Pekudei

When Moses had finished the work, the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

Exodus 40:33 – 35

The degree of God’s presence on earth varies… (Here) God’s Presence assumed an additional dimension, so awesome that even Moses could not enter the Tabernacle…such manifestation was very brief. Israel now had proof that its former status had been restored.

Moshe Alshich.

After the tent of meeting was erected and Moses, who had been responsible for its construction, was about to enter, we are shocked to read that “Moses was not able to enter the tent of Meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” Even Moses, who first encountered God in a thorn-bush and often spoke to Him “face to face,” had to remember that beautiful and imposing edifices do not automatically guarantee that the encounter with God would take place therein…

Pinchas Peli

Why, then, once the Tabernacle is completed, is Moses forbidden to enter it? Why does the “cloud,” the physical manifestation of God’s Presence, fill the Tabernacle so as to make it impossible for Moses (or any human) to enter?...Maybe it is time for Moses to begin to fade into the background of Israel’s history and to let the people assume the power and responsibility for their own destiny. If Moses were to enter the Tabernacle, he himself might become deified in the eyes of the people, a people that has depended on him as a child depends on a parent…

Leila Berner

The final chapter of Parshat Pekudei tells of Moses assembling the Mishkan…Once all the pieces are together, the parsha concludes with a description of these events “The gloud covered the Tabernacle and God’s glory filled the Tabernacle.” In parshat Mishpatim, a similar description appears in the context of Moses’ ascent to Mount Sinai: "And Moses ascended the mountain and a cloud covered the mountain, and the glory of God dwelled upon Mount Sinai..." (24:15- 16)

Thus, “Tabernacle” replaces 'the mountain' and, correspondingly, 'the Tabernacle' replaces 'Mount Sinai.' The reason is simple. The essence of Mount Sinai is one and the same with that of the Tabernacle: they both serve as a medium whereby Israel can 'encounter' the essence of God.

Menachem Leibtag

Clearly, the Torah intentionally parallels, thereby associating, the descent of the Shechina onto Mt. Sinai with the dwelling of the Shechina on the Tabernacle. . Only after Israel meticulously completes the construction of the Tabernacle - precisely 'as God commanded Moses' - does the Shechina return to Israel and dwell therein (Exodus 40:34), just as it had dwelled on Mt. Sinai. Thus, the end of the book of Exodus marks the completion of the "tikun" for Golden Calf. Accordingly, as Ramban posits, the entire 'redemption process' - the theme of Exodus - has also reached its culmination.