Exodus 40

The long work of building the tabernacle ends here. God tells Moses how to set everything up and consecrate it. Moses obeys step by step, and God answers by filling the tent with His glory. The book that began with Israel enslaved ends with God dwelling among His people and leading them.

Exodus 40:1-2

God gives the final order: raise the tabernacle on the first day of the first month. That is the anniversary season of Israel’s rescue from Egypt, so a new beginning is marked at the start of the year. The tent is a place where God promises to meet His people.

BSA: Meeting (“moed, a meeting or appointed time, a sacred season or festival”): The name of the tent says that God sets the time and place of the meeting, and He keeps His appointments.

Hebrew: מוֹעֵד (moed, H4150) — “appointed meeting, set time.” The same word is used for Israel’s holy feasts. The tent is where God keeps an appointment with His people, not merely a building.

See also: Exodus 25:8.

Exodus 40:3

The ark comes first. It holds the Testimony, the stone tablets of God’s law. A veil is hung to screen it off. The most sacred object, which stands for God’s throne and covenant, is placed at the center and shielded from casual sight.

BSA: veil (“curtain, partition”): The veil is a dividing wall that guards God’s holiness and shows that sinners cannot walk in freely.

Hebrew: עֵדוּת (edut, H5715) — “testimony, witness.” The tablets are God’s own witness. They state what He has said and what He expects of His covenant people.

See also: Hebrews 9:3-4.

Exodus 40:4

In the outer room, the Holy Place, Moses is to put the table with its bread and the lampstand with its lamps. Bread speaks of provision and fellowship. Light speaks of God’s guidance. Both are set in order as God directs.

BSA: lamps (“to shine, providing spiritual guidance”): The lamps give light in a room with no window, so all light in God’s house is supplied by Him.

See also: Exodus 25:30-31.

Exodus 40:5

The gold altar of incense goes just before the veil, in front of the ark, with the entrance curtain hung at the door. Rising incense stands for prayer going up toward God’s presence. Even the doorway is screened, so approaching God has a set way.

BSA: incense (“a sweet smoke, perfume”): The sweet-smelling smoke pictures prayer rising pleasantly to God.

See also: Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4.

Exodus 40:6-7

The altar of burnt offering stands outside the entrance, so anyone coming near must first pass the place of sacrifice. Between it and the tent sits the basin of water. Sacrifice comes first, then washing, then the approach to God.

BSA: burnt offering (“a step or stairs, often used to describe the ascent to the altar”): The offering is named for going up, as the whole gift rises in smoke to God.

Hebrew: עֹלָה (olah, H5927) — “that which goes up.” The burnt offering is burned whole on the altar and rises toward God. It shows complete surrender and atonement.

See also: Exodus 30:17-21.

Exodus 40:8

The courtyard fence and its entrance curtain are put up last. They mark off sacred ground from the camp. There was one gate, so there was one way in. God had made a place where sinners could come near Him on His terms.

See also: John 10:9.

Exodus 40:9-11

Moses is to anoint the tent, its furnishings, the altar and the basin with oil. The oil sets them apart for God alone. Once anointed, they are holy, and ordinary use of them is forbidden. The altar is called most holy.

BSA: consecrate (“set apart, make holy”): To consecrate is to set something aside for God and for no other use.

Hebrew: קָדַשׁ (qadash, H6942) — “to set apart, make holy.” Holiness here is first of all belonging to God. Things become holy because God claims them.

See also: Exodus 30:26-29.

Exodus 40:12-13

Aaron and his sons are brought to the entrance and washed with water. Then Aaron is dressed in the holy garments, anointed and consecrated. Priests must be cleansed and set apart before they serve. Their office is to stand between God and the people.

BSA: wash (“bathe, ritually cleanse”): The priests’ whole bodies are washed once, as a sign that they need cleansing before they serve. priest (“one who mediates between God and man”): The priest stands in the gap, bringing the people to God and speaking for God to them.

See also: Leviticus 8:6-12.

Exodus 40:14-15

Aaron’s sons are clothed in tunics and anointed as their father was. God says their anointing will mark a lasting priesthood in their family line. The service of drawing near to God was meant to continue from one generation to the next.

BSA: permanent (“everlasting, eternal”): God intends the priestly service to go on lastingly in the family line, not as a one-time event.

See also: Psalm 133:2; Hebrews 7:23-24.

Exodus 40:16-17

Moses does all that God commanded, and the tabernacle goes up exactly one year after Israel left Egypt, less about two weeks, on the first day of the first month of the second year. The first obedient step in the chapter is carried out in full.

See also: Exodus 39:42-43.

Exodus 40:18-19

The tent is raised from the ground up: bases, frames, crossbars and posts. Then the cloths are spread over the frame, and the protective covering goes on top. The writer lists each action to show that Moses built it as God had shown him, piece by piece.

