ments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua ; and Moses went up into the mount of God.

14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; if any man have

any matters to do, let him come unto them.

15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount; and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

o c. 19. 9. p Lev. 9. 23. Num. 14. 10. 9 Deut. 4. 36. Ez. 1. 27. Nah. 1. 6. Hab. 3. 4, 5. Heb. 12. 18, 29.

government he would leave behind him when he went up into the mount, that he might not have that to distract his mind; and yet he would not leave the people as sheep having no shepherd, no, not for a few days. Good princes find their government a constant care, and their people find it a constant blessing. 2. He took Joshua up with him into the mount, v. 13. Joshua was his minister, and it would be a satisfaction to him to have him with him as a companion, during the six days that he tarried in the mount, before God called to him. Joshua was to be his successor, and therefore thus he was honoured before the people, above the rest of the elders, that they might afterward the more readily take him for their governor; and thus he was prepared for service, by being trained up in communion with God. Joshua was a type of Christ, and (as the learned Bishop Pearson well observes) Moses takes him with him into the mount, because, without Jesus, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, there is no looking into the secrets of Heaven, nor approaching the glorious presence of God. 3. A cloud covered the mount six days; a visible token of God's special presence there, for he so shows himself to us, as, at the same time to conceal himself from us. He lets us know so much as to assure us of his presence, power, and grace, but intimates to us that we cannot find him cut to perfection. During these six days, Moses stayed waiting upon the mountain for a call into the presence-chamber, v. 15, 16. God thus tried the patience of Moses, and his obedience to that command, (v. 12,) Be there. If Moses had been tired before the seventh day, (as Saul, 1 Sam. 13. 8, 9,) and had said, What should I wait for the Lord any longer, he had lost the honour of entering into the cloud; but communion with God is worth waiting for. And it is fit we should address ourselves to solemn ordinances with a solemn pause, taking time to compose ourselves, Ps. 108. 1.

II. He is called up into the cloud, on the seventh day, probably on the sabbath day, v. 16. Now the thick cloud opened in the sight of all Israel, and the glory of the Lord brake forth like devouring fire, v. 17. God, even our God, is a consuming fire, and so he was pleased to manifest himself in the giving of the law; that, knowing the terrors of the Lord, we may be persuaded to obey, and may by them be prepared for the comforts of the Gospel, and that the grace and truth which come by Jesus Christ may be the more acceptable.

Now, 1. The entrance of Moses into the cloud was very wonderful; Moses went into the midst of the cloud, v. 18. It was an extraordinary presence of mind, which the grace of God furnished him with by six days' preparation, else he durst not have ventured into the cloud, especially when it brake out in devouring fire. Moses was sure that he who called him would protect him; and even those glorious attributes of God, which are most terrible to the wicked, the saints with a humble reverence rejoice in. He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly, is able to dwell even with this devouring fire, as we are.told, Is. 33. 14, 15. There are persons and works that will abide the fire, 1 Cor. 3. 12, &c. and some that will have confidence before God.

2. His continuance in the cloud was no less wonderful; he was there forty days and forty nights. It should seem, the six days (v. 16) were not part of the forty; for, during those six days Joshua was with Moses, who did eat of the manna, and drink of the brook, mentioned, Deut. 9. 21, and, while they were together, it is probable that Moses did eat and drink with him; but when Moses was called into the midst of the cloud, he left Joshua without, who continued to eat and drink daily while he waited for Moses's return, but from thenceforward Moses fasted. Doubtless God could have said what he had now to say to Moses in one day, but, for the greater solemnity of the thing, he kept him with him in the mount forty days and forty nights. We are hereby taught to spend much time in communion with God, and to think that time best spent which is so spent. They that would get the knowledge of God's will must meditate thereon day and night.

CHAPTER XXV.

At this chapter begins an account of the orders and instructions God gave to Moses upon the mount, for the erecting and furnishing of a tabernacle to the honour of God. We have here, 1. Orders given for a collection to be made among the people for this purpose, v. 1-9. 11. Particular instructions, 1. Concerning the ark of the covenant, v. 10-22. 2. The table of show-bread, v. 23-30. 3. The golden candlestick, v. 31-40.

