שמות, פרק מ׳, פסוק ה׳

Setting up the sacred space required careful positioning of its inner components, bringing the divine blueprint to life. The placement of the holy vessels in their exact designated locations marks a central stage in the construction of the Tabernacle, reflecting the precise execution of the commands God had given earlier [קאסוטו].

Among these vessels was the golden altar. Although it stood in the outer chamber alongside the table and the menorah, it was positioned to align directly with the Ark of the Testimony, which rested further inside the Holy of Holies [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While this altar was specifically designed for incense, there was no immediate instruction to actually burn the incense. At this stage, the altar was not fully sanctified for its ultimate purpose, as its readiness depended on the completion of the lighting of the menorah. Therefore, the altar was merely set in place as a preparation for its future role [העמק דבר].

Following the placement of the inner vessels, attention shifted to the entrance of the main sanctuary building standing within the courtyard. A curtain was hung to cover this doorway [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The specific instruction given for setting up this particular screen implies a need for careful attention, indicating that special care was required to ensure this entrance remained open [העמק דבר].