Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Exodus » Chapter 40 » Verse 1-38

Exodus 40:1-38 King James Version (KJV)

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 On the first day of the first month shalt 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 shalt 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 most 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 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 didst 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 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

17 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 sockets, 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 staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat 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 withal.

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.

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 tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.


Exodus 40:1-38 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

2 On the first H7223 day H3117 of the first H259 month H2320 shalt thou set up H6965 the tabernacle H4908 of the tent H168 of the congregation. H4150

3 And thou shalt put H7760 therein H8033 the ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 and cover H5526 the ark H727 with the vail. H6532

4 And thou shalt bring H935 in the table, H7979 and set in order H6186 the things that are to be set in order H6187 upon it; and thou shalt bring H935 in the candlestick, H4501 and light H5927 the lamps H5216 thereof.

5 And thou shalt set H5414 the altar H4196 of gold H2091 for the incense H7004 before H6440 the ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 and put H7760 the hanging H4539 of the door H6607 to the tabernacle. H4908

6 And thou shalt set H5414 the altar H4196 of the burnt offering H5930 before H6440 the door H6607 of the tabernacle H4908 of the tent H168 of the congregation. H4150

7 And thou shalt set H5414 the laver H3595 between the tent H168 of the congregation H4150 and the altar, H4196 and shalt put H5414 water H4325 therein.

8 And thou shalt set up H7760 the court H2691 round about, H5439 and hang up H5414 the hanging H4539 at the court H2691 gate. H8179

9 And thou shalt take H3947 the anointing H4888 oil, H8081 and anoint H4886 the tabernacle, H4908 and all that is therein, and shalt hallow H6942 it, and all the vessels H3627 thereof: and it shall be holy. H6944

10 And thou shalt anoint H4886 the altar H4196 of the burnt offering, H5930 and all his vessels, H3627 and sanctify H6942 the altar: H4196 and it shall be an altar H4196 most H6944 holy. H6944

11 And thou shalt anoint H4886 the laver H3595 and his foot, H3653 and sanctify H6942 it.

12 And thou shalt bring H7126 Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 unto the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and wash H7364 them with water. H4325

13 And thou shalt put H3847 upon Aaron H175 the holy H6944 garments, H899 and anoint H4886 him, and sanctify H6942 him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. H3547

14 And thou shalt bring H7126 his sons, H1121 and clothe H3847 them with coats: H3801

15 And thou shalt anoint H4886 them, as thou didst anoint H4886 their father, H1 that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: H3547 for their anointing H4888 shall surely be an everlasting H5769 priesthood H3550 throughout their generations. H1755

16 Thus did H6213 Moses: H4872 according to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 him, so did H6213 he.

17 And it came to pass in the first H7223 month H2320 in the second H8145 year, H8141 on the first H259 day of the month, H2320 that the tabernacle H4908 was reared up. H6965

18 And Moses H4872 reared up H6965 the tabernacle, H4908 and fastened H5414 his sockets, H134 and set up H7760 the boards H7175 thereof, and put H5414 in the bars H1280 thereof, and reared up H6965 his pillars. H5982

19 And he spread abroad H6566 the tent H168 over the tabernacle, H4908 and put H7760 the covering H4372 of the tent H168 above H4605 upon it; as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

20 And he took H3947 and put H5414 the testimony H5715 into the ark, H727 and set H7760 the staves H905 on the ark, H727 and put H5414 the mercy seat H3727 above H4605 upon the ark: H727

21 And he brought H935 the ark H727 into the tabernacle, H4908 and set up H7760 the vail H6532 of the covering, H4539 and covered H5526 the ark H727 of the testimony; H5715 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

22 And he put H5414 the table H7979 in the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 upon the side H3409 of the tabernacle H4908 northward, H6828 without H2351 the vail. H6532

23 And he set H6187 the bread H3899 in order H6186 upon it before H6440 the LORD; H3068 as the LORD H3068 had commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