A 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they ND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly "with his heart ye shall take my offering. 3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,

4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,

5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim-wood,

6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

7 Onyx-stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

r c. 34. 28. Deut. 9. 9. ⚫ take for me. tor, heave-offering. a 2 Cor. 8. 12. 9. 1 or, silk.

7.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XXV.

V. 1-9. We may suppose that when Moses went into the midst of the cloud and abode there so long, where the holy angels attended the Shechinah, or Divine Majesty, he saw and heard very glorious things relating to the upper world, but they were things which it was not lawful or possible to utter; and therefore, in the records he kept of the transactions there, he said nothing to satisfy the curiosity of those who would intrude into the things which they have not seen, but writes that only which he was to speak to the children of Israel. For the scripture is designed to direct us in our duty, not to fill our heads with speculations, or to please our fancies.

In these verses, God tells Moses his intention, in general, that the children of Israel should build him a sanctuary, for he designed to dwell among them, (v. 8;) and some think that, though there were altars and groves used for religious worship, before this, yet there never was any house, or temple, built for sacred uses in any nation, before this tabernacle was erected by Moses; and that all the temples which were afterward so much celebrated among the heathen took rise from this, and pattern by it. God had chosen the people of Israel to be a peculiar people to himself, (above all people,) among whom divine revelation, and a religion according to it, should be lodged and established: he himself would be their King. As their King, he had already given them laws for the government of themselves, and their dealings one with another, with some general rules for religious worship, according to the light of reason and the law of nature, in the ten commandments, and the following comments upon them. But this was not thought sufficient to distinguish them from other nations, or to answer to the extent of that covenant which God would make with them to be their God, and therefore he orders a royal palace to be set up among them for himself, here called a sanctuary, or holy place, or habitation, of which it is said, (Jer. 17. 12,) A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. This sanctuary is to be considered, 1. As ceremonial; consonant to the other institutions of that dispensation, which consisted in carnal ordinances, (Heb. 9. 10;) hence it is called a worldly sanctuary, Heb. 9. 1. God in it kept his court as Israel's King. (1.) There he manifested his presence among them, and it was intended for a sign or token of his presence, that, while they had that in the midst of them, they might never again ask, Is the Lord among us or not? And because in the wilderness they dwelt in tents, even this royal palace was ordered to be a tabernable too, that it might move with them, and might be an instance of the condescension of the divine favour. (2.) There he ordered his subjects to attend him with their homage and tribute. Thither they must come to consult his oracles, thither they must bring their sacrifices, and there all Israel must meet, to pay their joint respects to the God of Israel. 2. As typical; the holy places made with hands were the figures of the true, Heb. 9. 24. The Gospel church is the true tabernacle which the Lord hath pitched, and not man, Heb. 8. 2. The body of Christ, in and by which he made atonement, was the greater and more perfect tabernacle, Heb. 9. 11. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, as in a tabernacle.

Now, when Moses was to erect this palace, it was requisite that he should first be instructed where he must have the materials, and where he must have the model; for he could neither contrive it by his own ingenuity, nor build it at his own charge, he is therefore directed here concerning both.

I. The people must furnish him with the materials, not by a tax imposed upon them, but by a voluntary contribution. This is the first thing concerning which orders are here given; (v. 2,) Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering; and there was all the reason in the world that they should, for, 1. It was God himself that had not only enlarged them, but enriched them with the spoils of the Egyptians; he had instructed them to borrow, and he had inclined the Egyp tians to lend, so that from him they had their wealth, and

8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. 10 And they shall make an ark of shittim-wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold; within and without thou shalt overlay it, and shall make upon it a crown of gold round about.

12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof: and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.

13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim-wood, and overlay them with gold.

14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.

15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.

