The Torah · Old Testament
Exodus 40
The tabernacle is erected and the Lord’s glory fills it
General context
The Lord tells Moses to erect the tabernacle on the first day of the first month, place its furnishings and consecrate the sanctuary, altar, basin and priests. Moses carries out the commands. The dated account places the erection on the first day of the first month in the second year. Moses sets up the framework and coverings, puts the testimony into the ark and screens it with the veil. The table and bread stand on the north side outside the veil, with the lampstand opposite on the south. Moses lights the lamps, burns incense on the gold altar before the veil and sets up the entrance hanging. He places the burnt-offering altar at the entrance and offers sacrifices. The water basin stands between tent and altar; Moses, Aaron and Aaron's sons wash their hands and feet there. The courtyard is erected, and Moses finishes the work. A cloud covers the tent and the Lord's glory fills it, preventing Moses from entering. The closing account describes Israel moving when the cloud rises and waiting when it remains, with cloud by day and fire by night visible throughout their journeys.
Cited passages: Exodus 40:1, Exodus 40:2, Exodus 40:3, Exodus 40:4, Exodus 40:5, Exodus 40:6, Exodus 40:7, Exodus 40:8, Exodus 40:9, Exodus 40:10, Exodus 40:11, Exodus 40:12, Exodus 40:13, Exodus 40:14, Exodus 40:15, Exodus 40:16, Exodus 40:17, Exodus 40:18, Exodus 40:19, Exodus 40:20, Exodus 40:21, Exodus 40:22, Exodus 40:23, Exodus 40:24, Exodus 40:25, Exodus 40:26, Exodus 40:27, Exodus 40:28, Exodus 40:29, Exodus 40:30, Exodus 40:31, Exodus 40:32, Exodus 40:33, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 40:35, Exodus 40:36, Exodus 40:37, Exodus 40:38
Exodus 40 (KJV)
1And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
3And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
4And 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.
5And 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.
6And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
7And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
8And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.
9And 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.
10And 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.
11And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
12And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
13And 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.
14And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:
15And 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.
16Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he.
17And 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.
18And 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.
19And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the Lord commanded Moses.
20And 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:
21And 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.
22And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.
23And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses.
24And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
25And he lighted the lamps before the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses.
26And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:
27And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the Lord commanded Moses.
28And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.
29And 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.
30And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
31And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
32When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses.
33And 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.
34Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
35And 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.
36And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
37But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
38For 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.
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Historical context
The chapter supplies an internal date for the erection but no modern calendar equivalent. Its opening instructions include washing, clothing and anointing Aaron and his sons; the summary says Moses did as commanded, while the detailed sequence concentrates on erection, placement and service. The veil screens the ark rather than functioning as a cloth laid directly on its lid. The table is on the north side outside the veil and the lampstand on the south. The washing account explicitly includes Moses as well as Aaron and his sons. The inability to enter is explained by cloud and glory, not by a reported construction fault. Israel's destination has not been reached in the book's closing scene.
Cited passages: Exodus 40:2, Exodus 40:3, Exodus 40:4, Exodus 40:5, Exodus 40:6, Exodus 40:7, Exodus 40:8, Exodus 40:9, Exodus 40:10, Exodus 40:11, Exodus 40:12, Exodus 40:13, Exodus 40:14, Exodus 40:15, Exodus 40:16, Exodus 40:17, Exodus 40:18, Exodus 40:19, Exodus 40:20, Exodus 40:21, Exodus 40:22, Exodus 40:23, Exodus 40:24, Exodus 40:25, Exodus 40:26, Exodus 40:27, Exodus 40:28, Exodus 40:29, Exodus 40:30, Exodus 40:31, Exodus 40:32, Exodus 40:33, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 40:35, Exodus 40:36, Exodus 40:37, Exodus 40:38
Literary context
Instructions in the opening are followed by a detailed account of compliance, repeatedly marked by the phrase about doing as the Lord commanded Moses. The furnishings described and made earlier now receive their places and uses. Moses' completion statement is followed immediately by the cloud and glory, shifting attention from human work to divine presence. The final verses extend beyond the day of erection into the pattern governing the journey. Exodus closes with a completed sanctuary and guidance for movement, rather than with arrival in the promised land.
Cited passages: Exodus 40:1, Exodus 40:2, Exodus 40:3, Exodus 40:4, Exodus 40:5, Exodus 40:6, Exodus 40:7, Exodus 40:8, Exodus 40:16, Exodus 40:17, Exodus 40:18, Exodus 40:19, Exodus 40:20, Exodus 40:21, Exodus 40:22, Exodus 40:23, Exodus 40:24, Exodus 40:25, Exodus 40:26, Exodus 40:27, Exodus 40:28, Exodus 40:29, Exodus 40:30, Exodus 40:31, Exodus 40:32, Exodus 40:33, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 40:35, Exodus 40:36, Exodus 40:37, Exodus 40:38
Key moments
- The tabernacle is erected on the stated date (Exodus 40:17). The account dates erection to the first day of the first month in the second year.
- Moses and the priests wash (Exodus 40:31). Moses, Aaron and his sons wash hands and feet at the basin.
- Cloud and glory fill the scene (Exodus 40:34). The cloud covers the meeting tent and the Lord’s glory fills the tabernacle.
- The rising cloud signals movement (Exodus 40:36). Israel continues its journeys when the cloud is taken up from the tabernacle.
For reflection
What does the movement from completed work to the cloud's guidance emphasize at the end of Exodus?