Exodus 40:1–16

SETTING UP THE TABERNACLE

40The Lord spoke to Moses: ²“You are to set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month.^{Bc 3}Put the ark^d of the testimony there and screen off the ark with the curtain. ⁴Then bring in the table and lay out its arrangement; also bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. ⁵Place the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony. Put up the screen for the entrance to the tabernacle. ⁶Position the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. ⁷Place the basin^e between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. ⁸Assemble the surrounding courtyard and hang the screen for the gate of the courtyard.

⁹“Take the anointing oil and anoint^f the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it along with all its furnishings so that it will be holy. ¹⁰Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar so that it will be especially holy. ¹¹Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate it.

¹²“Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water.^{g 13}Clothe Aaron with the holy garments,^h anoint him, and consecrate him, so that he can serve me as a priest. ¹⁴Have his sons come forward and clothe them in tunics. ¹⁵Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve me as priests. Their anointing will serve to inaugurate a permanent priesthood for them throughout their generations.”ⁱ

¹⁶Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him.