“And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first
day of the month, that the Tabernacle was erected…Then the cloud
covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of God filled the Tabernacle.
And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud
abode thereon, and the glory of God filled the Tabernacle.”
Bible studies with Don Isaac Abravanel’s commentary (also spelled Abarbanel) has withstood the test of
time. For over five centuries, Abravanel has delighted – and enlightened – clergy and layman alike,
offering enduring interpretations of the Bible.
Don Isaac Abravanel (1437-1508) was a seminal Jewish thinker, scholar, and prolific Biblical
commentator. Chapter 40 concludes the book of Exodus, a chapter dedicated to the execution of God’s
commandment to the Hebrews to build for Him a house. When finished, “the cloud covered the Tent of
Meeting and the glory of God filled the Tabernacle.”
A “cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of God filled the Tabernacle…” Quite extraordinary –
to understate. How are Bible students supposed to understand these divine props (“the cloud and glory
of God”) Abravanel asks? See Abravanel’s World for the full treatment of this intriguing essay.
For our purposes here, however, we focus on Abravanel’s explanation of the last verse cited above:
“And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud abode thereon…”
Here is the context, according to Abravanel. After the Hebrews sinned with the golden calf, Moses
showed his displeasure by setting up his tent outside of the Jewish encampment. Furthermore, the
prophet brought the holy ark with him. Ensconced within the ark were the ten commandments etched
in stone tablets.
However now, when the Tabernacle was complete, Moses removed the holy ark from his tent and
placed it in the holy of holies. At that juncture, God’s sanctuary assumed its new name: The Tent of
Meeting. Going forward, Divine communications with the prophet would emanate from the holy of
holies, specifically from the ark’s covering consisting of two cherubs.
“And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory
of God filled the Tabernacle.” According to Abravanel, the verse acknowledges and confers great
prestige upon the Tabernacle. That is, the Creator’s earthly haunt bespoke divine glory and rapture, that
even the greatest of all prophets, Moses, was barred from entry. Initially, that is.
Here’s the caveat. Moses would be able to enter the holy of holies when the Maker called him, thereby
granting the prophet permission and authorization, as per the upcoming verse. “And God called unto
Moses, and spoke unto him out of the Tent of Meeting saying…” From that juncture onward, Moses was
allowed free access to the planet’s holiest place, as we learn from Numbers 9:8.
