Exodus 40
Exodus 40 depicts the completion of the tabernacle during the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and the scene of God’s presence dwelling with them. God gives Moses detailed instructions about when to set up the tabernacle, the location of each piece of furniture, and how to use them. All these procedures are carried out precisely according to God’s commands. Exodus 40 is the final chapter of Exodus and is also a climax in which God’s salvation and presence are fulfilled among the Israelite community.
1verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2verse“On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
3verseYou shall put the ark of the covenant in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
4verseYou shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lamp stand, and light its lamps.
5verseYou shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the covenant, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
6verse“You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
7verseYou shall set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and shall put water therein.
8verseYou shall set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.
9verse“You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture, and it will be holy.
10verseYou shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar, and the altar will be most holy.
11verseYou shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it.
12verse“You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water.
13verseYou shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
14verseYou shall bring his sons, and put tunics on them.
15verseYou shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
16verseMoses did so. According to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.
17verseIn the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was raised up.
18verseMoses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.
19verseHe spread the covering over the tent, and put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as the LORD commanded Moses.
20verseHe took and put the covenant into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
21verseHe brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the covenant, as the LORD commanded Moses.
22verseHe put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside of the veil.
23verseHe set the bread in order on it before the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
24verseHe put the lamp stand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.
25verseHe lit the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
26verseHe put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the veil;
27verseand he burned incense of sweet spices on it, as the LORD commanded Moses.
28verseHe put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
29verseHe set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, as the LORD commanded Moses.
30verseHe set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash.
31verseMoses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there.
32verseWhen they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as the LORD commanded Moses.
33verseHe raised up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
34verseThen the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle.
35verseMoses wasn’t able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud stayed on it, and the LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle.
36verseWhen the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;
37versebut if the cloud wasn’t taken up, then they didn’t travel until the day that it was taken up.
38verseFor the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
Structure and Flow
- Verses 1–15: God commands Moses about when and how to set up the tabernacle. Detailed attention is given to each piece of furniture—the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the basin, and more—as well as to the consecration of the furnishings and the priests.
- Verses 16–33: Moses carries out everything in complete obedience to God’s commands. The passage shows the process of setting up the tabernacle, arranging the furnishings, consecrating them, and preparing Aaron and his sons for service.
- Verses 34–38: A cloud covers the tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord fills it. When the cloud lifts, the Israelites set out; when the cloud remains, they stay encamped. This symbolizes that God directly guides their journey and life.
Overall Meaning
Exodus 40 emphasizes that the tabernacle is not merely a structure but a holy place that symbolizes God’s presence and guidance. Through the order and methods established by God, along with Moses and the people’s thorough obedience, the relationship with God is firmly established. God’s glory coming to dwell in the tabernacle among the cloud shows that God is with the Israelites and leads their future Himself. It teaches that a faith community experiences true guidance and protection only when God’s presence is placed at the center of its faith.
Points to Reflect On
- You can check whether God’s presence is at the center of your life.
- You can revisit the importance of an attitude that carefully obeys God’s word and commands.
- You can reflect on how important it is in your faith life to trust God’s guidance and wait.
Putting It into Practice
- Today, reflect on what it means to live with an awareness of God’s presence in your everyday life.
- Even in small matters, decide to live in a way that follows God’s will and order.
- Set aside time to seek a faith that trusts, obeys, and waits for God’s guidance, even when the way ahead is not yet visible.
This is the last chapter of Exodus.