Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 40
CHAP. XL.
1, The Lord commandeth the Tabernacle to be reared. 4 and things to be set in order therein, 8, and the Court to be set about it. 9, The Tabernacle and all the vessells thereof, the Altar and Laver, to bee anointed with oile. 12, Aaron and his sons to be washed, cloathed, anointed, sanctified. 16, Moses obeyeth, and reareth up the Tabernacle, 21, carieth in the Arke, 22, placeth the Table, 24, and the Candlesticke, 26, and the golden Altar, 29, and the brazen Altar, 30, and the Laver, 33, and reare… up the Court 34. A cloud covereth the Tabernacle and Gods glory filleth it. 38. The cloud was on the Tabernacle by day, and fire by night continually.
ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying: In the day of the first monethmonth, in the first of the monethmonth: thou shalt reare-up the Tabernacle, the Tent of the Congregation. And thou shalt put there, the Arke of the Testimony: and cover the Arke with the veile. And thou shalt bring in the Table, and set-in-order the order therof: and thou shalt bring-in the Candlesticke; & cause to ascend, the lamps therof. And thou shalt set, the Altar of gold, for the incense; before the Arke of the testimony: and put the hanging-veile of the doore, to the Tabernacle. And thou shalt set the altar of the burntoffring, before the doore of the Tabernacle of the Tent of the Congregation. And thou shalt set the Laver, between the Tent of the Congregation, and the altar: and shalt put water there. And thou shalt set the Court, round-about: and put the hanging-veile, at the gate of the Court. And thou shalt take the oile of anointing, and anoint the Tabernacle, and all that is therein: and shalt sanctifie it, and all the vessels therof, and it shall be holy. And thou shalt anoynt the Altar of the burnt-offring, and all the vessels thereof: and shalt sanctifie the Altar, and the Altar shall bee Holy of holies. And thou shalt anoynt the Laver, and the foot thereof: and sanctifie it. And thou shalt bring-neere Aaron & his sons, unto the doore of the Tent of the congregation: & wash them, with water. And thou shalt cloth Aarō with the garmēts of holinesse: and shalt anoint him, and sanctifie him, & he shall minister-in-the-priests-office unto me. And thou shalt bring-neere, his sons; and clothe them, with coats. And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father; and they shall minister-in-thepriests-office unto me: and their anoynting, shall bee, to bee unto them, for an eternall priesthood, throughout their generations. And Moses did, according to all that Iehovah commanded him, so did he.
And it was in the first monethmonth, in the second yeere, in the first (day) of the monethmonth: the Tabernacle was reared up. And Moses reared-up the Tabernacle; and set the sockets thereof, and set-up the boards thereof, and put-in the bars thereof: and reared-up the pillars thereof. And hee spread abroad the Tent, over the Tabernacle; and put the covering of the Tent upon it, above: as Iehovah commanded Moses.
And he tooke, and put the Testimony into the Arke, and set the bars on the Arke: and put the Covering-mercy-seat, above, upon the Arke. And he brought the Arke into the Tabernacle: and set up the veile of the covering; and covered the arke of the Testimony: as Iehovah commanded Moses.
And hee put the Table in the Tent of the Congregation; upon the side of the Tabernacle, Northward: without the veil. And he set-in-order upon it, the order of bread, before Iehovah: as Iehovah commanded Moses.
And he put the Candlesticke in the Tent of the congregation; over-against the Table: on the side of the Tabernacle, Southward. And hee caused the lamps to ascend before Iehovah: as Iehovah commanded Moses.
And he put the altar of gold, in the Tent of the congregation: before the veil. And he burned thereon, incense of sweet-spices: as Iehovah commanded Moses.
And hee set-up the hanging-veil of the doore of the Tabernacle. And the altar of the burnt-offring, he put at the doore of the Tabernacle of the Tent of the Congregation: and offred upon it, the burnt-offring, and the meat-offring; as Iehovah commanded Moses.
And he set the Laver, betweene the tent of the Congregation, and the altar: and put water there, to wash. And Moses, and Aaron, and his sonnes, washed thereat, their hands and their feet. When they went into the Tent of the Congregation, and when they came neere unto the altar, they washed: as Iehovah commanded Moses.
And hee reared up the Court; round-about the Tabernacle, and the altar, and set up the hanging veil, at the gate of the Court; and Moses finished the worke.
