Chapter XXXIX
lust as the walls of schools are seen studded witli pictorial flgures, by wliicli tlie cliildren, in a manner level to tlieir capacities and suited to arrest their volatile minds, are kept in constant and familiar renifmlirance of the lessons of piety and virtue ; so the taliernacle was intended Iiy its furniture and all its arrangements to .serve as a "sluwiow of good things to come." In this view, tlie minute description given In this chapter respecting the ark and mercy-seat, tlie table of showbread, the candlestick, the altar of incense, and the liolyoll, were of the greatest utility and importance; and though there are a few things that are merely ornamental appendages, .such as
Ver. 1-43. Garments of the Prie.sts. 1.. cloths of service—official robes. The epho<l of the liigh priest. Die
rolie of the ephod, the gircile of needlework and the broidered coat were all of fine linen; for on no material less delicate could such elaborate symbolical flgures hn.\e been portrayed in embroider.v, and all l)eautifled with the same brilliant colours. (See on ch. 2.S.) 3. cut tlic gold into wires to work it— i. c, the metal was bentcii with a hammer into f liin plates—cut witli scissors or some other instrument into long slips—then rounded into filaments or threads. " Cloth of golden tissue is not uncommon on the monuments, and specimens of it liave been found
tlie knops and the flowers, yet, in iiitrodu<'iiiK these Into the tabernacle, God displayed the same M isilom andgoodness as He has done by introducing real Howers into the kingdom of nature to engage and gratify the eye of man.
rolled about mummies; but it Is not easy to determino whether the gold thread was originally illferv^oven or subsi(iuently inserted by the embroiderer." [Taylor.] 30. a writing, like to tl>o engrnvlngs of a signet—the seal-ring worn both by ancient and modern Eg.vptlivns on the little finger of the right h.-ind, contained, inscribed on a (•ornelian or other juccious stone, along with the owner's name, a religious sentiment or sacred symbol. Intimating that he was the servant of (Jod, or <-xpre.ss!ve of trust In Him. And it was to this practice the lns<-r!ptlon on the high priest alludes (ef. .Joshua 3. !!3\ 34. (]t« covering of rnms' skin dyed reil—(See eh. '2.5. 7). It was
CHAPTER XXXVIIT.
Ver. 1-31. Furniture of the Tap.ernacle! 1. Ilie nltar of burnt ofTering—The repetitions are continued.
In wliich may lie traced the e.vnct conformlt.v of the execution to the order. 8. laver of brass ... of the lonkIng-glnHxe* of the women—the word m/jTor.s should have been used, as those imiilemeiits, usually round, insert(>d Into a handle of wood, stone, or ineliil, were made of brass, silver, or bronze, highly polished. [Wilkinson.]
piol)al>ly red morocco li'ather, and "h»<lgcis' skins," rather "the skins of the /(i/)<i.ih, supposed lo be the dii-
It was customary for the Kgyptlan women tocarry mirrors
goiig, or dolphin of the lied Sea, the skin of which ts
witli them to the temples; and whether by taking the looking-glasses of the Hebrew women Moses designed to
still used by the Arabs under the same appcllntuiti."
Hioss.l 4.3. nioses did look upon nil the work, nud, bcliold, tiiey liail done It as <he Lord had eoiiiiitiinded —A formal Inspection was made on the completion of liij
put It out of their power to follow a similar practice at
Xlxn tubernacle, or whether the supply of brass from other
TABTEMI^^ACILIE IK TME WllLmiElRH".E§ §
With tke Court of the Tabernacle Tjco d XW ^-^TT.
TAiB K ]R JUA€Ij]E ir N 1' © V IE ffi K B , Kxod.XXI'V/
A TluPlarr B r/ie iiiost ffolu or Nn/i/ tfHo/ies
The Tabernacle Set up. EXODUS XL. A Cloud Covereth U.
taberna Me, not only with a view to have the work transferred fr m the charge of the workmen, but to ascertain whether it corresponded with "the pattern." The result of a careful and minute survey showed that every plank, curtain, altar, and vase had been most accurately made of the form, and in the place designed hy the Divine architect—and Moses, in accepting it of their hands, thanked God for them, and begged Him to bless them.
or any article of furniture was so much as singed. 35, Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation-How does this clrcum-stance show the incapacity of man, in his present state, to look upon tho unveiled perfections of the Godhead ! Moses could not endure the unclouded effulgence, nor the sublimest of the prophets (Isaiah 6. 5). But what neither Moses nor the most eminent of God's messengers to the ancient church through the weakness of nature could endure, we can all now do by an exercise of faith ; looking unto Jesus, who reflected with chastened radiance the brightness of the Father's glory; and who, having as the Forerunner for us, entered within tlie veil, has invited us to come lioldly to the mercy-seat. While Moses was compelled, through the influence of overwhelming awe, to stand aloof, and could not enter tlie tabernacle, Clirist entered Into the holy place not made with hands; nay, He is himself tlie true tabernacle, filled with the glory of God, ever with the grace and truth which the Shechinah typified. What reason have we to thank God for Jesus Christ, who-, while He himself was the brightness of the Father's glory, yet exliibited that glory in so mild and attractive a manner, as to allure us to draw near with confidence and love into the Divine presence! 36. wlken the clond was taken up from over tlie tabernacle—In journeying through the sandy trackless deserts of the East, the use of torclies, exhibiting a cloud of smoke by day and of fire by night, has been resorted to from time immemorial. The armies of Darius and Alexander were conducted on their marches in this manner. [Faber.] The Arab caravans in the present day observe the same cvistom; and materials for these torches are stored up among other necessary preparations for a journey. Live fu<4, hoisted in chafing-dishes at the end of long poles, and being seen at a great distance, serves, by the smoke in the daytime and the light at night, as a better signal for march than the sound of a trumpet, which is not lieard at the extremities of a large camp. [Laborde.] This usage, and the miracle related by Moses, mutually illustrate each other. The usage leads us to think that the miracle was necessary, and worthy of God to perform ; and, on the other hand, the miracle of the cloudy pillar, aft'ording double benefit of shade by day and light at night, implies not only that .the usage was not unknown to the Hebrews, but supplied all the wants wliicli they felt in common with other travellers through those dreary regions. [Faber, Hess, Grandpiekre.] But its peculiar appearance, unvarying character, and regular movements, distinguished it from all the common atmospheric phenomena. It was an invaluable boon to the Israelites, and being recognized by all clas.ses among that people as the symbol of the Divine presence, it guided their Journeys and regulated their encampments (cf. Psalms 29., 105). 38. the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle, &C. While it had Iiitherto appeared sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, it was now found on the tabernacle only; so that from the moment that sanctuary was erected, and the glory of the Lord liad filled the sacred