The Temple of Solomon Portrayed, History · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Of the Revenues and Endowments, aſsigned to the Temple, and its Officers.
THE firſt Work we have to do in this Chapter, is to provide Houſes over their heads, and to give in a Catalogue of the Cities which came to the Children of Levi by Lot, when Joſhua divided the Land of Canaan: which Countrey is eſtimated by Sir Henry Spelman (in his larger Work of Tythes, pag. 3.) according to the Deſcription of it by Jerom, not to have been equal to the Principality of Wales, with the Marches: yet it did yield, for inhabitation to that Tribe of Levi, 48 Walled Cities, more then are (as he ſays there) in all England: Which, though poſſibly moſt of them might not have been ſo large as many of our Cities and great Towns; yet ſurely were well ſtrengthned, according to the Fortification of thoſe days, ſeeing they are ſtyled Caſtles in the Book of Chronicles, 1 Chron. 7.54. which we ſhall diſpoſe in their Scriptural Order.
First, for the Prieſts, their Cities were neareſt to the City of Jeruſalem, and lay, for the moſt part, in the Kingly Tribe of Judah.
Joſh. 21 13-16, &c.In Judah they had Hebron, a Royal City, and a City of Refuge, with its Suburbs: but the Fields and Villages were diſpoſed of to Caleb, a happy man, that could live under the droppings of the Sanctuary all his dayes. Surely, his Fields were fat, that were waſht with Rain from the Hills of Hebron. 2. Libnah, and then Jattir, Eſhtemoa, Holon, or Hilen, 1 Chron. 6.58. Debir, Juttah, and Bethſhemeſh.
Joſh. 21.16. & 19.7.In Simeon, the Prieſts had Ain, or Aſhan, 1 Chron. 6.59.
In Benjamin, they had Gibeon, Gebah, Anathoth, and Almon, or Alemeth, 1 Chron. 6.60. So that the Prieſts had 13 goodly Cities, with their Suburbs.Joſh. 21.19.
The Levites that were of Kohath, had theſe Cities.
Joſh. 21.21, &c. Joſh. 21.25.In Ephraim, 1 Schechem, a City of Refuge: then Gezer, 3 Kibzaim, poſſibly the ſame with Jokneam, 1 Chron. 7.68. and Bethoron.
In Dan, they had Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Aijalon, and Gathrimmon.
In the half Tribe of Manaſſeh, on this ſide, or Weſt of Jordan, they had Tanach, called Abner, 1 Chron. 6.70. and Gathrimmon; poſſibly the ſame with Bileam, Ver. 26.1 Chron. 7.70. In all, they had ten Cities, with their Suburbs.
The Levites that were of Gerſhom, had theſe Cities.
In the half Tribe of Manaſſeh, beyond, or Eaſt of Jordan, they had,Joſh. 21.27, &c. 1. Golan in Baſhan, a City of Refuge, 2. Beſhterah, called Aſhteroth, 1 Chron. 6.71.
In the Tribe of Iſſachar, they had Kiſhon, or Kedeſh, 1 Chron. 7.72. Dabareh, or Dabarath, 1 Chron. 6.72. then they had Jarmuth, or Ramoth, 1 Chron. 6.73. And laſtly, Engaunim, called Anem, 1 Chron. 6.73.
In Aſher, they had Miſhal, or Maſhel, 1 Chron. 7.74. Abdon, Helkath, Joſh. 21.30, &c. Ver. 32.or Hukok, 1 Chron. 6.75. and Rehob.
In Naphthali, they had Kedeſh in Galilee, a City of Refuge, Hamoth-dor, or Hammon, 1 Chron. 6.76. and Kartan, called alſo Kiriathaim, 1 Chron. 6.76.
Theſe all belonged to the Gerſhomites, even 13 Cities, with their Suburbs.
The Levites that deſcended from Merari had theſe Cities.
In Zebulun they had Jokneam, and Kartah, and Dimnah, Ver. 34.otherwiſe called Rimmon, 1 Chron. 6.77. And laſtly, Nahalal ſuppoſed to be the ſame with Tabor, 1 Chron. 6.77.
