He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark.
When the tabernacle and the furniture of it were prepared, they did not put off the rearing of it till they came to Canaan, though they now hoped to be there very shortly; but, in obedience to the will of God, they set it up in the midst of their camp, while they were in the wilderness.
Commenting on Exodus 40:16-33
And he put the table in the tent of the congregation,.... In the holy place; for there the shewbread table, which is here meant, was put: upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail; on the north side of the tabernacle, at a little distance from the walls, which were the curtains and boards, even in the holy place on the outside of...
And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: (f) That is, the tables of the law; .