Exodus40

Exodus 40 details the completion and dedication of the Tabernacle according to the LORD's precise instructions. Moses faithfully followed all commands for its erection, the placement of its holy furnishings, and the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. Upon its completion, the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle, and a cloud by day and fire by night began to guide the Israelites' journeys.
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Instructions for Setting Up and Consecration

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And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
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On the first day of the first month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. ​
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And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and thou shalt screen the ark with the veil. ​
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And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.
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And thou shalt set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
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And thou shalt set the altar of burnt-offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
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And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
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And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.
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And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the furniture thereof: and it shall be holy. ​
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And thou shalt anoint the altar of burnt-offering, and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar shall be most holy.
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And thou shalt anoint the laver and its base, and sanctify it.
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And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tent of meeting, and shalt wash them with water.
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And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments; and thou shalt anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
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And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them;
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and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: and their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. ​

Moses Completes the Task

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Thus did Moses: according to all that Jehovah commanded him, so did he.
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And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. ​
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And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up its pillars.
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And he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
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And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark: ​
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and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
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And he put the table in the tent of meeting, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the veil.
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And he set the bread in order upon it before Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
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And he put the candlestick in the tent of meeting, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
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And he lighted the lamps before Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
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And he put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil:
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and he burnt thereon incense of sweet spices; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
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And he put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
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And he set the altar of burnt-offering at the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the meal-offering; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
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And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water therein, wherewith to wash.
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And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat;
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when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
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And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. ​

The Glory of the Lord Fills the Tabernacle

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Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. ​
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And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. ​
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And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys:
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but if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
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For the cloud of Jehovah was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. ​

Study Notes for Exodus 40

Verse 2

The dedication of the Tabernacle takes place exactly one year after the Exodus (cf. Ex 12:2). This date marks the establishment of the central institution of Israelite worship and identity.

Verse 3

The Ark contains the 'Testimony' (the tablets of the Law), representing God's covenant requirements. Covering it with the veil emphasizes the holiness and limited access to God's immediate presence.

Verse 9

Anointing with the holy oil signifies dedication and separation for sacred service. The act of anointing the structure and vessels renders them 'most holy,' set apart from all common use.

Verse 15

The anointing establishes an 'everlasting priesthood.' This highlights the permanent, hereditary nature of the Aaronic line as the necessary mediators between God and Israel.

Verse 17

This verse provides the precise chronology: the first day of the first month of the second year (Nisan 1). The entire Book of Exodus, therefore, covers the period from the departure from Egypt to the erection of the sanctuary.

Verse 20

The 'testimony' refers specifically to the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments. This action fulfills the primary purpose of the Ark—to house God's explicit covenant word.

Verse 33

The concluding phrase, 'So Moses finished the work,' echoes the language used for God finishing creation (Gen 2:1-2). Moses' perfect obedience brought the divine plan for dwelling among Israel to completion.

Verse 34

The appearance of the cloud (Shekinah) and the filling of the tabernacle with God's glory (Kavod) is the ultimate sign of divine acceptance and validation of the entire construction project.

Verse 35

Even Moses, the great mediator, cannot enter because the holiness is too intense. This demonstrates that while the Tabernacle brought God near, the barrier between the finite human and the infinite divine still remained.

Verse 38

The cloud by day and fire by night served two essential functions: providing visible guidance for the journey (Vv. 36-37) and demonstrating God’s continuous, immediate, and protective presence among his people.

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