24 And he put H7760 the candlestick H4501 in the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 over against H5227 the table, H7979 on the side H3409 of the tabernacle H4908 southward. H5045

25 And he lighted H5927 the lamps H5216 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

26 And he put H7760 the golden H2091 altar H4196 in the tent H168 of the congregation H4150 before H6440 the vail: H6532

27 And he burnt H6999 sweet H5561 incense H7004 thereon; as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

28 And he set up H7760 the hanging H4539 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle. H4908

29 And he put H7760 the altar H4196 of burnt offering H5930 by the door H6607 of the tabernacle H4908 of the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 and offered H5927 upon it the burnt offering H5930 and the meat offering; H4503 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

30 And he set H7760 the laver H3595 between the tent H168 of the congregation H4150 and the altar, H4196 and put H5414 water H4325 there, to wash H7364 withal.

31 And Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 washed H7364 their hands H3027 and their feet H7272 thereat:

32 When they went H935 into the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 and when they came near H7126 unto the altar, H4196 they washed; H7364 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

33 And he reared up H6965 the court H2691 round about H5439 the tabernacle H4908 and the altar, H4196 and set up H5414 the hanging H4539 of the court H2691 gate. H8179 So Moses H4872 finished H3615 the work. H4399

34 Then a cloud H6051 covered H3680 the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 filled H4390 the tabernacle. H4908

35 And Moses H4872 was not able H3201 to enter H935 into the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 because the cloud H6051 abode H7931 thereon, and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 filled H4390 the tabernacle. H4908

36 And when the cloud H6051 was taken up H5927 from H5921 over the tabernacle, H4908 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went onward H5265 in all their journeys: H4550

37 But if the cloud H6051 were not taken up, H5927 then they journeyed H5265 not till the day H3117 that it was taken up. H5927

38 For the cloud H6051 of the LORD H3068 was upon the tabernacle H4908 by day, H3119 and fire H784 was on it by night, H3915 in the sight H5869 of all the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 throughout all their journeys. H4550


Exodus 40:1-38 American Standard (ASV)

1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.

3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and thou shalt screen the ark with the veil.

4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.

5 And thou shalt set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.

6 And thou shalt set the altar of burnt-offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.

7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water therein.

8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.

9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the furniture thereof: and it shall be holy.

10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of burnt-offering, and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar shall be most holy.

11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and its base, and sanctify it.

12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tent of meeting, and shalt wash them with water.

13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments; and thou shalt anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them;

15 and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: and their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

16 Thus did Moses: according to all that Jehovah commanded him, so did he.

17 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 laid its sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up its pillars.

19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark:

21 and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

22 And he put the table in the tent of meeting, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the veil.

23 And he set the bread in order upon it before Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of meeting, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

25 And he lighted the lamps before Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil:

27 and he burnt thereon incense of sweet spices; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

28 And he put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.

29 And he set the altar of burnt-offering at the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the meal-offering; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

30 And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water therein, wherewith to wash.

31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat;

32 when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys:

37 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of Jehovah was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.


Exodus 40:1-38 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

2 `On the first day of the month, in the first month, thou dost raise up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting,

3 and hast set there the ark of the testimony, and hast covered over the ark with the vail,

4 and hast brought in the table, and set its arrangement in order, and hast brought in the candlestick, and caused its lamps to go up.

5 `And thou hast put the golden altar for perfume before the ark of the testimony, and hast put the covering of the opening to the tabernacle,

6 and hast put the altar of the burnt-offering before the opening of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting,

7 and hast put the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and hast put water there.

8 `And thou hast set the court round about, and hast placed the covering of the gate of the court,

9 and hast taken the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle, and all that `is' in it, and hallowed it, and all its vessels, and it hath been holy;

10 and thou hast anointed the altar of the burnt-offering, and all its vessels, and sanctified the altar, and the altar hath been most holy;

11 and thou hast anointed the laver and its base, and sanctified it.