& 2 Cor. 6. 16. Rev. 21. 3. c Heb. 8. 5. d Heb. 9. 4. e c. 16. 34. 31. 18. 34. 29. Num. 17. 4. Deut. 10. 2, 5. 1 Kings 8. 9. 2 Kings 11. 12. 2 Chr. 34. 14. Rom. 3. 2. Heb. 9. 4. f c. 37. 6. 40. 20. Lev. 16. 13. Rom. 3. 25. Heb. 9. 5.

17 And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy-seat.

19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end; even of the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.

20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

21 And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

or, of the matter of the mercy-seat. g 2 Chr. 3. 10. h c. 26. 34. i ver. 16. k c. 30. 6. Lev. 16. 2. Num. 7. 89. 17. 4. 1 Sam. 4. 4. 2 Sam. 6. 2. 2 Kings 19. 15, Ps. 80. 1. 99. 1. Is. 37. 16.

is more fully represented under the notion of a new Jerusalem than under the notion of new heavens and a new earth.

V. 10-22. The first thing which is here ordered to be made, is, the ark with its appurtenances, the furniture of the most holy place, and the special token of God's presence; the tabernacle was erected to be the receptacle of that.

This offering must be given willingly, and with the heart, that is, (1.) It was not prescribed to them what or how much they must give, but it was left to their generosity, that they might show their good will to the house of God and the offices thereof, and might do it with a holy emulation, the zeal of a few provoking many, 2 Cor. 9. 2. We should ask not only, What must we do?" but, "What may we do for God?" (2.) Whatever they gave they must give it cheerfully, not grudgingly, and with reluctance, for God loves a cheerful giver, 2 Cor. 9. 7. What is laid out in the service of God we must reckon well bestowed.

The particulars are here mentioned which they must offer; (v. 3-7,) all of them things that there would be occasion for in the tabernacle, or the service of it. Some observe that here was gold, silver, and brass provided, but no iron; that is the military metal, and this was to be a house of peace. Every thing that was provided was very rich and fine, and the best of the sort; for God, who is the best, should have the best. II. God himself would furnish him with the model, (v. 9,) According to all that I show thee. God showed him an exact plan of it in miniature, which he must conform to in all points. Thus Ezekiel saw in vision the form of the house and the fashion thereof, Ez. 43. 11. Note, Whatsoever is done in God's service must be done by his direction, and not otherwise. Yet God did not only show him the model, but gave him also directions how to frame the tabernacle, according to that model, in all the parts of it, which he goes over distinctly in this and the following chapters. When Moses, in the beginning of Genesis, was to describe the creation of the world, though it is such a stately and curious fabric, and made up of such a variety and vast number of particulars, yet he gave a very short and general account of it, and nothing compared with what the wisdom of this world would have desired and expected from one that wrote by divine revelation; but when he comes to describe the tabernacle, he does it with the greatest niceness and accuracy imaginable. He that gave us no account of the lines and circles of the globe, the diameter of the earth, or the height and magnitude of the stars, has told us particularly the measure of every board and curtain of the tabernacle; for God's church and instituted religion are more precious to him and more considerable than all the rest of the world. And the scriptures were written, not to describe to us the works of nature, a general view of which is sufficient to lead us to the knowledge and service of the Creator, but to acquaint us with the methods of grace, and those things which are purely matters of divine revelation. The blessedness of the future state VOL. I.-29

I. The ark itself was a chest or coffer, in which the two honourably deposited, and carefully kept. The dimensions of it are exactly ordered; if the Jewish cubit was, as some learned men compute, three inches longer than our half yard, (twentyone inches in all,) this chest or cabinet was about fifty-two inches long, thirty-one broad, and thirty-one deep. It was overlaid within and without with thin plates of gold. It had a crown, or cornice, of gold round it, with rings and staves to carry it with; and in it he must put the testimony, v. 10—16. The tables of the law are called the testimony, because God did in them testify his will: his giving them that law was in token of his favour to them; and their acceptance of it was in token of their subjection and obedience to him. This law was a testimony to them, to direct them in their duty, and would be a testimony against them, if they transgressed. The ark is called the ark of the testimony, (ch. 30. 6,) and the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, (Num. 10. 11,) or witness, Acts 7. 44. The Gospel of Christ is also called a testimony or witness, Matt. 24. 14. It is observable, 1. That the tables of the law were carefully preserved in an ark for the purpose; to teach us to make much of the word of God, and to hide it in our hearts, in our innermost thoughts, as the ark was placed in the holy of holies. It intimates likewise the care which Divine Providence ever did, and ever will, take, to preserve the records of divine revelation in the church, so that even in the latter days there shall be seen in his temple the ark of his testament. See Rev. 11. 19. 2. That this ark was the chief token of God's presence; which teaches us that the first and great evidence and assurance of God's favour is, the putting of his law in the heart. God dwells where that rules, Heb. 8. 10. 3. That provision was made for the carrying of this ark about with them in all their removes; which intimates to us, that wherever we go, we should take our religion along with us, always bearing about with us the love of the Lord Jesus and his law.

