mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 39.xml

<div2 id="Ex.xl" n="xl" next="Ex.xli" prev="Ex.xxxix" progress="50.27%" title="Chapter XXXIX">
<h2 id="Ex.xl-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.xl-p0.2">CHAP. XXXIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.xl-p1">This chapter gives us an account of the finishing
of the work of the tabernacle. I. The last things prepared were the
holy garments. The ephod and its curious girdle, <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.1-Exod.39.5" parsed="|Exod|39|1|39|5" passage="Ex 39:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. The onyx-stones for the shoulders,
<scripRef id="Ex.xl-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.6-Exod.39.7" parsed="|Exod|39|6|39|7" passage="Ex 39:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>. The breastplate
with the precious stones in it, <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.8-Exod.39.21" parsed="|Exod|39|8|39|21" passage="Ex 39:8-21">ver.
8-21</scripRef>. The robe of the ephod, <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.22-Exod.39.26" parsed="|Exod|39|22|39|26" passage="Ex 39:22-26">ver. 22-26</scripRef>. The coats, bonnets, and
breeches, for the inferior priests, <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.27-Exod.39.29" parsed="|Exod|39|27|39|29" passage="Ex 39:27-29">ver. 27-29</scripRef>. And the plate of the holy
crown, <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.30-Exod.39.31" parsed="|Exod|39|30|39|31" passage="Ex 39:30,31">ver. 30, 31</scripRef>. II.
A summary account of the whole work, as it was presented to Moses
when it was all finished, <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.32-Exod.39.43" parsed="|Exod|39|32|39|43" passage="Ex 39:32-43">ver.
32</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.xl-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39" parsed="|Exod|39|0|0|0" passage="Ex 39" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xl-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.1-Exod.39.31" parsed="|Exod|39|1|39|31" passage="Ex 39:1-31" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.39.1-Exod.39.31">
<h4 id="Ex.xl-p1.10">The Tabernacle and Its
Furniture. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p1.11">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xl-p2">1 And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they
made cloths of service, to do service in the holy <i>place,</i> and
made the holy garments for Aaron; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p2.1">Lord</span> commanded Moses.   2 And he made the
ephod <i>of</i> gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine
twined linen.   3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates,
and cut <i>it into</i> wires, to work <i>it</i> in the blue, and in
the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, <i>with</i>
cunning work.   4 They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple
<i>it</i> together: by the two edges was it coupled together.
  5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that <i>was</i> upon
it, <i>was</i> of the same, according to the work thereof;
<i>of</i> gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined
linen; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p2.2">Lord</span> commanded Moses.
  6 And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold,
graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of
Israel.   7 And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod,
<i>that they should be</i> stones for a memorial to the children of
Israel; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p2.3">Lord</span> commanded Moses.
  8 And he made the breastplate <i>of</i> cunning work, like
the work of the ephod; <i>of</i> gold, blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen.   9 It was foursquare; they
made the breastplate double: a span <i>was</i> the length thereof,
and a span the breadth thereof, <i>being</i> doubled.   10 And
they set in it four rows of stones: <i>the first</i> row <i>was</i>
a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this <i>was</i> the first row.
  11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a
diamond.   12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an
amethyst.   13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a
jasper: <i>they were</i> inclosed in ouches of gold in their
inclosings.   14 And the stones <i>were</i> according to the
names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names,
<i>like</i> the engravings of a signet, every one with his name,
according to the twelve tribes.   15 And they made upon the
breastplate chains at the ends, <i>of</i> wreathen work <i>of</i>
pure gold.   16 And they made two ouches <i>of</i> gold, and
two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the
breastplate.   17 And they put the two wreathen chains of gold
in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.   18 And the
two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two
ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it.
  19 And they made two rings of gold, and put <i>them</i> on
the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which
<i>was</i> on the side of the ephod inward.   20 And they made
two <i>other</i> golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the
ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the
<i>other</i> coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the
ephod.   21 And they did bind the breastplate by his rings
unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be
above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate
might not be loosed from the ephod; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p2.4">Lord</span> commanded Moses.   22 And he made the
robe of the ephod <i>of</i> woven work, all <i>of</i> blue.  
