Commentary on Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Complete John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
been altogether propitiated to us by the sacrifices of His only-begotten Son, and has remitted our sins. But although Christ was once offered, that by that one offering He might consecrate us for ever to God, yet by this daily sacrifice under the Law, we learn that by the benefit of His death pardon is always ready for us, as Paul says 575 that God continually reconciles Himself to the Church when He sets before it the sacrifice of Christ in the Gospel As to the word minha, 576 although it is derived from,נחהnachah, which means to offer, still we must consider it to be peculiarly applied to this oblation, which was a kind of appendix to the daily sacrifice. There are some, too, who restrict it to the evening sacrifice alone, but, when it is used in connection with victims, it is also extended generally to other offerings.
42. At the door of the tabernacle 577 of the congregation. This passage shews us in what sense the wordמועדmogned, is used, when it is employed in connection with the tabernacle. Some translate it "testimony:" others, "church:" others, "assembly," (conventum;) others, "appointment," (constitutum;) but its etymology is sufficiently shewn in this passage; for, when Moses gives the reason of its appellation, he uses the wordיגדyagnad, from whence it is derived. What, then, is the tabernacle of the convention? God Himself answers, that it is the place which He has chosen and appointed unto His people, that they may there mutually come to agreement with each other. Some conceive its root to be,עדהgnadah, which is to make protestation as by a solemn rite; but since this is opposed to grammar, I will take what is certain. The wordיעדyagnad, in this construction, means to contract or agree with another, or at least to meet for the transaction of mutual business; no word, therefore, has appeared to me more nearly equivalent to it than convention; for the fact that God invited them to familiar colloquy, was of the greatest weight in preserving the modest reverence of the faithful towards the priests. In the next verse He repeats to them, addressing them in the third person, that whosoever shall desire to be reckoned among the Israelites, should not turn away or wander elsewhere; for a law is laid down for all the children of Israel, that they should seek God there. Another confirmation is subjoined, i.e., that this place ought to be sanctified, because God will there magnificently display His glory. In fine,
The reference here is to 2 Corinthians 7:2, a misprint, I presume, for 6:2.
,מנחהA. V., "meat offering." In deriving this word from,,נחהC. follows S. M.; but later lexicographers observe that this verb means to go or lead, and not to offer; while they tell us that the rootמנחhas been preserved in Arabic, and signifies to give freely. — W.
"Conventionis:" of the convention. — Lat.