# Overview Exodus Chapter 40 marks the culmination of the construction of the #Tabernacle, which was meticulously built according to the divine instructions given to #Moses on #MountSinai. This chapter begins with the Lord instructing Moses to set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the first month, signifying a new beginning for the #Israelites. Moses faithfully assembles the Tabernacle, placing the #ArkOfTheCovenant, the table, the lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, and the basin, as per God's commands. Each element is anointed with the holy anointing oil, consecrating them for service to the Lord. This act of setting up the Tabernacle signifies the establishment of God’s dwelling place among His people, reinforcing the covenant relationship between God and Israel. As the chapter progresses, the glory of the Lord fills the Tabernacle, a visible manifestation of God's presence. The #cloud covers the Tent of Meeting, symbolizing divine approval and the sacredness of the space. This cloud guides the Israelites throughout their wilderness journey, lifting when it is time for them to move and settling when they are to camp. The completion of the Tabernacle and the indwelling of God's glory signify the fruition of God's promise to dwell among His people and lead them to the #PromisedLand. This chapter not only highlights the obedience and faithfulness of Moses and the Israelites but also underscores the theme of God’s holiness and His desire to be in the midst of His people, guiding and sanctifying them. ## Theological Insights Exodus 40 marks the culmination of the construction of the #Tabernacle, signifying the establishment of God's dwelling place among the #Israelites. This chapter holds profound theological significance as it symbolizes God's presence and guidance with His people. The completion of the Tabernacle, under the leadership of #Moses, demonstrates obedience to God’s detailed instructions provided in earlier chapters, highlighting the theme of divine order and holiness. The chapter begins with the command to set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the first month, indicating a new beginning for the Israelites, now centered around worship and God's presence. The thorough instructions for setting up the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 40:1-15) echo the meticulous care God requires in worship and the importance of purity and sanctity in approaching Him. As Moses follows God's commands meticulously, we see the importance of faithful obedience. The anointing of the Tabernacle and all its items (Exodus 40:9-11) as well as the consecration of #Aaron and his sons (Exodus 40:12-15) emphasize the necessity of sanctification for those who minister before the Lord, pointing to the holiness required of God's people. The climax of Exodus 40 is found in verses 34-38, where the cloud of God's glory covers the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord fills the Tabernacle. This manifestation of divine glory signifies God's approval and His abiding presence with Israel. The cloud and fire, symbols of divine guidance and protection, lead the Israelites on their journey, reinforcing the theme of God's faithfulness and providence, similar to the pillar of cloud and fire during the exodus from Egypt (see [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 13]]). The chapter concludes the Book of #Exodus by accentuating God's covenant faithfulness. The Tabernacle serves as a visible sign of God's promise to dwell among His people, foreshadowing the ultimate fulfillment in the #NewTestament where God's presence is fully realized in [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], referred to as "Emmanuel" or "God with us" (see [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 1]]). Furthermore, the indwelling of the #HolySpirit in believers' lives, as seen in the Church, echoes the Tabernacle’s role as God's dwelling place, thus extending the theological theme of divine presence from the Old Testament to the New Testament. ## Thematic Connections ### The Presence of God Exodus 40 marks the culmination of the building of the #Tabernacle, emphasizing the theme of God's presence dwelling among His people. The #cloud and the #glory of the Lord filling the Tabernacle signify God's dwelling with the Israelites, connecting back to the promise made in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25|Exodus 25:8]]: "Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." This theme of divine presence is mirrored later in the New Testament with the coming of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], described in [[John/John Chapter 1|John 1:14]] as the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. ### Obedience to God's Commandments The meticulous obedience of #Moses in setting up the Tabernacle exactly as the Lord commanded (as seen throughout Exodus 40) underscores the importance of adherence to divine instructions. This theme of obedience is echoed in other biblical narratives, such as the building of the #Ark by [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 6|Noah]] and the construction of the Temple by [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 6|Solomon]], illustrating the vital role of following God's commands in fulfilling His purposes. ### Holiness and Consecration The anointing and consecration of the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests highlight the theme of holiness and separation unto God. This thematic connection can be traced back to the sanctification of the firstborn in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 13|Exodus 13]] and forward to the call for believers to be holy in [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 1|1 Peter 1:15-16]], reflecting God's unchanging nature and His desire for a holy people. ### The Role of the Mediator Moses acts as the mediator between God and the Israelites, setting up the Tabernacle and ensuring everything is done according to God's commands. This role as mediator prefigures the greater mediation of Jesus Christ, who is described as the one mediator between God and men in [[1 Timothy/1 Timothy Chapter 2|1 Timothy 2:5]]. Moses' mediation points to the necessity of a mediator in maintaining a relationship with a holy God. ### Divine Guidance The cloud by day and fire by night provide divine guidance for the Israelites, showing God's continual leadership and direction. This theme of divine guidance is seen throughout Scripture, such as the guidance provided to the Israelites during the wilderness journey in [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 9|Numbers 9:15-23]] and the guidance promised to believers by the Holy Spirit in [[John/John Chapter 16|John 16:13]]. This underscores God's faithfulness in leading His people. