Bible Notes Online - Exodus 39 - ESV
Commentary

The Tabernacle was made first, and then the garments for the priests; we must first emphasize God, and only then how we can approach Him.

v1: The garments were made as the Lord commanded; a reminder that we may only approach God on His terms.

v2-7: The Ephod was made, 28.5-14.

v6-7: The stones were signs of God's choice and approval; of grace and not of works, see v14, Hag 2.23.

v8-21: The breastplate was made, 28.15-30. The ephod and breastplate were joined; Christ' s love for us, and His authority over us are to be held together; we should not overemphasize one above the other.

v22-31: The other priestly garments, 28.31-43.

v32-43: The completed Tabernacle was brought to Moses for inspection and approval. Moses was clearly God's representative, and so the Tabernacle was brought to him and set up.

Moses was not anointed with oil, nor was an animal sacrifice made for him. He drew near to where God was (20.21), he alone could come near (24.2), and he told the people what God had said (24.3), he prayed boldly in God's presence for the people (32.30-32), and his face shone (34.29); yet even Moses could not enter the Tabernacle when the glory of the Lord filled it (40.35). In Matt 11.27, we read that no one knows the Father except the Son; in these things, therefore, Moses pictures Jesus Christ.

Moses inspected the tabernacle. From the previous section (v 8-31), this was thorough and comprehensive. All was found to be in order. In the same way, the apostle John writes of the ‘inspection’ of Christ in 1 John 1.1; "which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands."