1.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
the LORD (Hebrew. Jehovah. spake . See note on Exodus 6:10 , and compare note on Exodus 3:7 .
2.
On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
the first day of the first month . Six events in Scripture on this day. See note on Genesis 8:13 .
first month . On the fourteenth day the first Pass-over was kept (Numbers 9:1-3 ). On the first day of the second month they were numbered (Numbers 1:1 , Numbers 1:2 ): (50 days between Exodus 40:17 and Numbers 10:11 ). In the interval comes the book of Leviticus, and Numbers 1:1 - Exodus 10:10 . On the twentieth day of the second month the Tabernacle was taken down, and the journey began from Sinai to Canaan (Numbers 10:11 ). See App-50 .
tabernacle. = habitation. Hebrew. mishkan, App-40 . tent. Hebrew. 'ohel. App-40 .
3.
And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
ark . See note on Exodus 25:22 .
cover = screen.
ark. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch and The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel read "ark and the mercy seat".
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.
set in order : i, e. in two piles, six loaves in each pile, answering to the stones on the shoulders of the High Priest. There was a golden dish at the bottom of each, and another reversed on the top, with a golden bowl of frankincense on the top. Compare Exodus 25:23-30 .
light = set up, or mount.
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.
door = entrance.
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.
anoint , Compare Exodus 30:22-29 .
hallow . . . holy. See note on "holy", Exodus 3:8 .
vessels = furniture.
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.
most holy . Hebrew holiness of holinesses. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ) for emphasis.
11.
And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
foot = base.
12.
And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel ( App-40 ).
wash = bathe. Compare Exodus 29:1-4 . with, or in.
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.
anoint him . Compare Exodus 29:5-7 .
14.
And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:
clothe. Compare Exodus 29:8 , Exodus 29:9 .
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.
as = according as.
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.
as = according as. See note on Exodus 39:1 , and note the seven occurrences of the expression "as Jehovah commanded Moses" in this chapter as in chapter 39.
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:
mercy seat . See note on Exodus 25:1 .
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.
side . Hebrew. yarek = the opposite side.
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.
burnt offering . Hebrew. 'olah, See App-43 . washed. The ceremonial cleansings or "baptisms "(Hebrews 6:2 ), always performed by the persons themselves.
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.
the work . Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "all the work".
34.
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
THE APPROBATION AND BLESSING OF JEHOVAH, Corresponding with that of Moses in Exodus 39:43 .
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:
when the cloud, &c. This continued till Moses' death, when the ark (which till then was carried in the midst of the host) took its place and went "before them". See Joshua 3:3-6 , Joshua 3:11 .
children = sons.
journeys = journeyings. Literally settings forward.
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.
on it : i.e. in the cloud.
house of Israel . See note on Exodus 16:31 .