Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Chapter 37
CHAP. XXXVII.
1. The Method and Argument.
IN this Chapter are rehearsed such things as were before declared, chap. 25. and in some part of the thirtieth. 1. The Arke is described with the MercieMercy-seat, which was in the most holy place, to vers. 10. 2. Those instruments are made, which were in the Sanctuarie without. 1. The table of shew-bread with the instruments, to vers. 17. 2. The golden candlesticke, with the parts and ornaments, to vers. 25. 3. The golden Altar with the things thereto belonging, to vers. 29. These things are more fully set downe, chap. 25. chap. 30. so that it were needlesse to rehearse them againe here.
2. The divers readings.
See before the diversitie of translations, in chap. 25. with the which this chapter agreeth verbatim, almost word for word: unnecessarie repetitions of the same things may well be spared.
3. The questions discussed.
QUEST. I. How the rings are said to have beene in the sides of the Arke.
Vers. 3. HE cast foure rings for the corners thereof. This must be understood with a double limitation or exception. 1. Properly the corners of the Arke were either above or below, where the plaine superficies did meet with the corners: for a solid angle cannot consist of fewer, quam ex tribus superficiebus trigonis, than of three corner points. But it had beene inconvenient for these rings, either to be placed in the corner point above, or below: therefore here the angle or corner is taken for the meeting of the two sides together. 2. Neither yet were they fastened directly in the verie corner of all, where the sides joyned together, for then the bars could not conveniently have beene thrust thorow them: but by the corners are meant the sides neere unto the corners, as it is said afterward, that the barres were in the rings by the sides of the Arke, Tostat. qu. 1.
QUEST. II. Why it is said, He made; where the Lord said before to Moses, Thou shalt make.
Vers. 6. HE made the MercieMercy-seat, &c. The phrase must be observed, that whereas chap. 25. the Lord saith to Moses, Thou shalt make an Arke, thou shalt make a candlesticke, thou shalt make a table, and so of the rest: here it is said, He, that is, Bezaleel made the Arke, he made the table, he made the candlesticke: The reason hereof is to shew the obedience of Moses and the people, lest they might have beene thought to have received many precepts of the Lord, and performed few of them. In that therefore the Lord said to Moses, Thou shalt make, there the charge and commandement is given. But now where it is thus rehearsed, and he made, the dutifull and carefull performing is expressed of that which was given them in charge, Pellican.
QUEST. III. In what forme the branches of the candlesticke went up.
Vers. 18. SIx branches came out of the side thereof. 1. Pellican seemeth to thinke that these branches went up, erectis calamis, with their stalkes upright. 2. But their opinion seemeth more probable, who thinke that the branches in their going up, semicirculos effecisse, made halfe circles: for both that forme and fashion was more comely to sight, and beside, if they had gone upright, this inconvenience would have followed, that the lamps above where the oyle was put for the lights, would not have stood right up, but leaning one way, which had been unfit, both for the droppings of the oyle, and the lights would not have burned so cleare, nor so bright, if the lamps had not stood even and levell, Gallas.
The rest of the questions concerning these instruments and ornaments of the Temple, which are described in this chapter, are before discussed, chap. 25. and chap. 30. in the beginning of the chapters.
4. Places of Doctrine.
1. Doct. Christ our true propitiatorie and MercieMercy-seat.
Vers. 6. HE made the MercieMercy-seat. The MercieMercy-seat signified Christ, our true foreign, Propitiatorie, who hath reconciled us to God his Father. The Cherubs upon the MercieMercy-seat doe represent the holy Angels, whose ministerie Christ useth in the government of his Church, Pelargus. As the Apostle saith, They are sent forth to minister for their sakes, that shall be heires of salvation, Hebr. 1.14. Marbach.
2. Doct. Christ both God and man.
THe making of the Arke of wood within, and gold without, did set forth the two natures in our blessed Saviour, joyned together in one person, the divine and humane, Simlerus.
In the Propitiatorie and MercieMercy-seat are typically set forth the benefits, that we have by Christ: that as the Propitiatorie covered the Arke, wherein was the Law: so Christ, Legem nos accusantem tegit, doth cover and hide the Law which accuseth us, Simler.
