| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, |
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| 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. |
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 thou shalt screen 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 upon it; and thou shalt bring in the lampstand, 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 golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen 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 burnt-offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. |
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 meeting 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 screen of the gate of the court. |
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 sanctify it, and all the furniture 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 burnt-offering, and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar shall be most holy. |
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| 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and its base, and sanctify it. |
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| 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tent of meeting, and shalt 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 thou shalt 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 put coats upon them; |
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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: and their anointing shall be to them for 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 Jehovah 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 laid its sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up its pillars. |
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| 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it, as Jehovah 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 screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as Jehovah commanded Moses. |
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| 22 And he put the table in the tent of meeting, 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 Jehovah; as Jehovah 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 lampstand in the tent of meeting, 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 Jehovah; as Jehovah 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 meeting 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 thereon incense of sweet spices; as Jehovah commanded Moses. |
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| 28 And he put the screen of the door to the tabernacle. |
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| 29 And he set the altar of burnt-offering at the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the meal-offering; as Jehovah commanded Moses. |
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| 30 And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water therein, wherewith to wash. |
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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 meeting, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as Jehovah commanded Moses. |
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| 33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. |
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| 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah 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 meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Jehovah 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, throughout 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 was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. |
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| 38 For the cloud of Jehovah was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. |
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