God's Glory Fills the Tabernacle

God spoke to Moses and told him to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month. The ark was to go inside behind the veil. The table, lampstand, incense altar, burnt offering altar, basin, and court were all to be set in place. Moses was also to anoint the tabernacle and its furnishings so they would be holy.

God also told Moses to bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. They were to be washed with water. Aaron was to be clothed in the holy garments and anointed, and his sons were to be clothed and anointed too, so they could serve as priests. Moses did what Yahweh commanded him.

In the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, Moses raised up the tabernacle. He set its sockets, boards, bars, pillars, tent, and roof in place. He put the covenant into the ark, set the poles on it, placed the mercy seat above it, and brought the ark into the tabernacle behind the veil.

Then Moses arranged the rest. He put the table in place and set the bread in order on it. He placed the lampstand and lit its lamps. He set the golden altar before the veil and burned incense on it. At the entrance he put the altar of burnt offering and offered the burnt offering and the meal offering. He set the basin with water between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed there. Then Moses finished the work.

Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and Yahweh's glory filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud stayed on it and God's glory filled it. From then on, the cloud showed Israel when to travel. When it was taken up, they went onward. When it stayed, they remained where they were. By day the cloud was on the tabernacle, and by night fire was in the cloud for all Israel to see.