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Exodus 40
Tree of Life Version

Setting up the Tabernacle

40 Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying, 2 “On the first day of the first month, you will set up the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. 3 You are to put the Ark of the Testimony there, and screen off the Ark with the curtain. 4 Then bring in the table, and set in order the bread that is on it. Bring in the menorah and light its lamps. 5 Set the golden incense altar in front of the Ark of the Testimony, and hang the curtain over the entrance of the Tabernacle.

6 “Set the altar of burnt offering before the entrance of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. 7 Set up the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 8 Set up the courtyard all around, and hang the curtain of the gate of the courtyard.

9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle, and everything within it, and consecrate it, along with all of its furnishings, and it will be holy. 10 Also you are to anoint the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils and consecrate the altar. The altar will be most holy. 11 Then you are to anoint the basin along with its base and sanctify it.

12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. 13 Put the holy garments on Aaron, anoint him and consecrate him, so that he may minister to Me as a kohen. 14 Also bring his sons and put tunics upon them. 15 You are to anoint them, as you did their father, so that they too may minister to Me as kohanim. Their anointing will be for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” 16 Moses did so, just as Adonai had commanded him.

17 Now it happened during the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the Tabernacle was raised up. 18 Moses raised the Tabernacle, and laid its bases, set up the framework of boards, put in the crossbars and set up its pillars. 19 Then he spread the tent over the Tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on it, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

20 He placed the Testimony into the Ark, set the poles on the Ark, and put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. 21 He brought the Ark into the Tabernacle, set up the curtain as a screen, and screened off the Ark of the Testimony, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

22 Then he set up the table inside the Tent of Meeting, on the side of the Tabernacle northward, outside the curtain. 23 He set a row of bread in order upon it before Adonai, just as Adonai had commanded Moses. 24 Then he placed the menorah in the Tent of Meeting, over against the table, on the south side of the Tabernacle. 25 Then he lit the lamps before Adonai, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

26 Next he placed the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the curtain, 27 and he burned sweet spices of incense there, just as Adonai had commanded Moses. 28 He hung the curtain over the entrance of the Tabernacle. 29 Then he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

30 Next he set up the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, 31 so that Moses, Aaron and his sons could wash their hands and their feet there. 32 When they went into the Tent of Meeting and when they came near to the altar, they washed, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

33 He set up the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar and set up the screen at the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.

Glory Fills the Tabernacle

34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of Adonai filled the Tabernacle. 35 Moses was unable to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud resided there and the glory of Adonai filled the Tabernacle.

36 Now whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle, Bnei-Yisrael went onward, throughout all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not move out until the day that it was. 38 For the cloud of Adonai was on the Tabernacle by day and a fire was there by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

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Exodus 40
New English Translation

Setting Up the Sanctuary

40 [a] Then the Lord spoke to Moses:[b] 2 “On the first day of the first month you are to set up[c] the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. 3 You are to place the ark of the testimony in it and shield the ark with the special curtain. 4 You are to bring in the table and set out the things that belong on it;[d] then you are to bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5 You are to put[e] the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 6 You are to put the altar for the burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. 7 You are to put the large basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it.[f] 8 You are to set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the gate of the courtyard. 9 And take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and sanctify it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. 10 Then you are to anoint the altar for the burnt offering with[g] all its utensils; you are to sanctify the altar, and it will be the most holy altar. 11 You must also anoint the large basin and its pedestal, and you are to sanctify it.[h]

12 “You are to bring[i] Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 13 Then you are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments and anoint him and sanctify him so that he may minister as my priest. 14 You are to bring[j] his sons and clothe them with tunics 15 and anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may minister as my priests; their anointing will make them a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.” 16 This is what Moses did, according to all the Lord had commanded him—so he did.

