Westminster Annotations, Exodus · Chapter 40
CHAP. XL.
Vers. 2. THe first day] Of the first monethmonth, and the second yeare after their departure out of Egypt, vers. 17. after that Moses had beene fourtie dayes, and fourtie nights in the Mount, he came down and caused this worke to be done; which being finished, was set up in the monethmonth called Abib, which containeth part of March, and part of Aprill.
Tabernacle of the tent] See Annot. on vers. 6.
of the Congregation] Or meeting of the Priests and Levites, and people, according to the degrees of their approaches: for the High-priests had admittance where other▪ Priests had not; and the Priests in respect of place, had a preeminence above the Levites, and they above the people who assembled in the Court of the Tabernacle; yet so as that they were all accounted as one assemblie: that is, where God (by his especiall presence) met with his assembled servants. See Annot. on Chap. 29. 42, 43.
V. 4. set in order upon it] Which (every week) were to be renewed, and set in order. See Annot. on Chap. 25. 30.
V. 5. hanging] This hanging, or vaile, was betwixt the Sanctuary and the Court.
V. 6. Tabernacle of the tent] When the name Tabernacle and Tent are thus set down, (though they be so farre the same, that ye may call the Tent a Tabernacle, and the Tabernacle a Tent) the one may be taken for the curious piece of worke, which was so richly and so gloriously framed; the other for the covering that was upon it, vers. 10. to preserve it, as a type of Gods providence, and protection of his Church, Isa. 4. 6. See vers. 19.
V. 9. anoynt the Tabernacle] See Levit. 8. 10.
V. 10. the Altar] See Levit. 8. 11.
most holy] Heb. holinesse of holinesses.
V. 15. everlasting] So that their children succeeding should not need to be anointed againe, but approved in their office successively, by vertue of the first unction: and though onelyonly the High-priest were particularly anointed in his personall succession; yet the Priesthood may be called everlasting in that sense, that other Leviticall ordinances are said to last for ever. See Annot. on Exod. 12. 14.
V. 17. * Tabernacle] * Num. 7. 1.
second yeare] That is, after they came out of Egypt, Num. 7. 1. so that they continued in the wildernesse a whole yeare almost before this Tabernacle was set up, and it was set up seven moneths after Moses came with his directions for it, from the Mount: for he came downe thence the twenty eighth day of the fifth monethmonth after their departure out of Egypt, from whence to the first day of the first monethmonth of the second yeare are seven moneths, which (with the five moneths before) make up a whole yeare, with which ends the story of the Booke of Exodus.
V. 20. Testimony] See Annot. on Exod. 16. 34.
V. 21. Vaile of the covering] See Annot. on Chap. 35. 12.
V. 22. Table] That is, the Table of the shew-bread.
V. 23. in order] See Annot. on Chap. 25. vers. 30.
V. 27. he burnt sweet incense thereon] Moses for the present did that, which when the Tabernacle was finished, and the worship of it established in a settled course, belonged to the Priest.
V. 28. doore of] That is, between the Sanctuary and the Court.
V. 29. as the Lord commanded] At the 19. verse.
V. 32. they washed] Exod. 30. 20, 21.
as the Lord commanded] These words in this Chapter are repeated many times, as vers. 19. 23. 25. 27. 29. 32. to note what warrant Moses had for this curious worke, and how punctuall he was in performance of Gods command; and in the exact repetition of so many particulars, he sheweth that his historie is composed not for delight, but for truths sake, since these particulars have no allurement in them, to make a wise man willing so often either by his Pen to write them, or to read them, as they are written; being many of them, (saving for Gods command) matters of little moment.
V. 34. then a cloud] The pillar of the cloud, which was before upon the former Tabernacle, now (by a new miracle) removed to the new Tabernacle; so did the pillar of fire, shining with greater glory then before.
V. 35. not able] By reason of an astonishing reverence: and it may be also, the brightnesse of the glory might be some impediment to his sight, for a time; this was extraordinary; for if it had beene usuall, it would have hindered the holy ministration in that place.
V. 36. * went] Heb. journeyed. * Num. 9. 17. 23.
V. 38. * For the cloud] Thus the presence of God preserved and guided them, untill they came to the promised Land. * Numb. 9. 15, 16.
fire was on it] That was over it, so as to give light, not to cause any burning: and while the cloud stayed, the people stirred not; when it removed, they removed also, and went that way whereto it guided them. Thus is the Book of Exodus at an end (See Annot. on vers. 17.) in the yeare of the world, 2484. and of Moses his age, 81.