The tabernacle - The tent. The only word in the Old Testament which ought to be rendered “tabernacle” משׁכן mı̂shkān does not occur once in this narrative Exodus 26:1. What is here meant is a tent appointed for this temporary purpose by Moses, possibly that in which he was accustomed to dwell.
Pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp - That the people might feel that they had forfeited the divine presence (see Exodus 25:8). This tent was to be a place for meeting with Yahweh, like the tabernacle which was about to be constructed.
The tent of meeting (as it should be called, see Exodus 27:21 note, and note at end of Exodus 40) was placed “afar off from the camp,” and the mediator and his faithful servant Joshua were alone admitted to it Exodus 33:11.