The Tabernacle Is Set Up

¹⁶Moses did everything exactly as the LORD commanded him. ¹⁷On the 1st day of the 1st month of the 2nd year, the tabernacle was set up. ¹⁸Moses raised the tabernacle by laying its bases, setting up its frames, inserting its crossbars, and raising its pillars. ¹⁹He spread the tent covering over the tabernacle and placed the outer roof on top of it, just as the LORD had commanded him. ²⁰He took the testimony and placed it inside the ark, attached the staves to the ark, and set the mercy seat on top of the ark. ²¹He brought the ark into the tabernacle, set up the veil of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony, as the LORD commanded Moses. ²²He placed the table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil. ²³He arranged the bread on it in the LORD's presence, just as the LORD had commanded him. ²⁴He placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. ²⁵He lit the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him. ²⁶He placed the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting in front of the veil. ²⁷He burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded him. ²⁸He hung the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. ²⁹He set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and offered burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, just as the LORD had commanded him. ³⁰He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and filled it with water for washing. ³¹Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons washed their hands and feet there. ³²Whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, they washed — just as the LORD had commanded Moses. ³³He set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung the curtain at the courtyard gate. And with that, Moses finished the work. ³⁴Then a cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁵Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁶Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would break camp and move on. ³⁷But if the cloud didn't lift, they stayed put until the day it did. ³⁸For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, visible to all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.