EXODUS
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.
2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. [ The “first day” of creation week may be echoed in the erection of the Mosaic tabernacle on “the first day of the first month”. Just as creation took place at the “beginning,” so the sanctuary festivals started at the “beginning” of months and the sanctuary was constructed in the “beginning” of the year. Jews still today celebrate the creation of the world at the time of Rosh Hashanah (“Head of the Year,” i.e., New Year, first day of the seventh Jewish month). Relates back to the beginning as referenced in Gen 1:1 to creation “in the beginning” (Heb. re’shit, related to the nouns ro’sh “head, first” and ri’shon “first”), may be echoed in the sanctuary festival calendar commencing in the “beginning [ro’sh] of months” (Exod 12:2). ]
3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, [ So put the ark of the covenant in first. Why? Because this is where it all really starts and build out from there. ] and cover the ark with the vail.
4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.
5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.
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.
9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, 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.
12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments,[ Garments - The Midrash Rabbah shares an interesting mashal (parable). Speaking of the priestly garments, it sites Shemot (Exodus) 28:43, which states, "Aharon and his sons are to wear them when they go into the tent of meeting and when they approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they won't incur guilt and die...". "To what can this be compared?
It is stated; "There was once a prince whose servant would enter into the presence of the king on behalf of the prince; but the servant was afraid of those who stood by the king lest one of them should attack him. What did the king do? He clothed him in his royal purple cloak, so that all who saw him might be afraid of him.
Similarly, Aharon used to enter [into the Divine Presence]... and had it not been for the many merits which entered with him and aided him (the priestly apparel), he would have been unable to go in, on account of the angels that were there. For this reason did God provide him garments after the pattern of the divine garments...." (see also Exodus 28:43) ] and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
15 And thou shalt anoint them, [ If the washing and annointing is done with all members of the church who enter the temple, then who do we covenant to never speak ill of when we covenant to never speak ill of the Lords annointed? I thing one way to look at it is that we committment to never speak ill of other members of the church, not only those who are called. Especially think about it in the relationship of the home - and your spouse. ] as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations . [ When a sealomg or an ordinance takes place by one who has the authority the sealing, annointing or ordinance is good in this world as well as the next. ]
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 reared up.
18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his 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 testimony into the ark, and set the staves 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 vail 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.
24 ¶ And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
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 meat 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, to wash withal.
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 cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, [ This is Gods house, this was constructed as a sanctuary for God in the first place, so it would make sense that God goes there alone at first. ] and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.