What is the meaning of Exodus 40:23? He – “He” points to Moses, the covenant mediator whom God had chosen and equipped for tabernacle ministry (Exodus 40:16, Numbers 12:7). – His personal involvement shows spiritual leadership: God’s instructions were not delegated away; they were embraced in hands-on obedience. – Cross references encourage us to see the same pattern in later leaders: Joshua followed “all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded” (Joshua 1:7), and King Josiah “walked in all the way of David his father” (2 Kings 22:2). Arranged the bread – The bread is the “Bread of the Presence” (Leviticus 24:5-9)—twelve loaves, one for each tribe, symbolizing continuous fellowship with God. – Arrangement mattered: the loaves were set in two rows (Leviticus 24:6), underscoring order, care, and completeness. – When David later ate this bread in need (1 Samuel 21:6), the account highlighted God’s provision for His people—a theme Jesus deepened when He declared, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). On it – “It” is the table of acacia wood overlaid with gold (Exodus 25:23-30), placed on the north side of the Holy Place (Exodus 40:22). – The fixed location kept Israel mindful that access to God comes on His terms, not ours (Hebrews 9:2). – Gold plates, pitchers, and bowls accompanied the table, showing that even daily provision is holy when presented to the Lord. Before the LORD – The phrase signals living, covenant nearness: the bread sat continually “before the LORD” (Exodus 25:30). – God’s presence turned an ordinary meal into a perpetual testimony of His desire to dwell among His people (Exodus 29:45, Psalm 16:11, Revelation 21:3). – For worshipers, this meant every tribe—rich or poor, near or far—was represented in God’s house each day. Just as the LORD had commanded him – Obedience is the refrain of Exodus 40 (vv. 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32). Blessing follows when God’s word is taken seriously (Deuteronomy 11:1, John 14:15). – Moses did not innovate or improvise; he replicated the heavenly pattern (Hebrews 8:5). – The verse therefore models wholehearted submission: a life oriented to God’s revealed will, not human preference. summary Exodus 40:23 captures a simple act that carries rich meaning: Moses personally, carefully, and exactly placed the Bread of the Presence on the golden table inside the tabernacle. In doing so he affirmed God’s continual fellowship with all Israel, honored the holiness of everyday provision, and demonstrated that blessing flows where obedience to God’s clear commands is embraced without reservation. |
    |