_The Lord. The 15 first verses might be placed at the head of this book. God gave orders to celebrate the first passover in the desert, about the 14th of the first month, in the second year of liberty, soon after the consecration of the tabernacle. (Calmet) --- This is the only passover which the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the. Hebrew, "between the two evenings," Exodus xii. 6. Septuagint, "towards the evening, in its season, according to its law, and determination," sugkrisin, (ver. 14,) suntaxin, "arrangement;" in both places we have justifications. (Haydock) --- God's law is so called, because nothing can be do... [ Continue Reading ]
_In Mount. Hebrew, "desert ( or mountainous country) of Sinai," Exodus xiv. 3. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Some. Hebrew, "and there was men," a solecism, rejected by the Samaritan and Arabic copies. (Houbigant) --- Man. That is, by having touched, or come near, a dead body, out of which the soul was departed. (Challoner) --- Such were forbidden to offer any sacrifice, Leviticus xxii. 4. Yet they could no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unclean, in what manner soever. (Philo) --- Nation; or at a great distance, whether in the country or out of it. The Rabbins say 15 miles, or leagues, (Calmet) which make 45 miles. (Haydock) --- Septuagint, all such were bound to observe the passover in the second month, as the whole people did und... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stranger. Both the Jews who lived at a distance from the promised land, and those of other nations who had embraced their religion, were obliged to observe this law; while the uncircumcised were absolutely excluded. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_A cloud, and fire, alternately covered the tabernacle of the covenant, which was 30 cubits long and 15 broad. The pagans, perhaps, hence took occasion to accuse the Jews of adoring the clouds. Nil præter nubis & c\'9cli Numen adorant. (Juvenal, Sat. xiv.) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_By day. These words are omitted in the Hebrew; but the context shews that they must necessarily be supplied; as they are in the Septuagint. The same cloud assumed different appearances. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For, &c. Hebrew, "and so it was when the cloud was days of number upon the tabernacle; by the mouth of the Lord they staid in their tents," &c. Days of number, yamim mispar, most probably means a few days; (see Deuteronomy iv. 27,) though Louis de Dieu would translate "a full year;" as yamim, accor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Watches, like sentinels, observing the signal of the cloud; and regulating the time and course of their marches by its direction. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER IX.... [ Continue Reading ]