Read the Bible: Exodus 40

I’m going to use this image for illustrative purposes but take issue with one detail. The court or the courtyard is not also known as the “holy place.” The Holy Place, seen in the image up top, is inside the tent but outside the veil of separation. The Holy Place is where the lamp stand and table for the showbread are located, the Most Holy Place is where the Ark of the Testimony is.

Exodus 40

The LORD spoke to Moses saying:

2 “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of the meeting.

3 Place the ark of the testimony inside, and cover the ark with the veil.

4 And bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order on it; and bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps of it.

5 Set the altar of gold for the incense in front of the ark of the testimony, and put up the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.

6 Set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the meeting. 

7 And set the basin between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and fill it with water. 

8 Set up the courtyard all around, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.

9 Take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is inside, and consecrate it, and all the vessels of it: and it shall be holy.

10 Anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all its vessels, and consecrate the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.

11 Anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it.

12 Then bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tent of meeting, and wash them with water.

13 Put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him, and consecrate him, that he may serve me as a priest.

14 And bring his sons, and clothe them with tunics:

15 Anoint them, as you did their father, that they may serve me as priests: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”

16 Moses did so: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.

17 In the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up.

18 Moses set up the tabernacle, and laid the bases, set up the planks, put in the bars and raised up its posts.

19 He spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above it; as the LORD commanded Moses.

20 He took the testimony and placed it in the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above the ark:

21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.

22 He put the table in the tent of the meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside of the veil.

23 He set the bread in order on it before the LORD as the LORD had commanded him.

24 He put the candlestick in the tent of the meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.

25 He set up the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

26 He put the golden altar in the tent of the meeting in front of the veil:

27 And he burned sweet incense on it; as the LORD commanded Moses.

28 He set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.

29 He put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.

30 He set the basin between the tent of the meeting and the altar, and put water there for washing. 

31 Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet there:

32 When they went into the tent of the meeting, and when they came near the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

33 He set up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then a cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

35 Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the meeting, because the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 

36 When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, they did not journey until the day that it was taken up.

38 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.

See also: Exodus 40 in ESV, HCSB, NASB and NIV via Bible Gateway.

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