Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Leviticus 1:1) And the LORD called to Moses, and spoke to him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, (2) “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘If any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of the cattle, of the herd, and of the flock.'"
In the last post, the last chapter of Exodus, Moses and the people had set up the tent tabernacle, and God had taken possession of it in a cloud over the tabernacle. The Lord now spoke to Moses from this cloud, more precisely from the mercy seat between the cherubim over the ark, where the glory of the Lord took up its residence, and from where the Lord had promised to commune with Moses in Exodus 25:22. He began to give him instructions on how to instruct the people when they brought offerings to the Lord. He began with what appears to be voluntary or freewill offerings to the Lord. Although the desire and act of bringing an offering to the Lord was voluntary, there were laws on how it was to be done. First they were told what the offering should be. The original word translated as "cattle" was "behemah", which was generally understood to be cattle, but more generally included cattle and sheep and goats, as indicated by the phrases following "cattle". Perhaps the translation used by some of the newer Bible translations such as NKJV and ESV, that is "livestock", might be more appropriate, but I don't like it, because that could also mean swine and poultry, etc., and this was certainly not the case. The only animals to be offered were those "of the herd", which referred to cattle or oxen, and "of the flock", which referred to sheep or goats.
(3) "‘If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the
herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own
free will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.'"
If the offering was to be a burnt sacrifice from the herd or cattle, it was to be a male without blemish, pointing to the sex and perfection of the Messiah, the perfect sacrifice. This is not to say that only a male is perfect before the Lord, but Jesus Christ was a male, so a male was used in this substitution, and Christ was perfect, and therefore, an animal without blemish must be offered as this substitute sacrifice. This offering was to be given by free will at the door of the tabernacle or tent of the congregation, whereat stood the brass altar and the laver, where sacrifices were to be offered.
(4) "'And he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.'"
The one offering the animal for sacrifice was to put his hand on the head of the animal, signifying that this sacrifice was his own, in substitution for his own sinful self who was worthy of death because he had sinned against God. The animal would then be accepted as sacrifice and atonement for the one offering it.
(5) "'And he shall kill the bull before the LORD; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.'"
The one offering the sacrifice was then to kill the bull, and then the priests, namely Aaron's sons, were to bring the blood that had been collected in basins and were to sprinkle the blood all around and on the altar that was by the door of the tabernacle. The blood being the life, it was this that made atonement for the soul, being illustrative of the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, as found in the following New Testament verses:
"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel." - Hebrews 12:24
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied." - 1 Peter 1:2
Now back to Leviticus:
(6) "‘And he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces.'"
The sacrificer was to flay or skin the animal and cut it into pieces.
(7) "'And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay the wood in order on the fire.'"
The sons of Aaron were to "put fire on the altar" and then lay the wood in order on the fire. It sounds as if they brought fire from another source and put it there for this first burnt offering on the newly-constructed altar. Perhaps this was to be illustrative of the fact that the fire that would be used there came from heaven as we'll see in Leviticus 9:24 and was to be carefully preserved there and never allowed to go out (Lev. 6:13). It was not a fire originally started by the sons of Aaron on this altar.
(8) "'And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar; (9) But its inwards and its legs he shall wash in water; and the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to the LORD.'"
This begins to get confusing to me, so I will take it slowly. Aaron's sons, the priests, were to take the parts of the animal, that is, the head and the fat, and lay them in order on the fire on the altar. Or is it to be interpreted that they were to take the parts and the head and the fat and lay them in order? Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, pointed to the wisdom of Aben Ezra (Jewish rabbi, scholar, and writer from 1100's), and suggested that the word "fat" here is not the same word translated as "fat" in most of the other scriptures, and more likely means the trunk of the animal's body. The next verse says that the inwards and the legs were to be washed, which sounds like the parts were divided and separated into head, trunk (which could be interpreted as the fatty middle), and legs, with the middle inwards being removed and washed. The parts were then to be placed back in order on the fire on the altar, which I believe means they were placed back together as they were as if the entire animal were originally placed on the altar. Indeed, verse 9 says the priest would burn "all". The parts being washed may signify purity of heart (the inwards) and ways and actions (the legs) which, along with the unblemished outside of the animal, might represent the perfect Christ offering Himself on the altar. This offering was a sweet aroma to the Lord. This doesn't mean the Lord loved the smell of it, but rather it was an acceptable sacrifice for atonement of sin, an acceptable facsimile of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for atonement of sin. Ephesians 5:2 tells us: "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." As Christ didn't burn on an altar, it's obvious that sweet-smelling aroma doesn't refer to a smell.
