And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
Moses took the tabernacle - not the tabernacle of which a pattern had been given him, for it was not yet erected, but a simpler one-perhaps his own tent, conspicuous as that of the leader-in a part of which he heard causes and communed with God about the people's interests. Its appropriation for sacred purposes was highly expedient, or rather indispensably necessary, for it cannot be supposed that the people would be left without the means or opportunity of access to God for the space of a year.
In this provisional or interim tabernacle-where it will be observed no sacrifices were offered-Moses discharged his mediatory functions, consulting Yahweh on behalf of those who applied for divine counsel or tokens of divine favour, and receiving revelations of the divine will. Hence, it received the significant name of 'tabernacle of the congregation' (see the note at Exodus 27:21), which was retained even after the change of its position relative to Israel. Its existence among them was a great privilege, though probably little regarded by multitudes, as is the case with privileges generally whose value is not known, or at least duly appreciated, until they are in danger of being irrecoverably lost; and accordingly the withdrawal of this tabernacle in abhorrence from a polluted camp produced intense alarm, as it was regarded as the first step in the total abandonment with which God had threatened them.