Exodus 40:16-38

The Voice

¹⁶ Moses did exactly as the Eternal One instructed him.

¹⁷ The congregation tent was erected on the first day of the first month of the second year after the exodus from Egypt. ¹⁸ Moses raised it. He began by laying down the bases, installing the frame panels, attaching the crossbars, and erecting the posts. ¹⁹ He covered the frame of the tent with the tent fabric and then covered that with other layers they made. He did this exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him.

²⁰ He then placed the stone tablets—as a witness to their agreement—inside the covenant chest. He slid the poles through the rings on the chest and covered the chest with the seat of mercy, where sins are atoned. ²¹ He carried the covenant chest into the congregation tent and hung the veil to screen it from sight exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. ²² He then placed the table on the northern end of the sanctuary of the congregation tent outside of the veil. ²³ He arranged the bread on the table before the Eternal exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. ²⁴ He took the lampstand into the sanctuary of the congregation tent and set it up on the southern end, directly opposite the table. ²⁵ He lit the lamps before the Eternal One, exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. ²⁶ He put the golden altar in front of the veil within the sanctuary ²⁷ and burned fragrant incense on it, exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. ²⁸ He hung the screen at the entrance of the congregation tent. ²⁹ He put the altar for burnt offering in front of the entrance to the sanctuary of the congregation tent, inside the courtyard. He offered burnt offerings and grain offerings on it exactly as the Eternal One had instructed him. ^30-31 He put the basin between the sanctuary and the altar for burnt offerings and filled it with water so Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons could wash their hands and feet and cleanse themselves. ³² When they went into the congregation tent and when they came near the altar, they washed themselves exactly as the Eternal One had instructed Moses. ³³ Moses then raised the posts and panels that enclosed the courtyard around the congregation tent and altar. He put up the screen at the court entrance. Moses completed the work.

³⁴ At that moment, a cloud blanketed the congregation tent, and the glory of the Eternal filled the sanctuary. ³⁵ Moses could not even go into the congregation tent because the cloud had enveloped it, and the glory of the Eternal filled the sanctuary. ³⁶ Through all their wanderings in the desert, whenever the cloud lifted up from the congregation tent, the Israelites would break camp and set out. ³⁷ But when the cloud covered the tent, they remained where they were and did not set out until once again the cloud lifted. ³⁸ Through all their wanderings, the cloud of the Eternal stood over the congregation tent during the day and at night fire was lit for all the community of Israel to see.