Exodus40
New King James Version
1Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2“On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
3You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and partition off the ark with the veil.
4You shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the lampstand and light its lamps.
5You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the Testimony, and put up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.
6Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
7And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
8You shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen at the court gate.
9“And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it; and you shall hallow it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy.
10You shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy.
11And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and consecrate it.
12“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water.
13You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.
14And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics.
15You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
16Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.
17And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up.
18So Moses raised up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.
19And he spread out the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
20He took the Testimony and put it into the ark, inserted the poles through the rings of the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark.
21And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the Testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
22He put the table in the tabernacle of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil;
23and he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
24He put the lampstand in the tabernacle of meeting, across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle;
25and he lit the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
26He put the gold altar in the tabernacle of meeting in front of the veil;
27and he burned sweet incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
28He hung up the screen at the door of the tabernacle.
29And he put the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30He set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water there for washing;
31and Moses, Aaron, and his sons would wash their hands and their feet with water from it.
32Whenever they went into the tabernacle of meeting, and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
33And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
34Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
35And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
36Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.
37But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.
38For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 40.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The tabernacle is to be set up, Aaron and his sons to be sanctified. (1–15). Moses performs all as directed. (16–33). The glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle. (34–38).
vv1-15
When a new year begins, we should seek to serve God better than the year before. In half a year the tabernacle was completed. When the hearts of numbers are earnest in a good cause, much may be done in a short time; and when the commandments of God are continually attended to, as the rule of working, all will be done well. The high-priesthood was in the family of Aaron till Christ came, and in Him, the substance of all these shadows, it continues for ever.
vv16-33
When the tabernacle and the furniture of it were prepared, they did not put off rearing it till they came to Canaan; but, in obedience to the will of God, they set it up in the midst of their camp. Those who are unsettled in the world, must not think that this will excuse want of religion; as if it were enough to begin to serve God when they begin to be settled in the world. No; a tabernacle for God is very needful, even in a wilderness, especially as we may be in another world before we come to fix in this. And we may justly fear lest we should deceive ourselves with a form of godliness. The thought that so few entered Canaan, should warn young persons especially, not to put off the care of their souls.
vv34-38
The cloud covered the tabernacle even in the clearest day; it was not a cloud which the sun scatters. This cloud was a token of God's presence to be seen day and night, by all Israel, that they might never again question, Is the Lord among us, or is he not? It guided the camp of Israel through the wilderness. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they rested; when it removed, they followed it. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In light and fire the Shechinah made itself visible: God is Light; our God is a consuming Fire. Yet so dazzling was the light, and so dreadful the fire, that Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, till the splendour was abated. But what Moses could not do, our Lord Jesus has done, whom God caused to draw near; and who has invited us to come boldly, even to the mercy-seat. Being taught by the Holy Spirit to follow the example of Christ, as well as to depend upon him, to attend his ordinances, and obey his precepts, we shall be kept from losing our way, and be led in the midst of the paths of judgment, till we come to heaven, the habitation of his holiness. BLESSED BE GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST!
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
רִאשׁוֹן: first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
אֶחָד: properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
מִשְׁכָּן: a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls)
אֹהֶל: a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
Cross References
Exodus 40Solomon's temple is likewise filled with the cloud of glory, signaling God's dwelling among His people.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The priests could not stand to minister in the temple because of the overwhelming glory-cloud.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Setting up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month aligns with the Exodus calendar's start.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly describes putting the testimony (the tablets of the law) and mercy seat into the ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Expands on the cloud covering the tabernacle and guiding Israel throughout their subsequent wilderness journeys.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Connects this manifestation with the original pillar of cloud and fire that led them from Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Defines the construction and placement of the golden altar of incense before the veil.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Details the placement and purpose of the bronze laver filled with water for priestly washing.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The original command and recipe for the holy anointing oil used to sanctify the tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The instructions for washing, clothing, and anointing Aaron and his sons for the priesthood.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
New Testament description of the first covenant tabernacle, highlighting the table and the showbread.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The original command to place the laver for Aaron and his sons to wash before service.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Word became flesh and 'tabernacled' among us, revealing the ultimate, approachable glory of God.
Supported by JFB
God declares He will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat, warning against unauthorized entry.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the completion, rearing, and anointing of the tabernacle on this exact day.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The command to hang the veil to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The instructions for the table of showbread and setting the bread in order before Yahweh.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The blueprint for the golden candlestick and its lamps to give light in the sanctuary.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Christ entering the true holy place typified by the high priest serving before the golden altar.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Details the construction of the bronze altar of burnt offering placed before the tabernacle door.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The instructions for setting up the court hangings and gate surrounding the tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The command to hang the veil to divide the Holy Place from the Most Holy.
Supported by Calvin
Details the setting of the twelve cakes of showbread in order upon the pure table.
Supported by Calvin
The specific directive for lighting the seven lamps to give light before the candlestick.
Supported by Calvin
The institution and description of the golden altar of incense placed before the veil.
Supported by Calvin
The command for the daily continual burnt offerings at the door of the tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The heavenly temple filled with smoke from the glory of God, preventing any from entering.
Supported by JFB
Describes the daily sin offering for atonement to sanctify and cleanse the altar.
Supported by John Calvin
The historical execution of washing, clothing, and anointing Aaron and his sons as prescribed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Compares the faithfulness of Moses finishing God's house to Christ's faithfulness over His own house.
Supported by JFB