On the first day of the first month of the second year, God commands Moses to erect the tabernacle and arrange all its furnishings. Moses personally sets up the structure, positions the ark, table, lampstand, and altars, anoints everything with oil, and consecrates Aaron and his sons. The cloud of glory covers the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle, guiding Israel's journeys throughout their wilderness wanderings.
Read Exodus Chapter 40 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Moses
Deliverer of Israel, mediator of the covenant, lawgiver, and prophet who spoke with God face to face
Aaron
Moses' brother, spokesman before Pharaoh, and first high priest of Israel
Pharaoh (of Exodus)
King of Egypt who oppressed Israel and hardened his heart against God, ultimately destroyed at the Red Sea
Miriam
Sister of Moses and Aaron, prophetess who led Israel in worship after the Red Sea crossing
Jethro
Moses' father-in-law, priest of Midian who advised Moses on leadership and organization
Joshua
Moses' assistant and military leader who fought the Amalekites and accompanied Moses on Sinai
Places in This Chapter
Egypt
View on MapLand of Israel's slavery and the setting for God's dramatic acts of judgment and redemption through the plagues
Red Sea
View on MapSite of Israel's miraculous deliverance where God parted the waters and destroyed Pharaoh's pursuing army
Mount Sinai
View on MapThe mountain of God where the covenant was established, the Law given, and God's glory descended in fire and cloud
The Wilderness
View on MapThe desert region where God tested and provided for Israel, teaching them dependence on him through manna, water, and guidance
The Tabernacle
View on MapThe Tabernacle was the portable sanctuary that Israel built according to God's instructions at Mount Sinai. It served as God's dwelling place among His people during the wilderness wanderings and early settlement in Canaan. It contained the Ark of the Covenant, the altar, and the holy place.
Position in Book
Israel in EgyptChapters 1-2
The Call of MosesChapters 3-4
The Plagues and PassoverChapters 5-12
The Exodus and Red SeaChapters 13-15
Journey to SinaiChapters 16-18
The Covenant at SinaiChapters 19-24
Instructions for the TabernacleChapters 25-31
The Golden CalfChapters 32-34
Construction of the TabernacleChapters 35-40
The people's generous offerings, the skilled craftsmen's work, the completion of the Tabernacle, and God's glory filling it.
Bible Bites
The first person 'filled with the Spirit' was an artist
The very first person the Bible describes as 'filled with the Spirit of God' isn't a prophet or a king, it's Bezalel, a craftsman gifted for artistic design, gold-work and carving to build the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-5). Creativity itself is treated as a divine gift.
Exodus 31:1-5