How does the cloud guide Israel after the tabernacle is set up?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

After Moses finishes the work, the cloud covers the tabernacle and the Lord’s glory fills it. Israel moves when the cloud moves away and stays when it remains.

Chapter breakdown

The Lord tells Moses to set up the tabernacle of the testimony on the first day of the first month. He must put the ark inside and lower the veil before it. He must bring in the table and place on it what the rite commands, and set the candlestick with its lamps. The gold altar for burning incense is to stand before the ark of the testimony, with the hanging at the tabernacle entrance. The altar of holocaust, or burnt offering, is to stand before that entrance. The laver, or washing basin, is to stand between the altar and the tabernacle and be filled with water. Moses must surround the court with its hangings and provide its entrance hanging.

Moses is to take the oil of unction, or anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle with its vessels so they may be made holy. The command also includes the altar of holocaust and all its vessels, and the laver with its base. He is to consecrate them all with the oil so they may be most holy. Aaron and his sons are to be brought to the door of the tabernacle of the testimony and washed with water. Moses is to clothe them in the holy garments so they may serve the Lord and their anointing may lead to an everlasting priesthood. The account then states that Moses does all the Lord commanded.

The tabernacle is set up on the first day of the first month of the second year. Moses raises it, placing the boards, sockets and bars and setting up the pillars. He spreads the roof over it and puts a cover above, as commanded. He puts the testimony in the ark, inserts bars underneath and places the oracle above. After bringing the ark into the tabernacle, he draws the veil before it to carry out the Lord’s command.

Moses places the table in the tabernacle of the testimony on the north side, outside the veil, and sets the loaves of proposition in order, as commanded. He places the candlestick opposite the table on the south side and arranges the lamps according to the Lord’s instruction. He sets the gold altar under the roof of the testimony, facing the veil, and burns incense of spices on it, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Moses puts the hanging at the entrance of the tabernacle of the testimony. He places the altar of holocaust at the entrance of the testimony and offers the burnt offering and sacrifices on it, as commanded. He sets the laver between the tabernacle of the testimony and the altar and fills it with water. Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons wash their hands and feet when they enter the tabernacle of the covenant and go to the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses. Moses also sets up the court around the tabernacle and altar and draws the hanging across its entrance. All the work is now finished.

The cloud covers the tabernacle of the testimony, and the glory of the Lord fills it. Moses cannot enter the tabernacle of the covenant: the cloud covers everything and the Lord’s majesty shines. Whenever the cloud moves away from the tabernacle, the children of Israel go forward by their troops. When it remains above the tabernacle, they stay in the same place. The cloud of the Lord hangs over the tabernacle by day, and a fire by night, visible to all the children of Israel throughout their stopping places.

The story inside

The chapter begins with instructions and then records Moses carrying them out. It gives an exact date for setting up the tabernacle and names the places of its furnishings. The table stands north of the candlestick, and the washing basin stands between the tabernacle and altar. Washing, the holy garments and anointing belong to the commands for service; the account says Moses does all that is commanded. After the work is finished, the cloud covers the tabernacle and the Lord’s glory fills it. Moses cannot enter while it is covered. The closing verses turn from the completed dwelling to Israel’s movement: departure follows the cloud moving away, while remaining cloud means remaining in place. These are stated events and directions, without an added claim about the cloud’s route from heaven or the number of years covered.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The instructions are carried into action. The commanded first day of the first month appears again in the account of setting up the tabernacle, which adds that it is the second year. The chapter connects a specific command to its execution.
2
The washing basin is linked to service. It is placed between the tabernacle and altar and filled with water. Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons wash their hands and feet when entering the tabernacle and going to the altar.
3
Israel’s movement depends on the cloud. The people advance by their troops when it moves away and stay when it remains. Cloud by day and fire by night are visible to the whole people throughout their stopping places.

Test your recall

What prevents Moses from entering the completed tabernacle, and how does the cloud determine whether Israel moves or stays?

Show answer

The cloud covers the tabernacle and the Lord’s glory fills it, so Moses cannot enter. When the cloud moves away, Israel sets out. When it remains over the tabernacle, the people stay where they are.

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 10500–10527
Exodus Chapter 40 The tabernacle is commanded to be set up and anointed. God filleth it with his majesty. 40:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 40:2. The first month, the first day of the month, thou shalt set up the tabernacle of the testimony, 40:3. And shalt put the ark in it, and shalt let down the veil before it: 40:4. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set upon it the things that are commanded according to the rite. The candlestick shall stand with its lamps, 40:5. And the altar of gold, whereon the incense is burnt before the ark of the testimony. Thou shalt put the hanging in the entry of the tabernacle, 40:6. And before it the altar of holocaust. 40:7. The laver between the altar and the tabernacle, and thou shalt fill it with water. 40:8. And thou shalt encompass the court with hangings, and the entry thereof.
Lines 10529–10544
40:9. And thou shalt take the oil of unction and anoint the tabernacle with its vessels, that they may be sanctified: 40:10. The altar of holocaust and all its vessels: 40:11. The laver with its foot: thou shalt consecrate all with the oil of unction, that they may be most holy. 40:12. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, and having washed them with water, 40:13. Thou shalt put on them the holy vestments, that they may minister to me, and that the unction of them may prosper to an everlasting priesthood. 40:14. And Moses did all that the Lord had commanded.
Lines 10546–10559
40:15. So in the first month of the second year, the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. 40:16. And Moses reared it up, and placed the boards and the sockets and the bars, and set up the pillars, 40:17. And spread the roof over the tabernacle, putting over it a cover, as the Lord had commanded. 40:18. And he put the testimony in the ark, thrusting bars underneath, and the oracle above. 40:19. And when he had brought the ark into the tabernacle, he drew the veil before it to fulfil the commandment of the Lord.
Lines 10561–10577
40:20. And he set the table in the tabernacle of the testimony, at the north side, without the veil, 40:21. Setting there in order the loaves of proposition, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:22. He set the candlestick also in the tabernacle of the testimony, over against the table on the south side, 40:23. Placing the lamps in order, according to the precept of the Lord. 40:24. He set also the altar of gold under the roof of the testimony, over against the veil, 40:25. And burnt upon it the incense of spices, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Lines 10579–10596
40:26. And he put also the hanging in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony, 40:27. And the altar of holocaust in the entry of the testimony, offering the holocaust, and the sacrifices upon it, as the Lord had commanded. 40:28. And he set the laver between the tabernacle of the testimony and the altar, filling it with water. 40:29. And Moses and Aaron, and his sons, washed their hands and feet, 40:30. When they went into the tabernacle of the covenant, and went to the altar, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:31. He set up also the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, drawing the hanging in the entry thereof. After all things were perfected,
Lines 10598–10612
40:32. The cloud covered the tabernacle of the testimony, and the glory of the Lord filled it. 40:33. Neither could Moses go into the tabernacle of the covenant, the cloud covering all things, and the majesty of the Lord shining, for the cloud had covered all. 40:34. If at any time the cloud removed from the tabernacle, the children of Israel went forward by their troops: 40:35. If it hung over, they remained in the same place. 40:36. For the cloud of the Lord hung over the tabernacle by day, and a fire by night, in the sight of all the children of Israel throughout all their mansions.