A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 4 · Body of book · Chapter 4
GENERALL OBSERVATIONS ON THE TABERNACLE. CHAP. IV.
§ 1. IN all peaceable times,Always some publick places for Gods service. even from the infancy of mankinde, certain places were set apart for Gods publick service. Thus the ancientaGen. 12. 7, 8. & Gen. 13. 3. &c. Patriarchs, no sooner pitched down their tents, but they reared up an Altar for divine worship. Indeed this laudable custome had been intermitted, discontinued and suspended during the Israelites affliction in Egypt, making hard shift to serve God with safety, and secrecy in their own houses, when publick places of adoration were prohibited: as always in time of persecution, any place which hath the properties of Capacity and Privacy, (to hold and hide the people assembled therein) may serve for that purpose. But no sooner were the Israelites restored to their liberty (though as yet but in a barren wilderness) but that God issued out order for the erection of his Tabernacle to place his Name, and fix his peoples devotion therein.
§ 2. The materials of this Tabernacle were taken from the Egyptians, Egyptians justly spoiled.when the Israelites, at their departure,bExod. 12. 35. borrowed of them jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. The text saith (according to the old Translation) that they cExod. 12. 36.robbed the Egyptians: as indeed to borrow, with an intent never to pay, is no better then flat felony. But, although this act of the Israelites was robbery, quoad effectum, leaving the Egyptians spoiled and naked; yet it was none, quoad reatum, having not onelyonly a Commission, butdExod. 12. 12. Command from God for the same. And albeit the Egyptians are in some sense, then said, toeExod. 12. 36. lend to the Israelites, yet in very deed they did but pay back their due unto them.
§ 3. See what it is to detain the wages of the hireling. Wages long detained paid with a witness.Many a year had these Israelites, and their Fathers toiled, and moiled in Egypt, and had nothing for their pains but their labour. But now, both the Principall, and Consideration for their forbearance thereof, was laid them down in a lump all together▪ Indeed they are said to have builded Treasure fExod. 1. 11.Cities for Pharaoh; whereas in fine Pharaoh proved but the Treasurer and Storer for them, carefully keeping their money for them, till it amounted to a mass, for their greater benefit; which, if formerly payed them by inconsiderable parcels, might possibly have been spent, as fast as received.
§ 4. Amongst the materials offered for the building of the Tahernacle, All persons promote Gods Tabernacle.all Persons presented things proportionable to their own professions and conditions. The Princes broughtgExod. 35. 27. Precious stones, rich people Gold and Silver, the middle sort fine Linneu and Brass (not an ounce of iron being used in all the Fabrick) and the meanest Goates haire and Badgers skins. And as men sent their purses, so the women lent their pains, the wise hearted amongst them,hExod. 35. 25. spinning with their hands, blue, soarlet, and fine linnen for the Tabernacle.
§ 5. Behold here,But still keep their callings. how all advanced Gods work, yet every one continued in his own vocation. Blame worthy their Pride, who will be nothing, if they may not all be Bezaleels at the building of the Tabernacle. iRom. 10. 15.How shall they preach except they be sent? De jure: How can they preach lawfully and comfortably? though de facto, they presume to doe it although but to the small profit of others, and great danger of themselves.
§ 6. But that which most commended the offering of the Isr…elites in the sight of God, was their readiness and willingness therein. None were rated, or taxed to this work, but all flowed freely from them. This purified poor peoples Brass into refined gold, and changed their Goats-hair into silk, in Gods acceptance thereof. Otherwise, many may be the Item's in mens Account, and yet all of them amount to just nothing in divine acceptation, onelyonly for the want of a good Imprimis. For if there be FIRST a k2 Cor. 8. 12.willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not that he hath not.
§ 7. One main motive which made them more bountifull,A main motive of their bounty. was to expiate the late guilt that they had contracted by making the Calfe; when off went thelExod. 32. 3. ear-rings of the women and their children, to that Idolatrous use. They were therefore engaged to drown that stain with a more plentifull stream of gifts to Gods service. Thus, the consideration how prodigall we have formerly been to sin and Satan, ought to make us hereafter more liberall in the performance of divine duties:mRom. 6. 19. For as yee have yeelded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity, unto iniquity: even so now yeeld your members servants to righteousness, unto holiness.
