Old Testament Commentary - Exodus 40

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 40 The tabernacle is reared—Aaron and his sons washed and anointed and given an everlasting priesthood—Glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle—A cloud covers the tabernacle by day, and fire rests on it by night.
1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first ^amonth shalt thou set up the ^btabernacle of the tent of the ^ccongregation. 3 And thou shalt put therein the ^aark of the testimony^a, and cover the ark with the ^bvail. The Vail or Veil The 'veil of the tabernacle' divided the room where the ark resided, the most holy of holies from the holy place where the manorah, table of shew bread, and table of ensence was located. Within that veil and upon the ark or mercy seat, the presence of the Lord did abide. As illustrated here the various labelled items and areas are [A] the ark within the holy of holies, [B] the table of shew bread, [C] the candlestick or manorah, [D] outer area known as the holy place, and [E] the table of incense 'before the ark of the testimony' separated there from by the veil of the tabernacle.	3^a ark of the testimony The exact image of the ark is not known. And there have been many artist conceptions as to its appearance. It is also referred to as the 'mercy seat' (Exodus 25:17-22) and there is indication that the presence of the Lord sat upon it. Whether the wings of the cherubims arched over the seat or made the seat is not clear. But the ark seems to have been more of a 'Throne of God' of the presence of God than just a box with winged angels on its lid. Just why the obvious inferance of it being the 'seat of God' is not expressed in the images portrayed seem more to do with the concept of whether Jehovah was in the image of man or better stated that man is in the image of God or not. We understand that God, even the spirit of God, is in the same form and image as a man, and therefore would have ability to sit like a man upon a properly prepared and built 'Mercy Seat'.	3^a Lev. 1:1; Moses 1:17 ^b Ex. 3:12; Moses 1:1-3 4^a Deut. 327:11; D&C 124:18 (18,99) 5^a TG Obedience ^b TG Abrahamic Covenant TG Covenants ^c TG Israel, Twelve Tribes TG Peculiar People ^d TG Israel, Blessing of TG Treasure 6^a TG Election ^b TG Israel, Mission of; TG; Priesthood; TG Priesthood, History of ^c Ex. 22:31; 1 Pet. 2:9 (5-9); TG Holiness ^d TG Separation
4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and ^aset in order the things that are to be set in order upon it^a; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof^b. 5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and ^aput the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.	4^a the things that are to be set in order upon it Upon the shewbread table was set more than just bread loafs. In Exodus 25:29, it mentions 'dishes', 'spoons' and covers thereof, and bowls - eating utinsiles. Since the shewbread was eaten by the priests, this is more of a 'last supper' table with wine, bread and the serving utinsiles applicable to the eating thereof. It might well be considered to be the Old Testament Holy Communion table with the bread and accompanying wine to be considered the representation of the flesh and blood of the sacrafice. Most shewbread tables illustrated seem sparsely set compared to all that was actually set upon it. 4^b the candlestike, and light the lambs thereof The word 'candlestick' does not do the Manorah justice in its translation. The Manorah was not a 'candlestick'. It was a lamp stand for seven oil lamps.	3^a Lev. 1:1; Moses 1:17 ^b Ex. 3:12; Moses 1:1-3 4^a Deut. 327:11; D&C 124:18 (18,99) 5^a TG Obedience ^b TG Abrahamic Covenant TG Covenants ^c TG Israel, Twelve Tribes TG Peculiar People ^d TG Israel, Blessing of TG Treasure 6^a TG Election ^b TG Israel, Mission of; TG; Priesthood; TG Priesthood, History of ^c Ex. 22:31; 1 Pet. 2:9 (5-9); TG Holiness ^d TG Separation
6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. 8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the ^ahanging at the court gate.		3^a Lev. 1:1; Moses 1:17 ^b Ex. 3:12; Moses 1:1-3 4^a Deut. 327:11; D&C 124:18 (18,99) 5^a TG Obedience ^b TG Abrahamic Covenant TG Covenants ^c TG Israel, Twelve Tribes TG Peculiar People ^d TG Israel, Blessing of TG Treasure 6^a TG Election ^b TG Israel, Mission of; TG; Priesthood; TG Priesthood, History of ^c Ex. 22:31; 1 Pet. 2:9 (5-9); TG Holiness ^d TG Separation
9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the ^atabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. 10 And 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. 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and ^ahis foot, and sanctify it.
12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the ^atabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. 13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and ^aanoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt ^aanoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the ^bpriest's office: for their ^canointing shall surely be ^dan ^eeverlasting ^fpriesthood throughout their ^ggenerations. 16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.
17 ¶ And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was ^areared up. 18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened ^ahis sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. 19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.
20 ¶ And he took and put the ^atestimony into the ark, and set the ^bstaves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the ^avail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.
22 ¶ And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. 23 And he set the bread in ^aorder upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
24 ¶ And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, ^aover against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25 And he lighted the ^alamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
26 ¶ And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: 27 And he burnt sweet ^aincense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.
28 ¶ And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. 29 And 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 ^ameat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.
30 ¶ And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, ^ato wash withal. 31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: 32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. 33 And 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.
34 ¶ Then a ^acloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the ^bglory of the LORD ^cfilled the ^dtabernacle. 35 And 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.
36 And when the ^acloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they ^ajourneyed not till the day that it was taken up.
38 For the ^acloud 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.