1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. 3 You shall put the ark of the testimony in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. 4 You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lampstand, and light its lamps. 5 You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle. 6 "You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. 7 You shall set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and shall put water therein. 8 You shall set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court. 9 "You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture: and it will be holy. 10 You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar will be most holy. 11 You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it. 12 "You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water. 13 You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office. 14 You shall bring his sons, and put coats on them. 15 You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest's office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." 16 Moses did so. According to all that Yahweh commanded him, so he did. 17 It happened in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up. 18 Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars. 19 He spread the covering over the tent, and put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 20 He took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark. 21 He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 22 He put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside of the veil. 23 He set the bread in order on it before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 24 He put the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25 He lit the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 26 He put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the veil; 27 and he burnt incense of sweet spices on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 28 He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle. 29 He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 30 He set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash. 31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there. 32 When they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 33 He raised up 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 Yahweh filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses wasn't able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud stayed on it, and Yahweh's glory filled the tabernacle. 36 When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys; 37 but if the cloud wasn't taken up, then they didn't travel until the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of Yahweh was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
Moses is commanded to set up the tabernacle, the first day of the first month of the second year of their departure from Egypt, Exodus 40:1, Exodus 40:2. The ark to be put into it, Exodus 40:3. The table and candlestick to be brought in also with the golden altar, Exodus 40:4, Exodus 40:5. The altar of burnt-offering to be set up before the door, and the laver between the tent and the altar, Exodus 40:6, Exodus 40:7. The court to be set up, Exodus 40:8. The tabernacle and its utensils to be anointed, Exodus 40:9-11. Aaron and his sons to be washed, clothed, and anointed, Exodus 40:12-15. All these things are done accordingly, Exodus 40:16. The tabernacle is erected; and all its utensils, etc., placed in it on the first of the first month of the second year, vv. 17-33. The cloud covers the tent, and the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle, so that even Moses is not able to enter, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 40:35. When they were to journey, the cloud was taken up; when to encamp, the cloud rested on the tabernacle, Exodus 40:36, Exodus 40:37. A cloud by day and a fire by night was upon the tabernacle, in the sight of all the Israelites, through the whole course of the journeyings, Exodus 40:38.
INTRODUCTION TO 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, Exodus 40:1 and for the anointing it, and all its vessels, and also Aaron and his sons, Exodus 40:9 all which were accordingly done, the tabernacle was reared up, and everything was put in its proper place, Exodus 40:16 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, Exodus 40:34.
(Exodus 40:1-15) The tabernacle is to be set up, Aaron and his sons to be sanctified.
(v. 16-33) Moses performs all as directed.
(Exodus 40:34-38) The glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.