II. The mercy-seat was the covering of the ark or chest, made of solid gold, exactly to fit the dimensions of the ark, v. 17, 21. This propitiatory covering, as it might well be translated, was a type of Christ, the great Propitiation, whose satisfaction fully answers the demands of the law, covers our transgressions, and comes between us and the curse we deserve. Thus he is the end of the law for righteousness,

III. The cherubims of gold were fixed to the mercy-seat, and of a piece with it, and spread their wings over it, v. 18. It is supposed that these cherubims were designed to represent the holy angels, who always attended the Shechinah, or Divine Majesty, particularly at the giving of the law; not by any effigies of an angel, but some emblem of the angelical nature; probably some one of those four faces spoken of, Ez. 1. 10. Whatever the faces were, they looked one towards another, and both downward toward the ark, while their wings were stretched out so as to touch one another. The apostle calls them Cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy-seat, Heb. 9. 5. It denotes their attendance upon the Redeemer, to whom they were ministering spirits, their readiness to do his will, their special presence in the assemblies of saints, (Ps. 68. 17. 1 Cor. 11. 10,) and their desire to look into the mysteries of the Gospel, which they diligently contemplate, 1 Pet. 1. 12. God is said to dwell, or sit, between the cherubims, on the mercy-seat, ( 225 )

24 And thou shalt overlay it with "pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. 25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand-breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. 26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.

27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.

28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittimwood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.

29 And thou shalt make the "dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal; of pure gold shalt thou make them.

30 And thou shalt set upon the table show-bread before me alway.

31 And thou shalt make a "candlestick of pure

34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.

35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.

36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all of it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.

37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof; and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuff-dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.

39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels,

40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount. CHAPTER XXVI.

32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:

33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop

I c. 37. 10. 1 Kings 7. 48. Heb. 9. 2. m 1 Kings 6. 20. n c. 37. 16. Num. 4. 7. or, to pour out withal. o Lev. 24, 5, 6. 1 Sam. 21. 6. Mal. 1. 7, 12. Matt. 12. 4. p c. 37, 17, 1 Kings 7. 49. 2 Chr. 13. 11. Zech. 4. 2. Heb. 9. 2. Rev. 1. 12.

There

(Ps. 80. 1,) and from thence he here promises, for the future, to meet with Moses, and to commune with him, v. 22. he would give law, and there he would give audience, as a Prince on his throne; and thus he manifests himself willing to be reconciled to us, and keep up communion with us, in and by the mediation of Christ. In allusion to this mercy-seat, we are said to come boldly to the throne of grace, (Heb. 4. 16,) for we are not under the law, that is covered, but under grace, that is displayed; its wings are stretched out, and we are invited to come under the shadow of them, Ruth 2. 12.

V. 23-30. Here is,

1. A table ordered to be made of wood overlaid with gold, which was to stand, not in the holy of holies, (nothing was in that but the ark with its appurtenances,) but in the outer part of the tabernacle, called the sanctuary, or holy place, Heb. 9.2. v. 23, &c. There must also be the usual furniture of the sideboard, dishes and spoons, &c. and all of gold, v. 29.

