Exodus 40:20

_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._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

16-33 When the tabernacle and the furniture of it were prepared, they did not put off rearing it till they came to Canaan; but, in obedience to the will of God, they set it up in the midst of their camp. Those who are unsettled in the world, must not think that this will excuse want of religion; as if it were enough to begin to serve God when they begin to be settled in the world. No; a tabernacle for God is very needful, even in a wilderness, especially as we may be in another world before we come to fix in this. And we may justly fear lest we should deceive ourselves with a form of godliness. The thought that so few entered Canaan, should warn young persons especially, not to put off the care of their souls....

Verse Exodus 40:20. _AND PUT THE TESTIMONY INTO THE ARK_] That is, the two tables on which the ten commandments had been written. See Exodus 25:16. The ark, the golden table with the shew-bread, the golden candlestick, and the golden altar of incense, were all _in_ the tabernacle, _within the veil_ or curtains, which served as a door, Exodus 40:22; Exodus 40:24; Exodus 40:26. And the altar of burnt-offering was _by the door_, Exodus 40:29. And the brazen...

THE TESTIMONY - i. e. the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments engraved on them Exodus 25:16; Exodus 31:18. Nothing else is said to have been put into the ark. These were found there by themselves in the time of Solomon 1 Kings 8:9; 2 Chronicles 5:10. The pot of manna was “laid up before the testimony” Exodus 16:34; Aaron’s rod was also placed “before the testimony” Numbers 17:10; and the book of the law was put at “the side of the

EXPOSITION EXODUS 40:1 THE COMMAND TO SET UP THE TABERNACLE, AND ITS PERFORMANCE. All was now ready. Bezaleel and Aholiab had completed their task. The work for the tabernacle had been given in, and had been approved Moses did not however at once set it up. He waited for a command from God. After a short interval, the command came. He was ordered to select the first day of the ensuing year—the first day of the first year of freedom—for the operation. Directions were given him, which fixed the order in which the various parts were to be set up, and assigned to the various articles of furniture their proper places ...

AND HE TOOK AND PUT THE TESTIMONY INTO THE ARK,.... The ten commands, called the "testimony", because they testified and declared what was the will of God with respect to things to be done, or not done. The Targum of Jonathan says, he put the broken pieces of the tables into it; but what became of them, or were done with them, we nowhere read; and it does not appear that any other, but those that Moses hewed by the order of God, were put into the ark; see Deuteronomy 10:1 AND SET THE STAVES ON THE ARK; that it might be ready to be carried whenever a remove was necessary: AND PUT THE MERCY SEAT ABOVE UPON THE ARK; together with the cherubim....

7. THE TABERNACLE SET UP, THE FINISHED WORK AND THE GLORY CHAPTER 40 _ 1. Jehovah gives the directions (Exodus 40:1)_ 2. Moses' obedience (Exodus 40:16) 3. The tabernacle set up (Exodus 40:17) 4. The ark brought in (Exodus 40:20) 5. The furniture placed and the offerings brought (Exodus 40:22) 6. The laver and the court (Exodus 40:30) 7. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle ...

XL. P S. THE ERECTION OF THE TENT. After a further summary of instructions mostly given before (Exodus 40:1), and involving the very latest developments (_cf._ the anointing of the assistant priests in Exodus 40:15), the actual erection is described _in_ Exodus 40:16, Moses himself inaugurating the ceremonial of worship (Exodus 40:23; Exodus 40:25; Exodus 40:27; Exodus 40:29). Bo

MERCY SEAT. See note on Exodus 25:1....

Moses sets up the Tent of _Meeting_, and the Court, and arranges the sacred vessels according to the instructions given in _vv._1 8, or (in some cases) in chs. 25 31 only. He also (_vv._23, 25, 27, 29) begins the daily services....