¹⁶ Moses did just as the Lord had commanded him. ¹⁷ On the first day of the first month of the second year the tabernacle was set up. ¹⁸ It was Moses who set up the tabernacle. He placed its pedestals, set up its frames, put in its bars, and set up its columns. ¹⁹ He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering on top of the tent, as the Lord had commanded him. ^20 (A)He took the covenant and put it in the ark; he placed poles alongside the ark and set the cover upon it. ²¹ He brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the curtain veil, thus screening off the ark of the covenant, as the Lord had commanded him.

God’s Presence in the Tabernacle. ^34 (A)Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ Moses could not enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁶ Whenever the cloud rose from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on their journey. ³⁷ But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward; only when it lifted did they go forward. ³⁸ The cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire in the cloud at night, in the sight of the whole house of Israel in all the stages of their journey.