2. This table was to be always spread, and furnished with the show-bread, (v. 30,) or bread of faces, twelve loaves, one for each tribe, set in two rows, six in a row: see the law concerning them, Lev. 24. 5, &c. The tabernacle being God's house, in which he was pleased to say that he would dwell among them, he would show that he kept a good house. In the royal palace it was fit that there should be a royal table. Some make the twelve loaves to represent the twelve tribes, set before God as his people, and the corn of his floor, as they are called, Is. 21. 10. As the ark signified God's being present with them, so the twelve loaves signified their being presented to God. This bread was designed to be, (1.) A thankful acknowledgment of God's goodness to them, in giving them their daily bread, manna in the wilderness, where he prepared a table for them, and, in Canaan, the corn of the land. Hereby they owned their dependence upon Providence, not only for the corn in the field, which they gave thanks for in offering the sheaf of first-fruits, but for the bread in their houses, that, when it was brought home, God did not blow upon it, Hag. 1. 9. Christ has taught us to pray every day for the bread of the day. (2.) A token of their communion with God; this bread on God's table being made of the same corn with the bread on their own tables, God and Israel did, as it were, eat together, as a pledge of friendship and fellowship; he supped with them, and they with him. (3.) A type of the spiritual provision which is made in the church, by the Gospel of Christ, for all that are made priests to our God. In our father's house there is bread enough, and to spare, a loaf for every tribe. All that attend in God's house shall be abundantly satisfied with the goodness of it, Ps. 36. 8. Divine consolations are the continual feast of holy souls, notwithstanding there are those to whom the table of the Lord, and the meat thereof, (because it is plain bread,) are contemptible, Mal. 1. 12. Christ has a table in his kingdom, at which all his saints shall for ever eat and drink with him, Luke 22. 30.

tabernacle, and the coupling of those curtains, v. 1-6. II. Concerning the outer curtains, which were of goats' hair, to strengthen the former, v. 7-13. III. Concerning the case or cover which was to secure it from the weather, v. 14. IV. Concerning the boards which were to be reared up to support the curtains, with their bars and sockets, v. 15-30. V. The partition between the holy place and the most holy, v. 31-35. VI. The vail for the door, v, 36, 37. These particu lars, thus largely recorded, seem of little use to us now; yet having been of great use to Moses and Israel, and God having thought fit to preserve down to us the remembrance of them, we ought not to overlook them. Even the antiquity renders this account venerable.

MOREOVER, of fine twined linen, and

OREOVER, thou shalt make the tabernacle

Zech. 4. 2. Rev. 1. 4, 12. r c. 27. 20, 21. 30. 7, 8. Lev. 24. 3, 4. Num. 8.2.

Chr. 13. 11. or, cause to ascend. the face of it. c. 26. 30. Num. 8. 4.

1 Chr.28. 11. Acts 7. 44. Heb. 8. 5. Į which thou wast caused to see, a 1 Chr. 17. 1.

given concerning it show, 1. That it was very magnificent, and a great ornament to the place; it had many branches drawn from the main shaft, which had not only their bowls, (to put the oil and the kindled wick in,) for necessity, but knops and flowers, for ornament. 2. That it was very convenient, and admirably well contrived both to scatter the light and to keep the tabernacle clean from smoke and snuffs. 3. That it was very significant. The tabernacle had no windows by which to let in the light of the day, all its light was candlelight; which intimates the comparative darkness of that dispensation, while the Sun of righteousness was not as yet risen, nor had the Daystar from on high yet visited his church; yet God left not himself without witness, nor them without instruction; the commandment was a lamp, and the law a light, and the prophets were branches from that lamp, which gave light in their several ages to the Old-Testament church. The church is still dark, as the tabernacle was, in comparison with what it will be in heaven; but the word of God is the candlestick, a light shining in a dark place, (2 Pet. 1. 19;) and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. The Spirit of God, in his various gifts and graces, is compared to the seven lamps which burn before the throne, Rev. 4. 5. The churches are golden candlesticks, the lights of the world, holding forth the word of life, as the candlestick does the light, Phil. 2. 15, 16. Ministers are to light the lamps and snuff them, (v. 37,) by opening the scriptures. The treasure of this light is now put into earthen vessels, 2 Cor. 4. 6,7. The branches of the candlestick spread every way, to denote the diffusing of the light of the Gospel into all parts by the Christian ministry, Matt. 5. 14, 15. There is a diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit gives to each to profit withal.