§ 8. Yea,Their bounty restrained by Proclama…ion. such was the spring-tyde of the Israelites bounty herein, that to prevent the danger of a deluge, bounds were set thereunto, Hither shalt thou come and no further: They brought nExod. 36. 5.much more then enough, for the s…rvice of the work which the Lord had commanded to make. Insomuch that Moses issued out aoIbid. ver. 6. Proclamation of restraint, that no more should be brought to that purpose. Oh the shame! that peoples liberality under the Law should need a bridle, which needs a spur under the Gospell!
§ 9. Here we may take notice of the foreign,Moses his contented minde. and contented minde of Moses. Had he been posses…ed with the humour of thepProv. 30. 15. Horse-leach, Give, give; yea, had he been but pleased to have been the Cistern whilest the children of Israel were glad to be the fountain, what a mass of money might he have advanced for himselfe, and yet have unsuspectedly charged all on the account of the Tabernacle? How might he have feasted his family and friends with the full baskets of the fragments left of their liberality? But Moses was of the same minde, with his great-great-grandfather Abraham, who would not take even from a qGen. 14. 23.thred to a shoe-latchet, of what was not his own, that none but God might make him rich. And thus honest hearts will rather cut off their hands, then licke their own fingers, for their private profit, when intrusted onelyonly as Stewards for the publick good.
§ 10. It may seem strange,Why so bountifull to this building, and afterwards backward in goodness. that these Iews, who now were so forward to serve God, should soon after prove so backward in his worship, and provoke him so often by their manifold infidelities and rebellions against God. Many of these bountifull contributors to the Tabernacle, being devoid of true grace, and some of this people slain afterwards for their disobedience. But herein we may consider:
1 That this building was but a worldly Sanctuary, as therHeb. 9. 1. Apostle calleth it. And therefore no wonder, if men, otherwise given tosTi…us 2. 12. worldly lusts, were liberall thereunto.
2 Carnall men may take a natural delight in outward visible works, whilest a confluence of vain-glory and hypocrisie may make the torrent of their bounty the greater.
3 Such outward performances are easie in comparison of that difficult and spirituall master-piece, the mortifying of mens inward corruptions.
Hence came it to pass, that many that brought gold to the Tabernacle, proved themselves but dross afterwards, and fell in the conspiracy oftNum. 16. Korah and his company, and other their mutinies made against Moses.
§ 11. The Platform of this Tabernacle was by God delivered to Moses in the Mount; Moses receives the pattern.With a strict charge, to make all things conformable thereunto. And he herein so exactly observed his instructions, without the least deviation from them, that in the two last chapters of Exodus, where the erecting of the Tabernacle, with the Utensils thereof, is described, these words are twelve severall times solemnly repeated, As the Lord commanded Moses. So dangerous it is to introduce any thing as essentiall to Gods worship, which is not of divine institution.
§ 12. Bazaleel is appointed Master-workman,B…zaleel and Aholiab, Artizans. one of a prosperous name, whose parents may be presumed pious, comfortably calling their child (though born in Egypt under the parching heat of persecution) in the shadow of the Lord, as his name seems to import. This Bazaleel was one of all crafts, skilfull toaExod. 31. 4, 5. work in gold, silver, brass, precious stones, and timber (whereas amongst us, Gravers in gold are utterly at a loss to work in wood) Gold-smith, Lapidary, Carver, Carpenter, never Apprentice to any, yet Master in all Handy-crafts to work, and Head-crafts to contrive by divine inspiration. And there wasbExod. 31. 6. given with him Aholiab of the Tribe of Dan (as a Secondary, inferiour to the former in skill, not to clash with, but submit to his judgement) so that, as all the fine linnen used in the Tabernacle, was for the more strength thereofcFine twined linnen mentioned about sixteen times in making the Tabernacle. twined by divine command: so God also twisted two curious Artizans together (besides many other wise hearted men) that the building might be the more substantially effected.
§ 13. The Tabernacle taken in generall consisted of two principall parts:Two principall parts of the Tabernacle.
1 The Court of the Tabernacle, being andExod. 27. 9. hundred Cubits long, andeIbid. ver. 13. fifty broad, made with hangings and pillars for side-walls, and without roof, open at top, parallel to the outward Courts of Solomons Temple.
2 The covered Tabernacle (consisting of the Holy, and Holy of Holies) answering to the foreign, or roofed Temple, whose length may be collected to be thirty yards (accounting a Cubit a yard) because composed of twentyfExod. 26. 18. boards, standing gIbid. ver. 15.upwards, each ahIbid. ver. 16. Cubit and an halfe in breadth (so that the breadth of the boards joined together made the length of the Tabernacle) the height thereof being the length of the boards, that is ten Cubits, and the breadth thereof of the same proportion.