12 `And thou hast brought near Aaron and his sons unto the opening of the tent of meeting, and hast bathed them with water;

13 and thou hast clothed Aaron with the holy garments, and anointed him, and sanctified him, and he hath acted as priest to Me.

14 `And his sons thou dost bring near, and hast clothed them with coats,

15 and anointed them as thou hast anointed their father, and they have acted as priests to Me, and their anointing hath been to be to them for a priesthood age-during, to their generations.'

16 And Moses doth according to all that Jehovah hath commanded him; so he hath done.

17 And it cometh to pass, in the first month, in the second year, in the first of the month, the tabernacle hath been raised up;

18 and Moses raiseth up the tabernacle, and setteth its sockets, and placeth its boards, and placeth its bars, and raiseth its pillars,

19 and spreadeth the tent over the tabernacle, and putteth the covering of the tent upon it above, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

20 And he taketh and putteth the testimony unto the ark, and setteth the staves on the ark, and putteth the mercy-seat on the ark above;

21 and bringeth in the ark unto the tabernacle, and placeth the vail of the covering, and covereth over the ark of the testimony, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

22 And he putteth the table in the tent of meeting, on the side of the tabernacle northward, at the outside of the vail,

23 and setteth in order upon it the arrangement of bread, before Jehovah, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

24 And he putteth the candlestick in the tent of meeting, over-against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward,

25 and causeth the lamps to go up before Jehovah, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

26 And he setteth the golden altar in the tent of meeting, before the vail,

27 and maketh perfume on it -- spice-perfume -- as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

28 And he setteth the covering of the opening to the tabernacle,

29 and the altar of the burnt-offering he hath set at the opening of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and causeth the burnt-offering to go up upon it, and the present, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

30 And he putteth the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and putteth water there for washing,

31 and Moses and Aaron and his sons have washed their hands and their feet at the same;

32 in their going in unto the tent of meeting, and in their drawing near unto the altar, they wash, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

33 And he raiseth up the court round about the tabernacle, and about the altar, and placeth the covering of the gate of the court; and Moses completeth the work.

34 And the cloud covereth the tent of meeting, and the honour of Jehovah hath filled the tabernacle;

35 and Moses hath not been able to go in unto the tent of meeting, for the cloud hath tabernacled on it, and the honour of Jehovah hath filled the tabernacle.

36 And in the going up of the cloud from off the tabernacle the sons of Israel journey in all their journeys;

37 and if the cloud go not up then they journey not, until the day of its going up:

38 for the cloud of Jehovah `is' on the tabernacle by day, and fire is in it by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel in all their journeys.


Exodus 40:1-38 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

2 On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.

3 And thou shalt put in it the ark of the testimony, and shalt cover the ark with the veil.

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 its lamps.

5 And thou shalt set the golden altar for the incense before the ark of the testimony; and hang up the curtain of the entrance to the tabernacle.

6 And thou shalt set the altar of burnt-offering before the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.

7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water in it.

8 And thou shalt fix the court round about, and hang up the curtain at the gate of the court.

9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is in it, and shalt hallow it, and all its utensils; and it shall be holy.

10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of burnt-offering, and all its utensils; and thou shalt hallow the altar, and the altar shall be most holy.

11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and its stand, and hallow it.

12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons near, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and bathe them with water.

13 And thou shalt clothe Aaron with the holy garments, and anoint him, and hallow him, that he may serve me as priest.

14 And thou shalt bring his sons near, and clothe them with vests.

15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall be to them an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

16 And Moses did so: as Jehovah had commanded him, so did he.

17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first of the month, that the tabernacle was set up.

18 And Moses set up the tabernacle, and put in its bases, and fixed its boards, and put in its bars, and set up its pillars.

19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above over it; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and put the staves in the ark, and put the mercy-seat above on the ark.