(10) "'And if his offering is of the flocks, of the sheep or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice, he shall bring a male without blemish.'"
God had said this freewill offering could be of cattle or of sheep and goats, and He now told Moses how to instruct the people if they chose to bring an offering of their sheep or goats. It again should be a male without blemish.
(11) "'And he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.'"
The one bringing the sacrifice was to kill the animal on the north side of the altar before the Lord. Although it was mentioned only here, probably the bull offering was to be killed on the north side of the altar, as well. Most of the old commentators agree that there was probably a practical basis for this, for as Albert Barnes pointed out in his Notes on the Bible, on the west side was the laver, on the east side was the place of ashes (Lev. 1:16), and "the south side, where appears to have been the slope by which the priests went up to the altar, must have been left clear for a path." Additionally, and more importantly, it was probably designed to be this way because Christ was crucified on the north side of Jerusalem, as stated in Psalm 48:2, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." Once it was killed, Aaron's sons, the priests, were to sprinkle the animal's blood all around on the altar.
(12) "‘And he shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat; and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar; (13) But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water; and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.'"
The male sheep or goat was to be cut up in pieces in the same manner as was the bull, and laid in order on the fire on the altar. The inwards and legs were to be washed in water, just as they were for the bull. Likewise, as with the bull, this offering would then be an acceptable offering to the Lord.
(14) "‘And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD is of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or of young pigeons.'"
Although fowls were not listed in verse 2 as an acceptable freewill offering, it is believed that they were allowed for the poor who could not afford to bring a bull or lamb, as in Leviticus 5:7, "And if he is not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring to the LORD, for his trespass which he has committed, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, to the Lord, one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering." Note the scripture stated the offering was to be "of turtledoves" (not stating whether young or old) or "of young pigeons". The old commentaries that I read were just about unanimous that the turtledoves were to be old, or mature, and only the pigeons were to be young. This was when each was at its best and most acceptable to be served at men's tables, and certainly no less should be brought to the Lord.
(15) "‘The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and its blood shall be wrung out at the side of the altar.'"
The priest was to bring the bird to the altar and he himself was to kill the bird by wringing its neck. Jewish tradition states that the bird was killed by twisting back its head and piercing its neck with a nail. Although scripture doesn't state here exactly how it was done, later verses do suggest that the head was not removed from the body, yet blood was to be poured out, so the nail puncture makes sense. I am struck with the image of the nails piercing Christ's body and His blood pouring out. Even this little bird could be used as a symbol of the Christ to come. The bird was to be burned on the altar and its blood poured out at the side of the altar.
(16) "‘And he shall pluck away its crop with its feathers and cast it beside the altar on the east side, by the place of the ashes.'"
The priest was to pluck away the bird's "crop" or craw (the bird's stomach), and probably its intestines, and cast that with the bird's feathers beside the altar on the east side where the ashes of the burnt sacrifices were put.
(17) "'And he shall cleave it with its wings, but shall not divide it completely; and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire; it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to the LORD.'"
The priest was to "cleave" or split the bird probably down the middle with one wing on each side, but was not to divide the bird completely. He then burned the bird on the altar, and it was considered to be a burnt offering to the Lord, and acceptable to Him.
Leviticus is a book that begins with the laws concerning sacrifices, and this first chapter dealt with burnt offerings. When these offerings were made according to the instructions given by the Lord to Moses, they were said to be "of a sweet aroma to the LORD". However, this was only a symbol of the perfect sacrifice to come and illustrative of our giving our whole selves to the Lord, which was better than all burnt offerings and sacrifices:
“And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” - Mark 12:33
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Sunday, February 14, 2016
The Tabernacle is Set Up and God Takes Possession of It
Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Exodus 40:1) And 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 congregation."
In the last chapter, Moses had just inspected the newly completed work on the tabernacle, and now the Lord told Moses to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month, which was Nisan, and would have been about April. It is generally supposed that the Israelites began the work of the tabernacle about the sixth month after they had left Egypt, and as the work was finished about the end of the first year of their exodus (it was to be set up the first day of the second year), they had therefore spent about six months making it, meaning the tabernacle had been constructed and (would be) set up one year after they had left Egypt.
(3) "And you shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and cover the ark with the veil."
