Bible Commentaries
Exodus 40

Verses 4-38

An Account of the Construction of the Tabernacle and its Furniture

This section is an almost verbal repetition of Exodus 25-31, describing the carrying out of the commands in those chapters by Moses and the people.

4-29. Moses invites the people to contribute the materials required, which they do with great liberality: cp. Exodus 36:5-7. See on Exodus 25:1-9.

22. Tablets] RV ’armlets,’ or ’necklaces’: cp. Numbers 31:50.

23. Red skins of rams] i.e. leather of rams’ skins dyed red, as in Exodus 26:14.

30-35. See on Exodus 31:1-11

Verses 1-38

The Tabernacle Erected

1-16. Moses is commanded to uprear the Tabernacle and consecrate it, together with its furniture, and the priests by anointing them.

2. On the first day of the first month] i.e. of the month Abib (see on Exodus 12:2, Exodus 12:41) in the second year after the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 40:17). They left Egypt on the fifteenth day of Abib, and arrived at Sinai in the third month: see Exodus 19:1.

4. The things to be set upon it] i.e. the shewbread (see Exodus 40:23 and on Exodus 25:30).

5. Before the ark] in a line with it but outside the Holy of Holies: see Exodus 40:26, and see on Exodus 30:6.

9. Anoint the tabernacle] cp. Exodus 30:26-29.

12. See Exodus 28:41; Exodus 29:4, Exodus 29:7.

17-33. The Uprearing of the Tabernacle.

19. The tent over the tabernacle] Heb. ’the tent over the dwelling.’ See on Exodus 25:9, Exodus 25:26 intro.

20. The testimony] the two tables of stone: see on Exodus 16:34; Exodus 16:21. Vail of the covering] RV ’veil of the screen’: see on Exodus 26:3-33.

28. Hanging at the door] RV ’screen of the door’: see Exodus 26:36.

29. Moses offers the first daily sacrifice (Exodus 29:40).

33. The court round about the tabernacle] see Exodus 27:9-19.

34-35. The Dwelling being prepared, the cloud descends and the glory of the Lord occupies the sanctuary.

34. A cloud] RV ’the cloud’: it is the same cloud that has been so frequently mentioned already: see Exodus 13:21, Exodus 19:9 and note there, Exodus 33:9. The glory of the Lord] see Exodus 16:10; Exodus 24:17.

35. Cp. Leviticus 16:2; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chronicles 5:13-14; 2 Chronicles 7:2.

36-38. See on Exodus 13:21, and cp. Numbers 9:15-23.