And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
Don't wait to be settled before you worship God. A tabernacle in the wilderness is more needful than a palace later; our carcases may fall here, and we may be fixed in another world before we come to fix in this. Moses obeyed every particular in the order God appointed, repeating his obedience seven times over: not adding, not diminishing, not varying in the least punctilio.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 40:16-33
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation,.... The outside of it; this cloud was the same with the pillar of cloud that went before the Israelites, as soon almost as they came out of Egypt; and led them through the Red sea, and conducted them to Mount Sinai; only it now appeared in a different form, not erect as a pillar, but more...
The altar stood at distance from the tabernacle entrance, not close to it, with the laver between them to the side so the priests could wash without passing near the altar. The court was enclosed last, after everything was set in place. Notably, the sacrificial service began before these things were anointed, following naturally from the text itself.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 40:29-33