Exodus 40

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40:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
40:2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
40:3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
40:4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.
40:5 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.
40:6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
40:7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
40:8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.
40:9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.
40:10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.
40:11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
40:12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
40:13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
40:14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 40:15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
40:16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.
40:17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
40:18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.
40:19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. 40:20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: 40:21 nd he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.
40:22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.
40:23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
40:24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
40:25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
40:26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: 40:27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.
40:28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.
40:29 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.
40:30 And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
40:31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: 40:32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.
40:33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
40:35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
40:36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 40:37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
40:38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

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King James Bible:Exodus

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Exodus
Book: Exodus
Chapter: 40

Overview:
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)

1-15 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.

16-33 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.

34-38 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!