John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle , etc.] Not on the very exact day on which it was first reared up, for that was on the first day of the first month of the second year from the coming up of Israel out of Egypt, ( Exodus 40:17); whereas the following offerings of the princes were not offered, and many other things previous to them, recorded in the preceding chapters, were not done, until after the first day of the second month of that year, ( Numbers 1:1); though the Jews say the first of Nisan, or of the first month, was the first for various things, and the first on which the princes offered; but no one particular day can be intended, because the princes were twelve days successively offering their offerings; wherefore “the day” here only denotes the time about which it was when this service was performed; when the tabernacle was not only set up, but “fully” set up, when everything relating to it was in its proper place and order; when not only it was put together, and all the vessels and instruments of it in their due place, but also when the people of Israel, for whose sake it was erected, that the Lord God might dwell among them, were numbered, and their camps formed and pitched around the tabernacle; and the Levites were taken and numbered also, who were to serve at it, and their place and service were appointed unto them about it; for then, and not till then, was the service of it completed, and its proper place and situation fixed and settled: and had anointed it ; with the holy oil Moses was directed to make and anoint it with, ( Exodus 30:23-28 Leviticus 8:10); and sanctified it : set it apart for holy use and service, to be an habitation for God, and the place of his worship: and all the instruments thereof ; the ark, table, candlestick, etc. both the altars, and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them , and sanctified them ; the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering, and all appertaining: thereunto; according to Ben Gersom, this finishing of the whole was at the end of the seven days of consecration of Aaron and his sons, ( Exodus 29:35).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The offering of the princes to the service of the tabernacle was no made till it was fully set up. Necessary observances must always tak place of free-will offerings. The more any are advanced, the greate opportunity they have of serving God and their generation. No soone was the tabernacle set up, than provision is made for the removal of it. Even when but just settled in the world, we must be preparing for changes and removes, especially for the great change.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 ביום3117 כלות3615 משׁה4872 להקים6965 את853 המשׁכן4908 וימשׁח4886 אתו853 ויקדשׁ6942 אתו853 ואת853 כל3605 כליו3627 ואת853 המזבח4196 ואת853 כל3605 כליו3627 וימשׁחם4886 ויקדשׁ6942 אתם׃853