Lastly, There is, in the midst of these instructions, an express caution given to Moses to take heed of varying from his model; (v. 40,) Make them after the pattern showed thee. Nothing was left to his own invention, or the fancy of the workmen, or the people's humour; but the will of God must be religiously observed in every particular. Thus, (1.) All God's providences are exactly according to his counsels, and the copy never varies from the original. Infinite Wisdom never changes its measures; whatever is purposed shall undoubtedly be performed. (2.) All his ordinances must be administered according to his institutions. Christ's instruction to his disciples, (Matt. 28. 20,) is like this here, Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XXVI.

one to another.

4 And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain, from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.

5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second, that the loops may take hold one of another.

6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches; and it shall be one tabernacle.

7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair,' to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

8 The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.

9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the fore front of the tabernacle.

10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.

11 And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the ttent together, that it may be one.

12 And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half-curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the back side of the tabernacle.

13 And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side, of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent ⚫ the work of a cunning workman or embroiderer. bc. 36. 14, &c. for, cover. ing. in the remainder or surplusage. § bands. c Num. 3.36. 4. 31, 32. grace, to his people's wants and necessities, according as they are; accommodating his mercy to their state, prosperous or adverse, settled or unsettled. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, Is. 43. 2. 2. That it might represent the state of God's church in this world, it is a tabernacle state, Ps. 15. 1. We have here no continuing city; being strangers in this world, and travellers towards a better, we shall never be fixed till we come to heaven. Church privileges are moveable goods from one place to another; the Gospel is not tied to any place; the candlestick is in a tent, and may easily be taken away, Rev. 2. 5. If we make much of the tabernacle, and improve the privilege of it, wherever we go it will accompany us; but, if we neglect and disgrace it, wherever we stay it will forsake us; What hath my beloved to do in my house? Jer.

11. 15.

Now, (1.) The curtains of the tabernacle were to be very rich, the best of the kind, fine twined linen; and colours very pleasing, blue, and purple, and scarlet. (2.) They were to be embroidered with cherubims, (v. 1,) to intimate that the angels of God pitch their tents round about the church, Ps. 34. 7. As there were cherubims over the mercy-seat, so there were round the tabernacle; for we find the angels compassing, not only the throne, but the elders; see Rev. 5. 11. (3.) There were to be two hangings, five breadths in each sewed together, and the two hangings coupled together with golden clasps, or tacks, so that it might be all one tabernacle, v. 6. Thus the churches of Christ and the saints, though they are many, yet they are one, being fitly joined together in holy love, and, by the unity of the Spirit, so growing into one holy temple in the Lord, Eph. 2. 21, 22.-4. 16. This tabernacle was very strait and narrow: but, at the preaching of the Gospel, the church is bid to enlarge the place of her tent, and to stretch forth her curtains, Is. 54. 2.

V. 7-14. Moses is here ordered to make a double covering for the tabernacle, that it might not rain in, and that the beauty of those fine curtains might not be damaged.

1. There was to be a covering of hair camlet curtains, which were somewhat larger every way than the inner curtains, because they were to enclose them, and probably were stretched out at some little distance from them, v. 7, &c. These were

of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.

15 And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim-wood standing up.

16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board. 17 Two Stenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make

for all the boards of the tabernacle.

18 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.

19 And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards: 21 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

23 And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

24 And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

25 And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

26 And thou shalt make bars of shittim-wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

27 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.

28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

29 And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.

dc. 27. 10. twined. e Ps. 133. 1. 1 Cor. 3. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 5. f Eph. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. c. 25. 9, 40. 27. 8. Acts 7. 44. Heb. 8. 5. 9. 23. coupled together with brass clasps. The stuff being less valuable, the tacks were so; but the brass tacks would answer the intention as effectually as the golden ones. The bonds of unity may be as strong between curtains of goats' hair as between those of purple and scarlet.

