Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 40

2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the [illegible: 1+ letters]nt of the congregation.

To wit, Of the second year after their coming out of Egypt, as is evident.

4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it , and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.

The vessels belonging to it, and the shew-bread, E[illegible: 1+ letters]od. 25. 29, 30.

Marginal references: chap. 26. 35.; Heb. the order [illegible: 1+ letters]hereof.

6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burntoffering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

(i. e.) The Tabernacle which is covered with a Tent. See Exod. 35. 11. Though elsewhere the words, Tabernacle and Tent are promiscuously used.

15 And thous shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priests office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priest-hood , throughout their generations.

(i. e.) A sign or seal that their Priesthood shall continue as long as their policy lasts, till the coming of the Messias. He signifies that this unction should be sufficient for all succeeding Priests, they should not need to be anointed again, except the successive High-priests. See Exod. 29. 7, 29. Levit. 4. 3. and 16. 32. and 21. 10.

17 And it came to pass in the first month, in the second year , on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

After their coming out of Egypt▪ Numb. 7. 1.

27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses .

This is wisely and seasonably added, because this was a work peculiar to the Priest, and not to be done by Moses without Gods express command.

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 burntoffering, and the meat-offering ; as the LORD commanded Moses.

For the consecration of the Altar, this being the first sacrifice.

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

(i. e.) The glorious presence of God, which having been forfeited and lost, was now returned to them and took its habitation among them.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1+ letters]ev. 16. 2. Numb. 9. 15. 1 King. 8. 10. Isa. 6. 4. Rev. 15. 8.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Partly because of the extraordinary thickness and brightness of the Cloud, which both dazzled his eyes and struck him with horrour, as 1 King. 8. 11. and partly because of his great reverence and dread of that eminent and glorious appearance of God, and partly because he was not called to it, as he was not able to go up into the mount till he was called, Exod. 24. 16.

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.

The same pillar which in the day time was like a cloud in the night time had the appearance of fire. See Exod. 13. 21.