Bible chapter guide

Exodus 40

On the first day of the second year Moses sets up the tabernacle, puts each piece in its place and anoints it. Then the cloud covers the tent of meeting and the glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle; Israel moves on only when the cloud is taken up.

Summary written for the Labs; read the chapter itself for the full text.

What happens in this chapter

God sets the date: the tabernacle is to go up on the first day of the first month, two weeks short of a year after Israel left Egypt. Moses does it himself, piece by piece, from the sockets and boards to the coverings, then the ark behind the veil, the table, lampstand and gold altar in the holy place, the bronze altar and basin outside, and last of all the court; seven times the text notes that he did it as the LORD commanded. Aaron and his sons are to be washed, dressed and anointed. When the work is finished the cloud covers the tent and the LORD's glory fills it, so that Moses cannot go in, and from then on Israel moves only when the cloud lifts.

What the lab shows, and where to look

This is the moment the Tabernacle lab shows: the tent standing complete in its court. Open Pillar of Cloud and Fire to see the cloud over the tent; the text says it covered the tent and had fire in it by night, and the column shape is the lab's choice. Holy Place shows the room as Moses arranged it in verses 22–27, table to the north and lampstand to the south. Priest washing at the basin matches verses 30–32. Temples Side by Side then sets this tent beside the later temples, and the Bible Time Map dates the setting-up and, a few entries later, the tent's long stay at Shiloh.

Questions people ask

When was the tabernacle set up?

On the first day of the first month of the second year after the Exodus (40:17): two weeks short of a year after leaving Egypt, and about ten months after arriving at Sinai (19:1). The text gives no calendar year; a date BC depends on the date of the Exodus, which is debated.

Textually stated

Why could Moses not go into the tent?

Because the cloud rested on it and the LORD's glory filled the tabernacle (40:35). The same thing happens when Solomon's temple is dedicated: the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud (1 Kings 8:10–11). Afterwards the LORD calls Moses from the tent and speaks with him there (Leviticus 1:1; Numbers 7:89).

Textually stated

What happened to the tabernacle later?

It went with Israel through the wilderness and into Canaan, and stood for a long time at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1). Later it is placed at the high place of Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29), and 1 Kings 8:4 says the tent of meeting and its holy vessels were brought up into Solomon's temple. After that the Old Testament only looks back to it (2 Chronicles 24:6; Psalm 78:60) and never says what became of it; a later legend in 2 Maccabees 2:4–8 has Jeremiah hide the tent, the ark and the incense altar in a cave on Mount Nebo.

Strongly supported

See it in the Labs

Walk through the tabernacle in 3D

People in this chapter

Priest washing at the basin

Places

Holy Place

Also in this chapter

The tabernacle is set up The Tabernacle kābôd כָּבוֹד Bronze Basin Pillar of Cloud and Fire The pillar of cloud and fire Booths in the wilderness The cloud fills the house

How sure can we be?

Textually stated
The tabernacle was first raised in the second year after the Exodus.
Stated directly in the text.
Textually stated
A cloud covered the tent by day and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all Israel.
Stated directly in the text.
Textually stated
The cloud was over the Tabernacle by day and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all Israel; the tribes camped round the tent, each by its standard.
Exodus 40:38; Numbers 9:15–16; Numbers 2:2. How the cloud and the fire looked is not described; the view shows them as a column over the tent.

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King James Version (KJV) Chinese Union Version, 1919 (Wikisource)