Exodus 40:18

40:16-33 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.

And Moses reared up the tabernacle,.... Not of himself, but with the help of others: and fastened the sockets, and set up the boards thereof; fixed the silver sockets all around, which were the foundation of the building, and placed and established the shittim boards in them: and put in the bars thereof; to keep the boards close and tight: and reared up his pillars; the pillars that supported the vail between the holy and holy of holies, and those on which the hanging for the door of the tabernacle was put, as well as the several pillars all around the court of the tabernacle for the hangings of that.

(18) Moses . . . fastened his sockets. —The stability of the Tabernacle must have depended almost entirely upon the sockets. These were of some considerable weight ( Exodus 38:27 ), but they cannot by their mere weight have sustained the fabric in an upright position. It is reasonable to suppose that they were let into the ground to a depth of some feet. The erection necessarily commenced with this operation. Set up the boards.—When the sockets had been firmly fixed, the upright boards and tiie pillars were inserted into them by means of the “tenons” in which they terminated, and so stood erect. The coupling by “bars” rivetted the three walls into one firm and compact structure.

On the first day of the month - That is, on the first of the month Nisan Exodus 12:2 ; Exodus 13:4 , one year, wanting fourteen days, after the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. They had been nearly three months in reaching the foot of Mount Sinai Exodus 19:1 ; Moses had spent eighty days on the mountain Exodus 24:18 ; Exodus 34:28 , and some time must be allowed for what is related in Exodus 24 , as well as for the interval between the two periods which Moses spent on the mountain Exodus 33:1-23 . The construction of the tabernacle and its furniture would thus appear to have occupied something less than half a year.

Verse 18. - Fastened his sockets. Rather, "placed its sockets." The "sockets" or "bases" appear to have been simply laid on the flat sand of the desert, not "fastened" to it in any way. They were heavy masses of metal and would remain where they were placed. His pillars . The pillars that supported the "veil," and also those at the east end, where the entrance was. Exodus 40:18

On the day mentioned in Exodus 40:2 the dwelling and court were erected. As not quite nine months had elapsed between the arrival of the Israelites at Sinai, in the third month after the Exodus ( Exodus 19:1 ), and the first day of the second year, when the work was finished and handed over to Moses, the building, and all the work connected with it, had not occupied quite half a year; as we have to deduct from the nine months (or somewhat less) not only the eighty days which Moses spent upon Sinai ( Exodus 24:18 ; Exodus 34:28 ), but the days of preparation for the giving of the law and conclusion of the covenant ( Exodus 19:1-24:11 ), and the interval between the first and second stay that Moses made upon the mountain (ch. 32 and 33). The erection of the dwelling commenced with the fixing of the sockets, into which the boards were placed and fastened with their bolts, and the setting up of the pillars for the curtains ( Exodus 40:18 ). "He (Moses) then spread the tent over the dwelling, and laid the covering of the tent upon the top." By the "covering of the tent" we are to understand the two coverings, made of red rams' skins and the skins of the sea-cow ( Exodus 26:14 ). In analogy with this, את־האלל פּרשׂ denotes not only the roofing with the goats' hair, but the spreading out of the inner cloth of mixed colours upon the wooden frame-work.

[Reformed Biblical] A cloud covereth the tabernacle, Exo_40:34-38 Exodus 40:2 To wit, of the second year after their coming out of Egypt, as is evident. Exodus 40:3 Exodus 40:4 The things that are to be set in order; the vessels belonging to it, and the shew-bread, Exo_25:29,30 Exodus 40:5 Exodus 40:6 i.e. The tabernacle which is covered with a tent. See Exo_35:11. Though elsewhere the words tabernacle and tent are promiscuously used. Exodus 40:7 Exodus 40:8 Exodus 40:9 Exodus 40:10 Exodus 40:11 Exodus 40:12 Exodus 40:13 Exodus 40:14 Exodus 40:15 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 Exo_29:7,29 Leviticus 4:3 16:32 21:10 Exodus 40:16 Exodus 40:17 ## Second year after their coming out of Egypt, Num_7:1. Exodus 40:18 Exodus 40:19 Exodus 40:20 Exodus 40:21 Exodus 40:22 Exodus 40:23 Exodus 40:24 Exodus 40:25 Exodus 40:26 Exodus 40:27 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 Exodus 40:28 Exodus 40:29 ## The burnt-offering and the meat offering , for the consecration of the altar, this being the first sacrifice. Exodus 40:30 Exodus 40:31 Exodus 40:32 Exodus 40:33 Exodus 40:34 i.e.