Exodus 40:20

20 He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it.

Exodus 40:20 in Other Translations

20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

20 He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark.

20 He took the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. Then he attached the carrying poles to the Ark, and he set the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of it.

20 He placed The Testimony in the Chest, inserted the poles for carrying the Chest, and placed the lid, the Atonement-Cover, on it.

20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark:

20 He took the words of God's promise and put them in the ark. He put the poles on the ark and placed the throne of mercy on top of the ark.

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.

20 He got the tablets of the covenant. He placed them in the ark. He put the poles through its rings. And he put the cover on it. The cover was the place where sin is paid for.

Exodus 40:20 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 40:20

And he took and put the testimony into the ark
The ten commands, called the "testimony", because they testified and declared what was the will of God with respect to things to be done, or not done. The Targum of Jonathan says, he put the broken pieces of the tables into it; but what became of them, or were done with them, we nowhere read; and it does not appear that any other, but those that Moses hewed by the order of God, were put into the ark; see ( Deuteronomy 10:1-5 )

and set the staves on the ark;
that it might be ready to be carried whenever a remove was necessary:

and put the mercy seat above upon the ark;
together with the cherubim.

Exodus 40:20 In-Context

18 When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts.

19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the LORD commanded him.

20 He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it.

21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the LORD commanded him.

22 Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 16:34">Exodus 16:34; Exodus 16:34">Exodus 16:34; Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 10:5; 1 Kings 8:9; Hebrews 9:4
• 2. S Exodus 25:21
• 3. Exodus 25:17-22; S Exodus 26:34; S Exodus 31:7