Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIIII.
1. Moses is called up into the mountaine. 3. The people promise obedience. 4, Moses buildeth an Altar, and twelve pillars. 6, Hee sprinkleth the blood of the covenant. 9. Moses and the Elders of Israel see God. 12. Moses is to goe up the mount, for the the Tables. 14, Aaron and Hur have the charge of the people. 16, The glory of the Lord on mount Si…a…, like devouring fire. 18, Moses in the cloud and mountaine, fortie daies and fortie might.
AND he said unto Moses, Come up unto Iehovah, thou and Aaron, Nadab & Abihu, and seventy of the Elders of Israel: and bow down your selves afarre off. And Moses himselfe alone shall come neere unto Iehovah; but they shal not come neere: and the people they shall not come up with him. And Moses came and told the people all the words of Iehovah, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said; All the words which Iehovah hath spoken, wee will doe. And Moses wrote all the words of Iehovah, and rose up earely in the morning, and builded an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent the yong men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings, of bullocks, unto Iehovah. And Moses tooke halfe of the blood, and put it in basons, and halfe of the blood hee sprinkled on the altar. And he tooke the book of the covenant, & read in the eares of the people: and they said, All that Iehovah hath spoken, we will doe, and obey. And Moses tooke the blood, and sprinkled on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant wch Iehovah hath striken with you, concerning all these words. Then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the Elders of Israel. And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a worke of Saphire bricke, and as the body of the heavens for cleernesse. And upon the Nobles of the sons of Israel hee laid not his hand: and they saw God, & did eat & drink. And Iehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and bee there, and I will give thee tables of stone, & a law, and commandement, which I have written, to teach them. And Moses rose up, and his Minister Ioshua: and Moses went up into the mountaine of God. And he said unto the Elders, Sit yee here for us, untill wee returne unto you: and behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; who so hath matters to doe, let him come neere unto them. And Moses went up into the mountaine, and a cloud covered the mountaine. And the glory of Iehovah dwelt upō mount Sinai, & the cloud covered it six dayes: and in the seventh day hee called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of Iehovah was like devouring fire, in the top of the mountaine, in the eyes of the sons of Israel. And Moses went in to the mids of the cloud, and went up into the mountaine, and Moses was in the mountaine forty dayes, and fortie nights.
Annotations.
ABihu] in Greeke Abioud: he and Nadab, were Aarons eldest sonnes, Exod. 28. 1 who were afterward, devoured with a fire from the Lord, Levit. 10. 1. 2. seventie] This number was answerable to the 70. soules of Israel that came into Egypt, Deut. 10. 22. and to the 70. that afterward were made the Senate of the commonwealth of Israel, Numb. 11. 16. 17. bow downe] the Gt, translateth, they shall bow downe to (or worship) the Lord afarre off. This though it were a speciall favour to the Elders, and served for confirmation of the things spoken by Moses; yet signified it the impotency of the Law, which kept men afar off, and could not bring them neere unto the Lord, nor unite them unto him, as the Gospell of Christ doth by faith, Heb. 10. 19. 22. and 12. 18.—22. &c.
Vers. 2. with him] with Moses: not with the Elders; therefore the Greeke translateth, with them. For the people abode beneath, at the foot of the mount: the Elders went up as it were halfe way: and saw part of Gods glory, vers. 9. 10. but Moses himselfe went up to the top of the mount, into the darke cloud, v. 18. For the Law was to bee given by the hand (or ministerie) of a mediatour, Gal. 3. 19.
Ver. 3. will doe] the Greeke addeth, and heare, (or obey) as is expressed in v. 7. Thus the covenant between God and Israel, was established by mutuall and willing consent: albeit they yet knew not the impossibilitie of the Law, which is weak through the flesh, Rom. 8. 3. So in Exod. 19. 8.
