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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:17
On the first day the tabernacle was reared up. Being constructed after the fashion of a tent, it was quite possible to rear up and also to take down, the tabernacle in less than a day.
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:17-33
The actual setting up of the tabernacle.
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:18-33
The sanctification of material things. Objections are raised to the entire idea of a holiness in things. Holiness, it is said, being a personal quality, cannot reside in things, or be communicated to them, or be rightly…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:18
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 rem…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:19
He spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle. The entire distinctness of the tent ('ohel) from the tabernacle (mishkan) is here very strongly marked. The "tent" was the goats' hair covering, with the framework of wood…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:20
The testimony—i.e; the two tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments (Exodus 25:16; Exodus 31:18). Set the staves on the ark. "Put the staves," that is, "into the rings, and left them there" (Exodus 25:14). Put th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:21
Set up the veil of the covering—i.e; hung the veil on the four pillars between the holy place and the holy of holies, and thus covered—i.e; concealed from sight, the ark of the testimony. (See the comment on Exodus 40:3)
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:22
Upon the side of the tabernacle northward. Upon the right hand, as one faced the veil. No direction had been given upon this point, but Moses probably knew the right position from the pattern which he had seen upon the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:23
He set the bread in order upon it. Upon the subject of this "order," see Le Exodus 24:6-8, and compare the comment on Exodus 24:4.
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:24
Over against the table—i.e; exactly opposite to the table, on the left as one faced the veil.
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:25
When evening came, he lighted the lamps. (See the comment on Exodus 40:4) Whatever the priests ordinarily had to do was on this occasion done by Moses.
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:26
The golden altar, or "altar of incense," was placed before the veil—i.e; outside it, in the holy place, midway between the table of shew-bread and the golden candlestick.
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:28
He set up the hanging at the door. He hung on the five pillars at the entrance to the tabernacle the "hanging" or ': curtain," which had been made for the purpose (Exodus 36:37).
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:29
He put the altar of burnt-offering by the door of the tabernacle. See the comment on Exodus 40:6. And offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat-offering—i.e; in his priestly character inaugurated the altar by offe…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:30
He set the laver. As directed in Exodus 40:7. For the position of the laver, see Exodus 30:18. Exodus 40:31, Exodus 40:32 Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands. This is not a part of the narrative of what was…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:33
The two finishings. "So Moses finished the work." Cf. Exodus 39:32—"Thus was all the work of the tabernacle finished." View the tabernacle as a type of the spiritual house—the Church. This tabernacle is being made. A ti…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:33
He reared up the court, etc; as directed in Exodus 40:8. So Moses finished the work. With the hanging of the curtain at the entrance to the court, the erection of the tabernacle was complete. It was probably not till af…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:34-38
The house filled with glory. The close of the book of Exodus is worthy of the greatness of its subject. It ends where the history of the world will end, with the descent of Jehovah's glory to dwell with men (Revelation…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:34-38
EXPOSITION THE DESCENT OF THE GLORY OF GOD ON THE COMPLETED WORK. The work was finished the fist incense burnt (Exodus 40:27)—the first sacrifice offered (Exodus 40:29). Those who had watched the proceedings, and those…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:34
Then a cloud. In the original "the cloud," i.e. the cloud so often spoken of (Exodus 13:21, Exodus 13:22; Exodus 14:19, Exodus 14:20, Exodus 14:24; Exodus 19:9; Exodus 24:15-18; Exodus 33:9, Exodus 33:10). Covered the t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:34-35
The symbols of God's presence. I. GOD IS SEEN BY THOSE WHO UNFEIGNEDLY LOVE HIM AS PURE LIGHT. "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12; John 9:5). "In him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). "In hi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:34-38
Indwelling and guidance. I. GOD OWNS THE DWELLING-PLACE SET UP ACCORDING TO HIS COMMANDMENTS. "Then the cloud," etc. "And Moses was not able to enter in," etc.; it was claimed as his own and taken possession of by the L…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:35
Moses was not able to enter. It is implied that he wished—nay, tried—to enter—but the "glory" prevented him. (Compare 1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chronicles 5:14; 2 Chronicles 7:2.) Because the cloud abode thereon. It was not the e…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 40:36-38
And when—i.e. "whensoever." The last three verses describe the manner in which the cloud henceforth served the Israelites as guide—not only directing their course, but determining when they were to move, and how long th…