23 And <i>there was</i> an hole in the midst of the robe, as the
hole of an habergeon, <i>with</i> a band round about the hole, that
it should not rend.   24 And they made upon the hems of the
robe pomegranates <i>of</i> blue, and purple, and scarlet,
<i>and</i> twined <i>linen.</i>   25 And they made bells
<i>of</i> pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates
upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;
  26 A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round
about the hem of the robe to minister <i>in;</i> as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p2.5">Lord</span> commanded Moses.   27 And they
made coats <i>of</i> fine linen <i>of</i> woven work for Aaron, and
for his sons,   28 And a mitre <i>of</i> fine linen, and
goodly bonnets <i>of</i> fine linen, and linen breeches <i>of</i>
fine twined linen,   29 And a girdle <i>of</i> fine twined
linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, <i>of</i> needlework; as
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p2.6">Lord</span> commanded Moses.   30
And they made the plate of the holy crown <i>of</i> pure gold, and
wrote upon it a writing, <i>like to</i> the engravings of a signet,
HOLINESS TO THE LORD.   31 And they tied unto it a lace of
blue, to fasten <i>it</i> on high upon the mitre; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p2.7">Lord</span> commanded Moses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xl-p3">In this account of the making of the
priests' garments, according to the instructions given (ch. 28), we
may observe, 1. That the priests' garments are called here
<i>clothes of service,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.1" parsed="|Exod|39|1|0|0" passage="Ex 39:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. Note, Those that wear robes of honour must look upon
them as clothes of service; for from those upon whom honour is put
service is expected. It is said of those that are arrayed in white
robes that they <i>are before the throne of God, and serve him day
and night in his temple,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.13" parsed="|Rev|7|13|0|0" passage="Re 7:13">Rev. vii.
13, 15</scripRef>. Holy garments were not made for men to sleep in,
or to strut in, but to do service in; and then they are indeed for
glory and beauty. The Son of man himself <i>came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister.</i> 2. That all the six
paragraphs here, which give a distinct account of the making of
these holy garments, conclude with those words, <i>as the Lord
commanded Moses,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.5 Bible:Exod.39.7 Bible:Exod.39.21 Bible:Exod.39.26 Bible:Exod.39.29 Bible:Exod.39.31" parsed="|Exod|39|5|0|0;|Exod|39|7|0|0;|Exod|39|21|0|0;|Exod|39|26|0|0;|Exod|39|29|0|0;|Exod|39|31|0|0" passage="Ex 39:5,7,21,26,29,31"><i>v.</i> 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31</scripRef>.
The like is not in any of the foregoing accounts, as if in these,
more than any other of the appurtenances of the tabernacle, they
had a particular regard to the divine appointment, both for warrant
and for direction. It is an intimation to all the Lord's ministers
to make the word of God their rule in all their ministrations, and
to act in observance of and obedience to the command of God. 3.
That these garments, in conformity to the rest of the furniture of
the tabernacle, were very rich and splendid; the church in its
infancy was thus taught, thus pleased, with the rudiments of this
world; but now under the gospel, which is the ministration of the
Spirit, to affect and impose such pompous habits as the church of
Rome does, under pretence of decency and instruction, is to betray
<i>the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free,</i> and to
entangle the church again in the bondage of those carnal ordinances
which were imposed only till the time of reformation. 4. That they
were all shadows of good things to come, but the substance is
Christ, and the grace of the gospel; when therefore the substance
has come, it is a jest to be fond of the shadow. (1.) Christ is our
great high-priest; when he undertook the work of our redemption, he
put on the clothes of service—he arrayed himself with the gifts
and graces of the Spirit, which he received not by measure—girded
himself with the curious girdle of resolution, to go through with
his undertaking—charged himself with the curious girdle of
resolution, to go through with his undertaking—charged himself
with all God's spiritual Israel, bore them on his shoulders,
carried them in his bosom, laid them near his heart, engraved them
on the palms of his hands, and presented them in the breast-plate
of judgment unto his Father. And (lastly) he crowned himself with
<i>holiness to the Lord,</i> consecrating his whole undertaking to
the honour of his Father's holiness: now consider how great this
man is. (2.) True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen
with which all their clothes of service must be made is <i>the
righteousness of saints</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xl-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.19.8" parsed="|Rev|19|8|0|0" passage="Re 19:8">Rev. xix.
