On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

On the first day of the first month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.

The first month, the first day of the month, thou shalt set up the tabernacle of the testimony,

On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.

'On the first day of the month, in the first month, thou dost raise up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting,

On the first day of the first month you are to put up the House of the Tent of meeting.

"In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall raise the tabernacle of the testimony,

Die mensis primi, prima ejusdem, eriges tabernaculum, tabernaculum conventionis.

On the first day of the first month I cannot at all approve of the opinion of those commentators who think that the tabernacle was only now set up. That it was already complete in all its parts before Moses went the second time into the Mount, we infer from the fact that the ark was then prepared in which the tables were deposited, as we shall see from the context. Besides, it has elsewhere [1] been shewn by sound arguments, as I think, that it was pitched without the camp in token of divorce, from the time that the people had made the calf. What, then, is the meaning of the setting-up which is now spoken of? I reply, that it is said to have been set up, when [2] it was brought back from its strange to its proper place. For then it was both anointed and honored by sacred oblations, whilst Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the performance of the priestly office. Since, therefore, it had not yet been duly placed in the middle of the camp, nay, rather had been removed from the people lest they should enjoy that pledge of God's presence, its solemn dcdication is justly celebrated after the renewal of the covenant. This passage also confirms what I have said elsewhere, [3] that this was the tabernacle which Moses pitched at a distance from the camp; for, by the addition of its title, he speaks as of something well known, "Thou shalt set up (He says) the tabernacle, viz., the tabernacle of convention." Now Moses himself had already stated that this name had been given it by the mouth of God. He repeats, however, the same injunctions, not that He distrusted the memory of His servant, but that it might be more fully apparent that He was Himself the sole Author of the whole work, and also that it nlight obtain more reverence, since He had so often deigned to give initructions as concerning things of very great importance.

Footnotes

1 - See [60]ante.

2 - "Lors qu'il a este assis en son droit lieu, et legitime, assavoir au milieu du peuple duquel il avoit este comme estranger;" when it was fixed in its right and legitimate place, that is to say, in the midst of the people, to whom it had been, as it were, a stranger. -- Fr.

3 - See [61]ante.

See Exodus 40:17.

The first day of the first month - It Is generally supposed that the Israelites began the work of the tabernacle about the sixth month after they had left Egypt; and as the work was finished about the end of the first year of their exodus, (for it was set up the first day of the second year), that therefore they had spent about six months in making it: so that the tabernacle was erected one year all but fifteen days after they had left Egypt. Such a building, with such a profusion of curious and costly workmanship, was never got up in so short a time. But it was the work of the Lord, and the people did service as unto the Lord; for the people had a mind to work.

On the (a) first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
(a) After that Moses had been 40 days and 40 nights in the mountain, that is, from the beginning of August to the tenth of September, he came down, and caused this work to be done: which when finished, was set up in Abib, half March and half April.

On the first day of the first month,.... Which was the month Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it; which was the month the children of Israel came out of Egypt, out of which they had now been a whole year, excepting fourteen days:
shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation; the tabernacle, which had a tent or covering over it, to which the people were gathered at times for religious service.

THE TABERNACLE REARED AND ANOINTED. (Exodus. 40:1-38)
On the first day of the first month--From a careful consideration of the incidents recorded to have happened after the exodus (Exodus 12:2; Exodus 13:4; Exodus 19:1; Exodus 20:18; Exodus 34:28, &c.), it has been computed that the work of the tabernacle was commenced within six months after that emigration; and consequently, that other six months had been occupied in building it. So long a period spent in preparing the materials of a movable pavilion, it would be difficult to understand, were it not for what we are told of the vast dimensions of the tabernacle, as well as the immense variety of curious and elaborate workmanship which its different articles of furniture required.
the tabernacle--the entire edifice.
the tent--the covering that surmounted it (Exodus 40:19).

The time for doing this is, On the first day of the first month - This wanted but fourteen days of a year since they came out of Egypt. Probably the work was made ready just at the end of the year, so that the appointing this day gave no delay. In Hezekiah's time they began to sanctify the temple on the first day of the first month, 2-Chronicles 29:17. The new moon (which by their computation was the first day of every month) was observed by them with some solemnity; and therefore this first new moon of the year was thus made remarkable.