XXV. THE GIFTS WHICH MIGHT BE GIVEN FOR THE TABERNACLE AND THE PRIESTS’ DRESSES. (2) SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THAT THEY bring ME AN OFFERING. — God, being about to command the construction of a dwelling for Himself, such as the circumstances of the case allowed, prefaced His directions con... [ Continue Reading ]
GOLD, AND SILVER, AND BRASS. — The Israelites had brought out of Egypt (1) their ancestral wealth — the possessions of Abraham and the accumulations of Joseph, and (2) the rich gifts received from the Egyptians at the moment of their departure. They had added to their wealth by the plunder of the Am... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BLUE, AND PURPLE, AND SCARLET. — The colours intended are probably a dark blue produced from indigo, which was the only blue known to the Egyptians, a purplish crimson derived from the _murex trunculus,_ the main source of the “Tyrian dye” of the ancients, and a scarlet furnished by the _coccus... [ Continue Reading ]
RAMS’ SKINS DYED RED. — North Africa has always been celebrated for the production of the best possible leather. Herodotus describes the manufacture of his own times (_Hist. iv._ 189). Even at the present day, we bind our best books in _morocco._ Brilliant colours always were, and still are, affecte... [ Continue Reading ]
OIL FOR THE LIGHT. — It is assumed that the “sanctuary,” which is to be built (Exodus 25:8), will need to be lighted. Oil therefore is to be provided for the lighting. Later on (Exodus 27:20) it is laid down that the oil must be “pure olive oil beaten.” SPICES FOR ANOINTING OIL. — Rather, _for the a... [ Continue Reading ]
ONYX STONES. — The Hebrew _shoham_ is rendered here by “sard” (LXX.), “sardonyx” (Vulg. And Josephus), and “beryl” (Rosenmüller and others). In Job 28:16, the same word is rendered by the LXX. “onyx.” There is thus considerable doubt what stone is meant. Only three such stones seem to have been requ... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SANCTUARY AND ITS CONTENTS. (8) LET THEM MAKE ME A SANCTUARY. — The enumeration of the gifts (Exodus 25:3) has been subordinate to this. Hitherto Israel had had no place of worship, no structure dedicated to God. God now brings this state of things to an end, by requiring them to “make him a san... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PATTERN. — It has been maintained that God shewed to Moses (1) a material structure, furnished with material objects, as the model which he was to follow in making the Tabernacle and its appurtenances; (2) A pictorial representation of the whole; (3) a series of visions in which the forms were r... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ARK. (10) THEY SHALL MAKE AN ARK. — _Arôn,_ the word here rendered “ark,” is an entirely different word from that previously so translated in Genesis 6:14; Exodus 2:3, which is _tebah. Arôn_ is properly a chest or coffer of small dimensions, used to contain money or other valuables (2 Kings 12:9... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT OVERLAY IT WITH PURE GOLD. — It is possible, but scarcely probable, that gilding is intended. Gilding was well known in Egypt long before the time of Moses, and may have been within the artistic powers of some of the Hebrews. But it is a process requiring much apparatus, and less likely t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR RINGS OF GOLD. — Though the ark was not to be carried in procession, like Egyptian arks, yet it would have to be carried when the Israelites resumed their journeyings. The four rings were made to receive the two “staves_”_ or poles by which the ark was to be borne at such times on the shoulders... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STAVES... SHALL NOT BE TAKEN FROM IT. — The staves were to remain always in the rings, whether the ark was in motion or at rest, that there might never at any time be a necessity for touching the ark itself, or even the rings. He who touched the ark imperilled his life. (See 2 Samuel 6:6.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TESTIMONY WHICH I SHALL GIVE THEE. — The two tables of stone were called “the Testimony” (comp. Exodus 16:34), as being God’s witness against sin (Deuteronomy 31:26). As containing them, the ark was called “the ark of the testimony” (Exodus 25:22; Exodus 26:34; Exodus 30:6; Exodus 30:26, &c.; Nu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MERCY SEAT. (17) A MERCY SEAT. — Those critics to whom the idea of expiation is unsatisfactory, as Knobel and Gesenius, render _kapporeth,_ the word here used, by _“_lid” or “cover.” _Kaphar,_ it may be Admitted, has the physical meaning of “to cover” (Genesis 6:14); but _kipper,_ the Piel form... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO CHERUBIMS. — “Cherubims,” or rather _cherubim,_ had been known previously in one connection only — they had been the guardians of Eden when Adam and Eve were driven forth from it (Genesis 3:24). It is generally allowed that in that passage, as in most others where the word occurs, living beings,... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE MERCY SEAT SHALL YE MAKE THE CHERUBIMS. — The meaning seems to be that the cherubims were not to be detached images, made separately, and then fastened to the mercy seat, but to be formed out of the same mass of gold with the mercy seat, and so to be part and parcel of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHERUBIMS SHALL STRETCH FORTH THEIR WINGS ON HIGH. — The two wings of both cherubs were to be elevated and advanced so as to overshadow the mercy seat, and, as it were, protect it. In the Egyptian figures of Ma, one wing only has this position, the other being depressed and falling behind the fi... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WILL I MEET WITH THEE. — The place of the _Shechinah,_ or visible manifestation of God’s presence, was to be between the two cherubim over the mercy seat. There God would meet His people, “to speak there unto them” (Exodus 29:42), either literally, as when He answered inquiries of the high pri... [ Continue Reading ]
