Exodus 40:28

And he set up the hanging [at] the door of the tabernacle.

And he set up {H7760} the hanging {H4539} at the door {H6607} of the tabernacle {H4908}.

He set up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle.

Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

And he put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.

Commentary

Exodus 40:28 marks a pivotal moment in the completion of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary built by the Israelites in the wilderness. This verse describes Moses' final act of setting up the entrance screen to the Tabernacle's holy tent, signifying the meticulous fulfillment of God's architectural blueprint for His dwelling place among His people.

Context

This verse is found at the culmination of the book of Exodus, specifically in chapter 40, which details the final assembly and dedication of the Tabernacle. Following detailed instructions given by God on Mount Sinai (e.g., Exodus 26:36-37), Moses meticulously erects each component. The "hanging" mentioned here is the colorful screen (or curtain) that served as the entrance to the Holy Place, the first section of the Tabernacle tent. Its placement was one of the very last steps in the construction process, just before the glory of the Lord filled the sanctuary (Exodus 40:34).

Key Themes

  • Obedience and Completion: The verse highlights Moses' faithful execution of God's commands down to the last detail. The Tabernacle was not merely a building; it was a divine design, requiring perfect adherence.
  • Access and Separation: The hanging served as a physical barrier, controlling entry into the sacred space of the Tabernacle. It signified that approaching God required specific conditions and was not to be taken lightly, yet it also provided the designated point of entry for the priests.
  • Divine Presence: The successful erection of the Tabernacle elements, including this hanging, paved the way for God's presence to descend and dwell visibly among His people, fulfilling His promise to be "Immanuel" (God with us).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "hanging" in this verse is masak (ืžึธืกึธืšึฐ), which refers specifically to a screen or covering, often for an entrance. It is distinct from the parokhet (ืคึธึผืจึนื›ึถืช), which was the inner "veil" that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) where the Ark of the Covenant resided (Exodus 26:33). Understanding this distinction helps clarify the layout and the varying degrees of access within the Tabernacle structure.

Symbolism and Application

The Tabernacle, with all its components, including the entrance hanging, was a powerful visual aid for the Israelites, teaching them about God's holiness and His desire for fellowship. In Christian theology, the Tabernacle's design, including its barriers to access, is often seen as a foreshadowing of Christ. The New Testament teaches that Jesus is the ultimate "door" or "way" to God, fulfilling the Tabernacle's symbolism of access. He declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The tearing of the temple veil at Christ's crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) symbolized the open access to God now available through His sacrifice, making a priestly intermediary (like the Tabernacle's hanging) no longer necessary for direct communion with the Father.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 40:5 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.

  • Exodus 26:36 (2 votes)

    And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

  • Exodus 26:37 (2 votes)

    And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars [of] shittim [wood], and overlay them with gold, [and] their hooks [shall be of] gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

  • Exodus 38:9 (2 votes)

    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 38:19 (2 votes)

    And their pillars [were] four, and their sockets [of] brass four; their hooks [of] silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets [of] silver.

  • John 10:9 (2 votes)

    I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

  • Ephesians 2:18 (2 votes)

    For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.