Exodus 40

The sacred tent is set up

₁The LORD said to Moses:

₂Set up my tent on the first day of the year ₃and put the chest with the Ten Commandments behind the inside curtain of the tent. ₄Bring in the table and set on it those things that are made for it. Also bring in the lampstand and attach the lamps to it. ₅Then place the gold altar of incense in front of the sacred chest and hang a curtain at the entrance to the tent. ₆Set the altar for burning sacrifices in front of the entrance to my tent. ₇Put the large bronze bowl between the tent and the altar and fill the bowl with water. ₈Surround the tent and the altar with the wall of curtains and hang the curtain that was made for the entrance.

₉Use the sacred olive oil to dedicate the tent and everything in it to me. ₁₀Do the same thing with the altar for offering sacrifices and its equipment ₁₁and with the bowl and its stand. ₁₂Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent and make them wash themselves. ₁₃Dress Aaron in the priestly clothes, then use the sacred olive oil to ordain him and dedicate him to me as my priest. ₁₄Put the priestly robes on Aaron's sons ₁₅and ordain them in the same way, so they and their descendants will always be my priests.

₁₆Moses followed the LORD's instructions. ₁₇And on the first day of the first month of the second year, the sacred tent was set up. ₁₈The posts, stands, and framework were put in place, ₁₉then the two layers of coverings were hung over them. ₂₀The stones with the Ten Commandments written on them were stored in the sacred chest, the place of mercy was put on top of it, and the carrying poles were attached. ₂₁The chest was brought into the tent and set behind the curtain in the most holy place. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₂₂The table for the sacred bread was put along the north wall of the holy place, ₂₃after which the bread was set on the table. ₂₄The lampstand was put along the south wall, ₂₅then the lamps were attached to it there in the presence of the LORD. ₂₆The gold incense altar was set up in front of the curtain, ₂₇and sweet-smelling incense was burnt on it. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₂₈The curtain was hung at the entrance to the sacred tent. ₂₉Then the altar for offering sacrifices was put in front of the tent, and animal sacrifices and gifts of grain were offered there. ₃₀The large bronze bowl was placed between the altar and the entrance to the tent. It was filled with water, ₃₁then Moses and Aaron, together with Aaron's sons, washed their hands and feet. ₃₂In fact, they washed each time before entering the tent or offering sacrifices at the altar. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

₃₃Finally, Moses had the curtain hung around the courtyard.

The glory of the LORD

₃₄Suddenly the sacred tent was covered by a thick cloud and filled with the glory of the LORD. ₃₅And so, Moses could not enter the tent. ₃₆Whenever the cloud moved from the tent, the people would break camp and follow; ₃₇then they would set up camp and stay there, until it moved again. ₃₈No matter where the people travelled, the LORD was with them. Each day his cloud was over the tent, and each night a fire could be seen in the cloud.