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Exodus 40

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And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

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On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

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And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.

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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.

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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.

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And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

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And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.

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And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.

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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.

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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.

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And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.

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And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

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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.

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And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

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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.

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Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he.

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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.

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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.

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And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the Lord commanded Moses.

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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:

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And 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.

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And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.

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And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses.

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And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

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And he lighted the lamps before the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses.

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And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:

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And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the Lord commanded Moses.

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And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.

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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.

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And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.

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And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:

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When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses.

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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.

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Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

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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.

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And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

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But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

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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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Exodus 40

Exodus 40 is the completion and consecration of the tabernacle — and the book of Exodus ends not with Moses but with the glory of God. On the first day of the first month of the second year after leaving Egypt, Moses sets up the tabernacle according to God's precise instruction: the ark inside, the veil hung, the table and lampstand arranged, the gold altar of incense before the ark, the curtain at the entrance, the altar of burnt offering at the courtyard entrance, the basin between the tent and the altar, the courtyard hung. Moses anoints everything with the anointing oil, consecrates it all, dresses Aaron and his sons and anoints them. Then: the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter because of it. The same God who spoke from the burning bush, who rained plagues on Egypt, who parted the sea and descended on Sinai — that God now takes up residence in the midst of His people, moving with them through the wilderness, the cloud lifting when it is time to travel, resting when it is time to camp. Revelation 21:22–23 sees the final fulfillment: there is no temple in the new Jerusalem because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, and their glory is its light. What the tabernacle pointed to has arrived in person.

Exodus 40:38

So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels. The cloud by day and the fire by night — the constant visible presence of God accompanying Israel through all their travels. In the sight of all the Israelites: the presence is not private but continuously, publicly, undeniably present to the whole community. The book of Exodus that began with Israel groaning in Egyptian slavery ends with the glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle and the fire of God visible to the whole nation every night. What the Exodus was for — the dwelling of God among His people — is accomplished. The journey continues toward the promised land, always accompanied by the cloud that never left.

Exodus 40:14

Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Then anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Aaron's sons receive the three-garment vestment and the anointing. The just as you anointed their father communicates the continuity of the priestly anointing: the same oil, the same act, the same consecration. 1 Peter 2:9 says you are a royal priesthood — the anointing that constitutes the Aaronic priesthood is the type of the anointing of the whole new covenant priestly community.

Exodus 40:25

And set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. The setting up of the lamps — lighting them for the first time — completes the lampstand's installation. The lamps that will burn from evening to morning are lit. The Holy Place that was dark is now filled with the light of seven gold lamps. The first light in the sanctuary is the first fulfillment of what the lampstand was built for: to give light to the space in front of it, before the Lord.

Exodus 40:26

Moses placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain. The golden altar of incense is installed in its specified location — in the Holy Place, before the veil. The altar that ascends prayer to God is positioned at the closest point to the Most Holy Place that the regular priestly ministry reaches. Before the veil, before the ark, as near as the daily service comes to the divine presence: the incense altar marks the boundary between the regular and the most holy.

Exodus 40:27

And burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded Moses. The first incense is burned on the golden altar — the first prayer ascending from the installed sanctuary. Moses burns the incense as the Lord commanded: the prayer that the incense represents begins the sanctuary's ministry. Revelation 8:4 says the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God — the first incense burned by Moses in the installed tabernacle is the first act of the prayer-ascending ministry.

Exodus 40:28

Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. The entrance curtain is hung — the final interior boundary of the sanctuary is in place. The tabernacle is now fully enclosed: the veil separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place; the entrance curtain separates the Holy Place from the courtyard. Every approach to God's presence is mediated through defined boundaries.

Exodus 40:29

He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the Lord commanded Moses. The burnt offering altar is set at the tabernacle's entrance and the first offering is made: burnt offerings and grain offerings inaugurating the sanctuary's sacrificial service. The as the Lord commanded Moses formula anchors the first sacrificial act to the divine specification. The covenant worship system is fully operational.

Exodus 40:30

He placed the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing. The basin is installed between the altar and the tent. Water in it for washing: the basin that the priests must use before every act of service is filled and ready. The practical provision for priestly cleanliness that prevents death is in place from the first day of the sanctuary's service.

Exodus 40:31

And Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. The first users of the basin are Moses, Aaron, and his sons — the complete priestly community washing at the installation. The hands that will offer and the feet that will approach are washed in the basin made from the serving women's mirrors. John 13:14 records Jesus saying you also should wash one another's feet — the basin washing at the tabernacle's installation is the formal institution of the principle that sacred service requires the cleansing God provides.

Exodus 40:32

They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord had commanded Moses. The regularity of the basin washing is established from the first day: whenever they entered, whenever they approached. The practice that will protect the priests from death is practiced consistently, as the Lord commanded. The consistency of the washing is the consistency of the reverence. Every approach to the holy is prepared by the cleansing the holy requires.