21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and hung up the veil of separation, and covered the ark of the testimony; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

22 And he put the table in the tent of meeting, on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside the veil,

23 and arranged the bread in order upon it before Jehovah; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of meeting, opposite to the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

25 And he lighted the lamps before Jehovah; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil.

27 And he burnt on it fragrant incense; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

28 And he hung up the curtain of the entrance to the tabernacle.

29 And he put the altar of burnt-offering at the entrance to the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt-offering and the oblation; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

30 And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing.

31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet out of it:

32 when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they drew near to the altar, they washed; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

33 And he set up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the curtain of the gate of the court. And so Moses finished the work.

34 And the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses could not enter into the tent of meeting, for the cloud abode on it, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel journeyed in all their journeys.

37 And if the cloud were not taken up, then they did not journey until the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of Jehovah was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.


Exodus 40:1-38 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tent of the Tent of Meeting.

3 You shall put the ark of the testimony in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.

4 You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lampstand, and light the lamps of it.

5 You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tent.

6 You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tent of the tent of meeting.

7 You shall set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shall put water therein.

8 You shall set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.

9 You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tent, and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture: and it will be holy.

10 You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar will be most holy.

11 You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it.

12 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tent of meeting, and shall wash them with water.

13 You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office.

14 You shall bring his sons, and put coats on them.

15 You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest's office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

16 Thus did Moses: according to all that Yahweh commanded him, so he did.

17 It happened in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tent was raised up.

18 Moses raised up the tent, and laid its sockets, and set up the boards of it, and put in the bars of it, and raised up its pillars.

19 He spread the covering over the tent, and put the roof of the tent above on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

20 He took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.

21 He brought the ark into the tent, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

22 He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the side of the tent northward, outside of the veil.

23 He set the bread in order on it before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

24 He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table, on the side of the tent southward.

25 He lit the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

26 He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil;

27 and he burnt incense of sweet spices on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

28 He put up the screen of the door to the tent.

29 He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tent of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal-offering, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

30 He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash.

31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there.

32 When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

33 He raised up the court around the tent and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tent.

35 Moses wasn't able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud stayed on it, and Yahweh's glory filled the tent.

36 When the cloud was taken up from over the tent, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;

37 but if the cloud wasn't taken up, then they didn't travel until the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of Yahweh was on the tent by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.


Exodus 40:1-38 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And the Lord said to Moses,

2 On the first day of the first month you are to put up the House of the Tent of meeting.

3 And inside it put the ark of the law, hanging the veil before it.

4 And put the table inside, placing all the things on it in order; and put in the support for the lights, and let its lights be burning.

5 And put the gold altar for burning perfumes in front of the ark of the law, hanging the curtain over the doorway of the House.

6 And put the altar of burned offerings before the doorway of the House of the Tent of meeting.

7 And let the washing-vessel, with water in it, be put between the Tent of meeting and the altar.

8 And put up the hangings forming the open space all round it, with the curtain over its doorway.

9 And take the holy oil and put it on the House and everything in it, and make it and everything in it holy:

10 And put oil on the altar of burned offering, and make it and all its vessels holy; this altar is to be most holy.

11 And put oil on the washing-vessel and its base, and make them holy.

12 Then let Aaron and his sons come to the door of the Tent of meeting; and after washing them with water,

13 You are to put on Aaron the holy robes; and you are to put oil on him, and make him holy, so that he may be my priest.

14 And take his sons with him and put coats on them;

15 And put oil on them as you did on their father, so that they may be my priests: the putting on of oil will make them priests for ever, from generation to generation.

16 And Moses did this; as the Lord gave him orders, so he did.

17 So on the first day of the first month in the second year the House was put up.

18 Moses put up the House; placing its bases in position and lifting up its uprights, putting in the rods and planting the pillars in their places;

19 Stretching the outer tent over it, and covering it, as the Lord had given him orders.

20 And he took the law and put it inside the ark, and put the rods at its side and the cover over it;

21 And he took the ark into the House, hanging up the veil before it as the Lord had given him orders.

22 And he put the table in the Tent of meeting, on the north side outside the veil.

23 And he put the bread on it in order before the Lord, as the Lord had said.

24 The support for the lights he put in the Tent of meeting, opposite the table, on the south side:

25 Lighting the lights before the Lord, as the Lord had given him orders.

26 And he put the gold altar in the Tent of meeting, in front of the veil:

27 Burning sweet perfumes on it, as the Lord had given him orders.

28 And he put up the curtain at the doorway of the House.

29 And at the door of the House of the Tent of meeting, he put the altar of burned offerings, offering on it the burned offering and the meal offering, as the Lord had given him orders.

