Updated on

Read Exodus Chapter 40

Up and down arrows move from one verse to the next.

1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

3And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.

4And 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.

5And 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.

6And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

7And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.

8And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.

9And 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.

10And 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.

11And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.

12And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

13And 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.

14And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

15And 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.

16Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

17And 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.

18And 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.

19And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.

20And 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:

21And 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.

22And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.

23And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.

24And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

25And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

26And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:

27And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.

28And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.

29And 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.

30And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.

31And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:

32When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

33And 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.

34Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

35And 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.

36And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

38For 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.

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

Exodus 40

In short

God tells Moses to set up the tabernacle, a tent where God will meet with the people of Israel. Moses follows every instruction carefully, arranging the furniture, anointing everything with oil, and consecrating the priests. When the work is finished, God's presence fills the tabernacle as a cloud, and this cloud will guide Israel's travels through the wilderness.

What the text says

God commands Moses in verses 1 to 15 to build and outfit the tabernacle on the first day of the first month. Moses must put the ark in the center, set up the table and lampstand, place the incense altar, build the outer court, and anoint all the items with oil to make them holy. Aaron and his sons are washed, dressed in special garments, anointed, and set apart to serve as priests.

In verses 16 to 33, Moses carries out all these instructions exactly. He erects the structure, positions each piece of furniture where God said, covers the ark, lights the lamps, offers sacrifices, and sets up the water basin for washing. The text notes repeatedly that Moses does everything "as the LORD commanded."

In verses 34 to 38, after the work is complete, a cloud comes down and fills the tabernacle. Moses cannot enter because God's glory is so strong there. This cloud becomes Israel's sign of God's presence: it stays over the tabernacle by day and night, and when the cloud lifts, the people know it is time to move; when it stays, they camp and do not travel.

Takeaways

  • God gave detailed instructions, and Moses obeyed them completely and carefully.
  • The tabernacle and its furnishings were made holy through anointing oil, setting them apart for God's use.
  • God's visible presence in the cloud guided Israel through the wilderness and showed his constant companionship.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.