The first thing to be placed in the tabernacle was the ark of the Testimony which was to be placed in the most holy place of the tabernacle and was to be closed in and covered from view by the veil that divided the holy place from the most holy place.
(4) "And you shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the candlestick and light its lamps."
Next the table that was to be the table of showbread was to be brought in and the dishes and utensils that were to be placed on it were to be arranged in order. Then they were to bring in the candle stand and light its lamps.
(5) "And you shall set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the Testimony, and put up the hanging of the door to the tabernacle."
Then was to be set up the altar of gold which was the incense altar that was to be placed before the ark of the Testimony, not within the most holy place, but before it within the holy place. Then they were to put up the door or curtain of entrance into the holy place, separating it from the court of the tabernacle.
(6) "And you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation."
Next they were to set up the altar of the burnt offering where the sacrifices of the people were to be brought, and offered up by the priests. This was to be set up in the open courtyard, before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
(7) “And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and shall put water in it."
Then was to be placed the laver of brass between the tabernacle and the altar, and water was to be put into it for washing.
(8) "And you shall set up the court all around, and hang up the hanging at the court gate."
Then was to be set up the curtains of the court all around, and a hanging for a court gate.
(9) “And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall hallow it and all its vessels, and it shall be holy. (10) And you shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar; and it shall be an altar most holy. (11) And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and sanctify it."
The Lord then told Moses to consecrate the tabernacle and all that was in it, by anointing them with the oil which had been prepared for that purpose (Exodus 30:25). The tabernacle, all its utensils, the altar of burnt offering and its utensils, and the laver and its base, would all be rendered holy by the anointing.
(12) "And you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and wash them with water."
After anointing the tabernacle, Aaron and his sons were to be brought to the door of the tabernacle to be washed and then anointed as follows:
(13) "And you shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and sanctify him, that he may minister to Me in the priest's office. (14) And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with coats. (15) And you shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
First the holy garments were to be put on Aaron, and he was to be anointed and sanctified so that he may minister to the Lord as priest. Then Aaron's sons were to be clothed in their coats, and also anointed so that they, too, could minister to the Lord as priests. By this anointing a right was given to Aaron and his family to be high priests among the Jews throughout their generations, until the Messiah, the true priest, would come, and put an end to the Aaronic priesthood, which served as an illustrative type of Christ.
(16) Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did. (17) And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up.
Moses did all that the Lord had commanded he do. On the first day of the first month, Nisan, the beginning of the second year after they had come out of Egypt, the tabernacle was raised up.
(18) And Moses raised up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and raised up its pillars. (19) And he spread out the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
These two verses tell how the tabernacle itself was raised up by Moses, and surely others under his direction. They set up the boards, bars, and pillars, fastened the sockets, and spread out the tent and the covering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses to do.
(20) And he took the Testimony and put it into the ark, set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. (21) And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the Testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses took the Testimony, the two tables of the Ten Commandments, and placed them inside the ark. He set the poles in place, with which to carry the ark, and he placed the mercy seat on top of the ark. He brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung up the "veil of the covering" that divided the holy place from the most holy place, wherein the ark of the Testimony was kept out of view. All this Moses did according to the instructions given to him by the Lord.
(22) And he put the table in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil. (23) And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses set up the showbread table inside the tabernacle on the north side, outside the veil that covered the ark in the most holy place. He set the bread "in order" upon the table before the Lord, and as the Lord had commanded. Setting up the showbread has been mentioned previously in Exodus 25:30, Exodus 35:13, and Exodus 39:36, but the exact order of placing twelve loaves in two piles of six, I don't believe has been described yet, but is detailed in Leviticus 24.
(24) And he put the candlestick in the tabernacle of the congregation, across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. (25) And he lighted the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses put the candlestand in the tabernacle across from the showbread table, on the south side of the tabernacle. He lit the seven lights before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him to do.
(26) And he put the golden altar in the tabernacle of the congregation in front of the veil; (27) And he burned sweet incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses placed the golden incense altar in the tabernacle in front of the veil enclosing the ark. It appears to have been set in the middle between the table of showbread on the north side and the candlestand on the south side. Moses then burned sweet incense on the golden incense altar, just as the Lord had instructed him to do.
(28) And he hung up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.
Moses then hung up the curtain at the door of the tabernacle, separating the sanctuary from the courtyard.