30 And between the altar and the Tent of meeting he put the vessel with water in it for washing.

31 In it the hands and feet of Moses and Aaron and his sons were washed,

32 Whenever they went into the Tent of meeting, and when they came near the altar, as the Lord had given orders to Moses.

33 And he put up the hangings forming the open space round the House and the altar, and put the curtain over the doorway. So Moses made the work complete.

34 Then the cloud came down covering the Tent of meeting, and the House was full of the glory of the Lord;

35 So that Moses was not able to go into the Tent of meeting, because the cloud was resting on it, and the House was full of the glory of the Lord.

36 And whenever the cloud was taken up from the House, the children of Israel went forward on their journey:

37 But while the cloud was there, they made no move till it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the Lord was resting on the House by day, and at night there was fire in the cloud, before the eyes of all the people of Israel, and so it was through all their journeys.

Commentary on Exodus 40 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible


Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 40

This chapter contains the order for setting up the tabernacle, and placing the furniture of it where it was the will of God it should be put, Exodus 40:1 and for the anointing it, and all its vessels, and also Aaron and his sons, Exodus 40:9 all which were accordingly done, the tabernacle was reared up, and everything was put in its proper place, Exodus 40:16 upon which a cloud covered the tent, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, so that Moses could not enter; which cloud afterwards was a direction in their journeys, by night and by day, Exodus 40:34.


Verse 1

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.


Verse 2

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.


Verse 3

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 priests that went into the holy place.


Verse 4

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 priest of the Lord, he being not yet consecrated, the office was performed by Moses.


Verse 5

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 things, and forbid the entrance of the people there.


Verse 6

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.


Verse 7

And thou shall set the laver,.... As is directed in Exodus 30:18.


Verse 8

And thou shall set up the court round about,.... Which consisted of various hangings, east, west, north, and south; see Exodus 27:9.


Verses 9-11

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


Verses 12-14

And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,.... To wash, anoint, and clothe them, as in the two following verses Exodus 40:13, that they might minister in the priest's office, according to Exodus 28:41


Verse 15

And thou shall anoint them as thou didst anoint their father,.... For Aaron was first anointed, and then his sons:

that they may minister unto me in the priest's office; which they might not do before their anointing, though separated for it, and called unto it:

for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations; that is, this ceremony of anointing was to be used in all ages at the investiture of the high priest with his office, until the Messiah should come, who would put an end to the Aaronic priesthood; for not common priests, only the successors of the high priest, were anointed in later times; this present unction serving for all the priests that should follow in successive generations, so long as the priesthood continued.


Verse 16

Thus did Moses,.... He set up the tabernacle, and every thing in its place, and anointed them, and Aaron and his sons:

according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he; by which he approved himself to be a faithful servant in the house of God.


Verse 17

And it came to pass in the first month, in the second year,.... Of the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt:

on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up; so that this was in the spring of the year, about the vernal equinox, on a new year's day, that this was done, which was beginning the year well: it was within a fortnight of a year after their coming out of Egypt, and when they had been about five months and a half in building the tabernacle; for such a time it seems they were in doing that, and which, considering the many things to be done, and in the winter season, it shows great dispatch. Where was the place, in which the tabernacle was reared up, is not said: it isF4Pocock's Travels, p. 147. observed, that near the southwest corner of that part of Mount Sinai, which is called Mount Episteme, there is a little hill called Araone by the Arabs, and by the Greeks the tabernacle of the testimony, where they say Aaron was consecrated, and first performed the offices of the priesthood: probably, says a learned manF5Clayton's Chronology of the Hebrew Bible, p. 350. , on this hill was placed the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses was ordered to place without the camp afar off; but he seems to mistake the tent of Moses, or however the little tabernacle erected before the grand one was made, for this tabernacle in Exodus 33:7 which he seems to refer to; it is more probable that it was now reared up in the midst of the camp of Israel, see Numbers 2:2.


