What does Exodus 40:22 mean?
"¶ And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail." - Exodus 40:22

Exodus 40: 22 KJV:
"And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail."
The book of Exodus is the second book of the Old Testament and it describes the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land. The verse comes from the last chapter of the book, which describes the completion and consecration of the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary where God would dwell among his people during their wandering in the wilderness.
In this verse, the focus is on the placement of the table in the tent of the congregation. The table being referred to is the "table of shewbread" which was a specially designed furniture piece in the tabernacle. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold, and it held twelve loaves of bread, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. The table was to be placed on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the inner veil or curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies).
The placement of the table is significant as it implies a specific direction in relation to the tabernacle. The north side was seen as the side of darkness and cold, so the positioning of the table may symbolize bringing light and warmth to this side. This could be seen as a metaphor for righteousness and purity being brought to places of darkness and sin, as the table and the bread upon it represented the provision and sustenance of God for His people.
Furthermore, the table, being placed outside the vail, also signifies accessibility. The presence of the table of shewbread in the tabernacle symbolized the welcome and availability of God's provision and fellowship with His people. It reflects God's desire to commune with His people and to provide for their needs, both physically and spiritually.
In a broader context, the entire tabernacle itself is a symbol of God's dwelling among His people. It foreshadows the coming of Christ, who would be the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity. The tabernacle and its furnishings, including the table of shewbread, also serve as types and shadows of spiritual realities. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the tabernacle as a "shadow of heavenly things" (Hebrews 8:5), indicating that it prefigures the spiritual realities found in Christ.
The themes in this verse include the accessibility of God to His people, the provision and sustenance provided by God, and the symbolic representation of Christ as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity. It also reinforces the concept of God's presence among His people, as the tabernacle was a physical representation of His dwelling place.
In sum, Exodus 40:22, in its placement of the table in the tabernacle, serves as a powerful image of God's provision, accessibility, and presence among His people. It also points to the ultimate fulfillment of these concepts in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This verse stands as a reminder of God's desire to be in relationship with His people and to provide for their needs, both physical and spiritual.
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Exodus 40:22 Artwork
Exodus 40:22 - "¶ And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail."
"¶ And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail." - Exodus 40:22
Exodus 40: 34
Exodus 40:9
Isaiah 40: 22
Isaiah 40: 22
Exodus 40:1 - "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Exodus 40:28 - "¶ And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle."
Exodus 25:31-40 This is an oil lampstand.
Exodus 40:11 - "And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it."
Matthew 22:40 - "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Exodus 40:25 - "And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses."
Exodus 40:26 - "¶ And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:"
Exodus 40:34 - "¶ Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."
Exodus 40:31 - "And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:"
Exodus 40:14 - "And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:"
Exodus 40:27 - "And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses."
Exodus 40:3 - "And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail."
Exodus 40:37 - "But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up."
Genesis 40:22 - "But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them."
Exodus 25:40 - "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount."
Numbers 22:40 - "And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him."
Exodus 40:24 - "¶ And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward."
Exodus 40:16 - "Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he."
Exodus 40:30 - "¶ And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal."
Exodus 40:6 - "And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation."
Exodus 12:40 - "¶ Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years."
Exodus 40:23 - "And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses."
Exodus 40:2 - "On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation."
Job 40:22 - "The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about."