And the cloud covered the Tent of the Congregation, and the glory of Iehovah, filled the Tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of the congregation: because the cloud dwelt vponupon it: and the glory of Iehovah, filled the Tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken-up, from over the Tabernacle; the sonnes of Israel journeyed in all their journeyes. But if the cloud were not taken-up: then they journeyed not, till the day that it was taken-up. For the cloud of Iehovah was upon the Tabernacle by day; and fire was on it by night: in the eyes of all the house of Israel, in all their journeyes.
Annotations.
IN the day] to wit, the first day: so the Greeke explaines it, In the first day of the first monethmonth, in the new Moone. Among the Iewes, the moneths of the yeere, were the moneths of the Moone: as their yeers were the yeeres of the Sunne: Maimony in treat. of Sanctifying the new Moone, chap. 1. And all new Moones (or first dayes of the Moneths) were solemne feasts unto Israel, Num. 28. 11. 14. Psalm. 81. 3. This (which was the first monethmonth of the second yeere, after their comming out of Aegypt) was solemnized the first day, by the rearing up of the Tabernacle, here described; which being done, the Princes of Israel, brought offrings of wagons and oxen for the service of the Tabernacle; and other offrings for the dedicating of the Altar, which solemnity dured twelve dayes, Num. 7. On the fourteenth day of this monethmonth, the Israelites kept the feast of the Passeover in the wildernesse, Num. 9. 1. 2. 3. The new Moone following, which was on the first day of the second monethmonth, the Israelites were numbred, and their Tents set in order foure-square, round about the Tabemacle, Num. 1. 1. 2. &c. and 2. 2. 3. &c. and all uncleane persons, were put out of the Campe, Numb. 5. 2. 3. 4. On the twentieth day of that monethmonth, the Cloud rethe Tabernacle now reared up, was then taken downe againe, and the Israelites tooke their journeyes out of the wildernesse of Sinai, Num. 10. 11. In the meane space, God by voice out of the most holy of the tabernacle, taught Moses and Israel all those lawes, for sacrificing, cleansing, and other religious duties, wch are written in the whole booke of Leviticus, and the nine first Chapters of Numbbers, Lev. 1. 1. &c. Num. 1. 1. &c. of the Congregation] or, of the meeting: where-God met wth his people, Ex. 25. 22. & 30. 36. Elsewhere it is named the Tent of the testimony (or Tabernacle of witnesse) Num. 9. 15. & 17. 7. 8. so in the new Testament, Act. 7. 44 Rev. 15. 5. because the Tables of Testimony were kept in the Arke therein, Exod. 25. 16. and so the Greeke translateth it in this place.
Ver. 3. cover the Arke,] that is, hide it from the eyes of men, by hanging the veile before it: which parted the most holy place from the holy. Hereupon it is called the covering veile, Numb. 4. 5. The mystery of this veile is noted on Ex. 26. 33.
V. 4. the order] or the disposition thereof, that is, the shewbread; which was weekly to be set in two rows upon it: see Ex. 25. 30. The Gr. translateth, shalt propose the proposition, meaning the bread of propositiō or shew-bread; so called in Matt. 12. 4. cause to ascend] that is, to burne; or shalt light: see Exodus 25. 37. and 27. 20.
V. 5. set] Heb. shalt give, which is used for setting, placing, disposing, &c. often in this chapter, and else-where: see Gen. 1. 17. hanging-veil] or coveringveil: which hindred the people from entring or seeing into the holy place; see Exod. 26. 36.
Ver. 6. Tabernacle of the Tent] so called because the Tabernacle was overspread, and covered with the Tent, as v. 19. and Ex. 26. 7. and so it was an overspread and covered Tabernacle, signifying Gods Church, by his providence covered & protected. A like phrase is in Rev. 15. 5. the Temple of the tent of the testimony in heaven was opened. For Moses Tabernacle is also called a Temple (or Palace.) as 1 Sam. 1. 9. and 3. 3. Psal. 27. 4. and 138. 2.
