Exodus 40:17-38

17 Now 1in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.
18 Moses erected the tabernacle and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and inserted its bars and erected its pillars.
19 He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
20 Then he took 2the testimony and put it into the ark, and attached the poles to the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark.
21 He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and 3set up a veil for the screen, and screened off the ark of the testimony, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
22 Then he 4put the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside * the veil.
23 He set the arrangement of 5bread in order on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
24 Then he placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.
25 He 6lighted the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
26 Then he 7placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the veil;
27 and he 8burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
28 Then he set up the veil for the doorway of the tabernacle.
29 He 9set the altar of burnt offering before the doorway of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and 10offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
30 He placed the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing.
31 11From it Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet.
32 When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
33 He 12erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work.

The Glory of the LORD

34 13Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the 14glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
35 Moses 15was 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 Throughout all their journeys 16whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out;
37 but 17if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up.
38 For throughout all their journeys, 18the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.

Exodus 40:17-38 Meaning and Commentary

\\INTRODUCTION OF EXODUS 40\\

This chapter contains the order for setting up the tabernacle, and
placing the furniture of it where it was the will of God it should be
put, Ex 40:1-8 and for the anointing it, and all its vessels, and
also Aaron and his sons, Ex 40:9-16 all which were accordingly
done, the tabernacle was reared up, and everything was put in its
proper place, Ex 40:16-33 upon which a cloud covered the tent, and
the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, so that Moses could not
enter; which cloud afterwards was a direction in their journeys, by
night and by day, Ex 40:34-38.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Exodus 40:2
  • 2. Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 10:5; 1 Kings 8:9; 2 Chronicles 5:10; Hebrews 9:4
  • 3. Exodus 26:33
  • 4. Exodus 26:35
  • 5. Exodus 25:30; Leviticus 24:5, 6
  • 6. Exodus 25:37; Exodus 40:4
  • 7. Exodus 30:6; Exodus 40:5
  • 8. Exodus 30:7
  • 9. Exodus 40:6
  • 10. Exodus 29:38-42
  • 11. Exodus 30:19, 20
  • 12. Exodus 27:9-18; Exodus 40:8
  • 13. Numbers 9:15-23
  • 14. 1 Kings 8:11; Ezekiel 43:4; Revelation 15:8
  • 15. 1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14
  • 16. Numbers 9:17; Nehemiah 9:19
  • 17. Numbers 9:19-22
  • 18. Exodus 13:21; Numbers 9:12, 15; Psalms 78:14; Isaiah 4:5

Footnotes 12

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