This latter alone is presented in our Map, as the proper subject of our description. It was without windows, admitting no naturall light, (save what entred in on the east at the door when opened) the defect whereof was supplied with the constant light from the sevenfold Golden Candlestick.
§ 14. To resume the boards of the Tabernacle; The breadth, gilding, sockets and bars of the boards.we have (as formerly) their length, and breadth, but not thickness expressed in Scripture. Arias Montanus conceives them almost a Cubit thick, but if so, they had rather been trabes quàm asseres, beams then boards; whilest Iosephus more probably conjectures them four fingers thick, and we may conclude them so substantiall, as was consistent with their portableness. They wereiExod. 26. 29. overlaid with gold, understand it, they were gilt over, both because, if covered with gold-plate, the same was more subject to discomposure at the disjointing and removing thereof, and because it is impossible such a mass of the purest metall should be found with exiles in the wilderness. Each board had twokExod 26. 29. tenons fastned in their silver sockets, which sockets some conceive made fitchy, or picked, to be put into the earth; which we rather beleeve flat and firm, standing fast on the surface of the ground, otherwise no need of silver sockets if their bravery was all buried in the earth. These boards had bars also (overlaid with gold) in the midst of them, lIbid. ver. 29.(understand it not perforating their thickness, but) running along their breadth in an even proportion through golden rings (as in our draught is described) to make them the more portable.
§ 15. The inside of the Tabernacle was covered with curious courtains embroidered with Cherubims, The inside and roof thereof.and a threefold roof (shewing the *Exod. 26. 14.plentifulness of divine protection over the Church against all dangers) covered the same. One of Goats-hair, (spun into cloth) another of Rams skins died red, and a third of Badgers-skins; the latter no doubt had the fur upon them, the lubricity of the haire thereof being excellent gutters and spouts to shoot down the rain thereby.
§ 16. But amongst all the materialls in the Tabernacle none more frequently mentioned then Shittim-wood, Three properties of Shittim-wood.though learned men agree not, what it was, or where it grew. But, leaving them to abound in their own sense, we will content our selves with three principall properties of this wood. First, it was very durable, therefore usually translated in the Greek foreign, wood which never rotteth. Secondly, it was portable, very light for carriage, else the Israelites coming out of Egypt, would never have cumbered themselves, to have brought heavy lumber along, seeing such shittim wood was not felled by them in the way, butmExod. 35. 24. found with them, as the text doth observe. Lastly, it was precious, used in the middest of the most Utensils of the Tabernacle: Arke, and both the Altars, typifying there in the humanity of Christ; in the brazen Altar of burnt offering, resembling his satisfaction when Redeemer; and in the golden Altar of Incense, representing his intercession as Mediator; retaining still his [glorified] body about him in*Act. 3. 21. heaven.
§ 17. Many will wonder,Shittim-wood within the Altar, why never fi…ed. that thisnExod. 27. 1. Shittim-wood in the middest of the Altar for sacrifices (though plated over with brass on each side) was never fired with the continuall flames thereupon. Some know to their sorrow how soon such rafters or joices are set on fire, which by the ill contrivance of the Carpenter run under those hearths where constant fires are kept. But we must know, that on the Altar the fire came down from heaven, and onelyonly minded the dispatch of that message on which it was sent; and as gun-powder (though ill comparing fire of heaven, andoIgnis tartareus. fire of hell together) burnes onelyonly upwards: so this celestiall fire, as in motion, so in operation, had its activity upwards towards heaven, whence it derived the descent thereof.
§ 18. Expect not here an enumeration (much less an exposition) of all the Utensils of the Tabernacle, The Laver made of womens Lookingglasses.most of them being formerly touched in Solomons Temple. OnelyOnly here a word of the Laver, and Aarons solemn Pontificalls, because of their rare composition. The former was made of the pExod. 38. 8.looking-glasses of the women, many being much troubled herein, how so brickle matter when broken could be made usefull, and solidated for this service. Indeed we have a tradition of one at Venice, who made glass malleable, but was for his invention rewarded with death by the State (who knew full well that they must break, if glasses were not broken) though this is listned unto as a fable. But, to the difficulty in hand, it is meerly grounded on a mistake, that all Specula must needs be vitrea, that what renders the reflexion of a face cannot be but of glasse. Whereas many other resplendent, though not transparent bodies, doe the same, as polished touch, jet, steel, and brass, the purest of the last most probably being here intended. Surely such looking-glasses, which severally were so clear, lost not their lustre by being many of them melted into the Laver, but (when polished again) retained their returning of resemblances. But, whether the Priests (as some will have it) made use thereof to discover all soiliness in them before they washed, as also after washing, whether the same were sufficiently cleansed, we dare not define.
