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

1
Then the LORD said to Moses,
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“On the first day of the first month you are to set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. ​
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Put the ark of the Testimony in it and screen off the ark with the veil. ​
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Then bring in the table and set out its arrangement; bring in the lampstand as well, and set up its lamps.
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Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony, and hang the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
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Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting.
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And place the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
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Set up the surrounding courtyard and hang the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard.
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Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it along with all its furnishings, and it shall be holy. ​
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Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it shall be most holy.
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Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.
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Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water.
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And you are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments, anoint him, and consecrate him, so that he may serve Me as a priest.
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Bring his sons forward and clothe them with tunics.
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Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve Me as priests. Their anointing will qualify them for a permanent priesthood throughout their generations.” ​

Moses Completes the Task

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Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.
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So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year. ​
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When Moses set up the tabernacle, he laid its bases, positioned its frames, inserted its crossbars, and set up its posts.
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Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, just as the LORD had commanded him.
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Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark. ​
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Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.
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Moses placed the table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil.
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He arranged the bread on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
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He also placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle
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and set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
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Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil,
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and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded him.
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Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
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He placed the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him.
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He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing;
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and from it Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet.
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They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
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And Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and he hung the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard. 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 the LORD filled the tabernacle. ​
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Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ​
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Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey.
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If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up.
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For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through 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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