In Reuben, they had Bezer, a City of Refuge,Ver. 36. the ſame is ſaid to be in the Wilderneſs on the Plain, Joſh. 20.8. then Jahazah, called Jahzah, 1 Chron. 6.78. and Kedemoth, and Mephaath.
In Gad, they had Ramoth in Gilead, a City of Refuge, Mahanaim, Heſhbon, Ver. 38.and Jazer.
Theſe are the Cities belonging to the Merarites, even 12 Cities, with their Suburbs.
Thus we ſee the Prieſts had 13 Cities in the Tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
Secondly, The Levites of Kohath had ten Cities in Ephraim, Dan; and Manaſſeh.
Thirdly, The Gerſhonites had 13 Cities in Manaſſeh, Iſſachar, Aſher, and Naphtali.
Fourthly, The Merarites had 12 Cities in Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad, Joſh. 12.that is, 48 Cities in all. Whereof nine were Kingly Cities of the Canaanites, and probably, according to thoſe times, were bravely built and fortified, viz. Hebron, Jarmuth, Gezer, Debir, Libnah, Taanach, Kedeſh, Jokneam, and Dor, or Hamath-Dor: Six were Cities of Refuge, viz. Hebron, Shechem, Golan, Kedeſh, Bezer, and Ramoth-Gilead; and the reſt, no doubt, were very famous among the thouſands of Iſrael. Theſe 48 Cities had Suburbs aſſigned to them for their Cattel, and their Goods, and all their Beaſts. Here I ſhall not paſs over in ſilence, the Conjecture of Sir H. Spelman, in his larger Tract about Tythes, Chap. 3. apprehending by the ſomewhat differing names of the Levitical Cities mentioned in Chronicles, that they had 68 Cities in all, before their tranſmigration into Babylon; according to the increaſe of their Generations. But hereunto I ſhall onelyonly object the Opinion of another Judicious and Learned Knight Sir Walter Raleigh; who, by his citation of Junius to that purpoſe, ſeems to conceive otherwiſe, that they were but the ſame Cities for the moſt part, onelyonly having different names, or elſe in ſucceeding times ſomewhat varying from their ancient denomination in the time of Joſhua, unleſs as to Ain and Aſhan, in the Tribe of Simeon, which are mentioned as two diſtinct Cities, Joſh. 19.7. & 1 Chron. 4.32.
Thus I have done with the firſt Enquiry, and that is, what Glebe Lands the Officers of the Temple enjoyed.
2 But did theſe perſons, with the Revenues of their Lands,2 King. 12.4. Exod. 30.13. find for Sacrifices or Reparations? No ſuch matter▪ We find a conſtant Tax laid upon all the people; which is called the money of every one that paſſeth the Count. And what that was, may be read in Exodus, to wit, half a ſhekel for every Head throughout Iſrael at any general Muſter, leaſt the Plague break out upon them: which Tax-money,Antiq. l. 7. c. 10. p. 244. David having forgotten (ſayes Joſephus) to take at his numbring the People, was the cauſe of that ſore and ſudden Plague at that time.
3 There was the money that every man was ſet at,2 King. 12.4. Neh. 10.32. De Bell. Judaic. l. 7. cap. 26. Num. 18.21. Lev. 27.30, &c. which in Nehemiah's time, was a yearly Tax of the third part of a ſhekel for the ſervice of the Houſe of God; and as it ſeems by Joſephus, there was an Annual Tax of two Attick Drachmes, equal to half a ſhekel according to him: which being formerly paid by every man to the Temple, was afterward impoſed upon the Jews, for the Capitol at Rome.
Fourthly, They had the Tenth of all the Land, even of the Increaſe of the Seed, of the Fruits of Trees, of Herds and Flocks, &c. Mr. Selden obſerves in his Hiſtory of Tythes, Cap. 2. §. 4. p. 17. that this Revenue was far more then the Tenth. For, as he hath there computed it, of ſix thouſand Ephahs of Corn ſuppoſed to be the Burden of ſuch a man's Land, when all the Deductions for the Sanctuary were taken out, there remained but four thouſand, ſeven hundred, ſeventy nine to the Owner. So that he paid 21 Ephahs above the fifth part of his reaped quantity; for there were one thouſand, two hundred, twenty one Ephahs paid to the Temple. Concerning this, and many other of theſe Revenues, aſſigned to the Levitical Tribe, be pleaſed to peruſe what is learnedly obſerved by Dr. Edw. Reynolds, on Pſal. 110. p. 478. &c. And Mr. Weemſe on the Ceremonial Laws, p. 123, &c.Exod. 23.19. Ezek. 44.30. Num. 18.12, &c. Deut. 18.4. Neh. 10.35, &c. Ezek. 44.29. Numb. 18.9, &c.
