| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Then spake Yahweh, unto Moses, saying– |
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| 2 On the first day of the month, in the first month, shalt thou rear the habitation, 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 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 what is to be arranged thereupon,–and thou shalt bring in the lampstand, and mount 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 place the altar of gold, for incense, before the ark of the testimony,–and put up the screen for the opening of the habitation; |
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 place the altar for the ascending-sacrifice,–before the opening of the habitation 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 place the laver between the tent of meeting, and the altar,–and shalt put, therein, water, |
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 put 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 oil of anointing, and anoint the habitation, and all that is therein,–and shalt hallow it, and all the furniture thereof, so shall it 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 ascending sacrifice, and all its utensils,–and hallow the altar, so shall the altar, be most holy: |
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| 11 and thou shalt anoint the laver, and its stand,–and shalt hallow it. |
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| 12 And thou shalt bring near Aaron, and his sons, unto the opening of the tent of meeting,–and shalt bathe them in the 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 clothe Aaron with the holy garments,–and shalt anoint, him and hallow him, so shall he minister as priest unto me. |
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 His sons also, shalt thou bring near,–and shalt clothe them with tunics; |
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| 15 and shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, and they shall minister as priests unto me,–so shall their anointing remain to them, for an age-abiding priesthood, to 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 And Moses did,–according to all that Yahweh had commanded him, so, did he. |
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| 17 Thus came it to pass, in the first month, in the second year, on the first of the month, that the habitation was reared. |
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| 18 Yea Moses reared the habitation, and placed its sockets, and fixed its boards, and fastened its bars,–and reared its pillars. |
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| 19 Then spread he abroad the tent upon the habitation, and put the covering of the tent upon it, above,–As Yahweh commanded Moses. |
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| 20 And he took and placed the testimony, within the ark, and put the staves upon the ark,–and placed the propitiatory upon the ark, above; |
The mercy seat – The mercy seat, glory-light and cherubim together represented Jehovah God. T123
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| 21 and brought in the ark into the habitation, and put up the screening, veil, and screened over the ark of the testimony,–As Yahweh commanded Moses. |
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| 22 And he placed the table, in the tent of meeting,–on the side of the habitation northward,–outside 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 set in order thereupon the arrangement of bread, before Yahweh,–As Yahweh 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 habitation, 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 mounted the lamps, before Yahweh,–As Yahweh commanded Moses. |
Lighted the lamps – Symbolizing the enlightenment of the holy Spirit. R3054:4
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| 26 And he put the altar of gold, 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 burned thereupon the fragrant incense,–As Yahweh commanded Moses. |
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| 28 And he put up the screen of the entrance pertaining to the habitation; |
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| 29 and, the altar of ascending-sacrifice, put he at the entrance of the habitation of the tent of meeting,–and he caused to ascend thereupon, the ascending-sacrifice, and the meal-offering,–As Yahweh commanded Moses. |
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| 30 And he put the laver, between the tent of meeting, and the altar,–and put therein water, for bathing; |
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| 31 and Moses, and Aaron, and his sons, thenceforth bathed thereat,–their hands and their feet; |
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| 32 when they were entering into the tent of meeting, and when they were drawing near unto the altar, then used they to bathe,–As Yahweh commanded Moses. |
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| 33 And he reared the court, round about, to the habitation and to the altar, and put up the screen of the gate of the court,–and Moses finished the work. |
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| 34 Then did the cloud cover the tent of meeting,–and, the glory of Yahweh, filled the habitation; |
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 had made its habitation thereupon,–and, the glory of Yahweh, filled the habitation. |
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| 36 And, whensoever the cloud ascended from off the habitation, then did the sons of Israel set forward,–in all their journeyings; |
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 did not ascend, then did they not set forward–until the day when it did ascend. |
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| 38 For, the cloud of Yahweh, was upon the habitation, by day, and, a fire, came to be, by night, therein,–in the sight of all the house of Israel, in all their journeyings. |
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