Exodus 40

1 And the Lorde spake vnto Moses saynge:

2 In the first daye of the first moneth shalt thou sett vp the habitacio of the tabernacle of witnesse,

3 ad put theri the arcke of witnesse, and couer the arcke with the vayle,

4 ad brynge in the table and apparell it, and brynge in the candelsticke and put on his lampes,

5 and sett the censalter of golde before the arcke of witnesse, and put the hangynge of the dore vnto the habitacion.

6 And sett the burntoffrynge alter before the dore of the tabernacle of witnesse,

7 ad sett the lauer betwene the tabernacle of witnesse, ad the alter, ad put water theri,

8 and make the court roude aboute, ad set vp the hagynge of the courte gate.

9 And take the anoyntinge oyle and anoynt the habitacion and all that is there in, and halow it and all that belonge there to: that it maye be holye.

10 And anoynte the altar of the burntoffringes and all his vessels, and sanctifye the altar that it maye be most holye.

11 And anoynte also the lauer and his fote, and sanctifye it.

12 Than brynge Aaron and his sonnes vnto the dore of the tabernacle of witnesse, and wash them with water.

13 And put apon Aaron the holye vestmentes. and anoynte him and sanctifye him that he maye ministre vnto me,

14 ...

15 that their anoyntige maie be an euerlastinge preasthode vnto the thorow out their generacions.

16 And Moses dyd acordige to all that the Lorde commaunded him.

17 Thus was the tabernacle reared vp the first moneth in the secode yere.

18 And Moses rered vp the tabernacle ad fastened his sokettes, ad set vp the bordes ad put in their barres, ad rered vp the pillers,

19 ad spred abrode the tet ouer the habitacio ad put the coueringe of the tent an hye aboue it: as the Lorde commaunded Moses.

20 And he toke ad put the testimonye in the arke ad sett the staues to the arcke and put the merciseate an hye apon the arcke,

21 and broughte the arcke in to the habitacio and hanged vp the vayle ad couered the arcke of witnesse, as the Lorde commaunded Moses.

22 And he put the table in the tabernacle off witnesse in the north syde of the habitacio without the vayle,

23 and set the bred in ordre before the Lorde, eue as the Lorde had commaunded Moses.

24 And he put the candelsticke in the tabernacle of witnesse ouer agaynst the table in the south syde of the habitacion,

25 and set vp the lampes before the Lorde: as the Lorde commaunded Moses.

26 And he put the golden alter in the tabernacle of witnesse before the vayle,

27 ad brent swete cens there on as the Lorde commaunded Moses.

28 And set vp the hangynge in the dore of the habitacion,

29 and set the burntoffringe alter before the dore of the tabernacle of witnesse, and offred burntoffringes and meatofferinges there on as the Lorde commaunded Moses.

30 And he set the lauer betwene the tabernacle of witnesse and the alter, and poured water there in to wash with all.

31 And both Moses Aaron and his sonnes washed their hades and their fete there at:

32 both when they went in to the tabernacle of witnesse, or whe they went to the alter, as the Lorde comaunded Moses.

33 And he rered vp the courte rounde aboute the habitacion and the alter, and set vp the hanginge of the courte gate: and so Moses fynished the worke.

34 And the clowde couered the tabernacle of witnesse, and the glorye of the Lorde fylled the habitacion:

35 so that Moses coude not entre in to the tabernacle of witnesse, because the clowde abode there in, and the glorye of the Lorde fylled the habitacion.

36 When the clowde was taken vp from of the habitacyo, the childern of Israel toke their iornayes as oft as they iornayed.

37 And yf the clowde departed not, they iornayed nott till it departed:

38 for the clowde of the Lorde was apon the habitacion by daye, and fyre by nyghte: in the sighte of all the house of Israel in all their iornayes.

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!

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.