Exodus 40:1-6

Setting Up the Sanctuary

40:1 ¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses: ²  40:2 “On the first day of the first month you are to set up ³  the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. 40:3 You are to place the ark of the testimony in it and shield the ark with the special curtain. 40:4 You are to bring in the table and set out the things that belong on it; ⁴  then you are to bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 40:5 You are to put ⁵  the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 40:6 You are to put the altar for the burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting.

¹ sn All of Exod 39:32-40:38 could be taken as a unit. The first section (39:32-43) shows that the Israelites had carefully and accurately completed the preparation and brought everything they had made to Moses: The work of the Lord builds on the faithful obedience of the people. In the second section are the instruction and the implementation (40:1-33): The work of the Lord progresses through the unifying of the work. The last part (40:34-38) may take the most attention: When the work was completed, the glory filled the tabernacle: By his glorious presence, the Lord blesses and directs his people in their worship.

² tn Heb “and Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying.”

³ tn Heb “you will raise,” an imperfect of instruction.

⁴ tn Heb “and you will set in order its setting” or “arrange its arrangement.” See 25:29-30 for items that belonged on the table.

⁵ tn Heb “give” (also four additional times in vv. 6-8).