2. Over this there was to be another covering, and that a double one; (v. 14,) one of rams' skins dyed red, probably dressed with the wool on; another of badgers' skins, so we translate it; but it should rather seem to have been some strong sort of leather, (but very fine,) for we read of the best sort of shoes being made of it, Ez. 16. 10. Now observe here, (1.) That the outside of the tabernacle was coarse and rough, the beauty of it was in the inner curtains. Those in whom God dwells, must labour to be better than they seem to be. Hypocrites put the best side outward, like whited sepulchres; but the king's daughter is all glorious within, (Ps. 45. 13;) in the eye of the world, black as the tents of Kedar, but in the eye of God, comely as the curtains of Solomon, Cant. 1. 5. Let our adorning be that of the hidden man of the heart, which God values, 1 Pet. 3. 4. (2.) That where God places his glory, he will create a defence upon it; even upon the habitations of the righteous there shall be a covert, Is. 6. 5, 6. The protection of Providence shall always be upon the beauty of holiness. God's tent will be a pavilion, Ps. 27. 5.

V. 15-30. Very particular directions are here given about the boards of the tabernacle, which were to bear up the curtains, as the stakes of a tent, which had need to be strong, Is. 54. 2. These boards had tenons, which fell into the mortises, that were made for them in silver bases. God took care to have every thing strong, as well as fine, in his tabernacle. Curtains without boards would have been shaken by every wind; but it is a good thing to have the heart established with grace, which is as the boards to support the curtains of profession, which otherwise will not hold out long. The boards were coupled together with gold rings at top and bottom, (v. 24,) and kept firm with bars that ran through golden staples in every board, (v. 26;) and the boards and bars were all richly gilded, v. 29. Thus every thing in the tabernacle was very splendid, agreeable to that infant state of the church, when such things were proper

31 And thou shalt make a "vail of blue and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made.

32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim-wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

34 And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

35 And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on | the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

36 And thou shalt make an 'hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim-wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

CHAPTER XXVII.

In this chapter, directions are given, I. Concerning the brazen altar for burntof it, v. 9-19. III. Concerning oil for the lamp, v. 20, 21.

offerings, .1-9. II. Concerning the court of the tabernacle, with the hangings

AND thou shalt make a five cubits broad; the

ND thou shalt make an altar of shittim-wood,

altar shall be four-square; and the height thereof shall be three cabits.

2 And thou shalt make the 'horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his fleshhooks, and his fire-pans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.

4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of net-work of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof.

h c. 36. 35. Lev. 16. 2. 2 Chr. 3. 14. Matt. 27. 51. Heb. 9. 3, 8. 10. 20. i 1 Kings 8. 8-10, 2 Chr. 5. 7-10. k c. 40. 22. c. 36. 37. a c. 38. 1. 2 Chr. 4. 1. Ez. 43. 13. Heb. 13. 10. b c. 29. 12. Lev. 4. 7, 18. 16. 18. 1 Kings 1. 50. 2. 28. Ps. 118. 27. enough to please children, to possess the minds of the worshippers with a reverence of the divine glory, and to affect them with the greatness of that Prince who said, Here will I dwell; in allusion to this, the new Jerusalem is said to be of pure gold, Rev. 21. 18. But the builders of the Gospel church said, Silver and gold have we none; and yet the glory of their building far exceeded that of the tabernacle, 2 Cor. 3. 10, 11. How much better is wisdom than gold! No orders are given here about the floor of the tabernacle; probably, that also was boarded; for we cannot think that within all these fine curtains they trod upon the cold or wet ground; if it were so left, it may remind us of ch. 20. 24, An altar of earth shalt thou make

unto me.