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Tabernacle as a Type of Christ In Exodus 40, the completion and consecration of the #Tabernacle serve as a profound type of #Christ, foreshadowing His role as the dwelling place of God among His people. The detailed instructions for setting up the Tabernacle, and God’s glory filling it, prefigure the incarnation of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], as described in [[John/John Chapter 1|John 1:14]], where "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The Tabernacle symbolizes God's presence among #Israel, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is Immanuel, "God with us." ### The Glory of the LORD Filling the Tabernacle The manifestation of God’s glory in the Tabernacle, as narrated in Exodus 40, finds its prophetic counterpart in the New Testament when God’s glory is revealed in Jesus. The cloud covering the Tent of Meeting and the glory filling the Tabernacle parallels the transfiguration of Jesus in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 17|Matthew 17:1-5]], where His divine glory is unveiled. This event signifies the presence of God among His people, fulfilled ultimately in Christ, who is the full revelation of God's glory. ### The Role of the High Priest The consecration of #Aaron and his sons to serve as priests in the Tabernacle highlights the prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus as our High Priest. As depicted in [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 4|Hebrews 4:14-16]], Jesus is the great High Priest who enters the heavenly sanctuary, offering His own life as a perfect sacrifice. The priesthood established in Exodus 40 anticipates Christ’s eternal priesthood, who mediates a new covenant and ensures eternal access to God’s presence for believers. ## Verses - **Exodus 40:1** - "Then the Lord said to Moses," - **Exodus 40:2** - "“Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year." - **Exodus 40:3** - "Place the Ark of the Covenant inside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place." - **Exodus 40:4** - "Then bring in the table and arrange the utensils on it, and bring in the lampstand and set up the lamps." - **Exodus 40:5** - "Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle." - **Exodus 40:6** - "Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance." - **Exodus 40:7** - "Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water." - **Exodus 40:8** - "Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance." - **Exodus 40:9** - "“Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all its furnishings to consecrate them and make them holy." - **Exodus 40:10** - "Anoint the altar of burnt offering and its utensils to consecrate them. Then the altar will become absolutely holy." - **Exodus 40:11** - "Next anoint the washbasin and its stand to consecrate them." - **Exodus 40:12** - "“Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water." - **Exodus 40:13** - "Dress Aaron with the sacred garments and anoint him, consecrating him to serve me as a priest." - **Exodus 40:14** - "Then present his sons and dress them in their tunics." - **Exodus 40:15** - "Anoint them as you did their father, so they may also serve me as priests. With their anointing, Aaron’s descendants are set apart for the priesthood forever, from generation to generation.”" - **Exodus 40:16** - "Moses proceeded to do everything just as the Lord had commanded him." - **Exodus 40:17** - "So the Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year." - **Exodus 40:18** - "Moses erected the Tabernacle by setting down its bases, inserting the frames, attaching the crossbars, and setting up the posts." - **Exodus 40:19** - "Then he spread the coverings over the Tabernacle framework and put on the protective layers, just as the Lord had commanded him." - **Exodus 40:20** - "He took the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. Then he attached the carrying poles to the Ark, and he set the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of it." - **Exodus 40:21** - "Then he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Tabernacle and hung the inner curtain to shield it from view, just as the Lord had commanded him." - **Exodus 40:22** - "Next he placed the table in the Tabernacle, along the north side of the Holy Place, just outside the inner curtain." - **Exodus 40:23** - "And he arranged the Bread of the Presence on the table before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him." - **Exodus 40:24** - "He set the lampstand in the Tabernacle across from the table on the south side of the Holy Place." - **Exodus 40:25** - "Then he lit the lamps in the Lord’s presence, just as the Lord had commanded him." - **Exodus 40:26** - "He also placed the gold incense altar in the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place in front of the inner curtain." - **Exodus 40:27** - "On it he burned the fragrant incense, just as the Lord had commanded him." - **Exodus 40:28** - "He hung the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle," - **Exodus 40:29** - "and he placed the altar of burnt offering near the Tabernacle entrance. On it he offered a burnt offering and a grain offering, just as the Lord had commanded him." - **Exodus 40:30** - "Next Moses placed the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar. He filled it with water so the priests could wash themselves." - **Exodus 40:31** - "Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons used water from it to wash their hands and feet." - **Exodus 40:32** - "Whenever they approached the altar and entered the Tabernacle, they washed themselves, just as the Lord had commanded Moses." - **Exodus 40:33** - "Then he hung the curtains forming the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar, and he set up the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard. So at last Moses finished the work." - **Exodus 40:34** - "Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle." - **Exodus 40:35** - "Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle." - **Exodus 40:36** - "Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it." - **Exodus 40:37** - "But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted." - **Exodus 40:38** - "The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys." ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Tabernacle** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25]], [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 26]] - **Ark of the Covenant** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25]], [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 10]] - **Anointing Oil** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 30]] - **Aaron and his sons** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 28]], [[Leviticus/Leviticus Chapter 8]] - **Cloud of the Lord** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 13]], [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 9]]