But more particularly, the Apostle rehearseth the benefits which we have by Christ, saying, that he is made of God unto us his wisdome, … Cor. 1.30.righteousnesse, sanctification, redemption. 1. His wisdome, in that Christ hath revealed unto us the will of his Father, to give his Sonne for us, That whosoever beleeveth in him should have eternall life. Iohn 6.39.2. He is our Iustice, in that hee imparted to us both his active righteousnesse in fulfilling the Law, and his passive obedience in bearing the punishment due unto our sinne: so the Apostle saith,Rom. 10.4. Christ is the end of the Law, for righteousnesse to everie one that beleeveth. 3. Christ is our Sanctification, in that hee doth not only impute unto us his righteousnesse by faith, but doth also sanctifie and regenerate us by his Spirit, inabling us in some measure to keepe his Commandements: as the Lord saith by his Prophet,Ezech. 36.27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walke in my statutes. 4. He is our Redemption, in that he hath by his innocent death appeased the wrath of God toward us, as the Apostle saith, Who shall condemne us, it is Christ which is dead, &c. Marbachius.
5. Places of Confutation.
1. Confut. Against such hereticks as erred concerning Christs divine, or humane nature.
AS Christ is shadowed forth in the Arke, to be both God and man, so all such are condemned, which doe erre concerning the divine or humane nature of Christ.
As touching Christs divine nature: 1. Some utterly deny it, making Christ a meere man, and not to have beene before he was conceived of the Virgin Marie: in which heresie were Cerinthus, Ebion, contrarie to the Scripture, which saith, that the Word, which was made flesh, was in the beginning, &c. Ioh. 1.1.
2. Some confesse another nature in Christ beside his humanitie, but not of the same substance with God, yet of an higher nature than any creature: so held Carpocrates, Basilides, Arrius: but our blessed Saviour himselfe saith, I and my Father are one, Ioh. 20.30.
3. Some affirmed that Christ beside his humane nature, consisted also of a divine, yet not begotten of the Father, but making one person with God the Father, as well as being of one substance: so the Sabellians and Patropassians: whereas the Apostle saith, God sent his Sonne made of a woman, Gal. 4.4. The person then of the Sonne, and not of the Father, was made man for us.
Concerning Christs humane nature: 1. Some affirmed that he was not a true man, but onelyonly in outward appearance: as the Manichees, and Marcionites, who are confuted by Christs owne words, Luke 24.39. Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as yee see me have.
2. The Valentinians and Anabaptists hold that Christ had not his flesh of the Virgin Marie, but brought it with him from heaven, contrarie to the Apostle, who saith, That hee was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh, Rom. c. 3.
3. Some taught that Christ had a true humane nature, but in respect of his body onelyonly, not of his soule, as Apollinaris Bishop of Laodicea, who is convinced by the words of our Saviour, Matth. 26. My soule is heavie unto death.
4. Some grant that Christ tooke upon him our whole nature, but not our humane infirmities. But the Apostle teacheth the contrarie, that Christ was in all things tempted: in like sort, (as we are) yet without sinne. Heb. 4.15.There are two kinde of infirmities, some are personall, as leprosie, blindnesse, sicknesse, diseases; these Christ was not subject unto: there are naturall infirmities which doe belong unto the whole humane nature, as wearinesse, hunger, griefe, and such like: these our blessed Saviour undertooke, that he might be in all things like unto us.
5. Some hold that Christ had a true humane nature, but after the uniting thereof, in one person to his Godhead, it was absorpt of his divine nature, which only remained: this was the heresie of Swencfeldius. But wee are otherwise taught in the Scripture, that Christ ascended in a true visible humane body, and that he shall with the same returne againe into the world at the latter day, Acts 1. Marbach.
6. Morall Observations.
1. Observ. That we neglect not the time of grace and merciemercy.
Vers. 6. HE made the MercieMercy-seat. Oleaster hereupon well observeth, that God appointed a place in the Tabernacle, from whence hee was ready to shew merciemercy: but hee assigned no place for judgement; whereby is signified, that now is the time of merciemercy, but afterward commeth judgement. We are taught hereby not to neglect the time of grace and merciemercy, but to seeke the Lord while hee may be found: as the Prophet saith, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel, Amos 4.12.
2. Observ. We must eat and drinke, as in Gods presence.
Vers. 10. ALso hee made the table of Shitti… wood, &c. This table, whereon was set the shew bread, which was offered in the name of all Israel; signifieth, that men as being alwayes in the presence of God, sancte uterentur d…nis Dei, should reverently use the gifts of God, Simler. As the Apostle admonisheth, that whether we eat or drinke, or whatsoever we doe else, all should be done to the glorie of God, 2 Cor. 10.