The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 368

EXPOSITIO~. CHAPTER XL. Ver. 4.-Thou Iha.It bring In the table- i.e., "the tAble ohhew-bread" (eh. xitv. 23- Vers.1-38.-THE COMMAND 'l'OBETUPTRE 80; xxxvii. 10-16). And ■et in order the 'I'A'BERNACLE, AND ITS PERFORIIANCB. All was thinga, etc. It has been obsen•ed with reason now ready. Bezaleel and Aholiab had com- that the directions of Lev. x.xiv. 5-7 must have been a.lready given, though not recorded pleted their t:Ask. The work for the taber- till eo much later. Bread and frunkincenso nacle ha.d been given in, and had been were to be " set in order " on the table in a approved M06es did not however at once set particular "·ay. Th.e candleatiok. The seven- it up. He waited for a command from God. branched candelabrum (eh. xxv. 31-3!>: eh. After a short interval, the command came. xxxvii. 17-24). And thou &halt light the lam.pa. The lamps would have to be lighted He wai; ordered to select the first day of the on the first day at e11en ( eh, xxvii. 21 ; xxx. 8), ensuing year-the first day of the first year of Ver. 5.-The altar of gold. See eh. xxx. freedom-for the operation. Directions were 1-10; eh. xxxvii. 25-28. Before the arlt given him, which fixed the order in which the of the teltimony--i.e., "before the veil, oppo- various para were to be set up, and ll&'!igned site the ark of the testimony," not within the veil. See the comment on eh. xxx. 6. The to the various articles of furniture their proper hanging of the door--i.e., " the curtain which places (vers. 1-8). When he had arrllilged closed the front or eastern end of the to ber- the whole as directed, he was to anoint the nacle." (See eh. xxvi. 36; eh. xxxvi. 87.) varioUE para (vers. 9-11). He was then to Ver. 6.-The altar of b111'11t-offeri4g. See wash and dress AJIZ'On, and his sons ; to invest cb. xxvii. 1~; eh. xxxviii. 1-7. Before Uie door of the tabernaole. In the court, them with their robes of office (vers. 12-14), directly in front of the entrance, but not close and to anoint them to be priests (ver. 15). to it, since the place of the !aver was between The orders given were executed, except (as it the entrance and the altar. See the next would seem) those concerning the investiture verse. of the priests and the anointing, which were Ver. 7.-The laver. See eh. :ux. 18; eh. x:xxvi.ii. 8. Put water therein. The water deferred. (See Lev. viii. 6-90.) In one day was required :-1. For the ablution of the the sanctuary was complet.ely set up (vers. priests (eh. xxx. 19-21; xl. 12, 31; Lev. 18-33). viii. 6), and 2. For washing the victims (Lev. viii. 21). Vers. 1--8.-.The ~ to et "-' fM Ver. 8.-The oourt. See eh. xxvii. 9-18; ~- eh. xxxviii. 9-20. The hanging at the court Ver. 2.-0!l the~4ayofthefirlltm.onth. gate--i.e., the curtain at the entrance of the The first of Abib, or Nisan, the "New Year's court (eh. xxvii 16; eh. xxxviii. 18). Day " of Israel, coinciding nearly with the opening of the vernal equinox, a very suitable Vere. 9-16.-The direction, to anoint, eto. day for the iDB.ugnration of a place of worship. Vere. 9-16.-It does not appear that these The t&bernaale was to be set up first of all ; directions were carriec out at this time. Pro- then the tent was to be placed over it. See bably, there would not have been time to go vers. 18, 19. through all the ceremonies enjoined ( eh. xxi.x. Ver. 8.-The first thing to be pLiced within J-34) on the same day with the erection of the tabernacle was the ark of the testimony, the sanctuary. They were consequently de- as containing the fonndation of the covenant ferred, either till the next day, or possibly to between God and Israel, and being the special a later date. (See Lev. viii.) The anointing token of God's presence with his people. See of the taberna.cle is recorded in ver. 10 ; of the the comment on eh. xxv. 10. The "two vessels in ver. 11 ; of the altar and laver in t.he tAbles " were pLiced within the ark before it same. The washing of Aaron and his sons in was brought into the tabernacle (vers. 20, ver. 6; their investiture in vers. 7-9; the 21 ). Cover the a.rk with the veil--i.e., "hang anointing of Aaron in ver. 12 ; and a further up the veil in front of the ark, so as to cover anointing of Aaron together with his sons ill ur oonceal it." ver. 30, rH.I~l0-33.] THE BOOK OF EXODU&