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.

Instructions for Setting Up and Consecration

1
ADONAI said to Moshe,
2
"On the first day of the first month, you are to set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. ​
3
Put in it the ark for the testimony, and conceal the ark with the curtain. ​
4
Bring in the table, and arrange its display. Bring in the menorah, and light its lamps.
5
Set the gold altar for incense in front of the ark for the testimony, and set up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle.
6
Place the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting.
7
Set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
8
Set up the courtyard all the way around, and hang up the screen for the entrance to the courtyard.
9
"Take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it -consecrate it with all its furnishings; then it will be holy. ​
10
Anoint the altar for burnt offerings with all its utensils - consecrate the altar; then the altar will be especially holy.
11
Anoint the basin and its base, and consecrate it.
12
"Then bring Aharon and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.
13
Put the holy garments on Aharon, anoint him, and consecrate him, so that he can serve me in the office of cohen.
14
Bring his sons, put tunics on them,
15
and anoint them as you anointed their father, so that they can serve me in the office of cohen. Their anointing will signify that the office of cohen is theirs through all their generations." ​

Moses Completes the Task

16
Moshe did this - he acted in accordance with everything ADONAI had ordered him to do.
17
On the first day of the first month of the second year, the tabernacle was set up. ​
18
Moshe erected the tabernacle, put its sockets in place, put up its planks, put in its crossbars and set up its posts.
19
He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent above it, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
20
He took and put the testimony inside the ark, put the poles on the ark, and set the ark-cover above, on the ark. ​
21
Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, set up the curtain as a screen and concealed the ark for the testimony, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
22
He put the table in the tent of meeting on the side of the tabernacle facing north, outside the curtain.
23
He arranged a row of bread on it before ADONAI, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
24
He put the menorah in the tent of meeting across from the table, on the side of the tabernacle facing south.
25
Then he lit the lamps before ADONAI, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
26
He set the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain
27
and burned on it incense made from aromatic spices, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
28
He set up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle.
29
The altar for burnt offerings he placed at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
30
He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing,
31
so that Moshe and Aharon and his sons could wash their hands and feet there -
32
so that they could wash when entering the tent of meeting and when approaching the altar, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
33
Finally, he erected the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar and set up the screen for the entrance to the courtyard. ​

The Glory of the Lord Fills the Tabernacle

34
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of ADONAI filled the tabernacle. ​
35
Moshe was unable to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud remained on it, and the glory of ADONAI filled the tabernacle. ​
36
Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Isra'el continued with all their travels.
37
But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not travel onward until the day when it was taken up.
38
For the cloud of ADONAI was above the tabernacle during the day, and fire was in [the cloud] at night, so that all the house of Isra'el could see it throughout all their travels. ​

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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