Exodus: Chapter 40 Summary & Analysis

The LORD tells Moses that on the first day of the first month, he must set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. It must contain the ark of the covenant, the table, the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with the basin before it. The court must be set up around these things. Everything within must be anointed so that it will be holy. Aaron and his sons, too, must be washed and consecrated, then dressed so that they may serve as priests.

Moses does just as the LORD commands. In the second year, on the first day of the month, he sets up the tabernacle, spreads the tent over it, and covers the tent. He puts the covenant inside the ark, puts poles on the ark, and sets the mercy seat above it. He brings the ark of the covenant inside the tabernacle and puts the screen in front of it. He puts the table inside and places bread on it before the LORD. He sets up the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with the basin. Whenever the priests enter the tent, they wash before approaching the altar. Moses sets up the court around the tabernacle and altar and adds the screen at the gate of the court. Then his work is finished.

Then the cloud covers the tent of meeting, and the LORD’s glory fills the tabernacle. Moses is not able to enter the tent because of the LORD’s presence. Whenever the cloud goes up from the tabernacle, the Israelites set out on the next stage of their journey. If the cloud is not taken up, they stay where they are. The cloud is on the tabernacle during the day, and fire is in the cloud at night, so that Israel can see it at every stage of their journey.