Vers. 4. wrote] in a booke, Heb. 9. 19. for the stonie tables were written by the finger of God him-selfe, Exod. 31. 18. an altar] which represented God, the first and chiefe party in the covenant. pillars] or, statues; the Gr. translateth them stones: and pillars were wont to be of stones erected, Gen. 28. 18. 22. and 31. 45. and 35. 14. according to] or, for the twelve tribes; that is, to represent them, (the other party in the Covenant) and their hard stony nature: as the tables of stone, signified their stony hearts, 2 Cor. 3. 3. 14. See Exod. 31. 1….
Vers. 5. the yong men] that is, the first borne (as the Chaldee translateth) which were priests or sacrificers, untill the Levites (taken in stead of the first-borne of Israel, Numb. 3. 41.) had the priesthood in their tribe. And the Hebrew word doth not alwaies signifie men yong in yeers, but fit for service or ministerie to their elders: so Iesus the servant of Moses, and other such servants, are often called yong men, Exod. 33. 11. Gen. 14. 24. & 22. 3. 2 Sam. 18. 15. 1 King. 20. 14. of peace-offerings] Gr. of salvation. By these two sorts of sacrifices, (whereof see Lev. 1. and 3. chap.) the sanctification of the people was testified, who by the death of Christ (whom these sacrifices did figure out) presented themselves wholly to God, as obedient servants; and shewed thankfulnesse for the peace and salvation, which through him they had obtained, Rom. 12. 1. 2. Heb. 13. 15. See also the notes on Exod. 19. 10. bullocks] and other beasts; as the Apostle testifieth, of bullocks, and of goats, Heb. 9. 19. but the one is here named as principall.
Vers. 6. on the altar] and so on the booke, Heb. 9. 19 which as it seemeth, was laid on the altar, to bee sanctified thereby.
Vers. 7. and obey] or, heare hearken unto: that is, g…y learne and obey: See the notes on Exodus 4. 31.
Vers. 8. on the people] which may be meant of the twelve pillars set up to represent the people, vers. 4. Howbeit the Chaldee paraphrase saith, he sprinkled it on the Altar, to make propitiation for the people. Thus the first covenant (or testament) was not dedicated without blood, (as the Apostle observeth in Heb. 9. 18.—23.) and the patternes of heavenly things were purified by the blood of these sacrifices: signifying that Christ by his death should sanctifie himselfe for his people, and them unto himselfe, by the blood of a better testament, Iohn 17. 19. Heb. 9. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 2. And whereas the sprinkling and purifying in the Law, was usually done with water, scarlet, wooll, and hyssope, Levit. 14. 6. 7. the Apostle telleth us, that this here was so done, though Moses nameth them not, Heb. 9. 19. behold, &c.] the Apostle explaineth it thus, This is the blood of the Covenant (or of the Testament,) which God hath commanded unto you, Heb. 9. 20. Thus the Sacrament of the old Testament, confirmed by the blood of beasts, had a resemblance unto the New Testament established upon better promises, and confirmed by the blood of Christ. But that was for workes of the Law: this is for remission of sins, Mat. 26. 28. Heb. 9. 15.
Vers. 10. the God] that is, signes of the glory and presence of the God of Israel. For, never man saw God, neither can see him, 1 Tim. 6. 16. Therefore the Chaldee expounds it, The glory of the God of Israel; and the Greeke translateth, they saw the place where the God of Israel stood. of Saphire bricke] Hebrew, bricke of Saphire: whereby is meant, Saphire stone, hewed like bricke, wherewith the place under him was paved. So also the Greeke translateth it. Or, it may be Englished of whitenesse of Saphire, that is, of white Saphire stone: for bricke …ath the name in Heb. of whitenesse. The Chaldee translateth, under the throne of his glory, was, as … were a worke of precious stone. The Saphire is also mentioned in Ezekiels vision of Gods Throne and glorie, Ezekiel 1. 26. It is a very precious trans…atent stone, of the colour of the skie: see Ex…s 28. 19. The worke of bricke, might call them … remember their bricke worke in Egypt, Exodus 1. 14. and 5. 16. 19. from which bondage, God now had brought them, to labour in the heavenly worke of his Law, and the mysteries of …he same, whereby the throne of his glory should be erected among them, and his Church (which …s as the footstoole of the Lord, Lam. 2. 1.) should have the foundations laid with Saphires, Esay. 54. …1. and such should be the polishing of the Saints, Lamentations 4. 7. the body] the Greeke …nd Chaldee translate, the sight (or semblance) of heaven. And this cleere heavenly appearance …id see forth the favour of God towards them … keepe his Covenant: as on the contrary, a darke or cloudy Heaven, is a signe of Gods displeasure, Ieremy 4. 23. 28. Zeph. 1. 15. It signified also the cleannesse & puritie, that should be in the people of God. for clearnesse] or, in puritie.
