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
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2
“On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. ​
3
You shall put the ark of the testimony in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. ​
4
You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lamp stand, and light its lamps.
5
You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
6
“You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
7
You shall set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and shall put water therein.
8
You shall set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.
9
“You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture: and it will be holy. ​
10
You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar will be most holy.
11
You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it.
12
“You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water.
13
You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
14
You shall bring his sons, and put coats on them.
15
You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” ​

Moses Completes the Task

16
Moses did so. According to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.
17
In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was raised up. ​
18
Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.
19
He spread the covering over the tent, and put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as the LORD commanded Moses.
20
He took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark. ​
21
He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the LORD commanded Moses.
22
He put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside of the veil.
23
He set the bread in order on it before the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
24
He put the lamp stand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
25
He lit the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
26
He put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the veil;
27
and he burnt incense of sweet spices on it, as the LORD commanded Moses.
28
He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
29
He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, as the LORD commanded Moses.
30
He set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash.
31
Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there.
32
When they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as the LORD commanded Moses.
33
He raised up the court around 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

34
Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle. ​
35
Moses wasn’t able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud stayed on it, and the LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle. ​
36
When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;
37
but if the cloud wasn’t taken up, then they didn’t travel until the day that it was taken up.
38
For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud 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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