And he put the table in the tent of the congregation ,.... In the holy place; for there the shewbread table, which is here meant, was put: upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail ; on the north side of the tabernacle, at a little distance from the walls, which were the curtains and boards, even in the holy place on the outside of the vail, which divided from the most holy place. read more
And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord ,.... The shewbread, the twelve cakes of it, in two rows, six in a row: as the Lord had commanded Moses : Exodus 25:30 . read more
And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation ,.... In the same place, the holy place: over against the table: the shewbread table: on the side of the tabernacle southward : directly opposite to the table. read more
And he lighted the lamps before the Lord ,.... The seven lamps belonging to it: this, though it was the business of the priests of Aaron, and his sons, yet they not being at present invested with their office, was done by Moses, who in this and several other things mentioned in this chapter officiated as a priest: as the Lord commanded Moses , Exodus 25:37 . read more
And he put the golden altar ,.... The altar of incense; so called because it was overlaid with gold, and to distinguish it from the altar of burnt offering, which was covered with brass: to this altar there is an allusion in Revelation 8:3 . in the tent of the congregation, before the vail ; in the same place, the holy place, where the shewbread table and candlestick were, and these were all the furniture of it; and this was put, not within the vail, but before it, over against the... read more
And he burnt sweet incense thereon ,.... Which is another branch of the priestly office exercised by Moses, and which he would never have done had he not had a command from God for it, as follows: as the Lord commanded Moses ; he commanded Moses indeed to order and direct Aaron to do this, but he being not yet consecrated, Moses, being the Lord's priest, did it. read more
And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. That is, at the door of the holy place, all being brought into it that were to be placed there. read more
And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation ,.... Of which see Exodus 40:6 . and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering ; either the burnt offering the meat offering of the daily sacrifice, as Jarchi interprets it, see Exodus 28:38 or it may be rather the burnt offering and meat offering of the consecration of Aaron and his sons, Exodus 29:1 . as the Lord commanded Moses ; in the places referred to. read more
And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar ,.... Of which position, see Exodus 30:18 . and put water there to wash withal ; for the priests to wash their hands and feet with; a type of that laver or fountain opened for the house of David and inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash in, Zechariah 13:1 . read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 40:16-33
When the tabernacle and the furniture of it were prepared, they did not put off the rearing of it till they came to Canaan, though they now hoped to be there very shortly; but, in obedience to the will of God, they set it up in the midst of their camp, while they were in the wilderness. Those that are unsettled in the world must not think that this will excuse them in their continued irreligion; as if it were enough to begin to serve God when they begin to be settled in the world. No; a... read more