2 On the first day of the first month you are to put up the House of the Tent of meeting. 3 And inside it put the ark of the law, hanging the veil before it. 4 And put the table inside, placing all the things on it in order; and put in the support for the lights, and let its lights be burning. 5 And put the gold altar for burning perfumes in front of the ark of the law, hanging the curtain over the doorway of the House. 6 And put the altar of burned offerings before the doorway of the House of the Tent of meeting. 7 And let the washing-vessel, with water in it, be put between the Tent of meeting and the altar. 8 And put up the hangings forming the open space all round it, with the curtain over its doorway. 9 And take the holy oil and put it on the House and everything in it, and make it and everything in it holy: 10 And put oil on the altar of burned offering, and make it and all its vessels holy; this altar is to be most holy. 11 And put oil on the washing-vessel and its base, and make them holy. 12 Then let Aaron and his sons come to the door of the Tent of meeting; and after washing them with water, 13 You are to put on Aaron the holy robes; and you are to put oil on him, and make him holy, so that he may be my priest.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 40:2-13
Commentary on Exodus 40:1-15
(Read Exodus 40:1-15)
When a new year begins, we should seek to serve God better than the year before. In half a year the tabernacle was completed. When the hearts of numbers are earnest in a good cause, much may be done in a short time; and when the commandments of God are continually attended to, as the rule of working, all will be done well. The high-priesthood was in the family of Aaron till Christ came, and in Him, the substance of all these shadows, it continues for ever.