Exodus 40:17-33

ERECTION OF THE TABERNACLE, Exodus 40:17-33.

17. It came to pass After all the work of the tabernacle and its furniture was finished, as related in chaps . 36-39 .

The first month Abib, (Exodus 13:4,) or Nisan, (Nehemiah 2:1,) corresponding nearly with our April . See note on Exodus 12:2.

The second year The second year after the exodus . The deliverance from Egypt was an appropriate and memorable epoch in Hebrew chronology the beginning of years, as Abib was the beginning of months . Compare 1 Kings 6:1.

The first day of the month Israel’s first free new year’s day, for the first day of the previous year had found them yet in the house of bondage, and fourteen days of that year passed before they departed from Egypt . About half the year had gone before they commenced the work of the tabernacle, for it was the third month when they reached the wilderness of Sinai, (Exodus 19:1,) and Moses spent two periods of forty days each in the mount, (Exodus 34:18; Exo 24:28,) which was nearly three months more. But six months was ample time for the work; for the tabernacle was no such elaborate structure as the temple of Solomon; and as the zeal of the people showed itself in their offering more than enough material for the structure, so that Moses had even to restrain them from bringing more, (Exodus 36:5-7,) so also the work itself was doubtless carried forward with equal zeal till all was finished .

The tabernacle was reared up According to the directions which the Lord had given Moses . Exodus 40:1-6.

18. Moses reared up the tabernacle We must not suppose that Moses personally and alone did all that is attributed to him in this chapter . He was probably assisted by Aaron and the “wise-hearted men . ” Exodus 36:1. But Moses had the oversight and command of all these, and Aaron and his sons were not yet set apart to the priesthood . The word rendered tabernacle here is mishcan, and is used both of the enclosure of boards, and of the ornamented cloth which is described in Exodus 26:1-6. No mention is made of stakes, tent-pins, ropes, ridge-poles, etc . , but all these are presupposed or implied in every erection of a tent. The description here given is very brief, and presupposes in the reader’s mind the fuller descriptions which have been given in the preceding chapters.

Sockets The silver bases for the boards, (Exodus 26:19-21,) and the brazen ones for the pillars, (Exodus 26:37,) to rest in . These served to hold the boards and pillars in their places, and to keep them from decay. The sockets in which the boards rested probably formed in appearance a sort of plinth around the bottom of their walls.

The boards Of shittim or acacia wood. which formed the inner enclosure. Exodus 26:15-25; Exodus 36:20-23.

The bars These were also of shittim wood, and made to pass through gold rings, (or staples,) probably on the outside of the boards. Exodus 26:26-29. They were five in number for each side and for the western end, the middle bar in each case reaching from end to end . Both the boards and the bars were overlaid with gold, presenting to the gaze of the beholder, either on the outside or within, a vast golden surface .

Pillars Five in number, at the entrance or east end of the tent. Exodus 26:37. There were also four pillars within the tabernacle to support the vail which separated the holy place from the holy of holies. Exodus 26:32; Exodus 36:36.

19. Spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle The tent here refers to the curtains of goats’ hair, which, in Exodus 26:7, are called “a covering upon the tabernacle . ” The Hebrew words are the same in each passage, and designate the tent cloth which was placed over or above the ornamented curtains described in Exodus 26:1-6. It served as a covering and protection for the “curtains of fine linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of cunning work . ” Exodus 26:1. These latter, according to Fergusson, (see p . 520,) formed the ornamented roof of the tabernacle as seen from the inside . They may, however, have been thrown over the board structure, and drawn down tightly on the outer sides. The objections to a flat roof would not apply to this set of curtains if thus adjusted, inasmuch as the tent of goat’s hair above it would have protected it from rain.

The covering of the tent above upon it This was an additional covering made of rams’ skins, dyed red, and sealskins, and spread on the top of the goat’s hair canvas for a further protection from the weather. See Exodus 26:14. These several coverings made the roofing utterly impervious to the rain.

As the Lord commanded Moses This expression is here used seven times within the space of fourteen verses, (19-32,) and shows how very careful Moses was to make all things according to the pattern shown him by Jehovah. Compare Exodus 25:9; Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5.