Vers. 11. the Nobles] or the select; or chosen men, as the Greeke translateth; meaning those Elders spoken of in verse 9. laid not his hand] that is, hurt or affrighted them not: because they went up by the leave and Word of God, not of their owne temeritie, which was before forbidden, Exodus 19. 21. So the laying of the hand often signifieth, Nehemiah 13. 21. Psal. 55. 21. so the Chaldee translateth, they had not hurt; and the Greeke, not one of them was dismayed (or killed.) did eate, &c.] The Chaldee paraphraseth, they saw the glory of God, and rejoyced in their sacrifices which were accepted; as if they had eaten and drunke. So other of the Hebrewes (as in Elle shemoth rabbah) say, they fed their eyes with the brightnesse of the Majestie (of God.) Christ promising felicitie to his Disciples, sayth they should eate and drinke at his table in his kingdome, Luk. 22. 30.
Verse 12. bee there] that is, continue there. So 1 Tim. 4. 15 in these things be thou: that is, continue and give thy selfe unto them. So in Ruth 1. 2. Esay 66. 2. Psalme 64. 8. commandement] in Greeke commandements. But Moses often useth this word sigularly, though he speaketh of the Law in generall. So the Apostle also, 2 Peter 2. 21. and 3. 2. to teach] to instruct, or confirme in the Law. To this word the Apostle (following the Gr. version) hath reference, when he saith, the Israelites had the giving of the Law, Rom. 9. 4. and the people received (or were taught) the Law, Heb. 7. 11. and the covenant established (or taught) upon better promises, Heb. 8. 6. So that the word implieth a full information and constitution of them & their common wealth by the Law. Herein the Iewes did glorie, Rom. 2. 17. 18.
Vers. 13. Ioshua] in Greek, Iesus: see Exod. 17. 9. of God] that is, as the Chaldee translateth, on which the glorie of God was revealed. See v. 16.
Vers. 14. Sit] that is, Abide, or Tary, as the Chaldee translateth: the Greeke saith, be quiet. Hur] of him see Exod. 17. 10. hath matters to doe] or, hath words to speake: that is, hath any question or controversie. So the Gr. and Chaldee translate it Iudgment or controversie. The Hebr. phrase is, who so is a master of words, (or of matters.)
Vers. 15. a cloud] the signe of Gods presence; though with terror and obscuritie, 2 Chron. 6. 1. Heb. 12. 18. See also Exod. 19. 9.
Verse 16. dwelt] the Greeke expoundeth it, came downe upon the mount. six daies] to prepare Moses for to receive the Lawes; as before he had done the people three daies, Ex. 19. 10. 11. In six daies God made the world, and the seventh he rested, Gen. 2. the same number is here at the giving of the Law; wherein God shewed as great wisdome, as in the making of the world, Psal. 19.
Vers. 17. devouring] or, consuming fire, in Greek, flaming fire: this was for a terror to the transgressors of his Law, Deut. 4. 24. and hee is no lesse fearfull under the Gospell, Heb, 12. 28. 29.
Vers. 18. fortie dayes] during which time he did n…ther eat bread, nor drinke water, Deuter. 9. 9. The like number of daies Elias fasted, 1 King. 19. 8. and Christ when hee was to enter upon the ministery of the Gospell, Matt. 4. 2.