Exodus 40

Exodus 40:1-16

In this chapter, 1. The tabernacle is set up, ver. 1—8. The understanding of it, ver. 8—11. and of the priest, ver. 12—15. a. Come taken to do all this, and as it was appointed to be done, ver. 16—33.

3. God’s taking possession of it by the cloud, ver. 34—38.

4. AND the LORD quake unto Moses, saying, 2. On the first day of the first month shall thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation; 3. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail: 4. And 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. 5. And 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. 6. And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt-offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7. And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shut put water therein. 8. And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court-gate. 9. And 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. 10. And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt-offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar of the holy. 11. And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. 12. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them

VOL. I.

with water. 13. And 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. 14. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15. And thou shalt anoint them, as thou shalt 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. 16. Thou did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

The whole being compleat, is ordered to be set up.

1. The time; on the first day of the new year; and a happy new-year’s day to them is was: “About a year had elapsed since their departure from Egypt; a year full of God’s mercies and their unfaithfulness. Now God is come to death in the midst of them, it is to be hoped, a new life will begin with a new year. Note, New years should begin with humbling reviews of the past, and humble purposes of amendment for the future.

2. The consecration. The whole was solemnly set apart for God’s use and service. When we are raised from beds of sickness, and when we arise from beds of sleep, we should renew consecrate and devote to his service the tabernacle of our bodies.

3. Aaron and his sons are ordained for the service. As there must be a call from God, there must also be an ordinance from men lawfully appointed, before a man precludes to exercise the priest’s office.

4. ¶ And 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. 18. And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his fockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. 19. And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. 20. ¶ And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the slaves on the ark, and put the mercy-feat above upon the ark. 21. And 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. 22. ¶ And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. 23. And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. 24. ¶ And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over-against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25. And he lighted the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. 26. ¶ And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation, before the vail. 27. ¶ And he burnt sweet incense thereon, as the LORD commanded Moses. 28. ¶ And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. 29. And 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. 30. ¶ And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash unthal. 31. And Moses, and Aaron, and his sons, washed their hands and their feet thereat. 32. When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. 33. And 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.

Exodus 40:17-33

Moses sets up the glorious fabric, and begins the service of the sanctuary. The candlestick is lighted up, the table covered, the incense smokeling, the offering on the altar. Thus he taught the priests the method of their service; and himself, and Aaron and his sons, washed in the laver, for they who minister before a holy God, must purge themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit: and as even in our duties sin is incurred, whenever we would approach God, we must first walk in the open fountain of a Saviour’s blood, without which we never can draw near with acceptance to him.

34. ¶ Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35. And Moses was not able to enter into the