17 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month, in the second year. 18 When Moses set up the tabernacle and put its bases in place, he set up its frames, attached its bars, and set up its posts. 19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded him.[k] 20 He took the testimony and put it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark, and then put the atonement lid on the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung[l] the protecting curtain,[m] and shielded the ark of the testimony from view, just as the Lord had commanded him.[n]

22 And Moses[o] put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain. 23 And he set the bread in order on it[p] before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.[q]

24 And he put the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. 25 Then he set up the lamps before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.[r]

26 And he put the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain, 27 and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the Lord had commanded him.[s]

28 Then Moses[t] put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 29 He also put the altar for the burnt offering by the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, just as the Lord had commanded him.[u]

30 Then he put the large basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it[v] for washing. 31 Moses and Aaron and his sons would wash their hands and their feet from it. 32 Whenever they entered[w] the tent of meeting, and whenever they approached[x] the altar, they would wash,[y] just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

33 And he set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and put the curtain at the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 But when the cloud was lifted up[z] from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out[aa] on all their journeys; 37 but if the cloud was not lifted up, then they would not journey farther until the day it was lifted up.[ab] 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, but fire would be[ac] on it at night, in plain view[ad] of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 40:1 sn All of Exod 39:32-40:38 could be taken as a unit. The first section (39:32-43) shows that the Israelites had carefully and accurately completed the preparation and brought everything they had made to Moses: The work of the Lord builds on the faithful obedience of the people. In the second section are the instruction and the implementation (40:1-33): The work of the Lord progresses through the unifying of the work. The last part (40:34-38) may take the most attention: When the work was completed, the glory filled the tabernacle: By his glorious presence, the Lord blesses and directs his people in their worship.
  2. Exodus 40:1 tn Heb “and Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying.”
  3. Exodus 40:2 tn Heb “you will raise,” an imperfect of instruction.
  4. Exodus 40:4 tn Heb “and you will set in order its setting” or “arrange its arrangement.” See 25:29-30 for items that belonged on the table.
  5. Exodus 40:5 tn Heb “give” (also four additional times in vv. 6-8).
  6. Exodus 40:7 tn Heb “there.”
  7. Exodus 40:10 tn Heb “and.”
  8. Exodus 40:11 sn U. Cassuto (Exodus, 480) notes that the items inside the tent did not need to be enumerated since they were already holy, but items in the courtyard needed special attention. People needed to know that items outside the tent were just as holy.
  9. Exodus 40:12 tn The verb is “bring near,” or “present,” to Yahweh.
  10. Exodus 40:14 tn The verb is also “bring near” or “present.”
  11. Exodus 40:19 tn Heb “Moses”; the name has been replaced with the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
  12. Exodus 40:21 tn Heb “set up,” if it includes more than the curtain.
  13. Exodus 40:21 tn Or “shielding” (NIV); Heb “the veil of the covering” (cf. KJV).
  14. Exodus 40:21 tn Heb “Moses”; the name has been replaced with the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
  15. Exodus 40:22 tn Heb “him”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  16. Exodus 40:23 tn Heb uses a cognate accusative construction, “he arranged the arrangement.”
  17. Exodus 40:23 tn Heb “Moses”; the name has been replaced with the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
  18. Exodus 40:25 tn Heb “Moses”; the name has been replaced with the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
  19. Exodus 40:27 tn Heb “Moses”; the name has been replaced with the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
  20. Exodus 40:28 tn Heb “him”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  21. Exodus 40:29 tn Heb “Moses”; the name has been replaced with the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
  22. Exodus 40:30 tn Heb “there.”
  23. Exodus 40:32 tn The construction is the infinitive construct with the temporal preposition and the suffixed subjective genitive. This temporal clause indicates that the verb in the preceding verse was frequentative.
  24. Exodus 40:32 tn This is another infinitive construct in a temporal clause.
  25. Exodus 40:32 tn In this explanatory verse the verb is a customary imperfect.
  26. Exodus 40:36 tn The construction uses the Niphal infinitive construct to form the temporal clause.
  27. Exodus 40:36 tn The imperfect tense in this context describes a customary action.
  28. Exodus 40:37 tn The clause uses the Niphal infinitive construct in the temporal clause: “until the day of its being taken up.”
  29. Exodus 40:38 tn Here is another imperfect tense of the customary nuance.
  30. Exodus 40:38 tn Heb “to the eyes of all”; KJV, ASV, NASB “in the sight of all”; NRSV “before the eyes of all.”
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Exodus 40
New International Version

Setting Up the Tabernacle

40 Then the Lord said to Moses: 2 “Set up(A) the tabernacle, the tent of meeting,(B) on the first day of the first month.(C) 3 Place the ark(D) of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. 4 Bring in the table(E) and set out what belongs on it.(F) Then bring in the lampstand(G) and set up its lamps. 5 Place the gold altar(H) of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

6 “Place the altar(I) of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; 7 place the basin(J) between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. 8 Set up the courtyard(K) around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.

