2._Speak unto the children of Israel. _If any caviller should raise a question as to the time in which I have thought fit to introduce this history, (114) although I would not pertinaciously contend with him, still I have not only a probable, but a sure reason for my opinion. For it appears to me th... [ Continue Reading ]
3_And this is the offering. _Hence, what I have before said is more fully continued, viz., that what the poor offer of their little will not be eclipsed by the abundance of the rich, since God deigns to reckon goats’ hair among the sacred offerings not less than gold, purple, and precious stones. Ag... [ Continue Reading ]
8_And let them make me a sanctuary. _By first setting before them an inestimable recompense, God stirs up the people to give largely; for, although liberality is praised by all as a most excellent virtue, yet no one willingly deprives himself of his own to bestow it upon others, since all think that... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony. _The title of “the testimony_, _” which is often given to the law, indicates that something more is contained in it than the rule of a just and holy life; viz., the compact whereby God bound Himself to His people, and His people to Himself; therefor... [ Continue Reading ]
17_And thou shalt make a mercy-seat. _The primary root of the verb כפר, _caphar, _from whence this noun is derived, (128) is used for “to smear with pitch,” but in the Hiphil conjugation, it signifies either to expiate, or to purge, or to receive into favor; whence כפר, _copher, _is expiation, as we... [ Continue Reading ]
18_And thou shalt make two cherubims. _I have stated in my commentary on Genesis and elsewhere, (130) that there are various opinions respecting the word cherub; but that those approach most nearly to the truth who make the כ, _caph, _not a servile, but a radical letter, and take it generally for an... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Thou shalt also make a table. _The sentiment of a certain ancient bishop (134) is deservedly praised, who, when he sold the sacred vessels in the time of a famine, to relieve the distress of the poor, thus excused himself to the Church: “Our God, who does not eat or drink, has no need of patens... [ Continue Reading ]
31._And thou shalt make a candlestick. _God would have seven bright lamps burning day and night in the Tabernacle: _first, _that the people might know that they were directed by God Himself as to how they were to worship Him aright, and that a light was set before their eyes which might disperse all... [ Continue Reading ]
40_And look that thou make them. _He again inculcates, what we have already seen, that Moses should take care that all things were exactly modeled according to the original or pattern seen in the mount. But it is certain that it is not any mere vision which is here in question, but that the external... [ Continue Reading ]