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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Exodus, Chapter XXXI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC02030.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E X O D U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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God is here drawing towards a conclusion of what he had to say to Moses
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upon the mount, where he had now been with him forty days and forty
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nights; and yet no more is recorded of what was said to him in all that
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time than what we have read in the six chapters foregoing. In this,
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I. He appoints what workmen should be employed in the building and
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furnishing of the tabernacle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:1-11">ver. 1-11</A>.
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II. He repeats the law of the sabbath, and the religious observance of
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it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:12-17">ver. 12-17</A>.
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III. He delivers to him the two tables of the testimony at parting,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:18">ver. 18</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex31_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Appointment of Bezaleel and Aholiab.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son
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of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
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3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and
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in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of
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workmanship,
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4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and
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in brass,
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5 And in cutting of stones, to set <I>them,</I> and in carving of
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timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
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6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of
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Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are
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wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I
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have commanded thee;
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7 The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the
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testimony, and the mercy seat that <I>is</I> thereupon, and all the
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furniture of the tabernacle,
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8 And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick
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with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,
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9 And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and
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the laver and his foot,
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10 And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron
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the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the
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priest's office,
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11 And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy
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<I>place:</I> according to all that I have commanded thee shall they
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do.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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A great deal of fine work God had ordered to be done about the
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tabernacle; the materials the people were to provide, but who must put
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them into form? Moses himself was learned in all the learning of the
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Egyptians, nay, he was well acquainted with the words of God, and the
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visions of the Almighty; but he knew not how to engrave or embroider.
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We may suppose that there were some very ingenious men among the
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Israelites; but, having lived all their days in bondage in Egypt, we
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cannot think they were any of them instructed in these curious arts.
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They knew how to make brick and work in clay, but to work in gold and
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in cutting diamonds was what they had never been brought up to. How
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should the work be done with the neatness and exactness that were
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required when they had no goldsmiths or jewellers but what must be made
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out of masons and bricklayers? We may suppose that there were a
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sufficient number who would gladly be employed, and would do their
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best; but it would be hard to find out a proper person to preside in
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this work. <I>Who was sufficient for these things?</I> But God takes
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care of this matter also.</P>
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<P>
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I. He nominates the persons that were to be employed, that there might
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be no contest about the preferment, nor envy at those that were
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preferred, God himself having made the choice.
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1. Bezaleel was to be the architect, or master workman,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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He was of the tribe of Judah, a tribe that God delighted to honour; the
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grandson of Hur, probably that Hur who had helped to hold up Moses's
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hands
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:1-16"><I>ch.</I> xvii.</A>),
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and was at this time in commission with Aaron for the government of the
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people in the absence of Moses
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:14"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 14</A>);
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out of that family which was of note in Israel was the workman chosen,
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and it added no little honour to the family that a branch of it was
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employed, though but as a mechanic, or handicraft tradesman, for the
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service of the tabernacle. The Jews' tradition is that Hur was the
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husband of Miriam; and, if so, it was requisite that God should appoint
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him to this service, lest, if Moses himself had done it, he should be
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thought partial to his own kindred, his brother Aaron also being
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advanced to the priesthood. God will put honour upon Moses's relations,
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and yet will make it to appear that he takes not the honour to himself
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or his own family, but that it is purely the Lord's doing.
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2. Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan, is appointed next to Bezaleel, and
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partner with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Two are better than one. Christ sent forth his disciples who were to
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rear the gospel tabernacle, two and two, and we read of his two
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witnesses. Aholiab was of the tribe of Dan, which was one of the less
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honourable tribes, that the tribes of Judah and Levi might not be
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lifted up, as if they were to engross all the preferments; to prevent a
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schism in the body, God gives honour to <I>that part which lacked,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:24">1 Cor. xii. 24</A>.
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<I>The head cannot say to the foot, I have no need of thee.</I> Hiram,
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who was the head workman in the building of Solomon's temple, was also
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of the tribe of Dan,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+2:14">2 Chron. ii. 14</A>.
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3. There were others that were employed by and under these in the
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several operations about the tabernacle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Note, When God has work to do he will never want instruments to do it
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with, for all hearts and heads too are under his eye, and in his hand;
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and those may cheerfully go about any service for God, and go on in it,
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who have reason to think that, one way or other, he has called them to
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it; for whom he calls he will own and bear out.</P>
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<P>
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II. He qualifies these persons for the service
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>I have filled him with the Spirit of God;</I> and
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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<I>in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom.</I>
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Note,
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1. Skill in common arts and employments is the gift of God; from him
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are derived both the faculty and the improvement of the faculty. It is
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he that puts even this <I>wisdom into the inward parts,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+38:36">Job xxxviii. 36</A>.