See also: Exodus 26:1-14.

Exodus 40:20

Moses puts the stone tablets in the ark, fits the carrying poles, and sets the golden lid on top. The law lies beneath, and the cover above. God’s holy demands are met by His provision of atonement. The place of His rule is also the place of mercy.

BSA: mercy seat (“a golden lid, the atonement cover, the place of reconciliation”): The lid is where blood was sprinkled to cover sin, so God’s law and His mercy meet in one place.

Hebrew: כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporet, H3727) — “covering, place of atonement.” It comes from the word for covering over sin. The lid is where atonement was made on the Day of Atonement.

See also: Exodus 25:21-22; Romans 3:25.

Exodus 40:21

The ark is carried in and the veil is hung in front of it. The holiest object is now fully hidden from view. Once again the writer notes that this is just as the LORD commanded, a phrase that rings through the chapter.

See also: Hebrews 9:3.

Exodus 40:22-23

The table is placed on the north side, outside the veil, and the bread is laid on it before the LORD. The bread was set in God’s presence as a constant offering. It shows Israel’s daily life and food laid before Him as gifts from His hand.

BSA: before (“in the presence of”): The bread is set out in God’s own presence, as if offered to Him face to face.

See also: Leviticus 24:5-6.

Exodus 40:24-25

The lampstand goes on the south side, facing the table, and its lamps are lit before the LORD. Bread and light stand opposite each other, so the room is both fed and lit. Moses again does just what he was told.

BSA: lamps (“devices that hold a flame, providing spiritual light”): The lamps burn in God’s presence, giving light in a dark sanctuary.

See also: Exodus 27:20-21.

Exodus 40:26-27

The gold altar is set in front of the veil, and Moses burns sweet-smelling incense on it. The fragrance fills the Holy Place, showing that this house is for worship and prayer as well as sacrifice. Moses does it in full obedience.

BSA: gold (“valuable, brilliant”): Gold marks this altar as fit for the nearest approach to God’s presence.

See also: Exodus 30:1-8.

Exodus 40:28-29

The entrance curtain goes up, and the altar of burnt offering is set near the door. Moses then offers the burnt offering and the grain offering on it. Worship begins at once. The first act at the new sanctuary is a gift to God.

See also: Leviticus 1:1-9.

Exodus 40:30-32

The basin is set between the tent and the altar and filled with water. Moses, Aaron and his sons wash their hands and feet from it whenever they enter the tent or come to the altar. Serving God calls for clean hands and clean steps.

BSA: washed (“ritually cleansed, bathed”): The washing is a repeated, ritual cleansing that keeps the priests fit for service.

See also: Exodus 30:17-21; Psalm 24:3-4.

Exodus 40:33

Moses sets up the courtyard and hangs its gate curtain. Then the writer says Moses finished the work. The words echo the end of creation, when God finished His work. A dwelling for God is complete, as the world once was.

BSA: finished (“completed, ended”): The job is done, with nothing left out, just as Moses was shown.

Hebrew: וַיְכַל (vayekhal, H3615) — “and he finished.” The same word is used in Genesis 2:2 when God finished the creation. The writer hints that the tabernacle is a kind of new beginning.

See also: Genesis 2:2.

Exodus 40:34

The cloud covers the tent, and the glory of the LORD fills it. God shows that He accepts the house and has come to live among His people. The work of human hands is now made holy by His presence.

BSA: glory (“great honor, splendor”): The glory is God’s weighty, shining presence, too great to ignore.

Hebrew: כָּבוֹד (kavod, H3519) — “glory, weight, honor.” The word carries the sense of weight. God’s presence is heavy and real, not a vague feeling.

See also: 1 Kings 8:10-11; John 1:14.

Exodus 40:35

Even Moses cannot go in. The cloud has settled on the tent, and the glory fills it. The man who spoke with God face to face is stopped at the door. God’s presence is not something we can handle on our own terms.

BSA: settled (“rested, dwelled”): The cloud has come to stay, so God has taken up residence.

Hebrew: שָׁכַן (shakan, H7931) — “to settle, dwell.” This is the root of the word for tabernacle. God does not merely visit but takes up a dwelling among His people.

See also: 2 Chronicles 5:13-14.

Exodus 40:36-37

The cloud now guides the camp. When it lifts, Israel moves on. When it stays, they stay, however long. They trust God’s leading rather than their own plans, and rest or travel as He decides.

BSA: lifted (“taken up, rose”): Israel moves only when the cloud rises, so the signal always comes from God.

See also: Numbers 9:17-22.

Exodus 40:38

The book closes with the cloud over the tent by day and fire in it by night, visible to the whole house of Israel on every journey. God’s guiding presence was always in sight. The people who were once slaves are now led by Him.

BSA: sight (“before the eyes, visible to”): God’s presence was plain for all to see, not hidden or private.

See also: Exodus 13:21-22.