9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint(L) the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings,(M) and it will be holy. 10 Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate(N) the altar, and it will be most holy. 11 Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.

12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting(O) and wash them with water.(P) 13 Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments,(Q) anoint him and consecrate(R) him so he may serve me as priest. 14 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics.(S) 15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.(T)” 16 Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded(U) him.

17 So the tabernacle(V) was set up on the first day of the first month(W) in the second year. 18 When Moses(X) set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames,(Y) inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. 19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering(Z) over the tent, as the Lord commanded(AA) him.

20 He took the tablets of the covenant law(AB) and placed them in the ark,(AC) attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover(AD) over it. 21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain(AE) and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded(AF) him.

22 Moses placed the table(AG) in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain 23 and set out the bread(AH) on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded(AI) him.

24 He placed the lampstand(AJ) in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle 25 and set up the lamps(AK) before the Lord, as the Lord commanded(AL) him.

26 Moses placed the gold altar(AM) in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded(AN) him.

28 Then he put up the curtain(AO) at the entrance to the tabernacle. 29 He set the altar(AP) of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings,(AQ) as the Lord commanded(AR) him.

30 He placed the basin(AS) between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, 31 and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash(AT) their hands and feet. 32 They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar,(AU) as the Lord commanded(AV) Moses.

33 Then Moses set up the courtyard(AW) around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain(AX) at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.

The Glory of the Lord

34 Then the cloud(AY) covered the tent of meeting, and the glory(AZ) of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory(BA) of the Lord filled the tabernacle.(BB)

36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;(BC) 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud(BD) of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.

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Exodus 40
New King James Version

The Tabernacle Erected and Arranged

40 Then the Lord (A)spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “On the first day of the (B)first month you shall set up (C)the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 3 (D)You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and [a]partition off the ark with the veil. 4 (E)You shall bring in the table and (F)arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; (G)and you shall bring in the lampstand and [b]light its lamps. 5 (H)You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the Testimony, and put up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 6 Then you shall set the (I)altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 7 And (J)you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 8 You shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen at the court gate.

9 “And you shall take the anointing oil, and (K)anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it; and you shall hallow it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy. 10 You shall (L)anoint the altar of the burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar. (M)The altar shall be most holy. 11 And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and consecrate it.

12 (N)“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water. 13 You shall put the holy (O)garments on Aaron, (P)and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. 14 And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. 15 You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be (Q)an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”

16 Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

17 And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the (R)tabernacle was [c]raised up. 18 So Moses raised up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and raised up its pillars. 19 And he spread out the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 20 He took (S)the Testimony and put it into the ark, inserted the poles through the rings of the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, (T)hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the Testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

22 (U)He put the table in the tabernacle of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil; 23 (V)and he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 24 (W)He put the lampstand in the tabernacle of meeting, across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle; 25 and (X)he lit the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 26 (Y)He put the gold altar in the tabernacle of meeting in front of the veil; 27 (Z)and he burned sweet incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 28 (AA)He hung up the screen at the door of the tabernacle. 29 (AB)And he put the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and (AC)offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 30 (AD)He set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water there for washing; 31 and Moses, Aaron, and his sons would (AE)wash their hands and their feet with water from it. 32 Whenever they went into the tabernacle of meeting, and when they came near the altar, they washed, (AF)as the Lord had commanded Moses. 33 (AG)And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses (AH)finished the work.

The Cloud and the Glory(AI)

34 (AJ)Then the (AK)cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the (AL)glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses (AM)was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 (AN)Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would [d]go onward in all their journeys. 37 But (AO)if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. 38 For (AP)the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 40:3 screen
  2. Exodus 40:4 set up
  3. Exodus 40:17 erected
  4. Exodus 40:36 journey
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