Exodus, Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Verses 1-38: The Tabernacle is Erected and Filled with the Glory of the LORD

1. Then 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.
3. You shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and screen the ark with the veil.
4. You shall bring in the table and arrange its setting; you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.
5. You shall put the golden altar of incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.
6. You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting,
7. and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
8. You shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen at the gate of the court.
9. “Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furnishings; and it shall become holy.
10. You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, and the altar shall be most holy.
11. And you shall anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it.
12. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.
13. You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest.
14. You shall bring his sons and put tunics on them,
15. and anoint them as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests; and their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”
16. Moses did 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 erected.
18. Moses erected the tabernacle; he laid its bases, set up its frames, inserted its bars, and raised up its pillars.
19. He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
20. He took the testimony and put it into the ark, inserted the poles through the rings of the ark, and put the atonement cover on top of the ark.
21. He brought the ark into the tabernacle, set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
22. He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil;
23. and he arranged the bread on it before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
24. He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle;
25. and he set up the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
26. He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil;
27. and he burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
28. He set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.
29. He put the altar of burnt offering at the entrance 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.
30. He placed the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing,
31. with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet.
32. When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
33. He erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
34. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
35. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36. Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out.
37. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up.
38. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

Interpretation: The final chapter of Exodus describes the completion and consecration of the Tabernacle, marking a pivotal moment where the Israelites finish the work God commanded. Moses meticulously follows God’s instructions for assembling the Tabernacle and its furnishings, and for anointing and consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests. The descent of the cloud and the filling of the Tabernacle with the LORD’s glory signify God’s approval and His dwelling among His people. This presence of God, visible as a cloud by day and fire by night, provides guidance and assurance to the Israelites in their journey. The chapter emphasizes obedience to God’s commands, the importance of sacred spaces and rituals, and the profound relationship between God and His people.