John Calvin Commentary Exodus 40:2

"On the first day of the first month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting." — Exodus 40:2 (ASV)

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 elsewhere³⁹⁴ been shown by sound arguments, as I think, that it was pitched without the camp as a 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 when³⁹⁵ it was brought back from its unusual location to its proper place. For then it was both anointed and honored by sacred oblations, while 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, or rather, had been removed from the people so they could not enjoy that pledge of God’s presence, its solemn dedication is justly celebrated after the renewal of the covenant.

This passage also confirms what I have said elsewhere,³⁹⁶ 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: You shall set up (He says) the tabernacle, namely, the tabernacle of convention. Now Moses himself had already stated that this name had been given to it by the mouth of God. He repeats, however, the same injunctions, not because He distrusted the memory of His servant, but so that it might be more fully apparent that He Himself was the sole Author of the whole work, and also that it might obtain more reverence, since He had so often deigned to give instructions concerning things of very great importance.

³⁹⁴ See ante..

³⁹⁵ “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..

³⁹⁶ See ante..