opposite the table on the south side of the dwelling.

25 He set up the lamps in the LORD's presence, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

26 He put the gold altar in the meeting tent in front of the veil.

27 He burned sweet-smelling incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

28 He also set up the screen at the entrance to the dwelling.

29 He placed the altar for entirely burned offerings at the entrance to the meeting tent dwelling. He offered the entirely burned offering and the grain offering on it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

30 He put the washbasin between the meeting tent and the altar, and put water in it for washing.

31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons used it to wash their hands and their feet.

32 Whenever they went into the meeting tent and whenever they approached the altar, they washed themselves, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

He set up the courtyard around the dwelling and the altar, and he hung up the screen at the courtyard's gate.

God’s presence fills the dwelling!

33 When Moses had finished all the work,

34 the cloud covered the meeting tent and the LORD's glorious presence filled the dwelling.

35 Moses couldn't enter the meeting tent because the cloud had settled on it, and the LORD's glorious presence filled the dwelling.

36 Whenever the cloud rose from the dwelling, the Israelites would set out on their journeys.

37 But if the cloud didn't rise, then they didn't set out until the day it rose.

38 The LORD's cloud stayed over the dwelling during the day, with lightning in it at night, clearly visible to the whole household of Israel at every stage of their journey.

Exodus 40 Commentary

Chapter 40

The tabernacle is to be set up, Aaron and his sons to be sanctified. (1-15) Moses performs all as directed. (16-33) The glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle. (34-38)

Verses 1-15 When a new year begins, we should seek to serve God better than the year before. In half a year the tabernacle was completed. When the hearts of numbers are earnest in a good cause, much may be done in a short time; and when the commandments of God are continually attended to, as the rule of working, all will be done well. The high-priesthood was in the family of Aaron till Christ came, and in Him, the substance of all these shadows, it continues for ever.

Verses 16-33 When the tabernacle and the furniture of it were prepared, they did not put off rearing it till they came to Canaan; but, in obedience to the will of God, they set it up in the midst of their camp. Those who are unsettled in the world, must not think that this will excuse want of religion; as if it were enough to begin to serve God when they begin to be settled in the world. No; a tabernacle for God is very needful, even in a wilderness, especially as we may be in another world before we come to fix in this. And we may justly fear lest we should deceive ourselves with a form of godliness. The thought that so few entered Canaan, should warn young persons especially, not to put off the care of their souls.

Verses 34-38 The cloud covered the tabernacle even in the clearest day; it was not a cloud which the sun scatters. This cloud was a token of God's presence to be seen day and night, by all Israel, that they might never again question, Is the Lord among us, or is he not? It guided the camp of Israel through the wilderness. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they rested; when it removed, they followed it. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In light and fire the Shechinah made itself visible: God is Light; our God is a consuming Fire. Yet so dazzling was the light, and so dreadful the fire, that Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, till the splendour was abated. But what Moses could not do, our Lord Jesus has done, whom God caused to draw near; and who has invited us to come boldly, even to the mercy-seat. Being taught by the Holy Spirit to follow the example of Christ, as well as to depend upon him, to attend his ordinances, and obey his precepts, we shall be kept from losing our way, and be led in the midst of the paths of judgment, till we come to heaven, the habitation of his holiness. BLESSED BE GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST!

Footnotes

• [a]. March–April, Abib

Chapter Summary

\\INTRODUCTION OF EXODUS 40\\

This chapter contains the order for setting up the tabernacle, and
placing the furniture of it where it was the will of God it should be
put, Ex 40:1-8 and for the anointing it, and all its vessels, and
also Aaron and his sons, Ex 40:9-16 all which were accordingly
done, the tabernacle was reared up, and everything was put in its
proper place, Ex 40:16-33 upon which a cloud covered the tent, and
the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, so that Moses could not
enter; which cloud afterwards was a direction in their journeys, by
night and by day, Ex 40:34-38.