1And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 2On the first day of the month, on the first of the month, you shall raise up the tent of the tabernacle of the congregation. 3And you shall put there the ark of testimony. And you shall cover the ark with the veil. 4And you shall bring in the table and set in order its arrangement. And you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5And you shall put the altar of gold for incense before the ark of testimony. And you shall set up the screen of the door of the tabernacle. 6And you shall set up the altar of burnt offerings before the door of the tent of the tabernacle of the congregation. 7And you shall put the laver between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar. And you shall put water there. 8And you shall set up the court all around. And you shall place the screen of the opening of the court. 9And you shall take the oil of anointing, and you shall anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it. And you shall sanctify it and all its vessels. And it shall become holy. 10And you shall anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its vessels. And you shall sanctify it and the altar shall become most holy. 11And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and you shall sanctify it. 12And you shall cause to draw near Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And you shall wash them with water. 13And you shall clothe Aaron with the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and sanctify him. And he shall serve as priest to Me. 14And you shall cause his sons to draw near. And you shall clothe them with tunics. 15And you shall anoint them as you anointed their father. And they shall serve as priests to Me. And their anointing shall be for an everlasting priesthood for their generations. 16And Moses did so, according to all that Jehovah commanded him; so he did. 17And it happened in the first month, in the second year, on the first of the month, the tabernacle was raised up. 18And Moses raised up the tabernacle, and he gave its sockets, and he set up its boards, and he gave its bars, and he raised up its pillars. 19And he spread out the tent over the tabernacle. And he put the cover of the tent over it from above, as Jehovah commanded Moses. 20And he took and gave the testimony into the ark. And he put the poles on the ark. And he gave the mercyseat on the ark from above. 21And he caused the ark to go in into the tabernacle. And he placed the veil of the covering, and he covered over the ark of testimony, as Jehovah commanded Moses. 22And he gave the table into the tabernacle of the congregation, on the side of the tabernacle, northward outside the veil. 23And he set the bread in order on it before the face of Jehovah, as Jehovah commanded Moses. 24And he put the lampstand in the tabernacle of the congregation, opposite the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25And he set up the lamps before Jehovah, as Jehovah had commanded Moses. 26And he set up the altar of gold in the tabernacle of the congregation, before the veil. 27And he burned on it incense of fragrant spices, as Jehovah commanded Moses. 28And he set up the screen of the door to the tabernacle. 29And he put the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tent of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he offered up on it the burnt offering and the food offering, as Jehovah commanded Moses. 30And he put the laver between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar. And he gave there water for washing. 31And from it Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. 32As they came into the tabernacle of the congregation, and as they drew near to the altar, they would wash, as Jehovah commanded Moses. 33And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar. And he gave the screen of the opening of the court. And Moses finished the work. 34And the cloud covered the tabernacle of the congregation; and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. 35And Moses was not able to come into the tabernacle of the congregation because the cloud dwelt on it. And the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. 36And as the cloud went up from the tabernacle, the sons of Israel pulled up stakes in all their travels. 37And if the cloud did not go up, then they did not pull up stakes until the day it went up. 38For the cloud of Jehovah was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel in all their pullings up of stakes.
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).