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Exodus 40:20,21
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: …

Exodus 25:10,22
And they shall make an arkof shittim wood: two cubits and a halfshall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof…

Exodus 26:31,33,34
And thou shalt make a vailof blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: …

and screen off the ark with the veil
The "veil" was a curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place within the Tabernacle. This veil was made of fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully woven into it (Exodus 26:31-33). The veil served as a barrier, signifying the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. Only the high priest could pass beyond the veil, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). This separation highlights the holiness of God and the need for atonement. In the New Testament, the tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Christ's death (Matthew 27:51) symbolizes the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, granting believers direct access to God through Jesus Christ, our High Priest.

“Put the ark of the Testimony in it” (Exodus 40:3).

• God directs Moses to place the Ark, the physical chest that holds “the Testimony”—the stone tablets of the covenant—inside the newly erected Tabernacle (Exodus 25:16;Deuteronomy 10:1-2).

• The Ark sits at the heart of Israel’s worship because it represents God’s throne on earth; above it, between the cherubim, the LORD promises to meet with His people (Exodus 25:22).

• By positioning the Ark first, the LORD emphasizes that a relationship with Him is anchored in His revealed Word and covenant faithfulness (Psalm 132:8;Hebrews 9:4).

• The instruction is concrete and historical, showing that God’s presence is not abstract but tangibly centered in the covenant community.

“and screen off the ark” (Exodus 40:3).

• After placement, the Ark must be separated from ordinary view.Exodus 26:33 previously specified that the veil “will divide for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.”

• This screening highlights God’s holiness. Only the high priest may approach the Ark, and only once a year, underscoring the serious gap sin creates between humanity and a holy God (Leviticus 16:2;Hebrews 9:7).

• The barrier also serves to protect Israel: unmediated exposure to God’s glory could bring judgment (1 Samuel 6:19).

• Yet, even while veiled, the Ark’s presence anchors every act of worship in the sanctuary, reminding the people that true life flows from God’s holy presence just beyond the curtain (Numbers 7:89;Psalm 80:1).

“with the veil” (Exodus 40:3).

• The veil is a richly embroidered curtain hung on four golden pillars (Exodus 26:31-32). Its fabric imagery of cherubim visually recalls Eden, signaling that re-entry to God’s immediate presence remains guarded (Genesis 3:24).

• The veil serves as both boundary and promise. While it limits access, it also anticipates a future opening when perfect atonement is made. That hope is fulfilled when “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” at Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:51;Hebrews 10:19-20).

• For believers, the torn veil means that through Christ’s blood, we now “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22), experiencing the fellowship the Ark long foreshadowed.

Exodus 40:3 records God’s precise, literal directions to Moses: place the Ark at the center of the Tabernacle and shield it with the veil. The command underscores three truths: God dwells among His people on the basis of His covenant Word; His holiness requires a protective separation; and the veil, while barring entry, points forward to the day when Christ would open the way into God’s presence for all who believe.