Exodus 40

Updated
2001-05-26; 14:31:17utc

This chapter can be divided into four parts:

1. God's instructions concerning the setting up of the tabernacle vs. 1-8

2. Instructions concerning the consecration of the tabernacle and of the priests vs. 9-15

3. Moses' oversight of the assembling of the building vs. 16-33

4. The glory of the Lord fills the building and guides the people vs. 34-38

1. God's instructions concerning the setting up of the tabernacle vs. 1-8

God instructs Moses to assemble the tabernacle on the first day of the first month. Vs. 17 tells us that this was "the first day of the first month in the second year." This meant that the erection of the sanctuary coincided with the second anniversary of the Exodus. The Adam Clarke Commentary comments on this: "It is generally supposed that the Israelites began the work of the tabernacle about the sixth month after they had left Egypt; and as the work was finished about the end of the first year of their exodus (for it was set up the first day of the second year) that therefore they had spent about six months in making it: so that the tabernacle was erected one year all but fifteen days after they had left Egypt. Such a building, with such a profusion of curious and costly workmanship, was never constructed in so short a time. But it was the work of the Lord, and the people did service as unto the Lord; 'for the people had a mind to work.' "

It is, of course, no coincidence that the tabernacle is put together in the same month that the Exodus was commemorated. It was for this very purpose that the Exodus took place. It was in order to celebrate "a festival in the desert"[ 1 ] that the Israelites had left Egypt. The Matthew Henry's Commentary observes here: "The new moon (which by their computation was the first day of every month) was observed by them with some solemnity; and therefore this first new moon of the year was thus made remarkable." The actual Passover festival, which marked the hour of the Exodus was not celebrated until two weeks into the month. But we should remember that the month of Abib was chosen as the beginning of the New Year, because of the events that would take place. It was the Exodus that marked the beginning of a new life.

The work is done systematically: first the tent is put up and then the furniture is placed at its proper place. As soon as the ark is brought into the Holy of Holies, the curtain is hung in front of it. The NIV translates the instructions here with: "shield the ark with the curtain", the KJV renders it with: "cover the ark with the vail." This could give the wrong impression, as if the curtain was put over the ark instead of hung in front. The Hebrew word used here is cakak or sakak, which, according to Strongs Definitions Concordance means: to entwine as a screen; by implication, to fence in, cover over." After the second chamber is thus sealed off, the first one is furnished with the table, the lampstand and the gold altar of incense, which is then also closed off with a curtain.

The courtyard is erected only after the bronze altar and the washbasin have been put in place, in front of the entrance to the tent. Then the opening in the front of the fence is closed off with a curtain. Thus the whole structure is assembled.

2. Instructions concerning the consecration of the tabernacle and of the priests vs. 9-15

When the instructions regarding the erection of the tabernacle are given, Moses is instructed to anoint the whole structure: first the tent and then the furniture inside the two rooms, then the altar and washbasin that were outside. After that Aaron and his sons were anointed as part of their consecration to the priesthood. The Lord had told Moses already in ch. 29 that this was to be done, once the tabernacle was completed.[ 2 ] The oil, that had been prepared according to a special recipe,[ 3 ] was a symbol of the Holy Spirit that would come upon the copies of the heavenly things and the people who served as priests. The inauguration of Aaron and his sons is described in greater detail in Lev. ch 8.

First the tent itself is anointed and then the furniture in the two rooms inside; after this the two pieces of furniture: the bronze altar and the washbasin in front of the entrance of the tent. After the material part has been consecrated to the Lord, the people who serve the Lord in the tabernacle are consecrated to Him. God had explained to Moses the purpose of this consecration previously, when He said: "So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God."[ 4 ] In the above statement, God differentiates between the tent, the altar, and the priests; all three categories will be consecrated in that the Holy Spirit takes possession of them, in order for God to reveal Himself among His people and to remind them of their salvation from Egyptian slavery.

It is interesting that the altar is mentioned separately, as if it is in a category of its own. The altar was, of course, an image of the cross upon which our Lord Jesus Christ would give His life for us and take away the sin of the world. The altar is the place of man's greatest shame because it symbolizes death. The fact that the Holy Spirit takes possession of it, makes it a symbol of victory and glory. The apostle Paul indicates clearly the connection between Jesus' shameful death and the coming of the Holy Spirit, when he says: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."[ 5 ] Thus, the altar is anointed separately; the Holy Spirit takes possession of it, because it is His gate of entree into this world and into the hearts of men.

