And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... When the tabernacle, and the work of it, were finished, and he had taken a survey of it, and everything belonging to it, which appeared to be done as was ordered: saying ; as follows. read more
On the first day of the first month ,.... Which was the month Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it; which was the month the children of Israel came out of Egypt, out of which they had now been a whole year, excepting fourteen days: shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation ; the tabernacle, which had a tent or covering over it, to which the people were gathered at times for religious service. read more
And thou shall put therein the ark of the testimony ,.... The ark or chest where the law was, a testimony of the divine will, and which was to be put into the most holy place of the tabernacle: and cover the ark with the vail ; not with the propitiatory or mercy seat, as the Targum of Jonathan; for though that was a covering or lid to the ark, yet not a vail; this was the vail that divided between the holy place and the most holy, and so covered or hid the ark from the sight even of the... read more
And thou shall bring in the table ,.... The table of shewbread, which was to be set in the holy place: and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it ; besides the dishes, spoons, covers, and bowls, there were the twelve loaves of shewbread to be set in two rows: and thou shall bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof ; which was to be brought and set in the same holy place with the shewbread table; and though the lamps were to be lighted by Aaron, the... read more
And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony ,.... Not in the most holy place where the ark was, but over against it in the holy place: and put the hanging of the door of the tabernacle ; the door of entrance into the holy place, where there were to be no other things set but those now mentioned, the shewbread table, the candlestick, and the altar of incense; and these being brought in, the hanging was to be put up, which hid the sight of the above... read more
And thou shall set the altar of the burnt offering ,.... Where the sacrifices of the people were to be brought, and offered up by the priests; and this was to be set up in the open court, as it was proper it should, both because of the smell and smoke of the sacrifices: before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation ; just a little before the entrance into the holy place. read more
And thou shall set the laver ,.... As is directed in Exodus 30:18 . read more
And thou shall set up the court round about ,.... Which consisted of various hangings, east, west, north, and south; see Exodus 27:9 . read more
And thou shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle ,.... In this, and the two following verses Exodus 40:10 , orders are given for the anointing of the tabernacle and its vessels, the altar of burnt offering and its vessels, the laver and its foot, whereby they were consecrated for divine use and service, according to Exodus 30:26 read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 40:1-15
The materials and furniture of the tabernacle had been viewed severally and approved, and now they must be put together. 1. God here directs Moses to set up the tabernacle and the utensils of it in their places. Though the work of the tabernacle was finished, and every thing ready for rearing, and the people, no doubt, were very desirous to see it up, yet Moses will not erect it till he has express orders for doing so. It is good to see God going before us in every step, Ps. 37:23. The time... read more