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

²² Moses placed the table^(F) in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain ²³ and set out the bread^(G) on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded^(H) him.

²⁴ He placed the lampstand^(I) in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle ²⁵ and set up the lamps^(J) before the Lord, as the Lord commanded^(K) him.

²⁶ Moses placed the gold altar^(L) in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain ²⁷ and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded^(M) him.

²⁸ Then he put up the curtain^(N) at the entrance to the tabernacle. ²⁹ He set the altar^(O) of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings,^(P) as the Lord commanded^(Q) him.

³⁰ He placed the basin^(R) between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, ³¹ and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash^(S) their hands and feet. ³² They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar,^(T) as the Lord commanded^(U) Moses.

³³ Then Moses set up the courtyard^(V) around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain^(W) at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.

The Glory of the Lord

³⁴ Then the cloud^(X) covered the tent of meeting, and the glory^(Y) 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^(Z) of the Lord filled the tabernacle.^(AA)

³⁶ In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;^{(AB) 37} but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. ³⁸ So the cloud^(AC) 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.

¹² Now King David^(A) was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.

¹⁷ They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it,^(A) and David sacrificed burnt offerings^(B) and fellowship offerings before the Lord.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem^(A)

15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared^(B) a place for the ark of God and pitched^(C) a tent for it.

¹² He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate^(A) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.