And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up
the
tabernacle
Not on the very exact day on which it was first reared up, for
that was on the first day of the first month of the second year
from the coming up of Israel out of Egypt, ( Exodus 40:17
) ; whereas the following offerings of the princes were not
offered, and many other things previous to them, recorded in the
preceding chapters, were not done, until after the first day of
the second month of that year, ( Numbers 1:1 ) ; though
the Jews say F5 the first of Nisan, or of the first
month, was the first for various things, and the first on which
the princes offered; but no one particular day can be intended,
because the princes were twelve days successively offering their
offerings; wherefore "the day" here only denotes the time about
which it was when this service was performed; when the tabernacle
was not only set up, but "fully" set up, when everything relating
to it was in its proper place and order; when not only it was put
together, and all the vessels and instruments of it in their due
place, but also when the people of Israel, for whose sake it was
erected, that the Lord God might dwell among them, were numbered,
and their camps formed and pitched around the tabernacle; and the
Levites were taken and numbered also, who were to serve at it,
and their place and service were appointed unto them about it;
for then, and not till then, was the service of it completed, and
its proper place and situation fixed and settled:
and had anointed it;
with the holy oil Moses was directed to make and anoint it with,
( Exodus
30:23-28 ) ( Leviticus
8:10 ) ;
and sanctified it:
set it apart for holy use and service, to be an habitation for
God, and the place of his worship:
and all the instruments thereof;
the ark, table, candlestick
both the altars, and all the vessels thereof, and had
anointed them,
and sanctified them;
the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering, and all
appertaining: thereunto; according to Ben Gersom, this finishing
of the whole was at the end of the seven days of consecration of
Aaron and his sons, ( Exodus 29:35
) .