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He teaches the husbandman discretion
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+28:26">Isa. xxviii. 26</A>),
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and the tradesman too; and he must have the praise of it.
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2. God dispenses his gifts variously, one gift to one, another to
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another, and all for the good of the whole body, both of mankind and of
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the church. Moses was fittest of all to govern Israel, but Bezaleel
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was fitter than he to build the tabernacle. The common benefit is very
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much supported by the variety of men's faculties and inclinations; the
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genius of some leads them to be serviceable one way, of others another
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way, and <I>all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:11">1 Cor. xii. 11</A>.
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This forbids pride, envy, contempt, and carnal emulation, and
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strengthens the bond of mutual love.
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3. Those whom God calls to any service he will either find, or make,
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fit for it. If God give the commission, he will in some measure give
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the qualifications, according as the service is. The work, that was to
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be done here was to make the tabernacle and the utensils of it, which
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are here particularly reckoned up,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>,
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&c. And for this the persons employed were enabled to <I>work in gold,
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and silver, and brass.</I> When Christ sent his apostles to rear the
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gospel tabernacle, he poured out his Spirit upon them, to enable them
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to speak with tongues the wonderful works of God; not to work upon
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metal, but to work upon men; so much more excellent were the gifts, as
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the tabernacle to be pitched was a <I>greater and more perfect
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tabernacle,</I> as the apostle calls it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:11">Heb. ix. 11</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex31_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex31_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Observance of the Sabbath.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>12 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily
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my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it <I>is</I> a sign between me and you
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throughout your generations; that <I>ye</I> may know that I <I>am</I> the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> that doth sanctify you.
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14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it <I>is</I> holy unto
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you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for
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whosoever doeth <I>any</I> work therein, that soul shall be cut off
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from among his people.
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15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh <I>is</I> the
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sabbath of rest, holy to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: whosoever doeth <I>any</I> work in
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the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
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16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to
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observe the sabbath throughout their generations, <I>for</I> a
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perpetual covenant.
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17 It <I>is</I> a sign between me and the children of Israel for
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ever: for <I>in</I> six days the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> made heaven and earth, and on
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the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
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18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing
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with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of
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stone, written with the finger of God.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. A strict command for the sanctification of the sabbath day,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:13-17"><I>v.</I> 13-17</A>.
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The law of the sabbath had been given them before any other law, by was
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of preparation
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+16:23"><I>ch.</I> xvi. 23</A>);
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it had been inserted in the body of the moral law, in the fourth
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commandment; it had been annexed to the judicial law
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+23:12"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 12</A>);
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and here it is added to the first part of the ceremonial law, because
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the observance of the sabbath is indeed the hem and hedge of the whole
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law; where no conscience is made of that, farewell both godliness and
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honesty; for, in the moral law, it stands in the midst between the two
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tables. Some suggest that it comes in here upon another account. Orders
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were now given that a tabernacle should be set up and furnished for the
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service of God with all possible expedition; but lest they should think
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that the nature of the work, and the haste that was required, would
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justify them in working at it on sabbath days, that they might get it
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done the sooner, this caution is seasonably inserted, <I>Verily,</I> or
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<I>nevertheless, my sabbaths you shall keep.</I> Though they must
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hasten the work, yet they must not make more haste than good speed;
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they must not break the law of the sabbath in their haste: even
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tabernacle-work must give way to the sabbath-rest; so jealous is God
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for the honour of his sabbaths. Observe what is here said concerning
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the sabbath day.</P>
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<P>
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1. The nature, meaning, and intention, of the sabbath, by the
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declaration of which God puts an honour upon it, and teaches us to
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value it. Divers things are here said of the sabbath.
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(1.) <I>It is a sign between me and you</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
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and again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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The institution of the sabbath was a great instance of God's favour to
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them, and a sign that he had distinguished them from all other people;
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and their religious observance of the sabbath was a great instance of
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their duty and obedience to him. God, by sanctifying this day among
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them, let them know that he sanctified them, and set them apart for
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himself and his service; otherwise he would not have revealed to them
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his holy sabbaths, to be the support of religion among them. Or it may
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refer to the law concerning the sabbath, <I>Keep my sabbaths, that you
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may know that I the Lord do sanctify you.</I> Note, If God by his grace
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incline our hearts to keep the law of the fourth commandment, it will
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be an evidence of a good work wrought in us by his Spirit. If we
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sanctify God's day, it is a sign between him and us that he has
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sanctified our hearts: hence it is the character of the blessed man
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that he <I>keepeth the sabbath from polluting it,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:2">Isa. lvi. 2</A>.
