Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Theological treatise · Chapter 23 · Questions · Question 38 – Question 42
QUEST. XXXVIII. In what place they appeared before the Lord, while the Arke and Tabernacle were asunder.
Vers. 15. APpeare before the Lord. While the Arke and Tabernacle remained together, there was no question at all, but that comming to the Tabernacle, they appeared there before the Lord: but afterward when the Tabernacle and Arke were asunder, as they continued at the least the space of 90. yeeres, all the time of Samuel and Saul, which was 40. yeeres; and all Davids reigne, till the eleventh yeere of Salomon, when the Temple was finished, 1 King. 6.36. when the Arke and Tabernacle were joyned together againe, 2 Chron. 5.5. The doubt is all this while of the separating and dividing of the Arke from the Tabernacle; which was the place where the people assembled to keepe their …easts. 1. Simlerus thinketh, that where the Arke was, they assembled before the Lord. So also Iunius, Iun. Ann. in 1 Sam. 7.14.That thither the Tribes went up to keepe their solemnities. 2. But herein the opinion of Tostatus is more probable, that where the Sanctuary and Tabernacle was, there was the place of the solemne assemblies in their feasts: for these reasons: 1. The Arke was taken from the Tabernacle by the Philistims, and kept among them seven moneths, and returned in the beginning of the wheat harvest, which was about Pentecost.1 Sam. 6.1. If now their festivities were solemnized only before the Arke, then at this time in the space of those seven moneths, in the absence of the Arke, it would follow, that two of their great solemnities of the Pasch and Pentecost were omitted, which is not to be granted: 2. There the meeting of the people was, where the Altar of burnt offerings was, and the Priests gave their attendance: but that was not where the Arke was placed, but where the Tabernacle was pitched: as is evident, 1 Sam. 21. where Ahemelech the high Priest, with other Priests, were at Nob attending at the Tabernacle: the Arke then remaining at Kiri…hi…a…im, 1 Cor. 6.1. 3. After the captivity, in the second Temple the Arke was not, being lost in the destruction of the Temple: and yet there their festivities were kept. 4. Now this concourse of the people to the Tabernacle, rather than to the Arke, was not because it was more worthy than the Arke: for the Arke was more worthy of reverence than the whole Tabernacle: but by reason of the other implements, which went with the Tabernacle, as the Altar, and table of shew bread, and the rest; and because the Priests gave their attendance there. But if the Tabernacle had beene destroyed, and the Arke onelyonly had remained; then without all question the Priests and people would have flocked to that place, Tostat. quaest. 28.
3. But it will be objected, that the place where the Arke was, must needs be that place where they appeared before the Lord; because there the Lord manifested himselfe, and from thence delivered his oracles, not only while it remained with the Tabernacle, Numb. 7.89. but when it was apart, 2 Sam. 6.2. But in this it may be answered, that the Lord did not onelyonly give answer from the Arke, but from the Tabernacle also, Exod. 29.42. and there Ahimelech asked counsell of God for David, though the Arke were not there, 1 Sam. 22.10. yea the Priest with his Ephod consulted with God, though neither the Tabernacle nor Arke were present: as David asked counsell of God by the Priest Abeathar, that had the Ephod, 1 Sam. 23.10. therefore that argument followeth not, Tostat. ibid.
4. But though I herein consent with Tostatus, that the solemne assemblies and sacrifices were in the place where the Tabernacle was, rather than where the Arke was: yet herein I dissent from him. He thinketh, that it was not permitted, sacrificia habere nisi … in loco, to have sacrifices but in one place; because by this occasion the rude people might have thought there had beene many gods, if they should have sacrificed in many places: and for this cause the rest of Israel tooke exception to the two tribes and halfe beyond Jordan, because they erected an Altar, supposing they had made it to sacrifice upon.
Contra. 1. But it is evident, while the Arke and Tabernacle were divided, that they offered sacrifices in both places; as 1 Sam. 6.14. the men of Bethshemesh offered a burnt offering before the Arke, rejoycing at the returne thereof. And at Nob, where David and the shew bread given him, to what end should the Priests have given their attendance, but for the sacrifices? 2. Neither was there any feare of bringing in a plurality of gods by this meanes, seeing all Israel knew, that both the Arke and Tabernacle were made at the appointment of one and the same God of Israel by the hand of his servant Moses. 3. And the reason is not alike concerning that Altar which was made by the two tribes and halfe, which the other tribes had in jealousie; because that was erected by the direction and advice of men: but both the Arke and Tabernacle had their institution from God: and therefore there could be no such feare for sacrificing to either of those places.
QUEST. XXXIX. What sacrifice … commanded here not to be eaten with unleavened bread.