Fifthly, They had the firſt fruits of all things, and that of the beſt, of Oyl, Wine, Wheat, Men, and Beaſts. Some things whereof, as the firſt of men, and of unclean Beaſts, were redeemed with Money, five ſhekels for every head, and paid to theſe Officers. Nay, they had the firſt of the Fleece of the Sheep, and of the Dough, &c. The quantity of this Offering of the Firſt-Fruits, was not to exceed the 40th part, not to fall beneath the 60th part of thoſe fruits, as it is obſerved by Ribera out of Hierom, upon Ezek. 45. See Ribera de Templa, lib. 3. cap. 2.
Sixthly, For Offerings,] of the Meat-offerings, Sin-offerings, or Treſpaſs-offerings, the Heave-offerings, or Wave-offerings, were all given to them.
Seventhly, All Vows and Free-will offerings, and all hallowed or dedicated things were theirs alſo.
Eighthly, They had ſome ſhares in all Sacrifices,Num. 18.18. Deut. 18.3. Lev. 7.8. Weemſe, Vol. 3. p. 123, &c. (except the whole Burnt-offering) as particularly the right ſhoulder, and the Breaſt, the two Cheeks and the Maw, and the skin of every man's Burnt-offering. All which Portions, may be more amply learned out of Mr. Steph. Nettles Anſwer to Mr. Selden, about Tythes pag. 120. and Mr. Weemſe, a Learned Divine of the Scottiſh Nation.
Ninthly, There was none of the Children of Iſrael that came up to Jeruſalem before the Lord, at the three ſolemn Feſtivals, that durſt come up empty-handed, it being God's ſtrict command,Exo. 23.15. that they ſhould bring ſome Gift or Offering to his Majeſty: All which was received by theſe Officers.
Tenthly, The recompences of many Injuries came alſo into their hands,Numb. 5.7, 8. which was the principal, and the fifth part beſides.
Eleventhly, We muſt alſo remember this, that no Prieſt, Levite, Singer, Porter, Nethinim, that is, the Gibeonite, the Drawer of Water,Ezra 7.24. &c.) or any Miniſter of the Houſe of God did pay Contributions, as to civil Affairs, or Exigencies. For it was not lawful to impoſe Toll, Tribute, or Cuſtom, upon them: which indeed was but rational, becauſe the Prieſts lived upon the Bounty and Alms of the people, by God's Appointment.
Antiq. l. 3. cap. 11. p. 96. & l. 4. c. 4. p. 108.In the 12th, and laſt place, we ſhall add what Joſephus tells us, that they were free from all Military Service, unleſs it were to blow the Trumpets, as was obſerved before.
Theſe are the Particulars of the Revenues and Duties incumbent upon the people for the Temple and its Officers, which was a noble and ſplendid maintenance, befitting ſuch a Royal Prieſthood. Indeed, it was convenient they ſhould have ſufficient, leſt wanting Neceſſaries, they ſhould be compell'd to imploy themſelves in ſordid Affairs, for maintenance of their families, and ſupport of their Poſterity, and ſo ſhould negligently handle Divine Matters. Nay, it was proper they ſhould have a plentiful maintenance, that they and their Temple-Services might not be obnoxious to the contempt of mean and unworthy perſons, ſuch as is the generality of the Comminalty, who eſteem neither Magiſtracy nor Miniſtery, if not attended with Honours and Revenues above the Vulgar Sphere. Wherefore, the All-wiſe Majeſty of Heaven contrived moſt amply for this His Miniſteriall Tribe that waited upon His Altar: For if you put all the fore-mentioned ſums together, there will ariſe a Revenue for the Temple, and its Officers, above four times as much as fell to the Lot of tho richeſt Tribe in the Land of Canaan.
