Exodus 40:1-33 - Exposition

THE COMMAND TO SET UP THE TABERNACLE , AND ITS PERFORMANCE . All was now ready. Bezaleel and Aholiab had completed their task. The work for the tabernacle had been given in, and had been approved Moses did not however at once set it up. He waited for a command from God. After a short interval, the command came. He was ordered to select the first day of the ensuing year—the first day of the first year of freedom—for the operation. Directions were given him, which fixed the order in which the various parts were to be set up, and assigned to the various articles of furniture their proper places ( Exodus 40:1-8 ). When he had arranged the whole as directed, he was to anoint the various parts ( Exodus 40:9-11 ). He was then to wash and dress Aaron, and his sons; to invest them with their robes of office ( Exodus 40:12-14 ), and to anoint them to be priests ( Exodus 40:15 ). The orders given were executed, except (as it would seem) those concerning the investiture of the priests and the anointing, which were deferred. (See Le Exodus 8:6-30 .) In one day the sanctuary was completely set up ( Exodus 40:18-33 ).