Exodus 40:10
Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it shall be most holy.
Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils;

Moses was to apply the holy anointing oil to the bronze altar in the Tabernacle court and to every vessel used with it. The altar received Israel’s sacrifices, and its utensils served the daily work of offering, handling ashes, and tending the fire.

Num 7:1 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,…
Lev 8:10 Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle…
Exo 29:36 Sacrifice a bull as a sin offering each day for atonement.…

consecrate the altar,

By this command, the altar was devoted wholly to the LORD and removed from ordinary use. Its service centered on the sacrifices through which God provided atonement for His people.

Lev 8:15 Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood,…
Ezk 43:26 For seven days the priests are to make atonement…
Num 7:84 So these were the offerings from the leaders of Israel…

and it shall be most holy.

The altar bore a uniquely sacred status because it stood at the appointed place of sacrifice before God. Its holiness required Israel to approach God according to His commands and anticipated the final sacrifice of Christ, who secured atonement for His people.

Exo 29:37 For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar…
Lev 2:3 The remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron…
Lev 6:17 It must not be baked with leaven; I have assigned it…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt and to lead them through the wilderness. Moses is the one instructed to anoint and consecrate the altar.

2. Altar of Burnt Offering
A central piece of the Tabernacle, where sacrifices were made to God. It symbolizes atonement and reconciliation with God.

3. Consecration
The act of making something sacred or holy, setting it apart for God's purposes. This is a key theme in the sanctification of the altar.

4. Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the divine presence among the Israelites. It represents God's desire to dwell with His people.

5. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are being led through the wilderness and are learning to worship and obey God according to His commandments.
Teaching Points
Holiness in Worship
The consecration of the altar underscores the importance of approaching God with reverence and purity. Our worship should reflect God's holiness.

Symbolism of Sacrifice
The altar of burnt offering points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Understanding this connection deepens our appreciation for His atoning work.

Anointing and Consecration
Just as the altar was set apart for God's purposes, believers are called to live consecrated lives, dedicated to serving God.

God's Presence Among His People
The Tabernacle and its furnishings, including the altar, symbolize God's desire to dwell with His people. This is fulfilled in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Practical Holiness
The physical act of anointing the altar serves as a reminder of the need for practical holiness in our daily lives, setting apart our actions and thoughts for God's glory.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the consecration of the altar teach us about the nature of worship and sacrifice in the Old Testament?

2. How does the anointing of the altar in Exodus 40:10 foreshadow the work of Christ as our ultimate sacrifice?

3. In what ways can we apply the concept of consecration in our personal lives today?

4. How does the presence of the Tabernacle among the Israelites relate to the New Testament understanding of God dwelling with His people?

5. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure our worship and daily lives reflect the holiness of God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 8:10-11
This passage describes the anointing of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, similar to the consecration of the altar in Exodus 40:10, emphasizing the holiness required in worship.

Hebrews 9:22
This New Testament verse highlights the necessity of blood for purification, connecting the Old Testament sacrificial system to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.

1 Peter 2:5
This verse speaks of believers as a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices, drawing a parallel to the consecration of the altar and the role of believers today.
The Altar Most HolyD. Young Exodus 40:10
The Erection of the TabernacleJ. Urquhart Exodus 40:1-33
The Tabernacle Set UpJ. Orr Exodus 40:1-33
Tabernacle ForeshadowingsW. M. Taylor, D. D.Exodus 40:1-38
The Primary and Universal Obligation to the Worship of JehovahJ. Allport.Exodus 40:1-38
The Setting Up of the Tabernacle on New Year's DayC. P. Eyre, M. A.Exodus 40:1-38
People
Aaron, Israelites, Moses
Places
Sinai
Topics
Altar, Anoint, Anointed, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offering, Consecrate, Hallow, Hast, Holy, Offering, Oil, Sanctified, Sanctify, Utensils, Vessels
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 40:9-11

     4488   oil
     7459   tabernacle, in OT

Exodus 40:9-15

     7304   anointing
     8270   holiness, set apart

Library
July 7. "And the Glory of the Lord Filled the Tabernacle" (Ex. Xl. 35).
"And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex. xl. 35). In the last chapter of Exodus we read all the Lord commanded Moses to do, and that as he fulfilled these commands the glory of the Lord descended and filled the tabernacle till there was no room for Moses, and from that time the pillar of cloud overshadowed them, their guide, their protection. And so we have been building as the Lord Himself commanded, and now the temple is to be handed over to Him to be possessed and filled. He will
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5. And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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