Vers. 18. THou shalt not offer the bloud of my sacrifice with leavened bread. 1. Some doe understand this generally of all sacrifices, which were to be offered without leaven, Levit. 2.11. Pellican. Oleaster. And the other Law, Neither shall the … of my sacrifice remaine till the morning. Some likewise understand of other sacrifices▪ for although the flesh of the sacrifices might remaine till the next day: adeps tamen incendi debebat eodem die, yet the fat was to be burned the same day, Cajetan. As is prescribed, Levit. 7.3. But it is better referred to the Paschall lambe, as the Chalde Interpreter expoundeth, that they should remove leaven out of their house, before they offered the Passeover, Tostat. Simler. Calvin. And by far, … principall, is understood whatsoever remained of the Paschall lambe; as is further declared, Exod. 34.25. Iun. Where it appeareth, that both these precepts are specially given, concerning the Paschall Lambe. 2. And the reasons thereof were the…e, …, &c. Because the fat do…th easily corrupt and putrifie: which was an … thing, that any part of the sacrifice should bee suffered to putrifie, G…llas. As also, lest the … the next day, Sacerdotes comeder…nt quod Dei …at, the Priests might eat … which was the Lords … Oleaster.
QUEST. XL. When the Passeover was to be killed.
NOw concerning the place, where the Passeover was to be offered. 1. It must be considered, that they were not in the yeerely keeping of the Passeover, to doe as they did in the first institution in Egypt; every one killed it in his owne house: that was to be done then, because they were to strike the bloud upon the doore postes, that it might be a signe of their deliverance from the plague, while the Angell passed over to smite the Egyptians, chap. 12.23. but afterward they were required to sacrifice the Passeover in the place which the Lord should chuse, Deut. 16.2. 2. Neither was it enough to bring the Passeover up to that place where the Tabernacle was: but they were to present it at the doore of the Tabernacle, where the Passeover was to be killed, as other sacrifices, and the bloud to be powred by the Altar: 1. Because this was the generall Law for all sacrifices, Levit. 17.3. but the Passeover was a sacrifice: as here the Lord calleth it, my sacrifice: and Numb. 9.13. he that was negligent to keepe the Passeover, should be cut off from his people, and this reason is yeelded thereof, Because he brought not the offering of the Lord in due season. 2. And againe, it had beene to small purpose, to enjoyne the people to come to the place of the Sanctuary with their Passeover, to that end, that they should observe no other rites and ceremonies therein, than were appointed by the Law: if every one might have killed the Passeover in his owne house; for then they might have followed what rites they thought good, Tostat. quaest. 27.
QUEST. XLI. Wherefore they were to eat only unleavened bread in the Passeover.
THou shalt not offer the blond with leavened bread, &c. 1. The unleavened bread, which they were commanded to eat for seven dayes together, is called the bread of tribulation, Deut. 16.3. that as it is an unpleasant and unsavoury bread of it selfe; so it should call to their remembrance the affliction which they endured in Egypt, and consequently their deliverance from the same, Simler. Calvin. 2. But to us it hath this signification: first, it forbiddeth, quicquam Aegyptiacae doctrina divinis rebus admisceri, &c. that any Egyptiacall, or false doctrine should be mingled with divine things, Theodoret. As our blessed Saviour in this sense, chargeth his Apostles to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisies, Mark. 8. Secondly, the leaven signifieth, malitiae & nequitiae amaritudinem, the bitternesse of malice and wickednesse, Rabanus. which we must seeke to purge forth, as S. Paul applieth it, 1 Cor. 5.
QUEST. XLII. What first fruits are here mentioned in this Law.
Vers. 19. THe first of the first fruits of thy land. 1. Some thinke that this Law is understood of the solemne oblation of the first fruits, which were of three sorts: novarum frugum, of their new corne in the feast of the Passeover; panum de novis frugibus pistorum, of bread baked of the new corne, at Pentecost; & novorum fructuum, and of the new fruit, as of wine and oile, in the feast of Tabernacles. But this solemne oblation of the first fruits, was before rehearsed in particular, vers. 15, 16. 2. It is rather therefore meant of those first fruits, which every man was bound to offer unto the Lord in particular: as the first fruits of their trees, Levit. 19.25. Iun. The first fruit of their dowe, Numb. 15.21. and of other things: which was to this end, to acknowledge their thankfulnesse unto God for the fruits of the land which he had given them, Deut. 26.10. Simler. 3. Lyranus addeth further, that these first fruits are specially understood of the seventh yeere, when they did not sow any thing: that because mention is made before▪ onelyonly of the first fruits of their labours, vers. 16. this is added, that even they were to give the first fruits of that, which the earth brought forth of it selfe in the seventh yeere without their labour: that first in common they should offer the first fruits to the Priests, before any did gather of them to their owne use: which they were the rather to doe in the seventh yeere, because those fruits were given them without their labour, they were only of Gods sending: and for that in that yeere they could not pay any tithes unto the Levices: for the tenth part could not be set out from the nine parts; because they did not gather the fruits of the earth together, as in other yeeres▪ but as they needed them, and the remainder was for the beasts of the field; therefore they could not gosse at the tenth, and the tenth was due from the owner, where he tooke the nine parts to himselfe: but here the owner tooke no more than another; the fruits of the seventh yeere were common unto all, Tostat. qu. 29.