Setting Up the Tabernacle
Exodus 40, verse 1. Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Exodus 40, verse 2. “On the first day of the first month, the new moon, you shall set up the tabernacle of testimony. Exodus 40, verse 3. You shall put in it the ark of the testimony and cover the ark with the veil. Exodus 40, verse 4. You shall bring in the table and lay out its offering, and bring in the lampstand and install its lamps. Exodus 40, verse 5. You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark, and put up the veil for the door of the tabernacle of testimony. Exodus 40, verse 6. Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offerings before the door of the tabernacle of testimony. Exodus 40, verse 7. You shall put a cover over the tabernacle and consecrate everything pertaining to it. Exodus 40, verse 8. You shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; and you shall consecrate it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy. Exodus 40, verse 9. You shall anoint the altar of burnt offerings and all its utensils and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy.
Entrance of the Priests
Exodus 40, verse 10. “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doors of the tabernacle of testimony and wash them with water. Exodus 40, verse 11. You shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint and consecrate him that he may minister to Me as priest. Exodus 40, verse 12. You shall also bring his sons and put garments on them. Exodus 40, verse 13. You shall anoint them as you anointed their father, so they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” Exodus 40, verse 14. Thus Moses did; according to all the Lord commanded him, so he did.
The Work Is Finished
Exodus 40, verse 15. Then it came to pass in the first month of the second year after their departure from Egypt, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. Exodus 40, verse 16. So Moses set up the tabernacle, placed the capitals, inserted the bars, and set up the posts. Exodus 40, verse 17. He spread out the curtains over the tabernacle and put the veil of the tabernacle on it above, as the Lord commanded Moses. Exodus 40, verse 18. Then he took the testimonies, put them into the ark, and inserted the poles under the ark. Exodus 40, verse 19. He then brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the testimony, as the Lord commanded Moses. Exodus 40, verse 20. He put the table in the tabernacle of testimony, on the north side of the tabernacle of testimony, outside the veil of the tabernacle. Exodus 40, verse 21. He also set the bread of the offertory upon it before the Lord, in the manner the Lord commanded Moses. Exodus 40, verse 22. Then he put the lampstand in the tabernacle of testimony, on the south side of the tabernacle; Exodus 40, verse 23. and he placed its lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. Exodus 40, verse 24. He also put the gold altar in the tabernacle of testimony in front of the veil; Exodus 40, verse 25. and he burned the incense compound on it, as the Lord commanded Moses. Exodus 40, verse 26. Then he put the altar of burnt offering before the doors of the tabernacle. Exodus 40, verse 27. He also set up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar. So Moses finished all the work.
The Overshadowing Cloud
Exodus 40, verse 28. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of testimony, and the tabernacle was filled with the Lord's glory. Exodus 40, verse 29. But Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of testimony because the cloud overshadowed it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40, verse 30. Whenever the cloud ascended from the tabernacle, the children of Israel prepared to depart with their belongings. Exodus 40, verse 31. But if the cloud did not ascend, they did not prepare to depart until the cloud ascended. Exodus 40, verse 32. For before all Israel, throughout all their journeys, the cloud was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night.