Exodus 40

Setting up the Tabernacle

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:

2 "You are to set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month.^[a]

3 Put the ark of the testimony there, and screen off the ark with the veil.

4 Then bring in the table and lay out its arrangement; also bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.

5 Place the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony. Put up the screen for the entrance to the tabernacle.

6 Position the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting.

7 Place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.

8 Assemble the surrounding courtyard and hang the screen for the gate of the courtyard.

9 "Take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it along with all its furnishings so that it will be holy.

10 Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar so that it will be especially holy.

11 Anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it.

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

13 Clothe Aaron with the holy garments, anoint him, and consecrate him, so that he can serve Me as a priest.

14 Have his sons come forward and clothe them in tunics.

15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve Me as priests. Their anointing will serve to inaugurate a permanent priesthood for them throughout their generations."

16 Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him.

17 The tabernacle was set up in the first month of the second year, on the first [day] of the month.^[b]

18 Moses set up the tabernacle: he laid its bases, positioned its planks, inserted its crossbars, and set up its posts.

19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

20 Moses took the testimony and placed [it] in the ark, and attached the poles to the ark. He set the mercy seat on top of the ark.

21 He brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and screened off the ark of the testimony, just as the Lord had commanded him.

22 Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil.

23 He arranged the bread on it before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.

24 He also put the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle

25 and set up the lamps before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.

26 Moses also installed the gold altar in the tent of meeting, in front of the veil,

27 and burned fragrant incense on it, just as the Lord had commanded him.

28 He put up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle.

29 Then he placed the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the Lord had commanded him.

30 He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing.

31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet from it.

32 They washed whenever they came to the tent of meeting and approached the altar, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

33 Next Moses set up the surrounding courtyard for the tabernacle and the altar and hung a screen for the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.

The Lord's Glory

34 The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

35 Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

36 The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey.

37 If the cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages 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]. Lit on the day of the first month, on the first of the month
• [b]. DSS, Sam, LXX add of their coming out of Egypt

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.