Let us, to this purpoſe, view the numbers of the Levites, compared with the reſt of the Children of Iſrael in Moſes's time, when all theſe Revenues were appointed them.Numb. 1.45, 46. Dr. Edward Reynolds, on Pſal. 110. p. 477.
Firſt of all we read that the number of the Males of the Children of Iſrael was 603550. from twenty years old and upward. Now we may ſafely conjecture, there were half as many more under twenty, if not full out. For where one man out-lives twenty years, many times two for one dye before that age; it may be more, if the Providence of God in that kind were exactly attended: but let us give in but half, that is, 301775 perſons, which makes the whole ſum to be 905325, the ſum of the other Tribes. But all the Levites being numbred from a monethmonth old and upward, aroſe but to a ſum of twenty two thouſand.Num. 3.39. By which, if you divide the fore-going number of the people, the Quotient gives you …: ſo that the Levites were not equal in number to the 41 part of the people. Now one would think they could expect in Equity but the one and fourtieth part of maintenance that aroſe from the Revenues of the Land of Canaan. But you will find, they together with the Temple had four times as much as the Wealthieſt and fatteſt Tribe in the Land of Promiſe; which muſt be needs above the third part of the Income of the whole Countrey. Nay, in Ezekiel's Viſionary Land of Canaan, the ſacred Portion ſeems to be the third part of the Land. For if we obſerve, the whole Houſe of Iſrael was to have been but five thouſand Reeds broad, and twenty five thouſand long, Ezek. 45.6. which cannot be underſtood of the City, which was to be but ſquare four thouſand, five hundred, c. 48.30. And being compared with the Portion of the Prieſts and Levites, conſidering alſo what fell to the Prince: it is conceived by ſome, that the third part of the Land was theirs; ſhewing the ample Proviſion which God determined made for the Goſpel-days.
From all this Diſcourſe will clearly follow, an inference of great ſhame to many Chriſtian Nations of Europe; who allow more ample maintenance to very mean and inferiour Officers in the State, Civil and Military, then to the very Captains in the Spiritual Army; who, for want of due ſupplies, are generally conſtrained, to their grief, to walk Antipodes, and contrary to their own Doctrine of Hoſpitality; many times, after their own departure, expoſing their neareſt Relations to ſtand in need of others Hoſpitality to the great diſhonour of God, and true Religion. Nay, ſuch Countries many times compel the Stewards of God's lively Oracles, to ſerve Tables, and the Diſpenſers of the Myſteries of Faith, (not being able to provide like men for their own Houſholds) even practically to deny the Faith, & unwillingly to prove worſe then Infidels.1 Tim. 5.8. Whereas it is but equal by the Law of Nature, that the Embaſſadors of moſt joyful Tydings (ſuch as is the Goſpel, and the New Covenant of Grace) ſhould have the moſt plentifull Rewards: when as the Legal Meſſengers brought News of a fiery Law, and a Yoke of coſtly and inſupportable Ceremonies. Beſides, their Work generally contained outward and bodily labour, which whets the Appetite, and ſtrengthens the Digeſtive Faculty; whileſt the New Teſtament Service, being of a more ſublime Orb, is greatly exhauſtive of the Vital Spirits, which calls for greater and more coſtly Supplies for their refection and ſuſtentation.
Let us in fine, remember, and beware leſt St. Peter's Keyes, for want of Oyl; ſhould contract an unſeemly ruſtineſs, and the beautiful Lamps of the Sanctuary, without a ſupply of the Juyce of the Olive, ſhould go out in obſcurity, or at leaſt burn exceeding dimly. A ſordid maintenance, for certain, will produce a ruſty and ſordid Miniſtry. A Jeroboam's Prieſthood of the loweſt of the People, may well carry Wiſps of Hay to feed Calves at Dan and Bethel. A thing to be trembled at in Goſpel-days, that the Arch-Enemies of the Truth ſhould have their Deſigns ſo deeply fomented. But however, ſeeing God's Majeſty hath ordained more copiouſly and ſplendidly for his own appointed Miniſters in the Temple: Let then theſe Divine Officers go on chearfully to their Work of Sacrifices at the Solemn Dedication of the Temple in the next Chapter, and anſwer their Relations,Gen. 2.8. as Abraham did his, when going up to offer in this very ſame Mountain of Moriah, with foreign God will provide.