Verse 18

And Moses reared up the tabernacle,.... Not of himself, but with the help of others:

and fastened the sockets, and set up the boards thereof; fixed the silver sockets all around, which were the foundation of the building, and placed and established the shittim boards in them:

and put in the bars thereof; to keep the boards close and tight:

and reared up his pillars; the pillars that supported the vail between the holy and holy of holies, and those on which the hanging for the door of the tabernacle was put, as well as the several pillars all around the court of the tabernacle for the hangings of that.


Verse 19

And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle,.... Which were curtains of goats' hair:

and put the covering of the tent above upon it; which was of rams' skins died red, and over that another covering of badgers' skins:

as the Lord commanded Moses; Exodus 26:7.


Verse 20

And he took and put the testimony into the ark,.... The ten commands, called the "testimony", because they testified and declared what was the will of God with respect to things to be done, or not done. The Targum of Jonathan says, he put the broken pieces of the tables into it; but what became of them, or were done with them, we nowhere read; and it does not appear that any other, but those that Moses hewed by the order of God, were put into the ark; see Deuteronomy 10:1.

and set the staves on the ark; that it might be ready to be carried whenever a remove was necessary:

and put the mercy seat above upon the ark; together with the cherubim.


Verse 21

And he brought the ark into the tabernacle,.... Into that part of it called the holy of holies:

and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; the vail which divided between the and most holy place, and so kept out of sight the ark of the testimony within, from being seen by any, even by the priests in the holy place:

as the Lord commanded Moses; Exodus 26:33.


Verse 22

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.


Verse 23

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.


Verse 24

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.


Verse 25

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.


Verse 26

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 ark, as that stood within it, Exodus 40:5.


Verse 27

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.


Verse 28

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.


Verse 29

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.


Verse 30

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.


Verse 31

And Moses, and Aaron, and his sons, washed their hands and their feet thereat. This laver was for the priests, and Moses, officiating as a priest, washed in it, with Aaron, and his sons, whom he was now about to consecrate to the priest's office, and invest with it by offering sacrifice for them; Jarchi says this was on the eighth day of the consecration.


Verse 32

When they went into the tent of the congregation,.... Not only at this time, but at all other times:

and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; to the altar of burnt offering to offer sacrifice; and also to the altar of incense, and burn incense on that; for before whatever service they performed in the tabernacle they washed:

as the Lord commanded Moses; Exodus 30:20 this phrase is near twenty times expressed in this and the preceding chapter, to show that everything was done by the workmen, and everything put in its proper place by Moses, exactly according to the will of God; no one pursuing his own fancy and private judgment, but all consulting the mind of God, and acting according to that.


Verse 33

And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar,.... Which consisted of hangings one hundred cubits long and fifty broad; see Exodus 27:9, &c.

and set up the hanging of the court gate; which was at the east end of it; and the hanging was of twenty cubits, hung upon four pillars, Exodus 27:16.

so Moses finished the work; of the tabernacle, in making it by workmen, and in rearing it up by the help of others; and as the former was the work of some months, so the latter, it is highly probable, was the work of some days, at least, in doing all that is said to be done in this chapter relative to it; for though it is said to be reared up on the first day of the first month, yet not then fully set up, or everything done requisite to the use and service of it; see Numbers 7:1.


