| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, |
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| 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. |
The tabernacle – Was not a church edifice or a place of worship for Israel. R3053:3
Only the tribe of Levi were permitted in the Court. R3053:6
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| 3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the veil. |
Put therein the ark – It represented the eternal purpose of God for mankind in The Christ, Head and Body. T121
With the vail – The passing of the second veil represented the death of the human body. T21
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| 4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. |
Bring in the table – Representing the Church as a whole, holding forth the word of life. T115
The candlestick – Representing the entire Church, the true light-bearers. T116
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| 5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. |
The altar of gold – The Golden altar in the Holy represents the Church in the sacrificing condition. T120
The spiritual privileges, praises, prayers and communion which we have with the Lord R3054:2
Hanging of the door – Symbol of the death of the human will. T21
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| 6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. |
Set the altar – Representing Christ's ransom sacrifice. T22
Representing primarily the perfection of the man Christ Jesus. R3053:6
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| 7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. |
Set the laver – Aaron had to be washed in order fitly to represent the purity of Jesus. T29
Symbolizing the putting away of filthy practices --lying, stealing, slander, envy, back-biting, etc. R1543:6, R3054:2
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| 8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. |
Set up the court – Representing the condition of justification. T19; R3053:6
Representing the justified condition. In proportion as those in the Court advance toward the Holy, in that proportion they draw nigh to God and experience a measure of justification or harmony with God, leading to complete justification. R4745:3
In the present time the Court represents the condition of divine favor of all who, exercising faith in God, are approaching nearer and nearer to him. R4922:5, R5418:3
We might also understand that the Levites in the Court very fittingly represent all those who desire to turn from sin and approach God, making progress toward complete justification. R4878:1
While the Court condition seems to represent at the present time all those who are approaching God, it appears as though with the close of this age the Great Company is represented by the Court condition thereafter. R4878:4
Only the Levites will be in the Court. In its last analysis, the Court represents the spirit-begotten ones separated from the world. R4745:6
The Israelites in general were not permitted within even the outermost of the Tabernacle enclosures, the Court. R3053:6
Hanging at the court gate – "I am the way," "I am the door." There is only one way of access to God. T18
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| 9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. |
The anointing oil – Typifying the holy Spirit. T29, T37, T116; D650; R5654:5
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| 10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. |
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| 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. |
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| 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. |
And his sons – As the priests must be Levites, so those who would be of the Royal Priesthood must have been justified believers. R3054:1
Door of the tabernacle – Consecration, full and complete. R3054:2
And wash them – Aaron had to be washed in order fitly to represent the purity of Jesus. T29
Symbolizing the putting away of filthy practices --lying, stealing, slander, envy, back-biting, etc. R1543:6, R3054:2
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| 13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. |
The holy garments – Symbolizing the heavenly grandeur, honors and glories of Messiah during his reign. OV127:5
Clad in his robes of glory, the High Priest represented Messiah blessing mankind. PD36/47
And anoint him – The anointing came upon Aaron only at first; but upon each of his sons as they succeeded him to the office of chief priest. F131; Q689:3
The High Priest was anointed with oil, which constituted the divine evidence of his call to the priestly office. SM598:2
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| 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: |
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| 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. |
Shalt anoint them – The anointing came upon Aaron only at first; but upon each of his sons as they succeeded him to the office of chief priest. F131; Q689:3
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| 16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. |
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| 17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. |
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| 18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. |
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| 19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. |
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| 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: |
The mercy seat – The mercy seat, glory-light and cherubim together represented Jehovah God. T123
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| 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses. |
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| 22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the veil. |
He put the table – Representing the Church as a whole, holding forth the word of life. T115
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| 23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. |
The bread in order – Representing the truth, the word of life. T22, T115
Spiritual food. R5418:5, R5621:6
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| 24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. |
Put the candlestick – Representing the entire Church, the true light-bearers. T116
Representing the light of God's truth. R5621:6, R5418:5
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| 25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. |
Lighted the lamps – Symbolizing the enlightenment of the holy Spirit. R3054:4
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| 26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the veil: |
Before the vail – And not in the Most Holy, as Heb. 9:4, where there is either a slis. Q702:3
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| 27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses. |
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| 28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. |
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| 29 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses. |
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| 30 And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. |
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| 31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: |
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| 32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. |
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| 33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. |
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| 34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. |
Then a cloud – A manifestation of God's protecting care over them as his people. R4028:3, R4029:5
Covered the tent – Teaching that God should be the center of all ambition and activity, spirituality and veneration first, in the center of our affections. R4028:3, R4029:6
Glory of the LORD – The enlightenment of the holy Spirit has been with us, an ever present help and guide. R4029:6
Filled the tabernacle – Showing God's approval of the Tabernacle. R1237:4
When we were begotten of the holy Spirit and God took up his abode with us, the glory of the Lord filled us. R4029:6
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| 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. |
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| 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: |
When the cloud – If all brethren look to the Lord for guidance, then all are ready for his leading, whether to move or to stay. R4098:6
Whoever comes into harmony with the divine arrangement will be brought into touch with all others who are in fellowship with the Father and his glorious plan. R4028:5
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| 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. |
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| 38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. |
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