Exodus 40

Completion of the Tabernacle

1 And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "On the first day of the month, you will set up the tabernacle of the tent of assembly.

3 And you will put there the ark of the testimony, and you will cover over the ark [with] the curtain.

4 And you will bring the table, and you will arrange its setting, and you will bring the lampstand, and you will set up its lamps.

5 And you will put the gold altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and you will set up the entrance screen for the tabernacle.

6 And you will put the altar of the burnt offering before the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of assembly.

7 And you will put the basin between the tent of assembly and the altar, and you will put water {in it}.

8 And you will set up the courtyard all around, and you will put up the screen of the gate of the courtyard.

9 "And you will take the anointing oil, and you will anoint the tabernacle and all that [is] in it, and you will consecrate all of its equipment, and it will be holy.

10 And you will anoint the altar of the burnt offering and all of its equipment, and you will consecrate the altar, and the altar will be a most holy thing.

11 And you will anoint the basin and its stand, and you will consecrate it.

12 And you will bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of assembly, and you will wash them with the water.

13 And you will clothe Aaron with the holy garments, and you will anoint him, and you will consecrate him, and he will serve as a priest for me.

14 And you will bring his sons, and you will clothe them [with] tunics.

15 And you will anoint them as you anointed their father, and they will serve as priests for me. And their anointing will be for them to be a lasting priesthood throughout their generations."

16 And Moses did according to all that Yahweh had commanded him; so he did.

17 {In} the first month of the second year, on [the] first of the month, the tabernacle was set up.

18 And Moses raised the tabernacle, and he placed its bases, and he set up its frames, and he placed its bars, and he raised its pillars.

19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle; he placed the covering of the tent over it, above [it], as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

20 And he took and he put the testimony into the ark, and he placed the poles on the ark, and he put the atonement cover on the ark, above [it].

21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and he set up the curtain of the screening, and he shielded the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

22 And he put the table in the tent of assembly on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain.

23 And he arranged on it an arrangement of bread before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

24 And he placed the lampstand in the tent of assembly opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle.

25 And he set up the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

26 And he placed the gold altar in the tent of assembly before the curtain.

27 And he turned fragrant incense into smoke on it, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

28 And he set up the entrance screen for the tabernacle.

29 And the altar of burnt offering he placed [at] the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of assembly, and he offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

30 And he placed the basin between the tent of assembly and the altar, and he put there water for washing.

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

32 At their going into the tent of assembly and at their approaching the altar, they washed, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

33 And he set up the courtyard all around the tabernacle and the altar, and he put up the screen of the gate of the courtyard, and Moses completed the work.

34 And the cloud covered the tent of assembly, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was unable to go into the tent of assembly because the cloud settled on it and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.

36 And when the cloud was lifted from the tabernacle, the {Israelites} set out on all their journeys.

37 But if the cloud was not lifted, they did not set out until the day of its being lifted.

38 For the cloud of Yahweh [was] on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it [by] night before the eyes of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

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]. Or "veil the ark with the curtain"
• [b]. Literally "there"
• [c]. Or "vessels" or "utensils" or "contents"
• [d]. Or "vessels" or "utensils" or "contents"
• [e]. Literally "holiness of holinesses," that is, "a holy thing among holy things"
• [f]. Or "a priesthood of eternity"
• [g]. Literally "and it was in"
• [h]. Or "boards" or "planks"
• [i]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"

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.