Exodus 40:33

Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work. The courtyard enclosure is set up — the outermost boundary of the sacred space. And then: so Moses finished the work. The completion statement closes the installation narrative in the same way Genesis 2:1–2 closes the creation narrative: the work that God commanded is finished. The tabernacle's installation is a new creation, the world of covenant worship fully established in the wilderness.

Exodus 40:34

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The cloud and the glory: the final and most important event in the entire book of Exodus. The cloud that has guided Israel since Exodus 13:21 descends on the tent of meeting; the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle. The faithful building prepared the space; the faithful God filled it. 1 Kings 8:10–11 records the same event at Solomon's temple dedication. The God who fills the tabernacle fills every subsequent dwelling He inhabits.

Exodus 40:35

Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The man who built and installed the tabernacle cannot enter it because the presence of God is too overwhelming. Moses, who spoke with God face to face, who saw God's back in the cleft of the rock, who spent eighty days on the mountain — even Moses cannot enter when the cloud settles and the glory fills. Revelation 21:3 says God's dwelling place is now among the people — the presence that fills the tabernacle so completely that Moses cannot enter is the presence that will dwell with humanity permanently in the new creation.

Exodus 40:36

In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out. The portable tabernacle and the moving cloud together govern Israel's movements: whenever the cloud lifts, they move. The cloud that was Israel's guide before the tabernacle now rests on and moves with it. God moves when the cloud moves, and Israel follows. Acts 16:6–10 records the Spirit preventing Paul from going to Asia and directing him to Macedonia — the cloud that governed Israel's movements is the Spirit who governs the church's movements.

Exodus 40:37

But if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out — until the day it lifted. The obedience to the cloud's movement is the obedience to God's direction: they did not set out until it lifted. The community that would set out on their own initiative — ahead of the cloud or in a direction the cloud was not moving — would be moving outside the divine will. Isaiah 30:21 says you will hear a voice behind you, saying, this is the way; walk in it — the cloud that governs Israel's movements is the voice Isaiah promises to the community that follows God's direction.

Exodus 40:15

Their anointing will be to a lasting priesthood for the generations to come. The lasting priesthood — the same covenant formula as the lasting Sabbath and the lasting Passover — places the Aaronic priesthood in the category of permanent covenant institutions. Hebrews 7:12 says when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also — the lasting priesthood of verse 15 is the very permanence that Hebrews argues has been superseded by Christ's eternal priesthood. The old covenant's lasting institution gives way to the new covenant's eternal reality.

Exodus 40:16

Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him. The implementation verse confirms fidelity: Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded. The same standard that governed the construction governs the installation. The community did everything just as commanded in constructing; now Moses does everything just as commanded in installing. The chain of faithful execution — from God to Moses to the craftsmen to Moses again — has been maintained without deviation.

Exodus 40:17

So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. The installation is completed on the appointed day — the first of the first month of the second year, exactly as God commanded in verse 2. The first month — the month of Passover and liberation — hosts the installation of the dwelling place of the God who liberated Israel. The year that started with Passover is completed with the presence of God among His people.

Exodus 40:18

When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. The installation proceeds in the order that the construction specified: bases first, then the frames, then the crossbars, then the posts. The construction order and the installation order follow the same logic: the foundation supports the walls, the walls receive the stabilization, the posts hold the boundaries. Moses who received the design, inspected the construction, and blessed the craftsmen now installs the completed work with his own hands.

Exodus 40:19

Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded Moses. The tent spread over the tabernacle — the outer tent of goat hair over the inner tent of fine linen — and the covering over the tent. The layers of covering that protect the innermost holy space are installed. The as the Lord commanded Moses formula anchors each installation step to the divine specification.

Exodus 40:20

He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it. The installation of the ark's contents: the covenant tablets go in, the poles are attached, the mercy seat is placed on top. The ark is complete when the law is inside and the atonement is above. The tablets go in and the cover goes on: the covenant terms beneath the atonement cover communicates the theology of the entire system — what God requires is covered by what God provides.

Exodus 40:21

Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded Moses. The ark is carried into the tabernacle and the veil is hung to shield it: the most sacred object in its most sacred location, protected by the most sacred boundary. As the Lord commanded Moses — the formula confirms the fidelity of the installation of the most important piece. Hebrews 9:3 describes this inner sanctum as the Most Holy Place — Moses' installation of the ark and veil creates the space that Hebrews uses to explain the entirety of Christ's priestly work.

Exodus 40:22

Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain. The table is installed on the north side of the Holy Place — exactly as Exodus 26:35 specified. The bread of the Presence that has been prepared for this moment is ready to be arranged. The table placed in the daily ministration zone of the priests — the space where they will serve each Sabbath replacing the covenant meal.