Verse 34

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation,.... The outside of it; this cloud was the same with the pillar of cloud that went before the Israelites, as soon almost as they came out of Egypt; and led them through the Red sea, and conducted them to Mount Sinai; only it now appeared in a different form, not erect as a pillar, but more expanded, so as to cover the tabernacle without:

and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle; the inside of it, not the most holy place only, but the holy place also: this was an uncommon brightness, lustre, and splendour, a glorious stream of light, which the eye of man could not well bear to behold; such a glory filled the temple of Solomon at the dedication of that, 1 Kings 8:11 and was an emblem of Christ, the brightness of his Father's glory, dwelling in and filling the tabernacle of the human nature, where the Godhead, the Shechinah, the divine Majesty, dwells bodily, Hebrews 1:3 Colossians 2:9.


Verse 35

And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation,.... He had been there before, both in the holy, and in the most holy place, to see that the furniture of each were put as the Lord directed, which being done he came out again; and now a cloud being on the outside of it, and the glory of the Lord within, he was so struck with an awe and reverence of the divine Being, of whose presence these were a symbol, that he could not engage his heart, or had not boldness to go into the tabernacle until he was called, Leviticus 1:1 for so it follows:

because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle; there was something, no doubt, very venerable in the spreading cloud, as well as very striking in the refulgent glory, which commanded distance, even to a person that had been used to converse with God; Moses, that went into the midst of the cloud where the Lord was, now could not or durst not go into the tabernacle it covered; and he who then was not deterred by the sight of the glory of God, which was like devouring fire, Exodus 24:16 now could not, or at least thought it not proper and advisable to enter into the holy place erected for the service and worship of God; the chief reason of which may be, because, as yet, he had not a call to enter, as he then had, and as we find was afterwards given him, Leviticus 1:1 and perhaps another reason may be, because he was now no longer a priest; Aaron and his sons being invested with the priestly office, whose business it was to draw nigh to God; and indeed the call he afterwards had was not to come into the tabernacle, but was a call unto him out of it.


Verse 36

And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle,.... By the Lord himself, or it removed by his order, that is, rose up and stood above the tabernacle, and appeared in the form of a pillar, and went before it:

the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys; the motion of the cloud was a direction to set forward and continue their journey as long as it lasted; but when it rested and abode upon the tabernacle, then they stopped and rested also, as is suggested in the following verse Exodus 40:37, see Numbers 9:17 thus the saints are to be followers of God as dear children, and to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes or directs, and walk after the Spirit, the dictates and directions thereof; so the wheels in Ezekiel's vision went and stood, as did the living creatures, and the spirit in them, Ezekiel 1:19.


Verse 37

But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not,.... Even if it continued so two days, or a month, or a year, as very probably it sometimes did; which will in some measure account for the long continuance of the Israelites in the wilderness, see Numbers 9:22.

till the day that it was taken up: or, "of its ascent"F6העלתו "sustolli ejus", Montanus. , being "lifted up", or going upwards, higher in the air, right over the tabernacle, or perhaps more to the front of it; the word used before in this and the preceding verse has the signification of ascending upwards.


Verse 38

For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day,.... Or over itF7על המשכן "supra tabernaculum", Drusius. , it covered it, when it abode upon it, and rested; and stood on high over it when it moved and the people journeyed:

and fire was on it by night; the same phenomenon which had the appearance of a cloud in the day time shone like fire in the night time: or "fire was in it"F8בו "in ea"; Fagius, Junius & Tremellius; Drusius. ; that is, in the cloud; so it appeared in the night, and was, as the Targum of Jonathan here calls it, a pillar of fire; the same with the pillar of cloud and fire, which departed not from the people all the while they were in the wilderness, Exodus 13:21 and this was

in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys; whether by night or by day; for in hot countries they travel much by night; and as the cloud was both a shelter from the heat of the sun in the daytime, and a direction of their way; so the fire by night was of the same use for direction, and might be also terrifying to wild beasts in the wilderness, who are afraid of fire, and so be a security to the Israelites from them; all which is an emblem of the guidance and protection, light, joy, and comfort, the church of God has from his gracious presence, while in the wilderness of this world; see Isaiah 4:5.