Exodus 40

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 40

1¶ And 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.

16¶ Thus 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.

34¶ Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Exodus 40 details the completion and dedication of the Tabernacle according to the LORD's precise instructions. Moses faithfully followed all commands for its erection, the placement of its holy furnishings, and the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests. Upon its completion, the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle, and a cloud by day and fire by night began to guide the Israelites' journeys.

Medium Summary

In Exodus 40, the LORD instructs Moses on the precise order for setting up the Tabernacle on the first day of the first month of the second year. These instructions include placing the Ark, table, candlestick, and altars within the tent, and the laver and burnt offering altar in the court. Moses is also commanded to anoint the Tabernacle and all its vessels, sanctifying them as holy. Furthermore, Aaron and his sons are to be washed, clothed in holy garments, and anointed to serve as priests. Moses diligently executes every command, erecting the Tabernacle, arranging its contents, and consecrating the priestly family. As the work is finished, a cloud covers the tent, and the glory of the LORD fills the Tabernacle, preventing Moses from entering. This divine presence, manifested as a cloud by day and fire by night, then serves as the perpetual guide for the children of Israel throughout their wilderness journeys.

Long Summary

Exodus chapter 40 commences with the LORD giving Moses precise instructions for the final assembly and dedication of the Tabernacle. Moses is commanded to erect the Tabernacle on the first day of the first month of the second year, placing the Ark of the Testimony within, veiled, and arranging the table with its bread and the candlestick with its lamps. The golden altar for incense is to be set before the veil, and the hanging for the Tabernacle door put in place. Outside, the altar of burnt offering and the laver are to be positioned, and the surrounding court erected. Following the structural setup, Moses is instructed to take the anointing oil and hallow the entire Tabernacle, all its vessels, the altars, and the laver, making them most holy. Crucially, Aaron and his sons are to be brought to the Tabernacle door, washed, clothed in their holy garments, and anointed, thereby sanctifying them for an everlasting priesthood. Moses meticulously carries out every single command given by the LORD. On the appointed day, he rears up the Tabernacle, fastening its sockets, boards, bars, and pillars, and spreading the tent and its coverings. He places the testimony into the Ark, sets the mercy seat upon it, and brings the Ark into the Tabernacle, veiling it as commanded. The table is placed northward with its bread, and the candlestick southward with its lighted lamps. The golden altar is set before the veil, and incense is burnt upon it. The hanging for the door is set, and the altar of burnt offering is placed outside, where offerings are made. The laver is positioned between the tent and the altar, and Moses, Aaron, and his sons wash their hands and feet there before ministering. The court is completed with its gate hanging, signifying the culmination of the entire construction. Upon the completion of this monumental work, a profound divine manifestation occurs. A cloud covers the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD fills the Tabernacle, so intensely that Moses is unable to enter. This cloud, which by night appeared as fire, became the visible sign of God's presence and guidance. It dictated the movements of the Israelites: when the cloud lifted, they journeyed; when it remained, they stayed encamped, signifying the LORD's direct leadership throughout their wilderness travels.

Core Concepts

  • Tabernacle AssemblyThis concept details the precise instructions given by God to Moses for setting up the Tabernacle, including the arrangement of its structure and the placement of all its sacred vessels within and around it. Moses diligently follows these commands, completing the physical construction and furnishing of the holy dwelling.
  • Sanctification RitualsThe chapter describes the anointing of the Tabernacle, its altars, and all its vessels with holy oil, thereby hallowing them and setting them apart for sacred service to the LORD. This act renders them holy and fit for divine use.
  • Priestly ConsecrationAaron and his sons are ritually washed, clothed in their holy garments, and anointed with oil, formally consecrating them to an everlasting priesthood. This ceremony establishes their role as ministers before the LORD.
  • Manifestation of God's GloryUpon the Tabernacle's completion, a cloud covers it, and the glory of the LORD fills the dwelling, so powerfully that Moses cannot enter. This signifies God's tangible presence and acceptance of the completed sanctuary.
  • Divine Guidance SystemThe cloud by day and fire by night resting upon the Tabernacle served as the visible sign of God's continuous leadership for Israel. Their journeys were entirely dependent on the movement of this divine cloud, demonstrating God's direct control over their wilderness wanderings.
  • Moses' ObedienceThroughout the chapter, Moses is shown meticulously fulfilling every command the LORD gave him regarding the Tabernacle's construction and the priestly consecration. His faithful execution ensures the sanctuary is built precisely according to divine pattern.
  • Completion of the SanctuaryExodus 40 marks the culmination of the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle's construction given in previous chapters. The final assembly and dedication establish God's dwelling place among His people, ready for worship and sacrifice.