3. Moses' oversight of the assembling of the building vs. 16-33

After receiving the detailed instructions as to how to assemble the tabernacle and prepare the priests for their service, another detailed account is given of the actual assembling. To our modern minds, this seems to be boringly redundant, unless we understand the importance of the project and experience some of the love and dedication that went into it. This is the fifth time we read about the components of the tabernacle and the details of the priesthood. First, Moses is shown the model on top of Mount Sinai, then the plan is related to those who carry out the work; the pieces are described as they are being made; they are shown and counted for Moses' inspection and here they are put together. It sounds to us as an archaic style of reporting with endless repetition. We should conclude, however, that if God says something five times, it must be very important. If we miss this point, we miss that which gives content and meaning to life. God is showing us a picture of the Incarnation and He shows it to us over and over again, because He wants us to see what it says and to understand its meaning.

The first thing we are told in vs. 17 is that the erection of the tabernacle is the beginning of a new era in the history of the world. As the first day of the first month of the first year was marked by the deliverance of God's people out of bondage, so the first day of the first month of the second year is marked by God's coming into this world to live with His people. God had said to Moses that when the tabernacle was erected, He would come and live in Israel: "Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God."[ 6 ] The first day of the second year was Immanuel Day.

We can hardly suppose that Moses did the whole work of erecting the tabernacle all by himself. Some parts of the operation could hardly be done single-handedly. Obviously, Moses supervised the construction personally. The first part of the erection is the placing of the bases for the boards that form the sides of the two rooms of the sanctuary. We are reminded of Paul's words: "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."[ 7 ] The whole tabernacle is a picture of Christ; and at the same time, many of the parts are like members of the body of Christ, which is the church. So the tabernacle reflects a complicated reality of Christ and the church, that is of Christ and people who are redeemed and who are "in Christ." Again Paul reminds us: "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"[ 8 ]

Vs. 20 says: "He took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it." This is in accordance with the instructions given in ch. 25, where God had said: "Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you."[ 9 ] The two Stone Tablets, containing the Ten Commandments, form the core of the tabernacle. They represent the will of God and reflect His character. But they are covered with the atonement cover. The reality of our relationship with God could hardly have been expressed more clearly that with this picture. The Ten Commandments link our moral behavior to the character of God, and at the same time, to our sinful condition which condemns us. As Paul states in his epistle to the Romans: "Through the law we become conscious of sin."[ 10 ] But the Ten Commandments are covered with the atonement cover, the place where the blood of the sacrifice is sprinkled, the place where our sins are taken care of, the place where God dwells to reveal Himself to us. If the law causes us to become conscious of our sins, the forgiveness of our sins makes us conscious of our salvation. Zechariah prophesied this at the birth of his son, John the Baptist: "And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins."[ 11 ] All this is expressed so beautifully in what Moses does here.

The picture also shows us the proper place for the law, that is, inside the ark. As the law, the expression of God's character, was at the core of the tabernacle, so is God's law in the heart of the believer. Paul says this clearly in Romans: "... that the righteous requirements of the law [are] fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."[ 12 ] The law of God is no longer outside us, making claims upon our will and behavior, but the indwelling Holy Spirit has placed the will of God at the center of our being and fused our will to God's will, so that our greatest joy in life is to obey God. Jesus shows this to us in His own life, when He says to His disciples: "My food ... is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."[ 13 ] And Jesus' attitude was prophetically foretold by David when he wrote: "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."[ 14 ] When Jesus Christ is in our heart, God's law is within us and the Holy Spirit provides the desire and the power to fulfill the law.

Some duties that Moses is to perform while the tabernacle is put together, are probably given in a condensed manner. Vs. 23 tells us that he put the bread on the table; vs. 27 that he burned incense on the golden altar; and vs. 29 that he offered burnt offerings and grain offerings on the bronze altar. It is doubtful that he did these things as the tabernacle was being erected. It is more likely that these things were done when the work was complete. The last act was the putting up of the fence, marking the courtyard.