V. 7. there] that is, therein, as the Gr. translateth in it; so v. 30. See Exod. 30. 18.
V. 8. hanging veil] or, covering: see Ex. 27. 16.
V. 9. oile] whereof see Ex. 30. 23. &c. Levit. 8. 10. Num. 7. 1. holy] Hebr. holinesse.
V. 10. holy of holies] Hebrew, holinesse of holinesses, that is, most holy; as that which hallowed the sacrifices: see Exod. 29. 37.
V. 15. eternal priesthood] so that their children after the shold not need to be anointed, but administer by reason of this first unction of their fathers: only the high Priests were anointed in the generations following, Lev. 4. 3. See the notes on Exod. 30. 33.
V. 17. second yeere] to wit, after they were come out of Egypt; as the Gr. version here addeth for explanation: and as Moses speaketh in Num. 9. 1. first of the monethmonth] that is, the first day of it: as the first of the feast, Matt. 26. 17. is expounded, the first day of the feast, Mark. 14. 12. The Greeke saith, in the New moone: see the annotations on v. 2.
V. 18. the Tabernacle] a visible signe of Gods presence, dwelling with & governing his Church in Christ, Lev. 26. 11. Eze. 3. 27. 28. as it is said, I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying; Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, & they shal be his people, & God himself wil be with them, &c. Rev. 21. 3. set] or fastened: Heb gave; which is used for a firme setting or stablishing, as is noted on Gen. 1. 17. This setting of the sockets, with the boards bars, and pillars, signified the stability of the Church, and members thereof, grounded and stablished by faith in Christ, Esay 33. 20. and 14. 32. 1. Tim. 3. 15.
V. 19. the Tent] in Gr. the curtaines: which were of two sorts, some of white, blew, purple, and scarlet, cunningly wrought with Cherubims, & coupled together: others, of Goats haire, Exod. 26. 1. 7. the covering] both that of rams skins, and the other of Tachash skins, Ex. 26. 14. This tent & covering, shadowed the heavenly graces wherewith Christ and his Church in him are adorned, their uniting together by the Spirit, through faith and love; and their safe protection: though these things veiled and obscure. See the notes on Exod. 26.
V. 20. the Testimonie] the two tables of Gods law, Ex. 25. 16. Covering-mercy-seat] a figure of Christ, in whose heart was Gods law; by whom our transgressions of the Law are covered, and the word of grace from God commeth unto us: see Ex. 25. 17.
V. 21. covered the Arke] hid it with the veile hanged before it. A figure of Christs flesh, veiling the divine things in him, till hee entred through it into the holy heavens, and opened a way for his Church thereinto, Heb. 10. 19. 20. Rev. 11. 19.
Ver. 23. the order of bread] that is, the bread set in order, called in Gr. the bread of proposition, and so in Mat. 12. 4. but Paul nameth it the proposition of bread Heb. 9. 2. which we call Shew-bread: twelve cakes representing the twelve tribes, that is, all beleevers presented pure unto God in Christ: see Ex. 25. 30.
Vers. 24. the Candlesticke] a figure of the Law, which giveth light to his people standing before God in his sanctuary, Psal. 119. 105. See the notes on Exod 25. 31. &c.
Ver. 25. to ascend] that is, to burne and shine, as v. 4. representing the seven Spirits of Christ, whereby (through the oile of his grace) his word shineth unto his Church, Rev. 4. 5.
Ver. 26. Altar of gold] figuring Christs mediation for his Church, whereby they and their praiers are presented as sweet odours unto God. See the notes on Ex. 30. These all being in the most holy, and holy places, hidden with veiles from the eies of the people, signified the obscuritie of the heavenly mysteries of the Gospell, before the veile of Christs flesh was rent, & the treasures of his grace more fully opened, Heb. 10. 1. Rom. 16. 25. 26. Ephes. 3. 5.
Ver. 29. the altar of burnt-offring] the brazen Altar, standing in the open Court, for all to see: wherupon the daily sacrifices (figuring Christs death and sufferings) were burned: to lead the Church unto the expectation of his body to bee offred for us, and our bodies by him unto God, Heb. 10. 5. 6. 7. Rom. 12. 1.
Ver. 30. The Laver] a figure of the sanctification of the Church, washed frō their sins by the blood of Christ; that they may come neere unto God, Heb. 10. 22. Rev. 1. 5. 6. Tit. 3. 5.
