32
They would wash whenever they went into the tent of meeting or whenever they approached the altar. Moses followed the LORD's instructions.
33
He set up the courtyard around the tent and the altar and put up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard. Finally, Moses finished the work.
34
Then the [column of] smoke covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tent.
35
Moses couldn't go into the tent of meeting, because the smoke settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tent.
36
In all their travels, whenever the [column of] smoke moved from the tent, the Israelites would break camp.
37
But if the column didn't move, they wouldn't break camp.
38
So the LORD's column stayed over the tent during the day, and there was fire in the smoke at night. In this way all the Israelites could see the column throughout their travels.
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.