Exodus 40

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2 On the first day of the first month, at the new moon, thou shalt set up the tabernacle of witness,

3 and thou shalt place the ark of the testimony, and shalt cover the ark with the veil,

4 and thou shalt bring in the table and shalt set forth that which is to be set forth on it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick and place its lamps on it.

5 And thou shalt place the golden altar, to burn incense before the ark; and thou shalt put a covering of a veil on the door of the tabernacle of witness.

6 And thou shalt put the altar of burnt-offerings by the doors of the tabernacle of witness, and thou shalt set up the tabernacle round about, and thou shalt hallow all that belongs to it round about.

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9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and shalt anoint the tabernacle, and all things in it; and shalt sanctify it, and all its furniture, and it shall be holy.

10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of burnt-offerings, and all its furniture; and thou shalt hallow the altar, and the altar shall be most holy.

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12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the doors of the tabernacle of witness, and thou shalt wash them with water.

13 And thou shalt put on Aaron the holy garments, and thou shalt anoint him, and thou shalt sanctify him, and he shall minister to me as priest.

14 And thou shalt bring up his sons, and shalt put garments on them.

15 And thou shalt anoint them as thou didst anoint their father, and they shall minister to me as priests; and it shall be that they shall have an everlasting anointing of priesthood, throughout their generations.

16 And Moses did all things whatsoever the Lord commanded him, so did he.

17 And it came to pass in the first month, in the second year after their going forth out of Egypt, at the new moon, that the tabernacle was set up.

18 And Moses set up the tabernacle, and put on the chapiters, and put the bars into their places, and set up the posts.

19 And he stretched out the curtains over the tabernacle, and put the veil of the tabernacle on it above as the Lord commanded Moses.

20 And he took the testimonies, and put them into the ark; and he put the staves by the sides of the ark.

21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and put on the covering of the veil, and covered the ark of the testimony, as the Lord commanded Moses.

22 And he put the table in the tabernacle of witness, on the north side without the veil of the tabernacle.

23 And he put on it the shewbread before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

24 And he put the candlestick into the tabernacle of witness, on the side of the tabernacle toward the south.

25 And he put on it its lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

26 And he put the golden altar in the tabernacle of witness before the veil;

27 and he burnt on it incense of composition, as the Lord commanded Moses.

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29 And he put the altar of the burnt-offerings by the doors of the tabernacle.

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31 And he set up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar; and Moses accomplished all the works.

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34 And the cloud covered the tabernacle of witness, and the tabernacle was filled with the glory of the Lord.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tabernacle of testimony, because the cloud overshadowed it, and the tabernacle was filled with the glory of the Lord.

36 And when the cloud went up from the tabernacle, the children of Israel prepared to depart with their baggage.

37 And if the cloud went not up, they did not prepare to depart, till the day when the cloud went up.

38 For a cloud was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night before all Israel, in all their journeyings.

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]. Setting forth of it.
• [b]. See 1 John 2. 27; The anointing abideth etc.
• [c]. under.
• [d]. harnessed again.
• [e]. preparations etc.

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.