Matthew Poole's Commentary And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, The tabernacle is commanded to be reared, Exodus 40:1-8; and anointed, Exodus 40:9-11, Aaron and his sons sanctified, Exodus 40:12-15. Moses performeth all things accordingly, Exodus 40:16-33. A cloud covereth the tabernacle, Exodus 40:34-38 No text from Poole on this verse. On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. To wit, of the second year after their coming out of Egypt, as is evident. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. The things that are to be set in order; the vessels belonging to it, and the shew-bread, Exodus 25:29,30 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. i.e. The tabernacle which is covered with a tent. See Exodus 35:11. Though elsewhere the words tabernacle and tent are promiscuously used. And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. No text from Poole on this verse. And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. No text from Poole on this verse. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. No text from Poole on this verse. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. No text from Poole on this verse. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: No text from Poole on this verse. And thou shalt anoint them, 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. i.e. A sign or seal that their priesthood shall continue as long as their polity lasts, till the coming of Messias. He signifies that this unction should be sufficient for all succeeding priests; they should not need to be anointed again, except the successive high priests. See Exodus 29:7,29 Le 4:3 16:32 21:10 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. Second year after their coming out of Egypt, Numbers 7:1. 1490 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. No text from Poole on this verse. 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: No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. No text from Poole on this verse. And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. No text from Poole on this verse. And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. No text from Poole on this verse. And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. No text from Poole on this verse. And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: No text from Poole on this verse. And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses. This is wisely and seasonably added, because this was a work peculiar to the priest, and not to be done by Moses without God’s express command And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. The burnt-offering and the meat offering, for the consecration of the altar, this being the first sacrifice. And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. No text from Poole on this verse. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: No text from Poole on this verse. When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. i.e. The glorious presence of God, which having been forfeited and lost was now returned to them, and took its habitation among them. 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. Moses was not able to enter in, partly because of the extraordinary thickness and brightness of the cloud, which both dazzled his eyes and struck him with horror, as 1 Kings 8:11; and partly, because of his great reverence and dread of that eminent and glorious appearance of God; and partly, because he was not called to it, as he was not able to go up into the mount till he was called, Exodus 24:16. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: No text from Poole on this verse. But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. No text from Poole on this verse. For the cloud 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. The same pillar which in the day-time was like a cloud, in the night-time had the appearance of fire. See Exodus 13:21. |
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