The Law · Chapter 40 of 40

Exodus 40

The LORD commands Moses to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month, to arrange its furniture, and to wash, clothe, and anoint Aaron and his sons for an everlasting priesthood. Moses obeys in every detail. When the work is finished, a cloud covers the tent and the glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle, so that even Moses cannot enter, and the cloud guides Israel's journeys.

What happens in Exodus 40

In the closing chapter of Exodus the LORD instructs Moses to rear up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month of the second year. He is to place the ark behind the veil, set the table and candlestick, position the golden incense altar, the bronze altar, and the laver, and enclose the court. He is to anoint the tabernacle and all its vessels to make them holy, and to wash, clothe, and anoint Aaron and his sons for a perpetual priesthood.

Moses does everything exactly as commanded, item by item, each step sealed with the phrase as the LORD commanded Moses. He rears up the structure, sets the furniture, lights the lamps, burns incense, and offers the burnt offering. When the work is finished, a cloud covers the tent and the glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle so completely that Moses cannot enter. Thereafter the cloud guides Israel's every journey.

Exodus 40 in context

Exodus 40 concludes the book by uniting its two great movements: redemption from Egypt and the coming of God to dwell among the redeemed. Nearly a year after leaving Egypt, the tabernacle is raised. The repeated obedience formula ties this chapter to the instructions given on Sinai.

The book that began with Israel in bondage ends with God's visible glory settling in their midst and leading them onward, the goal of the exodus reached: God dwelling with His people.

Main themes of Exodus 40

Exodus 40 (KJV)

1And 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. 16Thus 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. 34Then 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.

Verses to carry from Exodus 40

“On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.”Exodus 40:2

“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”Exodus 40:34

“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.”Exodus 40:38

Reflection

Exodus ends not with a law but with a Presence, God dwelling among His people and guiding their every step. Consider that the same God still desires to dwell with you and to lead you. Will you move when He moves, rest when He rests, and let His presence order your journey?

A prayer from Exodus 40