20. The testimony The two tables of stone on which the ten commandments were written by the finger of God . Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16. Those first written were broken by Moses, (Exodus 32:19,) but another set was afterward prepared . Exodus 34:4. The decalogue graven on the two stone tablets was called the testimony, because it was Jehovah’s most emphatic testimony or witness against sin a monumental expression of his will; and it was placed in the ark that it might be a witness against rebellion and sin in Israel . Compare Deuteronomy 31:26-27. When, after the lapse of several hundred years, the ark was deposited in the most holy place of the temple of Solomon, there was nothing in it but these two tables of stone . 1 Kings 8:9. According to Hebrews 9:4, it originally contained also the golden pot of manna and Aaron’s rod that budded, though these latter, according to Exodus 16:34, and Numbers 17:10, were placed “before the testimony . ” Most writers have understood “before the testimony” as equivalent to before the ark; but according to the inspired writer of Hebrews it would mean before the testimony itself, that is, the tables inside the ark . For a description of the ark, the staves, and the mercy seat, see Exodus 25:10-22.

21. Brought the ark into the tabernacle Its place was in the holy of holies, within the inner vail .

The vail of the covering The vail described in Exodus 26:31-32, which hung upon four pillars, and served to cover or screen the most holy place from human eyes.

And covered the ark That is, he covered it by the vail just mentioned, and so concealed it from the gaze of men.

22. The table The table on which the “showbread” was always kept . This table is particularly described in Exodus 25:23-30, where see notes .

Northward, without the vail As the tent faced the east, the north side would be to the right hand of one entering . The position of the table would thus be near the north-west corner of the holy place, and just in front, or outside of, the vail which hid the holy of holies from view .

23. Set the bread in order The manner of making this bread, and of arranging it upon the table, is described in Leviticus 24:5-9, where see notes . Whether Moses immediately arranged the bread, lighted the lamps, (Exodus 40:25,) burnt incense, (27,) and offered sacrifices, (29,) as soon as the table, candlestick, and altars were set each in its place, according to the order of this narrative, is not quite clear . But as Aaron and his sons were not consecrated to the priesthood until after the tabernacle was set up, (Exodus 40:12-15,) and so did not wash in the laver until after their consecration, (Exodus 40:31-32,) it is probable that the table, lamps, and altars, like the laver, were not put to their uses until Aaron and his sons were consecrated priests. This, however, was done as soon as the tabernacle was reared up; perhaps on the same day.

24. The candlestick See Exodus 25:31-37.

Side… southward To the left of one entering, opposite to the showbread table . So the table and the candlestick were on opposite sides of the golden altar . See on Exodus 40:26.

25. Lighted the lamps The lamps were to be kept burning, just as the showbread was to be kept standing, “before the Lord continually . ” Leviticus 24:1-4.

26. The golden altar Not to be confounded with the brazen altar, or altar of burnt offerings, which was placed not in the tent, but outside of it, in the court, Exodus 40:29. The golden altar, or altar of incense, was placed in the holy place before the vail, so that it must have stood between the table of showbread and the golden candlestick. Compare Exodus 40:22; Exodus 40:24, notes. For description of this altar see notes and cut, page 535.

27. Sweet incense Hebrew, incense of spices, or aromatics . Its ingredients, and the manner of their preparation, are mentioned in Exodus 30:34-36. The incense was, strictly speaking, the perfume exhaled by fire from the compounded aromatics . Incense was used in connexion with the religious ceremonies of most ancient nations . In the tabernacle service it was to be offered morning and evening, (Exodus 30:7-8,) and was a beautiful and expressive symbol of the prayer of saints. Psalms 141:2; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4.

28. The hanging Described in Exodus 26:36-37, where see notes .

29. The altar of burnt offering This was made of shittim wood, and overlaid with brass, as described in Exodus 27:1-8, and so is to be distinguished from “the golden altar” mentioned in Exodus 40:26, where see note . It was five times larger in breadth and width than the golden altar, and one cubit higher .

By the door Before, or in front of the door, Exodus 40:6. It was placed in the open court that surrounded the tabernacle, (Exodus 40:33,) and some distance in front of the tent, so as to leave room between it and the tent for the laver, Exodus 40:33. On the burnt offering and the meat offering, see Leviticus 7:37-38, notes .

30. The laver A large circular basin, to hold water, in which the priests were to wash their hands and feet . Solomon made for the temple ten lavers, and set them on “ten bases of brass,” (1 Kings 7:27-38,) but this laver of the tabernacle was probably of more simple construction . See Exodus 30:18-21, notes .

33. The court round about A large enclosure of linen curtains, one hundred cubits by fifty, with a gate or entrance twenty cubits wide . See full description in Exodus 27:9-18.