| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, |
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| 2 On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, shalt thou set 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 in it the ark of the testimony, and shalt 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 its lamps. |
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 the incense before the ark of the testimony; and hang up the curtain of the entrance 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 entrance 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 in it. |
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 fix the court round about, and hang up the curtain at 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 in it, and shalt hallow it, and all its utensils; 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 utensils; and thou shalt hallow the altar, and the altar shall be most holy. |
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| 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and its stand, and hallow it. |
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| 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons near, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and bathe 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 clothe Aaron with the holy garments, and anoint him, and hallow him, that he may serve me as priest. |
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 near, and clothe them with vests. |
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| 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall be to them 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 And Moses did so: as Jehovah had 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 of the month, that the tabernacle was set up. |
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| 18 And Moses set up the tabernacle, and put in its bases, and fixed its boards, and put in its bars, and set up its pillars. |
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| 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above over it; as Jehovah had commanded Moses. |
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| 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and put the staves in the ark, and put the mercy-seat above on 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 hung up the veil of separation, and covered the ark of the testimony; as Jehovah had commanded Moses. |
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| 22 And he put the table in the tent of meeting, on the side of the tabernacle 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 arranged the bread in order upon it before Jehovah; as Jehovah 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 meeting, opposite to 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 had 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 on it fragrant incense; as Jehovah had commanded Moses. |
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| 28 And he hung up the curtain of the entrance to the tabernacle. |
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| 29 And he put the altar of burnt-offering at the entrance to the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt-offering and the oblation; as Jehovah had commanded Moses. |
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| 30 And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing. |
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| 31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet out of it: |
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| 32 when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they drew near to the altar, they washed; as Jehovah had commanded Moses. |
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| 33 And he set up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the curtain of the gate of the court. And so Moses finished the work. |
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| 34 And 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 could not enter into the tent of meeting, for the cloud abode on it, 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 journeyed 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 And if the cloud were not taken up, then they did not journey until the day that it was taken up. |
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| 38 For the cloud of Jehovah was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. |
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