1Et YEHOVAH parla à Moïse, en disant: 2Au premier jour du premier mois, tu dresseras le Tabernacle de la tente d'assignation; 3Et tu y mettras l'arche du Témoignage, et tu couvriras l'arche avec le voile. 4Tu apporteras aussi la table, et tu y arrangeras ce qui doit y être arrangé; tu apporteras aussi le lampadaire, et tu allumeras ses lampes. 5Et tu mettras l'autel d'or pour le parfum devant l'arche du Témoignage, et tu poseras la tapisserie de l'entrée du Tabernacle. 6Et tu mettras l'autel de l'offrande à brûler devant l'entrée du Tabernacle de la tente d'assignation. 7Et tu mettras la cuve entre la tente d'assignation et l'autel, et tu y mettras de l'eau. 8Et tu placeras le parvis tout autour, et tu mettras la tapisserie à la porte du parvis. 9Puis tu prendras l'huile de l'onction, et tu oindras le Tabernacle et tout ce qui y est, et tu le consacreras, avec tous ses ustensiles; et il sera saint. 10Tu oindras aussi l'autel de l'offrande à brûler et tous ses ustensiles, et tu consacreras l'autel; et l'autel sera très saint. 11Tu oindras aussi la cuve et sa base, et tu la consacreras. 12Puis tu feras avancer Aaron et ses fils à l'entrée du tabernacle d'assignation, et tu les laveras dans l'eau. 13Et tu revêtiras Aaron des vêtements sacrés, et tu l'oindras, et tu le consacreras, et il exercera devant moi la sacrificature. 14Et tu feras avancer ses fils, et tu les revêtiras de tuniques; 15Et tu les oindras, comme tu auras oint leur père, et ils exerceront devant moi la sacrificature; et leur onction leur conférera une sacrificature perpétuelle, d'âge en âge. 16Et Moïse fit selon tout ce que YEHOVAH lui avait commandé; il fit ainsi. 17Et au premier jour du premier mois, dans la seconde année, le Tabernacle fut dressé. 18Et Moïse dressa le Tabernacle, et mit ses soubassements, et posa ses planches, et mit ses traverses, et dressa ses colonnes. 19Et il étendit la tente sur le Tabernacle, et il posa la couverture du tabernacle par-dessus, comme YEHOVAH l'avait commandé à Moïse. 20Puis il prit aussi et mit le Témoignage dans l'arche, et il plaça les barres à l'arche, et il mit le propitiatoire sur l'arche, par-dessus. 21Et il porta l'arche dans le Tabernacle, et posa le voile destiné à cacher le lieu très-saint, et couvrit l'arche du Témoignage, comme YEHOVAH l'avait commandé à Moïse. 22Il mit aussi la table dans la tente d'assignation, au côté Nord du Tabernacle, en dehors du voile; 23Et il arrangea sur elle une rangée de pains, devant YEHOVAH, comme YEHOVAH l'avait commandé à Moïse. 24Il plaça aussi le lampadaire dans la tente d'assignation, vis-à-vis de la table, au côté Sud du Tabernacle. 25Et il alluma les lampes devant YEHOVAH, comme YEHOVAH l'avait commandé à Moïse. 26Il plaça aussi l'autel d'or dans la tente d'assignation, devant le voile; 27Et il y fit fumer le parfum d'aromates, comme YEHOVAH l'avait commandé à Moïse. 28Il posa aussi la tapisserie de l'entrée du Tabernacle. 29Puis il plaça l'autel de l'offrande à brûler à l'entrée du Tabernacle de la tente d'assignation, et il y offrit l'offrande à brûler et l'oblation, comme YEHOVAH l'avait commandé à Moïse. 30Il plaça aussi la cuve entre le tabernacle d'assignation et l'autel, et il y mit de l'eau pour laver (baptiser); 31Et Moïse et Aaron et ses fils en lavaient leurs mains et leurs pieds. 32Quand ils entraient dans la tente d'assignation, et qu'ils s'avançaient vers l'autel, ils se lavaient, comme YEHOVAH l'avait commandé à Moïse. 33Il dressa aussi le parvis tout autour du Tabernacle et de l'autel, et il mit la tapisserie à la porte du parvis. Ainsi Moïse acheva l'ouvrage. 34Et la nuée couvrit la tente d'assignation, et la gloire de YEHOVAH remplit le Tabernacle; 35De sorte que Moïse ne put entrer dans la tente d'assignation, car la nuée se tenait dessus, et la gloire de YEHOVAH remplissait le Tabernacle. 36Or, pendant toutes leurs marches, quand la nuée s'élevait de dessus le Tabernacle, les enfants d'Israël partaient; 37Mais si la nuée ne s'élevait point, ils ne partaient point, jusqu'au jour où elle s'élevait. 38Car la nuée de YEHOVAH était sur le Tabernacle pendant le jour, et le feu y était la nuit, aux yeux de toute la maison d'Israël, pendant toutes leurs marches.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 THE TABERNACLE REARED AND ANOINTED. (Exo. 40:1-38)
On the first day of the first month--From a careful consideration of the incidents recorded to have happened after the exodus (
Exod 12:2;
Exod 13:4;
Exod 19:1;
Exod 20:18;
Exod 34:28, &c.), it has been computed that the work of the tabernacle was commenced within six months after that emigration; and consequently, that other six months had been occupied in building it. So long a period spent in preparing the materials of a movable pavilion, it would be difficult to understand, were it not for what we are told of the vast dimensions of the tabernacle, as well as the immense variety of curious and elaborate workmanship which its different articles of furniture required.
the tabernacle--the entire edifice.
the tent--the covering that surmounted it (
Exod 40:19).