4. The glory of the Lord fills the building and guides the people vs. 34-38

Then the Shekinah glory fills the tabernacle. We read: "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." We find the same thing happening at the dedication of the temple by Solomon. "When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple."[ 15 ] This coming of the cloud to cover the tabernacle must have been different from other occasions when the cloud came down. Before, when Moses entered the presence of God, he was able to enter into the other tent without hindrance. We read: "As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses,"[ 16 ] but here, even Moses is unable to stand before the Lord.

This covering of the Tent of Meeting with the cloud of God's glory was a spiritual breakthrough. It was similar to the coming of the Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit came like a violent wind and fell upon the disciples, baptizing and filling them. We have very little understanding about the balance of power in the heavenly places but, apparently, there are moments when the power of God breaks through all the layers of demonic resistance in such a powerful way that the results are unmistakable on earth. Such a moment was this. What we read here may be the same event as the one described in Leviticus. "Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown."[ 17 ]

The verses 36-38 go beyond the moment of inauguration of the tabernacle; they speak about the guidance the presence of the Lord provided in the journey through the desert. In Numbers we read a more detailed description of the guidance provided by the presence of the Lord.[ 18 ] We are told again, as in ch. 13:21,22, which describes the beginning of the Exodus, that the presence of the Lord appeared in the form of a cloud during the day and a column of fire during the night.

This guidance was, of course, only effective in as much as it was obeyed by the people. In our New Testament dispensation we are given the same kind of guidance by the Holy Spirit, who leads us in the footsteps of our Lord. Paul says: "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."[ 19 ] And John says about those he sees in glory: "They follow the Lamb wherever he goes."[ 20 ]

This human factor cannot be left out of the picture. Obedience turns out to be a double featured reality. The law demanded obedience, an obedience it was never given. For this reason, it was placed inside the ark and covered with the atonement cover. The cloud demanded obedience, which it received in most instances. Both the Stone Tablets and the cloud were demonstrations of the glorious character of God. But the one seems to express this glory on a deeper level than the other. The cloud may have been more demonstrative as an expression of God's presence, but the Law penetrated to the core of glory. The law was also the more dangerous one, because man forfeited his life by even approaching it.

The amazing feature of the guidance provided by the cloud was that it even led the people through the forty year period of disobedience.

The giving of the law was also accompanied by a demonstration of God's glory. When God first revealed Himself, we read: "The LORD said to Moses, 'I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.' On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him."[ 21 ] There, too, the revelation had a bearing upon man's moral behavior. "Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.' "[ 22 ] The two Stone Tablets were, in a sense, a commemoration of this revelation, like a statue that is erected at the place of an important historical event. But, at the same time, they spelled out the will of God in the form of Ten Commandments.

Both the Stone Tablets and the cloud spoke of the glory of God and both were meant to guide us to God's glory; the Ten commandments in transforming us so that our character would resemble the glory of God in Jesus Christ and the cloud in a practical, day by day fashion, showing us what path to follow and where to place our foot.

So the Exodus is not only an account of a nation leaving the land of slavery, it is also an arrow pointing to the land of promise. And, on the way, is the celebration of the Festival to the Lord, the manifestation of God's glory in the desert.

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. January 10, 1997.

[ 1 ] See Ex. 5:1

[ 2 ] Vs. 44

[ 3 ] See Ex. 30:23-25

[ 4 ] Ex. 29:44-46

[ 5 ] Gal. 3:13,14

[ 6 ] Ex. 29:45

[ 7 ] I Cor. 3:11

[ 8 ] I Cor. 3:16

[ 9 ] Ex. 25:21

[ 10 ] Rom. 3:20

[ 11 ] Luke 1:76,77

[ 12 ] Rom. 8:4

[ 13 ] John 4:34

[ 14 ] Ps. 40:8

[ 15 ] I Kings 8:10,11

[ 16 ] Ex. 33:9

[ 17 ] Lev. 9:24

[ 18 ] See Num. 9:15-23

[ 19 ] Rom. 8:14

[ 20 ] Rev. 14:4

[ 21 ] Ex. 19:9,16-19

[ 22 ] Ex. 20:20