8</scripRef>), and <i>Holiness to the Lord</i> must be so written
upon their foreheads that all who converse with them may see, and
say, that they bear the image of God's holiness, and are devoted to
the praise of it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xl-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.32-Exod.39.43" parsed="|Exod|39|32|39|43" passage="Ex 39:32-43" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.39.32-Exod.39.43">
<h4 id="Ex.xl-p3.6">The Tabernacle Completed. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p3.7">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xl-p4">32 Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of
the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel
did according to all that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p4.1">Lord</span>
commanded Moses, so did they.   33 And they brought the
tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches,
his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,   34
And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of
badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,   35 The ark of
the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,  
36 The table, <i>and</i> all the vessels thereof, and the
showbread,   37 The pure candlestick, <i>with</i> the lamps
thereof, <i>even with</i> the lamps to be set in order, and all the
vessels thereof, and the oil for light,   38 And the golden
altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the
hanging for the tabernacle door,   39 The brazen altar, and
his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and
his foot,   40 The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his
sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his
pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the
tent of the congregation,   41 The cloths of service to do
service in the holy <i>place,</i> and the holy garments for Aaron
the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's
office.   42 According to all that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p4.2">Lord</span> commanded Moses, so the children of Israel
made all the work.   43 And Moses did look upon all the work,
and, behold, they had done it as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xl-p4.3">Lord</span> had commanded, even so had they done it:
and Moses blessed them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xl-p5">Observe here, I. The builders of the
tabernacle made very good despatch. It was not much more than five
months from the beginning to the finishing of it. Though there was
a great deal of fine work about it, such as is usually the work of
time, embroidering and engraving, not only in gold, but in precious
stones, yet they went through with it in a little time. Church-work
is usually slow work, but they made quick work of this, and yet did
it with the greatest exactness imaginable. For, 1. Many hands were
employed, all unanimous, and not striving with each other. This
expedited the business, and made it easy. 2. The workmen were
taught of God, and so were kept from making blunders, which would
have retarded them. 3. The people were hearty and zealous in the
work, and impatient till it was finished. God had prepared their
hearts, and then <i>the thing was done suddenly,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.36" parsed="|2Chr|29|36|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:36">2 Chron. xxix. 36</scripRef>. Resolution and
industry, and a cheerful application of mind, will, by the grace of
God, bring a great deal of good work to pass in a little time, in
less than one would expect.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xl-p6">II. They punctually observed their orders,
and did not in the least vary from them. They did it <i>according
to all that the Lord commanded Moses,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.32 Bible:Exod.39.42" parsed="|Exod|39|32|0|0;|Exod|39|42|0|0" passage="Ex 39:32,42"><i>v.</i> 32, 42</scripRef>. Note, God's work must be
done, in every thing, according to his own will. His institutions
neither need nor admit men's inventions to make them either more
beautiful or more likely to answer the intention of them. <i>Add
thou not unto his words.</i> God is pleased with willing worship,
but not with will-worship.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xl-p7">III. They brought all their work to Moses,
and submitted it to his inspection and censure, <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.33" parsed="|Exod|39|33|0|0" passage="Ex 39:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. He knew what he had ordered
them to make; and now the particulars were called over, and all
produced, that Moses might see both that they had made all,
omitting nothing, and that they had made all according to the
instructions given them, and that, if they had made a mistake in
any thing, it might be forthwith rectified. Thus they showed
respect to Moses, who was set over them in the Lord; not objecting
that Moses did not understand such work, and therefore that there
was no reason for submitting it to his judgment. No, that God who
gave them so much knowledge as to do the work gave them also so
much humility as to be willing to have it examined and compared
with the model. Moses was in authority, and they would pay a
deference to his place. <i>The spirit of the prophets is subject to
the prophets.</i> And besides, though they knew how to do the work
better than Moses, Moses had a better and more exact idea of the
model than they had, and therefore they could not be well pleased
with their own work, unless they had his approbation. Thus in all
the services of religion we should <i>labour to be accepted of the
Lord.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xl-p8">IV. Moses, upon search, found all done
according to the rule, <scripRef id="Ex.xl-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.39.43" parsed="|Exod|39|43|0|0" passage="Ex 39:43"><i>v.</i>
43</scripRef>. Moses, both for their satisfaction and for his own,
did look upon all the work, piece by piece, and behold they had
done it according to the pattern shown him, for the same Being that
showed him the pattern guided their hand in the work. All the
copies of God's grace exactly agree with the original of his
counsels: what God works in us, and by us, is the fulfilling of the
good pleasure of his own goodness; and when the mystery of God
shall be finished, and all his performances come to be compared
with his purposes, it will appear that behold all is done according
to the counsel of his own will, not one iota or tittle of which
shall fall to the ground, or be varied from.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xl-p9">V. Moses blessed them. 1. He commended
them, and signified his approbation of all they had done. He did
not find fault where there was none, as some do, who think they
disparage their own judgment if they do not find something amiss in
the best and most accomplished performance. In all this work it is
probable there might have been found here and there a stitch amiss,
and a stroke awry, which would have served for an over-curious and
censorious critic to animadvert upon; but Moses was too candid to
notice small faults where there were no great ones. Note, All
governors must be a praise to those that do well, as well as a
terror to evil-doers. Why should any take a pride in being hard to
be pleased? 2. He not only praised them, but prayed for them. He
blessed them as one having authority, for the less is blessed of
the better. We read not of any wages that Moses paid them for their
work, but this blessing he gave them. For, though ordinarily the
labourer be worthy of his hire, yet in this case, 1. They wrought
for themselves. The honour and comfort of God's tabernacle among
them would be recompence enough. <i>If thou be wise, thou shalt be
wise for thyself.</i> 2. They had their meat from heaven on
free-cost, for themselves and their families, and their raiment
waxed not old upon them; so that they neither needed wages nor had
reason to expect any. <i>Freely you have received, freely give.</i>
The obligations we lie under, both in duty and interest, to serve
God, should be sufficient to quicken us to our work, though we had
not a reward in prospect. But, 3. This blessing, in the name of the
Lord, was wages enough for all their work. Those whom God employs
he will bless, and those whom he blesses are blessed indeed. The
blessing he commands is <i>life for evermore.</i></p>
</div></div2>