(29) And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle and appears to have immediately offered upon the altar a burnt offering and a meat offering, as the Lord had commanded him.
(30) And he set the laver between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and put water there for washing. (31) And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet there. (32) When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses set the laver, or wash basin, between the tabernacle and the altar and put water in it. Moses, Aaron, and his sons all washed their hands and feet from it. Whenever they went into the tabernacle and whenever they came near the altar, they washed, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, pointed out that the phrase "as the Lord commanded Moses" was "near twenty times expressed in this and the preceding chapter, to show that everything was done by the workmen, and everything put in its proper place by Moses, exactly according to the will of God; no one pursuing his own fancy and private judgment, but all consulting the mind of God, and acting according to that."
(33) And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
Moses raised up the courtyard hangings all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the curtain of the court gate, and that finished the raising of the tabernacle.
(34) Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (35) And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
I assume this cloud was the same pillar of cloud that went before the Israelites as they came out of Egypt, but now expanded to cover the tabernacle. This showed the people the Lord's approval of their work and was a sign that He was with them. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Scripture doesn't tell exactly how this was manifested, but it may have been some extreme brightness that was unbearable to the eyes because Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle because of the cloud and the glory.
(36) And 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 was not taken up, then they did not journey till 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.
When the Lord in the pillar of cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites moved onward in their travels. When the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they camped until which time it rose and led them forward again. Just as the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night led and comforted and protected the people early on in their travels, it again preserved and guided them. The pillar of cloud continued to guide them, but when it and the people stopped, it came down and expanded to cover the tabernacle. In this way, the Israelites saw that the Lord was with them constantly. It must have been a great comfort and source of protection and strength for the people. Besides being a guide, the cloud may have been a source of shade from the hot sun in the day, and a source of light and heat in the night. Imagine what an awesome and terrifying sight it would have been to other people and wild beasts to see this cloud of fire in the night! This constant daily and nightly appearance was a merciful providence and demonstrative proof of the presence of their Lord with His people.
(Exodus 40:1) And 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 congregation."
In the last chapter, Moses had just inspected the newly completed work on the tabernacle, and now the Lord told Moses to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month, which was Nisan, and would have been about April. It is generally supposed that the Israelites began the work of the tabernacle about the sixth month after they had left Egypt, and as the work was finished about the end of the first year of their exodus (it was to be set up the first day of the second year), they had therefore spent about six months making it, meaning the tabernacle had been constructed and (would be) set up one year after they had left Egypt.
(3) "And you shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and cover the ark with the veil."
The first thing to be placed in the tabernacle was the ark of the Testimony which was to be placed in the most holy place of the tabernacle and was to be closed in and covered from view by the veil that divided the holy place from the most holy place.
(4) "And you shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the candlestick and light its lamps."
Next the table that was to be the table of showbread was to be brought in and the dishes and utensils that were to be placed on it were to be arranged in order. Then they were to bring in the candle stand and light its lamps.
(5) "And you shall set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the Testimony, and put up the hanging of the door to the tabernacle."
Then was to be set up the altar of gold which was the incense altar that was to be placed before the ark of the Testimony, not within the most holy place, but before it within the holy place. Then they were to put up the door or curtain of entrance into the holy place, separating it from the court of the tabernacle.
(6) "And you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation."
Next they were to set up the altar of the burnt offering where the sacrifices of the people were to be brought, and offered up by the priests. This was to be set up in the open courtyard, before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
(7) “And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and shall put water in it."
Then was to be placed the laver of brass between the tabernacle and the altar, and water was to be put into it for washing.
(8) "And you shall set up the court all around, and hang up the hanging at the court gate."
Then was to be set up the curtains of the court all around, and a hanging for a court gate.
(9) “And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall hallow it and all its vessels, and it shall be holy. (10) And you shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar; and it shall be an altar most holy. (11) And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and sanctify it."
The Lord then told Moses to consecrate the tabernacle and all that was in it, by anointing them with the oil which had been prepared for that purpose (Exodus 30:25). The tabernacle, all its utensils, the altar of burnt offering and its utensils, and the laver and its base, would all be rendered holy by the anointing.
(12) "And you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and wash them with water."