Vers. 33. the Court] an holy inclosure, for the Church to be kept in pure; when they came to appeare before God. And here was the finishing of the worke of the sanctuary: about which thus erected, first the tribe of Levi, Numb. 1. 50. and behind them, the other tribes of Israel pitched their Tents in holy order appointed of God, in a foure square forme, (Num. 2.) such as is the forme of the heavenly Ierusalem, Revel. 21. 16. which Tents were also holy, & might have no uncleane person within them, Num. 5. 2. (as nothing that defileth, may be in the new Ierusalē, the Church of Christ, Rev. 21. 27.) and unto which Tents or camp e, the earthly Ierusalem, (the holy citie, Neh. 11. 1.) was answerable. For some open uncleane, might not be in the campe, or citie: others though in the campe, might not come into the Lords Court, & of those in his court, none entred into the sanctuary but the Priests: & of thē, none into the most holy of the sanctuary, but the high priest, once in the yeer, He. 9. 6. 7. because holines becōmeth the House of the Lord, for ever, Ps. 93. 5. and the neerer they come unto him, the more they ought for to be sanctified, Lev. 10. 2. 3. & 16. 2. 3. &c. So after that Israel came into Canaan, and had there a temple; they had degrees of holy places: both of thē are de scribed by the Heb. thus: Three Camps were in the wildernesse; the campe of Israel, which was in foure camps, [Num. 2.] the camp of Levi, [Numb. 1. 50.] and the campe of the Divine Majestie; which was from the doore of the Court of the Tabernacle of the congregation, and forward. And answerable unto thē, in the ages following, frō the gates of Ierusalem, unto the mountaine of the Temple, was as the camp of Israel: & from the gates of the mountain of the Temple, unto the doore of the Court, (which was the gate of Nicanor) was as the Campe of Levi: and from the doore of the court & forward, was the camp of Gods Majesty Maim. in Beth habchirah, c. 7. s. 11. Other like differences of holinesse of places they also observe: which are to be mentioned otherwhere.
V. 34. the cloud] a testimony of Gods presence and approbation, who thus took (as it were) possession of the Tabernacle, to dwell therein amongst his people; but with an hiding of his glory and power. So when Solomon had builded the Temple, the cloud filled the house; then spake Solomon; The LORD said, that he would dwell in the thicke darknesse, 1 Kin. 8. 10. 12. But when Gods presence was with displeasure for the sins of the people, it was signified by a smoake filling the Temple, Esa. 6. 4. Rev. 15. 8, for smoake was a signe of anger, Psal. 18. 9. Esay 14 31. glorie] a signe of Gods glorious presence, who now came to dwell there, as he had promised Exod. 25. 8. So in 2 Chron. 5. 14. and Ezek. 43. 4. 5. where it is opened by God himselfe thus; Sonne of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel for ever, &c. Ezek. 43. 7. So the holy Ierusalem, hath the glory of God, Rev. 21. 11.
Vers. 35. dwelt] that is, abode or continued; and as the Greeke translateth, over-shadowed it. And in that Moses could not now goe into the Tent, nor the priests into the Temple, 2 Chron. 5. 14. and 7. 2. it sheweth the weaknesse and unworthinesse of all flesh, to come into the presence of God: who therefore gave a Law, that the high Priest himselfe should not at all times come into the holy place within the veil, &c. that he died not; because God would appeare in the cloud upon the MercieMercy-seat, Lev. 16. 2.
Vers. 36. journeyed in all their journeyes] and in the place where the cloud abode, there the sons of Israel pitched their tents. Al the daies that the cloud dwelled upon the Tabernacle, (whether it were a day or daies, or a MonethMonth, or a yeere) they rested in the tents, and journeyed not; when the cloud was taken up, whether it were by day or by night, then they journeyed. At the mouth of the Lord they pitched their tents, and at the mouth of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge (or watch) of the Lord, Num. 9. 17. 23. This token of Gods guidance and protection of his people, continued with Israel whiles they travelled in the wildernesse: which grace, the generations following, remembred to the praise of God, Neh. 9. 19. Ps. 78. 14. and 105. 39.
V. 38. the cloud of Iehovah] which in Thargum Ierusalemy is called the cloud of the glorie of Shecinah (the Divine presence) of the Lord. and fire] At evening, there was upon the Tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire untill the morning: so it was alway; the cloud covered it (by day) and the appearance of fire by night, Numb. 9. 15. 16. Hereby was figured the guidance and protection of the Church by Christ under the Gospel; whereof it is written, The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Sion, and upon her assemblies, a Cloud and smoake by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glorie shall be a defence, Esay 4. 5.