15 anoint them, as thou didst anoint their fathers--The sacred oil was used, but it does not appear that the ceremony was performed exactly in the same manner; for although the anointing oil was sprinkled over the garments both of Aaron and his sons (
Exod 29:21;
Lev 8:30), it was not poured over the heads of the latter. This distinction was reserved for the high priest (
Exod 29:7;
Lev 8:12;
Ps 133:2).
16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him--On his part, the same scrupulous fidelity was shown in conforming to the "pattern" in the disposition of the furniture, as had been displayed by the workmen in the erection of the edifice.
33 So Moses finished the work--Though it is not expressly recorded in this passage, yet, from what took place on all similar occasions, there is reason to believe that on the inauguration day the people were summoned from their tents--were all drawn up as a vast assemblage, yet in calm and orderly arrangement, around the newly erected tabernacle.
34 a cloud--literally, "The cloud," the mystic cloud which was the well-known symbol of the Divine Presence. After remaining at a great distance from them on the summit of the mount, it appeared to be in motion; and if many among them had a secret misgiving about the issue, how the fainting heart would revive, the interest of the moment intensely increase, and the tide of joy swell in every bosom, when that symbolic cloud was seen slowly and majestically descending towards the plain below and covering the tabernacle. The entire and universal concealment of the tabernacle within the folds of an impervious cloud was not without a deep and instructive meaning; it was a protection to the sacred edifice from the burning heats of the Arabian climate; it was a token of the Divine Presence; and it was also an emblem of the Mosaic dispensation, which, though it was a revelation from heaven, yet left many things hid in obscurity; for it was a dark cloud compared with the bright cloud, which betokened the clearer and fuller discoveries of the divine character and glory in the gospel (
Matt 17:5).
the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle--that is, light and fire, a created splendor, which was the peculiar symbol of God (
1John 1:5). Whether this light was inherent in the cloud or not, it emanated from it on this occasion, and making its entry, not with the speed of a lightning flash as if it were merely an electric spark, but in majestic splendor, it passed through the outer porch into the interior of the most holy place (
1Kgs 8:10;
John 1:14). Its miraculous character is shown by the fact, that, though "it filled the tabernacle," not a curtain or any article of furniture was so much as singed.
35 Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation--How does this circumstance show the incapacity of man, in his present state, to look upon the unveiled perfections of the Godhead! Moses could not endure the unclouded effulgence, nor the sublimest of the prophets (
Isa 6:5). But what neither Moses nor the most eminent of God's messengers to the ancient church through the weakness of nature could endure, we can all now do by an exercise of faith; looking unto Jesus, who reflected with chastened radiance the brightness of the Father's glory; and who, having as the Forerunner for us, entered within the veil, has invited us to come boldly to the mercy seat. While Moses was compelled, through the influence of overwhelming awe, to stand aloof and could not enter the tabernacle, Christ entered into the holy place not made with hands; nay, He is Himself the true tabernacle, filled with the glory of God, ever with the grace and truth which the Shekinah typified. What great reason we have to thank God for Jesus Christ, who, while He Himself was the brightness of the Father's glory, yet exhibited that glory in so mild and attractive a manner, as to allure us to draw near with confidence and love into the Divine Presence!
36 when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle--In journeying through the sandy, trackless deserts of the East, the use of torches, exhibiting a cloud of smoke by day and of fire by night, has been resorted to from time immemorial. The armies of Darius and Alexander were conducted on their marches in this manner [FABER]. The Arab caravans in the present day observe the same custom; and materials for these torches are stored up among other necessary preparations for a journey. Live fuel, hoisted in chafing dishes at the end of long poles, and being seen at a great distance, serves, by the smoke in the daytime and the light at night, as a better signal for march than the sound of a trumpet, which is not heard at the extremities of a large camp [LABORDE]. This usage, and the miracle related by Moses, mutually illustrate each other. The usage leads us to think that the miracle was necessary, and worthy of God to perform; and, on the other hand, the miracle of the cloudy pillar, affording double benefit of shade by day and light at night, implies not only that the usage was not unknown to the Hebrews, but supplied all the wants which they felt in common with other travellers through those dreary regions [FABER, HESS, GRANDPIERRE]. But its peculiar appearance, unvarying character, and regular movements, distinguished it from all the common atmospheric phenomena. It was an invaluable boon to the Israelites, and being recognized by all classes among that people as the symbol of the Divine Presence, it guided their journeys and regulated their encampments (compare
Ps 29:1-
Ps 29:11; Psa. 105:1-45).
38 the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle, &c.--While it had hitherto appeared sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, it was now found on the tabernacle only; so that from the moment that sanctuary was erected, and the glory of the Lord had filled the sacred edifice, the Israelites had to look to the place which God had chosen to put His name there, in order that they might enjoy the benefit of a heavenly Guide (
Num 9:15-
Num 9:23). In like manner, the church had divine revelation for its guide from the first--long before the WORD of God existed in a written form; but ever since the setting up of that sacred canon, it rests on that as its tabernacle and there only is it to be found. It accompanies us wherever we are or go, just as the cloud led the way of the Israelites. It is always accessible and can be carried in our pockets when we walk abroad; it may be engraved on the inner tablets of our memories and our hearts; and so true, faithful, and complete a guide is it, that there is not a scene of duty or of trial through which we may be called to pass in the world, but it furnishes a clear, a safe, and unerring direction (
Col 3:16).