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The Jews, by observing one day in seven, after six days' labour,
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testified and declared that they worshipped the God who made the world
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in six days, and rested the seventh; and so distinguished themselves
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from other nations, who, having first lost the sabbath, which was
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instituted to be a memorial of the creation, by degrees lost the
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knowledge of the Creator, and gave that honour to the creature which
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was due to him alone.
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(2.) <I>It is holy unto you</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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that is, "It is designed for your benefit as well as for God's honour;"
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<I>the sabbath was made for man.</I> Or, "It shall be accounted holy by
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you, and shall so be observed, and you shall look upon it a sacrilege
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to profane it."
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(3.) It is the <I>sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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It is separated from common use, and designed for the honour and
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service of God, and by the observance of it we are taught to rest from
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worldly pursuits and the service of the flesh, and to devote ourselves,
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and all we are, have, and can do, to God's glory.
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(4.) It was to be observed <I>throughout their generations,</I> in
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every age, <I>for a perpetual covenant.</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
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This was to be one of the most lasting tokens of that covenant which
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was between God and Israel.</P>
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<P>
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2. The law of the sabbath. They must keep it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:13,14,16"><I>v.</I> 13, 14, 16</A>),
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keep it as a treasure, as a trust, observe it and preserve it, keep it
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from polluting it, keep it up as a sign between God and them, keep it
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and never part with it. The Gentiles had anniversary-feasts, to the
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honour of their gods; but it was peculiar to the Jews to have a weekly
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festival; this therefore they must carefully observe.</P>
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<P>
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3. The reason of the sabbath; for God's laws are not only backed with
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the highest authority, but supported with the best reason. God's own
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example is the great reason,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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As the work of creation is worthy to be thus commemorated, so the great
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Creator is worthy to be thus imitated, by a holy rest, the seventh day,
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after six days' labour, especially since we hope, in further conformity
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to the same example, shortly to rest with him from all our labours.</P>
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<P>
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4. The penalty to be inflicted for the breach of this law: "Every one
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that <I>defileth the sabbath,</I> by doing <I>any work therein</I> but
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works of piety and mercy, <I>shall be cut off from among his people</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>);
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<I>he shall surely be put to death.</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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The magistrate must cut him off the sword of justice if the crime can
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|
be proved; if it cannot, or if the magistrate be remiss, and do not do
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|
his duty, God will take the work into his own hands, and cut him off by
|
|
a stroke from heaven, and his family shall be rooted out of Israel."
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|
Note, The contempt and profanation of the sabbath day is an iniquity to
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|
be punished by the judges; and, if men do not punish it, God will, here
|
|
or hereafter, unless it be repented of.</P>
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<P>
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|
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II. The delivering of the two tables of testimony to Moses. God had
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|
promised him these tables when he called him up into the mount
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:12"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 12</A>),
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|
and now, when he was sending him down, he delivered them to him, to be
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|
carefully and honourably deposited in the ark,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+31:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
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1. The ten commandments which God had spoken upon mount Sinai in the
|
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hearing of all the people were now written, <I>in perpetuam rei
|
|
memoriam--for a perpetual memorial,</I> because that which is written
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|
remains.
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2. They were written in <I>tables of stone,</I> prepared, not by Moses,
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|
as it should seem (for it is intimated,
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:12"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 12</A>,
|
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|
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that he found them ready written when he went up to the mount), but, as
|
|
some think, by the ministry of angels. The law was written in <I>tables
|
|
of stone,</I> to denote the perpetual duration of it (what can be
|
|
supposed to last longer than that which is written in stone, and laid
|
|
up?), to denote likewise the hardness of our hearts; one might more
|
|
easily write in stone than write any thing that is good in our corrupt
|
|
and sinful hearts.
|
|
|
|
3. They were written <I>with the finger of God,</I> that is, by his
|
|
will and power immediately, without the use of any instrument. It is
|
|
God only that can write his law in the heart; he <I>gives a heart of
|
|
flesh,</I> and then, by his Spirit, which is the <I>finger of God,</I>
|
|
he writes his will in the <I>fleshly tables of the heart,</I>
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:3">2 Cor. iii. 3</A>.
|
|
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|
4. They were written in two tables, being designed to direct us in our
|
|
duty both towards God and towards man.
|
|
|
|
5. They are called <I>tables of testimony,</I> because this written
|
|
law testified both the will of God concerning them and his good-will
|
|
towards them, and would be a testimony against them if they were
|
|
disobedient.
|
|
|
|
6. They were delivered to Moses, probably with a charge, before he laid
|
|
them up in the ark, to show them publicly, that they might be <I>seen
|
|
and read of all men,</I> and so what they had heard with the hearing of
|
|
the ear might now be brought to their remembrance. Thus <I>the law was
|
|
given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.</I></P>
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