The number of the Sections (or Lectures) in Exodus, are eleven: the verses 1209. The middest is at Exodus 22. 28.
Remember the Law of Moses my servant, which I commanded him in Horeb, for all Israel; with the Statutes, and Iudgements,
Malach. 4. 4.
By the Law, is the knowledge of Sinne,
Rom. 3. 20.
The Law worketh wrath; for where no Law is, there is no transgression,
Rom. 4. 15.
By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified,
Gal. 2. 16.
The Law was our Schoolemaster (to bring us) unto Christ,
Gal. 3. 24.
Christ is the end of the Law, for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth,
Rom. 10. 4.
ANNOTATIONS VPONUPON THE THIRD BOOKE OF MOSES, CALLED LEVITICVS: VVHEREIN, BY CONFERRING THE HOly Scriptures, by comparing the Greeke and Chaldee versions, and mouments of the Hebrewes: the Sacrifices, and other legall Ordinances heretofore commanded of God, to the Church of Israel, are explained.
BY HENRY AINSWORTH.
HEB. 7. 19.
The Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope, by the which wee draw nigh unto God.
HEB. 10. 14.
By one offring (Christ) hath perfected for ever, the m that are sanctified.
HEB. 13. 15.
By him therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips confessing to his name.
LONDON, ¶ Printed by Miles Flesher for John Bellamie, and are to be sold at his shop neere the ROYALL EXCHANGE. 1626.
The Summe of LEVITICVS.
THis third Booke of Moses, containeth the Law of Sacrifices, and rites concerning them: of Sacrificers, and their holy ministration in the Sanctuary: of the peoples sanctification, from all outward and inward pollutions: of religious actions to be done by the body of the Church, and all the members thereof, publikely and privately: of the place where, and times when Gods worship was chiefly to be performed: with a confirmation of the whole Law, by promises and threatnings. All which God (speaking out of the Tabernacle in the wildernesse) declared unto Israel, by the hand of Moses, in the first monethmonth of the second yeere, after their deliverance out of the land of Egypt: which was in the yeere from the creation of the World, 2514
More particularly.
GOD teacheth Israel how to sacrifice their Burnt offrings. Chap. 1
The Meat-offring of flowre, cakes, wafers, and first fruits. 2
The Sacrifice of Peace-offrings, of the herd or flocke. 3
Sin-offrings, for the Priest, Congregation, Ruler, and private man. 4
Trespass-offrings of sundry sorts, for sundrie sinnes. 5
Lawes more particularly touching the former sacrifices. 6
Lawes touching the Trespass-offring; and Peace-offrings: Fat, and Blood. 7
The consecration of Aaron and his sons, to the Priesthood. 8
Aarons first offrings for himselfe and the people, consumed by fire. 9
Aarons sonnes transgress, and are slaine of God. Lawes for the Priests. 10
The Law for cleane and uncleane beasts, fowles, fishes, &c. 11
Of a womans purification after child-birth. 12
Of discerning Leprosie and judging it, in men and in garments. 13
Of clensing Lepers that are healed. Of Leprosie in houses. 14
Of the uncleane by runningyssues, and their purification. 15
Of the high Priests service on Atonement day, to cleanse the Sanctuarie, and reconcile the Church unto God once in the yeere. 16
The place of sacrificing. Against eating blood, torne things &c. 17
Against unlawfull copulations, idolatrie, and heathenish customes. 18
Sundry lawes for holiness and righteousnes, and against sins. 19
Punishments for idolaters, fornicators, and other the like. 20
Special holiness and perfection, required in the Priests. 21
Vncleane priests may not minister. Sacrifices must be unblemished. 22
The solemne feasts at certaine times of the yeere. 23
Provision for Lamp oile; and Shew-bread. A blasphemer is stoned. 24
Of the seventh (or Sabbath) yeere, and Iubile: with their rites. 25
Promises and threatnings, to confirme the Law of God. 26
A law concerning Vowes, devoted things, and tithes. 27
Ye shall be holy; for I Iehovah your God am holy. Lev. 19. 1.