Exodus 40

Exodus 40:2

THe first day] Of the first moneth, 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 moneth 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.

Exodus 40:4

set in order upon it] Which (every week) were to be renewed, and set in order. See Annot. on Chap. 25. 30.

Exodus 40:5

hanging] This hanging, or vaile, was betwixt the Sanctuary and the Court.

Exodus 40:6

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, Isaiah 4:6. See vers. 19.

Exodus 40:9

anoynt the Tabernacle] See Leviticus 8:10.

Exodus 40:10

the Altar] See Leviticus 8:11.

most holy] Heb. holinesse of holinesses.

Exodus 40:15

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 onely 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 Exodus 12:14.

Exodus 40:17

• Tabernacle] * Numbers 7:1.

second yeare] That is, after they came out of Egypt, Numbers 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 moneth after their departure out of Egypt, from whence to the first day of the first moneth 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.

Exodus 40:20

prove you] That is, to trie you, or discover you; how we ake, how wicked, or well affected you are: whether you will obey his precepts, as you promised, or no: which probation or triall, is not for satisfaction to God, who knoweth man even to his thoughts, his thoughts afarre off, Psalms 139:2. but to himselfe, and to others, for conviction, and correction when they did amisse.

that his feare] In the beginning of the verse, the people were forbidden to feare, and here they are required to feare: so here is a two-fold feare; the one a servile, or slavish feare, which stareth perplexedly at the apprehension of danger: the other, a filiall and awfull feare, composed of reverence and love: of the former, he saith, feare not; and of the latter, these words, That ye may feare, are understood.

that ye sinne not] Matthew 10:28. Genesis 20:11. Albeit we should so obey God for pure love, that we should be obseouious unto him, though our disobedience were not dangerous to our selves; yet there must be a bridle from sinne, and a spurre unto vertue, as well as beneficence a baite to obedience, Isaiah 1:19-20.

Exodus 40:21

thick darknesse,] Exodus 19:16. 18. 1 Kings 8:12.

Exodus 40:22

• from heaven] Not from the highest heaven, but from the place where then he made demonstration of his especiall presence, which was upon the top of Sinai; or above that in the aire, which is sometimes called heaven: as Genesis 1:20. Job 35:11. Psalms 79:2. Jeremiah 7:33. Deuteronomy 4:36. Nehemiah 9:13.

Exodus 40:23

with me] That is, to be served together with me.

to you] That is, to be served by you; or to expect protection, or deliverance to your selves, by serving of them.

Ye shall not make] See Annot. on vers. 4. God repeats again, his prohibition of Idolatry; wherein he discovereth his owne detestation of it, and mans disposition to commit it.

Exodus 40:24

• in all places where I record] Where he fixeth his solemne worship, for the memoriall and honour of his Name; as on Altars of earth, here of stone, vers. 25. Deuteronomy 27:5. Joshua 8:31. of brasse, Exodus 38:2. 2 Chron. 4. 1. in the wildernesse, in Canaan, in the Tabernacle or Temple; yet by divine instinct, and dispensation, sacrifice was sometimes offered up, in other places; as in Mispa, 1 Samuel 7:9. and in Ramah, vers. 17. and else-where. Deuteronomy 12:5.

Exodus 40:25

• lift up thy toole] He meaneth this of such accidentall, and uncertaine Altars, as were made in severall places, upon severall occasions; afterwards when there was a certaine place of worship it was ordained otherwise, Chap. 27. 1, &c. & 38. 1, 2. Deuteronomy 27:5. Joshua 8:31.

thou hast polluted it] Curiositie in Gods service against his command, is not an ornament, but a desilement: so the flourishes of Rhetorick, when they are brought in, as a necessary garnish to the word of God to make it gracefull (as if it were of none operation, or worthy of no acceptation with them) are but as a garland of weeds, neither gracefull to the sight nor sent. See 1 Corinthians 1:17. & 12. vers. 4.

Exodus 40:26

Not goe up by steps] This was for a time onely; for afterwards there was an Altar made, not onely of the height of three cubits, Exodus 27:1. but ten cubits high, 2 Chron. 4. 1. with staires, Ezekiel 43:17. yet it is thought by some, the going up unto it was not by steps, or staires, but by a continued ascent raised so high, from the lowest place neare unto it, without any degrees marked out proportionably, one above another.

nakednesse be not] Which might be, by the stooping of his body and flying abroad of his cloathes: for men wore garments open below, against which inconvenience when Altars were set higher, linen breeches were prescribed, Exodus 28:42-43.

Exodus 40:27

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.

Exodus 40:28

doore of] That is, between the Sanctuary and the Court.

Exodus 40:29

as the Lord commanded] At the 19. verse.

Exodus 40:32

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.

Exodus 40:34

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.

Exodus 40:35

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.

Exodus 40:36

• went] Heb. journeyed. * Numbers 9:17. 23.

Exodus 40:38

• For the cloud] Thus the presence of God preserved and guided them, untill they came to the promised Land. * Numbers 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.