Exodus 40:23

And arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. The arrangement of the bread on the table — confirmed with the obedience formula. The bread of the Presence is set out: twelve loaves representing the twelve tribes, arranged on the gold table before the Lord. The covenant meal that the table will host perpetually begins with this act. The perpetual covenant fellowship between God and Israel is initiated.

Exodus 40:24

He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle. The lampstand is installed on the south side — opposite the table on the north — exactly as Exodus 26:35 specified. The lampstand faces the table: the light of the lampstand shines on the bread of the Presence. The covenant light illuminates the covenant meal; the seven lamps cast their light on the twelve loaves. Light and fellowship, worship and presence, are inseparable.

Exodus 40:1

Then the Lord said to Moses. The final divine commission in the book of Exodus: God commands Moses to set up the tabernacle. The construction is complete; the inspection is done; the blessing has been given. Now comes the installation. God does not leave the final step to Moses' initiative — the setting up of the tabernacle is itself a commanded act. The same God who designed the tabernacle, commissioned its construction, and received the report of its completion now commands its installation. Faithful building and faithful setting up are both required.

Exodus 40:2

Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. The first day of the first month of the second year after the Exodus: the tabernacle is to be set up at the beginning of a new year, the month of the Passover and liberation. The timing is theological: the dwelling place of God among His people is inaugurated in the month of liberation. What the Passover began — the liberation of a people for the worship of their God — the tabernacle's installation completes: the God who brought them out now dwells among them.

Exodus 40:3

Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. The first installation instruction is for the most sacred object: the ark in the Most Holy Place, shielded by the veil. The order of installation mirrors the order of construction: the innermost and most sacred first. The dwelling begins not with the building's exterior but with the place where God will meet His servant. The veil that shields the ark protects the approach to the most holy — the installation of the boundary before the approach is as intentional as its construction.

Exodus 40:4

Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. The table and the lampstand are installed in the Holy Place: the table with its bread of the Presence, the lampstand with its seven lamps ready to light. The Holy Place is furnished from inside out: the veil, then the ark, then the table and lampstand. The objects of covenant fellowship and covenant light are installed in the space where the priests will minister daily.

Exodus 40:5

Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. The incense altar is placed in front of the ark — before the veil, as close to the divine presence as the regular priestly ministry reaches. The entrance curtain is hung at the tabernacle's entrance: the threshold that separates the outside world from the sanctuary. The two major thresholds of the sanctuary are defined as the furniture is installed within.

Exodus 40:6

Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. The burnt offering altar is positioned at the entrance to the tabernacle — in the courtyard, at the threshold where sacrifice is made before approach. The worshipper who enters the courtyard encounters the altar first: before any approach to the sanctuary, sacrifice must be made. Hebrews 10:19–22 says we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus — the burnt offering altar that must be passed before entering is the type of the blood of Christ that makes approach possible.

Exodus 40:7

Place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. The basin is placed between the tent and the altar — exactly as Exodus 30:18 specified. The washing station that the priests must use before both entering the tent and serving at the altar is positioned at the midpoint of the priestly approach sequence. Water in the basin: the installation is not complete until the basin is filled. The empty basin is a construction; the filled basin is a service.

Exodus 40:8

Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. The courtyard enclosure is set up — the final boundary of the sacred space. The community that lived outside the courtyard throughout the construction period now lives surrounding a completed, installed sanctuary. The outermost threshold marks the transition from the ordinary camp to the sacred precinct.

Exodus 40:9

Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. The anointing of the tabernacle and all its furnishings is the final act of installation. Construction is complete; placement is done; now consecration transforms the constructed into the sacred. The anointing oil covers every surface and object. 1 John 2:27 says the anointing you received remains in you — the anointing that consecrates the tabernacle is the type of the Spirit's anointing that consecrates the new covenant community.

Exodus 40:10

Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. The burnt offering altar receives its own anointing: consecrated and most holy. The altar that will receive Israel's sacrifices is made most holy by the anointing oil. Hebrews 13:12 says Jesus suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood — the most holy altar consecrated by anointing is the type of the one whose blood makes the people holy.

Exodus 40:11

Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them. The basin and its stand receive the anointing — the washing station that separates the ordinary from the sacred is itself sanctified. The water the basin provides and the consecration the anointing provides together prepare the priest for the presence of God. Both cleanliness and holiness are received gifts, not achievements.

Exodus 40:12

Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. The ordination of Aaron and his sons follows the tabernacle's consecration. The priests are brought to the entrance and washed — the threshold where ordinary life meets sacred service. John 13:8 says unless I wash you, you have no part with me — the washing of the priests at the tent's entrance is the type of the washing through which Christ initiates the covenant relationship.

Exodus 40:13

Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. The three acts of ordination — dressing, anointing, consecrating — are performed in sequence. The vestments first, then the oil, then the declaration of consecration. Acts 10:38 says God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power — the anointing of Aaron is the type of the anointing of the one whose title means the anointed one.