“On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.”
Month of the second year, ver. 15. The first day of every month was kept with some degree of solemnity, though it was not a day of rest. (Numbers xxxiii. 11.; 1 Kings xx. 5.; &c.) (Calmet)
“And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.”
Priesthood. Hebrew, “And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may serve me in the priest’s office: (14) and thou shalt bring his sons, and put on them their tunics; (15) and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may perform the office of priests to me for ever, in their generations.” As the priesthood was hereditary in Aaron’s family, this first unction might suffice for all. Yet, the new high priests were always anointed till the days of our Saviour, chap xxix. 7.
“And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.”
Cover of purple, goat skins, &c.
“And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.”
Testimony, or tables of the law. The pagans enclosed various symbolical figures, cakes, &c., in their mystic arks. (St. Clement of Alexandria) But how different were they from the sacred records of religion! (Calmet)
“And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.”
Roof, covering both the holy of holies and the sanctuary. (Menochius)
“And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.”
Laver. This is a repetition of ver. 7, (Calmet) shewing that the command was fulfilled. (Haydock)
“When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Glory. The cloud which had rested over the tent, appointed for prayer, came now to the grand tabernacle, in the midst of the camp. (Calmet) — By its superior lustre, it signified that the glory of God was there. (St. Augustine, q. 173.)
“And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.”
Moses, out of respect, abstained from entering that day. (Calmet) — The cloud of legal observances, though designed to prefigure Christ and the gospel, seems however to hinder the Jews from recognizing them. (St. Augustine) (Tirinus)
“And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: went onward: Heb. journeyed”
A fire. The same cloud overshadowed the camp by day, and enlightened it by night. (Chaldean; Chap. xiii. 22.)