¹⁷ So the tabernacle^(A) was set up on the first day of the first month^(B) in the second year. ¹⁸ When Moses^(C) set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames,^(D) inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. ¹⁹ Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering^(E) over the tent, as the Lord commanded^(F) him.

²⁰ He took the tablets of the covenant law^(G) and placed them in the ark,^(H) attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover^(I) over it. ²¹ Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain^(J) and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded^(K) him.

The Glory of the Lord

³⁴ Then the cloud^(A) covered the tent of meeting, and the glory^(B) of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory^(C) of the Lord filled the tabernacle.^(D)

³⁶ In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;^{(E) 37} but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. ³⁸ So the cloud^(F) of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.