Exodus 40:8

And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.

And thou shalt set up {H7760} the court {H2691} round about {H5439}, and hang up {H5414} the hanging {H4539} at the court {H2691} gate {H8179}.

Set up the courtyard all the way around, and hang up the screen for the entrance to the courtyard.

Set up the surrounding courtyard and hang the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard.

And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.

Commentary

Context

Exodus 40:8 is part of the concluding chapter of the book of Exodus, which details the final assembly and dedication of the Tabernacle. After receiving meticulous instructions from God on Mount Sinai regarding the Tabernacle's construction (Exodus 25-31), Moses is now commanded to put all the pieces into place. This verse specifically addresses the erection of the outer court and its entrance, marking one of the final steps in creating God's portable dwelling place among the Israelites in the wilderness.

Key Themes

  • Divine Order and Precision: The verse highlights the meticulousness required in following God's commands. Every detail of the Tabernacle, including the outer court and its gate, was specified by God, emphasizing His desire for order in worship and approach.
  • Holiness and Separation: The "court round about" served to delineate sacred space from common ground. It created a boundary, indicating that access to God's presence, even to the outer areas of His dwelling, was regulated and required proper adherence to His instructions.
  • Regulated Access: While establishing a boundary, the "hanging at the court gate" also provided the designated point of entry. It was not a solid wall but a curtain, signifying that access was possible but only through the prescribed way, foreshadowing the new and living way to God through Christ.
  • Completion of God's Dwelling: This instruction signifies a crucial step towards the completion of the Tabernacle, leading to the moment when the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle upon its full erection.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "court" is chatser (ื—ึธืฆึตืจ), which refers to an enclosed area or courtyard, often associated with a tent, house, or temple. The "hanging" (Hebrew: qela, ืงึฐืœึทืข) describes a woven curtain or screen, specifically designed for the entrance of the court. This was not a rigid door but a fabric barrier, symbolizing a regulated, yet not impenetrable, access point to the sacred space.

Practical Application

This verse, though describing an ancient structure, offers timeless principles. It reminds us of God's nature as a God of order and holiness, who desires to dwell among His people. Just as there was a specific gate to the Tabernacle court, believers today understand that access to God is provided through a specific, divinely appointed way: through Jesus Christ, who declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The careful construction of the Tabernacle also underscores the importance of intentionality and reverence in our approach to God and in our worship, recognizing His supreme holiness and majesty.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 27:9

    ยถ And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward [there shall be] hangings for the court [of] fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:

  • Exodus 27:19

    All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, [shall be of] brass.

  • Ephesians 4:11

    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

  • Ephesians 4:12

    For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

  • Exodus 38:9

    ยถ And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court [were of] fine twined linen, an hundred cubits:

  • Exodus 38:20

    And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, [were of] brass.

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
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