OF SHITTIM WOOD. — See the last Note on Exodus 25:5. No other wood was to be employed, either for the sanctuary itself, or for its furniture.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD. (23-30) THOU SHALT ALSO MAKE A TABLE. — The ark and mercy seat, which covered it, constituted the entire furniture of the inner sanctuary, or “Holy of Holies” (Exodus 40:20). When this had been shown to Moses the next thing to be done was to set before him the furniture of th... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT OVERLAY IT... — Like the ark (Exodus 25:11), and the altar of incense (Exodus 30:3), the table was to be overlaid with plates of gold. It was a species of altar, on which lay offerings to God, and, being close to the Divine Presence, required to be made of the best materials. A CROWN OF... [ Continue Reading ]
A BORDER OF A HAND-BREADTH. — Rather, _a band,_ or _framing._ The representation of the table of shewbread on the Arch of Titus at Rome gives the best idea of this “band_”_ or framing. It was a flat bar about midway between the top of the table and its feet, connecting the four legs together, and so... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR RINGS. — Compare Exodus 25:12. The table, like the ark, would have to be carried from place to place. Though it was less sacred than the ark, still provision was made for carrying it by means of staves and rings. THE FOUR CORNERS THAT ARE ON THE FOUR FEET. — Rather, _that are at the four feet.... [ Continue Reading ]
OVER AGAINST THE BORDER SHALL THE RINGS BE. — Rather, _opposite the band,_ or _framing._ The meaning is not very clear. If the framing had been at the bottom of the legs, we might have understood that the rings were attached to the table opposite the places where the “framing_”_ was inserted into th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISHES THEREOF... — The “dishes” of the shewbread table were probably large bowls in which the loaves or “cakes” were brought to the table. Such bowls are common in the Egyptian wall decorations. The so-called “spoons” were small pots in which the incense was put (Leviticus 24:7) and burnt. Two... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT SET UPON THE TABLE SHEWBREAD BEFORE ME ALWAY. — For a detailed account of the arrangement of the shewbread see Leviticus 24:5. The Hebrew expression translated “shewbread” is literally, “bread of face,” or “bread of presence” — bread, that is, which was set forth always before the presenc... [ Continue Reading ]
OF BEATEN WORK. — Like the cherubim. (See Note on Exodus 25:18.) HIS BOWLS, HIS KNOPS, AND HIS FLOWERS. — Rather, _its cups, its pomegranates, and its blossoms._ The “cups_”_ are afterwards said to be “like almonds” (Exodus 25:33), _i.e.,_ almond blossoms. SHALL BE OF THE SAME — _i.e., “_of one pi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK. (31-39) The golden candlestick, like the table of shewbread, was represented on the Arch of Titus, and the careful copy made under the direction of Reland in 1710, and published in his work, _De Spoliis Templi,_ gives probably the best idea that can be formed of it. It was co... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE BOWLS MADE LIKE UNTO ALMONDS. — Or, _three cups like almond blossoms._ It is not quite clear if these were consecutive, or if each cup held a “knop” (pomegranate), on which followed a (lily) blossom. On the whole Reland’s representation accords best with the latter view. IN THE OTHER BRANCH.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE CANDLESTICK. — By “the candlestick” in this place must be meant the central shaft or stem, which is viewed as that whereto all the rest is accessory. Here the triple series was to be repeated four times.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT MAKE THE SEVEN LAMPS THEREOF. — Literally, _thou shalt make its lamps seven._ Each branch, as well as the stem, was to have its own lamp. The Arch of Titus shows them to us as hemi-spherical bowls. THEY SHALL LIGHT. — See Note on Exodus 25:31, and comp. Exodus 27:21; Exodus 30:8; Levitic... [ Continue Reading ]
TONGS... SNUFFDISHES. — “Tongs,” or pincers, were required for trimming the wicks of the lamps, and removing loose portions; “snuffdishes” for receiving the fragments thus removed.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF A TALENT OF PURE GOLD. — There are various estimates of the value and weight of the Hebrew gold talent, but none of them places it much below £4,000 of our money. Some carry the estimate as high as £10,000 or £11,000. SHALL HE MAKE IT. — “He” refers to the artificer by whom the candlestick would... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THEIR PATTERN. — Comp, Exodus 25:9.... [ Continue Reading ]