Exodus 40:17
So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year.
So the tabernacle was set up

The portable sanctuary was assembled according to the pattern God gave Moses, providing the appointed place where the LORD would dwell among Israel and where sacrifices and worship would be offered. Its completion showed that Israel’s worship was to be ordered around God’s holiness and presence.

Num 7:1 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,…
Exo 26:30 So you are to set up the tabernacle according to the pattern…
Exo 39:32 So all the work for the tabernacle was completed.…

on the first day of the first month

The tabernacle was raised at the beginning of the religious year, the month that marked Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The date connected the nation’s new life of worship with the redemption that had brought them out of slavery.

2Ch 29:17 For eight more days they consecrated the house of the LORD…
Ezk 45:18 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the first day…
Ezr 7:9 He had begun the journey from Babylon…

of the second year.

Nearly one year after the Exodus, Israel had received God’s law, entered into covenant at Sinai, and completed the tabernacle. The nation was now prepared to continue its journey as a people governed by God and centered on His dwelling in their midst.

Num 9:1 In the first month of the second year…
Num 10:11 On the twentieth day of the second month,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. Moses is responsible for overseeing the construction and setup of the tabernacle as instructed by God.

2. The Tabernacle
A portable earthly dwelling place for God among the Israelites. It was meticulously constructed according to the divine specifications given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

3. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now in the wilderness, preparing to enter the Promised Land.

4. The Wilderness
The setting where the Israelites are journeying after their exodus from Egypt. It is a place of testing, learning, and preparation for entering the Promised Land.

5. The First Day of the First Month
This marks a new beginning for the Israelites, symbolizing a fresh start and the establishment of God's presence among His people through the tabernacle.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Instructions
The setting up of the tabernacle as per God's command demonstrates the importance of obedience in our relationship with God. Just as Moses followed God's detailed instructions, we are called to live according to His Word.

God's Presence Among His People
The tabernacle symbolizes God's desire to dwell among His people. Today, through the Holy Spirit, God dwells within us, making our bodies His temple. We should live in a way that honors His presence.

New Beginnings and Renewal
The timing of the tabernacle's setup on the first day of the first month signifies new beginnings. In Christ, we are offered a fresh start and continual renewal through His grace.

The Importance of Community Worship
The tabernacle served as a central place of worship for the Israelites. Similarly, gathering with fellow believers for worship is vital for spiritual growth and community.

Preparation for Future Promises
The Israelites' journey and the establishment of the tabernacle were preparatory steps for entering the Promised Land. In our lives, God often prepares us through various experiences for the fulfillment of His promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the obedience of Moses in setting up the tabernacle challenge us in our daily walk with God?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our lives reflect the presence of God, similar to how the tabernacle represented God's dwelling among the Israelites?

3. What are some "new beginnings" that God has provided in your life, and how can you embrace them with faith and obedience?

4. How does the concept of the tabernacle as a place of worship inform our understanding of the importance of gathering with other believers?

5. Reflect on a time when God was preparing you for a future promise. How did that preparation shape your faith and trust in Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 25-31
These chapters provide the detailed instructions given by God to Moses for the construction of the tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of obedience and precision in worship.

Leviticus 9
Describes the inauguration of the tabernacle and the beginning of the priestly ministry, highlighting the significance of the tabernacle as a place of meeting between God and His people.

Hebrews 9
Discusses the tabernacle as a foreshadowing of the greater heavenly reality and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who entered the true Holy Place on our behalf.
The Erection of the TabernacleJ. Urquhart Exodus 40:1-33
The Tabernacle Set UpJ. Orr Exodus 40:1-33
Tabernacle ForeshadowingsW. M. Taylor, D. D.Exodus 40:1-38
The Primary and Universal Obligation to the Worship of JehovahJ. Allport.Exodus 40:1-38
The Setting Up of the Tabernacle on New Year's DayC. P. Eyre, M. A.Exodus 40:1-38
People
Aaron, Israelites, Moses
Places
Sinai
Topics
Erected, Month, Pass, Raised, Reared, Tabernacle
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 40:16

     8454   obedience, to God

Exodus 40:12-16

     8345   servanthood, and worship

Library
July 7. "And the Glory of the Lord Filled the Tabernacle" (Ex. Xl. 35).
"And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex. xl. 35). In the last chapter of Exodus we read all the Lord commanded Moses to do, and that as he fulfilled these commands the glory of the Lord descended and filled the tabernacle till there was no room for Moses, and from that time the pillar of cloud overshadowed them, their guide, their protection. And so we have been building as the Lord Himself commanded, and now the temple is to be handed over to Him to be possessed and filled. He will
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, 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
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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