V. 31-37. Two vails are here ordered to be made. 1. One for a partition between the holy place and the most holy which not only forbade any to enter, but forbade them so much as to look into the holiest of all, v. 31, 33. Under that dispensation, divine grace was vailed, but now we behold it with open face, 2 Cor. 3. 18. The apostle tells us, (Heb. 9. 8,) what was the meaning of this vail; it intimated that the ceremonial law could not make the comers thereunto perfect, nor would the observance of it bring men to heaven; the way into the holiest of all was not made manifest, while the first tabernacle was standing; life and immortality lay concealed, till they were brought to light by the Gospel; which was therefore signified by the rending of this vail at the death of Christ, Matt. 27. 51. We have now boldness to enter into the holiest, in all acts of devotion, by the blood of Jesus; yet such as obliges us to a holy reverence, and an humble sense of our distance. 2. Another vail was for the outer door of the tabernacle, v. 36, 37. Through this first vail the priests went in every day to minister in the holy place, but not the people, Heb. 9. 6. This vail was all the defence the tabernacle had against thieves and robbers, which might easily be broken through, for it could be neither locked nor barred, and the abundance of wealth in the tabernacle, one would think, might be a temptation; but by leaving it thus exposed, (1.) The priests and Levites would be so much the more obliged to keep a strict watch upon it, and, (2.) God would show his care of his church on earth, though it is weak and defenceless, and continually exposed. A curtain shall be (if God please to make it so) as strong a defence to his house, as gates of brass and bars of iron.

5 And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.

6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim-wood, and overlay them with brass.

7 And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.

8 Hollow with boards shalt thou make it; "as it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.

9 And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side.

10 And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.

11 And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

12 And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.

13 And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.

14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be the fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets

15 And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits their pillars three, and their sockets three.

16 And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

17 All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.

18 The length of the court shall be an hundred

c Heb. 6. 18. 1 Kings 7. 45. Jer. 52. 20. d c. 30. 4. Num. 4. 14. •he showed. e c. 26. 30, &c. Heb. 8. 5. c. 58. 9. 1 Kings 6. 36. 8. 64. Ps. 92. 13. Ez. 40. 20, &c. g c. 36. 37. A c. 28. 39. 39. 29. Ps. 45. 14.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XXVII.

V. 1-8. As God intended in the tabernacle to manifest his presence among his people, so there they were to pay their devotions to him, not in the tabernacle itself, (into that only the priests entered as God's domestic servants,) but in the court before the tabernacle, where, as common subjects, they attended. There an altar was ordered to be set up, to which they must bring their sacrifices, and on which their priests must offer them to God; and this altar was to sanctify their gifts; hence they were to present their services to God, as from the mercy-seat he gave his oracles to them; and thus a communion was settled between God and Israel. Moses is here directed about, 1. The dimensions of it; it was foursquare, v. 1. 2. The horns of it, (v. 2,) which were for ornament and for use; the sacrifices were bound with cords to the horns of the altar, and to them malefactors fled for refuge. 3. The materials; it was of wood overlaid with brass, v. 1, 2. 4. The appurtenances of it, (v. 3,) which were all of brass. 5. The grate, which was let into the hollow of the altar, about the middle of it, in which the fire was kept, and the sacrifice burnt; it was made of net-work like a sieve, and hung hollow, that the fire might burn the better, and that the ashes might fall through into the hollow of the altar, v. 4, 5. 6. The staves with which it must be carried, v. 6, 7. And, lastly, He is referred to the pattern showed him, v. 8.

Now this brazen altar was a type of Christ dying to make atonement for our sins: the wood had been consumed by the fire from heaven, if it had not been secured by the brass: nor could the human nature of Christ have borne the wrath of God, if it had not been supported by a divine power. Christ sanctified himself for his church, as their altar, (John 17. 19,) and by his mediation sanctifies the daily services of his people, who have also a right to eat of this altar, (Heb. 13. 10,) for they serve it as spiritual priests. To the horns of this altar poor sinners fly for refuge when justice pursues them, and there they are safe in the virtue of the sacrifice there offered.

V. 9-19. Before the tabernacle there was to be a court or yard, enclosed with hangings, of the finest linen that was used for tents. This court, according to the common computation of cubits, was fifty yards long, and twenty-five broad. Pillars were set up at convenient distances, in sockets of brass, the pillars filleted with silver, and silver tenter-hooks in them, on