§ 19. However,Female devotion. commendable was the devotion of these women in bringing their glasses (dear ornaments in their account) to Gods service. Oh that men would but part with their superfluous, yea noxious glasses (such as might be spared, not onelyonly without any hurt, but with much health to their souls, bodies, and estates) to bestow them on pious uses! What monuments to Gods glory, and the good of others, might therewith be erected?
§ 20. We must not forget theaLargely reckoned up Exod. 28. and methodically ranked Levir. 8. 7, 8, 9. eight ornaments of Aaron thus reckoned up.Aavons …ight ornaments. 1. Linnen breeches next his flesh. 2. A Coat of fine linnen over them. 3. Girded with an embroidered girdle. 4. Over which coat and girdle a robe all of blew, with bells and Pomegranates. 5. Upon it the Ephod, on the shoulders whereof two goodly Berill stones graven with the names of the Tribes of Israel. 6. In the Ephod the Breast-plate, and therein the Urim and Thummim. 7. On his head a Mitre. 8. In the forefront whereof a plate of pure gold two fingers broad, wherein was graven Holiness to the Lord. Say not, that the High-priest was sweltred, being built so many stories high in his garments; seeing, if pride be never a cold, when pleasing its own fancy; piety can never be too hot, with what it weareth in obedience to Gods commandement. The Priests hands and feet, when entring into the Holy of Holies, were washed and bare, to show the purity, simplicity, and sincerity of his actions, and conversation, especially in the service of God.
§ 21. In the making of these vestments we frequently meet with four essentiall ingredients,Four principall ingredients of Sacerdotall …vestments. bExod. 28. 5. 8. 15.blew, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linnen. HerecDevest. Sac…r. lib. 3. …. 5. Ribera findes the four elements (though hardly put to it to make them all out) fire in the colour of scarlet; aire of blew; earth in fine linnen, because it coming thence; water in the colour of purple, because died with the liquour of a fish from the sea: as if the High-priest was thus presented as …upreme Chaplain to the Lord of the Universe. Thus though taking in the whole world, in my minde he leaves out the most materiall mystery intended therein; for, we may behold the High-priest, when entering the Holy of Holies, representing Christ himself under such coloured clothes in a double capacity; First, as he stood charged with the guilt of mankinde, when The Lord dIsa. 53. 6.laid on him the iniquity of us all, having oureIsa. 1. 18. scarlet and crimson sins imputed unto him. Secondly, as he made satisfaction for the same with his bloud, scarlet, blew, and purple being severall sanguine colours, differing onelyonly in degrees, and the severall setlings thereof.
§ 22. What Urim and Thummim Vrim and Thummim.were (foreign in the Septuagint, foreign in Aquila, doctrina & veritas in the Vulgar, light and perfection, according to the interpretation of the Hebrew) neither Iew nor Christian can tell; though the former (the blinder the bolder) are as various, as confident in their conjectures. Some conceive it those very two words, others the name Iehovah graven in the breast-plate, others nothing else but the twelve stones, resplendent with light and compleated to perfection with the Tribes names therein, and other some mysterious matter, not of mans making but Gods giving to Moses. In a word, we shall never certainly know what Urim, and Thummim were, untill (as in the case offEzra 2. 63. Braz…lla…'s children) there stand up a Priest with Urim and Thummim to inform us thereof.
§ 23. Nor less is the variance amongst authours, how answers thereby were returned to the Priests that consulted it, in behalfe of others, whether such designes should be undertaken, or not. Some conceive, that at such times, the fair, fresh, and orient lustre of the stones therein amoun…ed to the a…irmative, whilest their dim, dull, and dead colour was interpreted negative. Others conceive, that seeing the Tribes names therein contained all the Hebrew letters and vowels, such characters discovered themselves by their sparkling, which concurred to the spelling of a grant or deniall, as here (imitating the Hebrew in our English tongue) is described. Conceive such letters as we here make Capita… appearing extraordinarily radiant on the Priests enquiry. And also to avoid confusion, that sparkling first in time, which was to be read first in place.