After anointing the tabernacle, Aaron and his sons were to be brought to the door of the tabernacle to be washed and then anointed as follows:
(13) "And you shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and sanctify him, that he may minister to Me in the priest's office. (14) And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with coats. (15) And you shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
First the holy garments were to be put on Aaron, and he was to be anointed and sanctified so that he may minister to the Lord as priest. Then Aaron's sons were to be clothed in their coats, and also anointed so that they, too, could minister to the Lord as priests. By this anointing a right was given to Aaron and his family to be high priests among the Jews throughout their generations, until the Messiah, the true priest, would come, and put an end to the Aaronic priesthood, which served as an illustrative type of Christ.
(16) Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did. (17) And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up.
Moses did all that the Lord had commanded he do. On the first day of the first month, Nisan, the beginning of the second year after they had come out of Egypt, the tabernacle was raised up.
(18) And Moses raised up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and raised up its pillars. (19) And he spread out the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
These two verses tell how the tabernacle itself was raised up by Moses, and surely others under his direction. They set up the boards, bars, and pillars, fastened the sockets, and spread out the tent and the covering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses to do.
(20) And he took the Testimony and put it into the ark, set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. (21) And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the Testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses took the Testimony, the two tables of the Ten Commandments, and placed them inside the ark. He set the poles in place, with which to carry the ark, and he placed the mercy seat on top of the ark. He brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung up the "veil of the covering" that divided the holy place from the most holy place, wherein the ark of the Testimony was kept out of view. All this Moses did according to the instructions given to him by the Lord.
(22) And he put the table in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil. (23) And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses set up the showbread table inside the tabernacle on the north side, outside the veil that covered the ark in the most holy place. He set the bread "in order" upon the table before the Lord, and as the Lord had commanded. Setting up the showbread has been mentioned previously in Exodus 25:30, Exodus 35:13, and Exodus 39:36, but the exact order of placing twelve loaves in two piles of six, I don't believe has been described yet, but is detailed in Leviticus 24.
(24) And he put the candlestick in the tabernacle of the congregation, across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. (25) And he lighted the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses put the candlestand in the tabernacle across from the showbread table, on the south side of the tabernacle. He lit the seven lights before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him to do.
(26) And he put the golden altar in the tabernacle of the congregation in front of the veil; (27) And he burned sweet incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses placed the golden incense altar in the tabernacle in front of the veil enclosing the ark. It appears to have been set in the middle between the table of showbread on the north side and the candlestand on the south side. Moses then burned sweet incense on the golden incense altar, just as the Lord had instructed him to do.
(28) And he hung up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.
Moses then hung up the curtain at the door of the tabernacle, separating the sanctuary from the courtyard.
(29) And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle and appears to have immediately offered upon the altar a burnt offering and a meat offering, as the Lord had commanded him.
(30) And he set the laver between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and put water there for washing. (31) And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet there. (32) When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses set the laver, or wash basin, between the tabernacle and the altar and put water in it. Moses, Aaron, and his sons all washed their hands and feet from it. Whenever they went into the tabernacle and whenever they came near the altar, they washed, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, pointed out that the phrase "as the Lord commanded Moses" was "near twenty times expressed in this and the preceding chapter, to show that everything was done by the workmen, and everything put in its proper place by Moses, exactly according to the will of God; no one pursuing his own fancy and private judgment, but all consulting the mind of God, and acting according to that."
(33) And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
Moses raised up the courtyard hangings all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the curtain of the court gate, and that finished the raising of the tabernacle.
(34) Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (35) And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
I assume this cloud was the same pillar of cloud that went before the Israelites as they came out of Egypt, but now expanded to cover the tabernacle. This showed the people the Lord's approval of their work and was a sign that He was with them. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Scripture doesn't tell exactly how this was manifested, but it may have been some extreme brightness that was unbearable to the eyes because Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle because of the cloud and the glory.
(36) And 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 was not taken up, then they did not journey till 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.
When the Lord in the pillar of cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites moved onward in their travels. When the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they camped until which time it rose and led them forward again. Just as the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night led and comforted and protected the people early on in their travels, it again preserved and guided them. The pillar of cloud continued to guide them, but when it and the people stopped, it came down and expanded to cover the tabernacle. In this way, the Israelites saw that the Lord was with them constantly. It must have been a great comfort and source of protection and strength for the people. Besides being a guide, the cloud may have been a source of shade from the hot sun in the day, and a source of light and heat in the night. Imagine what an awesome and terrifying sight it would have been to other people and wild beasts to see this cloud of fire in the night! This constant daily and nightly appearance was a merciful providence and demonstrative proof of the presence of their Lord with His people.
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