| Sardius. | Reuben. | Dun. | ReUben. | DaN. | Lig…re. |
| Topaz. | Sin…con. | N…phtali. | Sinne On. | NaPh T…li. | Agate. |
| Carbuncle. | Levi. | Gad. | LEvi. | G…d. | Amethyst. |
| On a | On a | ||||
| Emraud. | IUdah. | Ash Er. | I…udah. | Asher. | Beryl. |
| Saphir. | Issachar. | IsePh. | Issachar. | …Oseph. | O…yx. |
| Diamond. | ZebulOn. | Benjamin. | Zebulon. | Benjamin. | Iasper. |
GOE UP, GOE NOT UP.
But leaving these difficult trifles (beneath the state of the high-priest, good onelyonly for Acrostick-mongers, and Anagrammatists to pore upon) I conceive rather, that (because sometimes the answer returned was prolix and encumbered with numerous and importantg1 Chr. 14. 14, 15. circumstances, troublesome to be represented in such literal curiosities) it was neither audible to the ear, nor legible to the eye, but byhRivet in Exod. ca. 28. v. 13. illuminating the understanding of the High-priest, inabling him to give a satisfactory answer in all particulars, to the question propounded, whilest consulting the Urim and Thummim as of divine institution, to invite the Spirit of God upon him.
§ 24. There needs no other argument to be alledged for the freeness,The speedy finishing of the Tabernacle. and forwardness of the Israelites in building the Tabernacle, then that the same was fully finished in few moneths. For they came to the desert of Sinai in the third mExod. 19. 1.monethmonth after their coming out of Egypt, and all was ended before thenNum. 10. 11. twentieth day of the second monethmonth of the second year, when they removed from Sinai to the Wilderness of Paran. So that not above eleven moneths were expended on the whole fabrick, whereas Solomon in building the Temple (though confessed a far more stable, and stately structure) spend fullo1 King. 6. 38. seven years therein.
§ 25. The Tabernacle thus finished, most methodicall was the marching and pitching of the Tribes about it; and surely, that God who in his service enjoined order under the Law, will not allow confusion under the Gospell.
See we here the Levites of Kohath, and the Reubenites, near neighbours on the south of the Tabernacle. nSee Psa. 80. 2.Hereupon it came to pass, that Korah the grandchild of Kohath the Levite, conspired against Moses with Dathan and Abiram the sons of pNum. 16. 1.Reuben, the vicinity of their habitation affording them the conveniency of intercourse, and privacy together. And thus was the Tabernacle first put in its posture, surrounded with the people on every side. Happy method, when in matters of religion the Church guides the State by her counsell, whilest the State guards the Church with her company.
§ 26. This Tabernacle when first brought into the land of Canaan, The Tabernacle Templizing.was set up at Gilgat, (the Ark being often parted from it on severall occasions) thence removed to Shiloh where it staid a long time, thence toq1 Sam. 22. Nob, thence to …ib…on, and thence brought into Ierusalem, and laid up with the vessels thereof in ther2 Chr. 5. 5. Temple. The Rabbins conceive that during the abode thereof at Shiloh, the Tabernacle began to Templize, getting wals (though without a roof) round about it, chiefly because about that time it issNamely, 1 Sam. 1. 9. & 2 Sam. 22. 7. & Psal. 19. 3. thrice termed a Temple. But I rather conceive, that Temple in those places is taken in a large acception, in which notiontAnti. Iud, lib. 3. cap. 4. Iosephus termeth it foreign, an ambulatory, or portable Temple. Or else it is so styled by way of Prolepsis, and well might David (twice in the forementioned places) call the Tabernacle a Temple, who endevored to make it so, both in his intention, and vast preparation for the same. But enough of this subject, for as Moses by hisuExod. 36. 6. prohibition stopped the bounty of the people bringing too much to the making of the Tabernacle: so must we here stint our discourse as swelling too large in the description thereof. OnelyOnly I adde, that though at the first free will-offerings alone were used, at the making of the Tabernacle, (none being necessitated to contribute thereunto) yet afterwards for the maintenance thereof, and the service therein, men were bound to a certain sum to be paidwDeut. 16. 16. thrice a year. God foreseeing that their first forwardness would not always continue, but cool by degrees, and need to be quickned by commands, as men now adays must be legally rated to repair those Churches which at first so franckly were erected, and endowed by the liberality and devotion of our Ancestors.
Here the Map of Egypt is to be inserted.