mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 25.xml

<div2 id="Ex.xxvi" n="xxvi" next="Ex.xxvii" prev="Ex.xxv" progress="43.60%" title="Chapter XXV">
<h2 id="Ex.xxvi-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.xxvi-p0.2">CHAP. XXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.xxvi-p1">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.
I. Orders given for a collection to be made among the people for
this purpose, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.1-Exod.25.9" parsed="|Exod|25|1|25|9" passage="Ex 25:1-9">ver. 1-9</scripRef>.
II. Particular instructions, 1. Concerning the ark of the covenant,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.10-Exod.25.22" parsed="|Exod|25|10|25|22" passage="Ex 25:10-22">ver. 10-22</scripRef>. 2. The table
of showbread, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.23-Exod.25.30" parsed="|Exod|25|23|25|30" passage="Ex 25:23-30">ver.
23-30</scripRef>. 3. The golden candlestick, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.31-Exod.25.40" parsed="|Exod|25|31|25|40" passage="Ex 25:31-40">ver. 31</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25" parsed="|Exod|25|0|0|0" passage="Ex 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.1-Exod.25.9" parsed="|Exod|25|1|25|9" passage="Ex 25:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.25.1-Exod.25.9">
<h4 id="Ex.xxvi-p1.7">The Tabernacle and Its
Furniture. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxvi-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxvi-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxvi-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   2 Speak unto the children of
Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it
willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.   3 And
this <i>is</i> 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' <i>hair,</i>   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.   8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may
dwell among them.   9 According to all that I show thee,
<i>after</i> the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all
the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make <i>it.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p3">We may suppose that when Moses went into
the midst of the cloud, and abode there so long, where the holy
angels attended the <i>shechinah,</i> or divine Majesty, he saw and
heard very glorious things relating to the upper world, but they
were things which it was not lawful nor possible to utter; and
therefore, in the records he kept of the transactions there, he
says 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, nor to please our fancies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p4">In these verses God tells Moses his
intention in general, that the children of Israel should build him
a sanctuary, for he designed to <i>dwell among them</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.8" parsed="|Exod|25|8|0|0" passage="Ex 25:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>); 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 afterwards 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 <i>their God;</i> and therefore,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p5">I. He orders a royal palace to be set up
among them for himself, here called <i>a sanctuary,</i> or <i>holy
place,</i> or <i>habitation,</i> of which it is said (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.17.12" parsed="|Jer|17|12|0|0" passage="Jer 17:12">Jer. xvii. 12</scripRef>), <i>A glorious high
throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.</i> This
sanctuary is to be considered,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p6">1. As ceremonial, consonant to the 
other institutions of that dispensation, which consisted in carnal
ordinances (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.10" parsed="|Heb|9|10|0|0" passage="Heb 9:10">Heb. ix. 10</scripRef>);
hence it is called a <i>worldly sanctuary,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.1" parsed="|Heb|9|1|0|0" passage="Heb 9:1">Heb. ix. 1</scripRef>. 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, <i>Is the Lord among us or not?</i> And, because in the
wilderness they dwelt in tents, even this royal palace was ordered
to be a tabernacle 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p7">2. As typical; the holy places made with
hands were the <i>figures of the true,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.24" parsed="|Heb|9|24|0|0" passage="Heb 9:24">Heb. ix. 24</scripRef>. The gospel church is the true
<i>tabernacle, which the Lord hath pitched, and not man,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.8.2" parsed="|Heb|8|2|0|0" passage="Heb 8:2">Heb. viii. 2</scripRef>. The body of
Christ, in and by which he made atonement, was the <i>greater and
more perfect tabernacle,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.11" parsed="|Heb|9|11|0|0" passage="Heb 9:11">Heb. ix.
11</scripRef>. <i>The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,</i>
as in a tabernacle.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p8">II. 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p9">1. 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p10">(1.) <i>Speak unto the children of Israel
that they bring me an offering;</i> and there was all the reason in
the world that they should, for (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.1" parsed="|Exod|25|1|0|0" passage="Ex 25:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), [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 Egyptians to lend, so that from him they had their wealth, and
therefore it was fit they should devote it to him and use it for
him, and thus make a grateful acknowledgement of the favours they
had received. Note, <i>First,</i> The best use we can make of our
worldly wealth is to honour God with it in works of piety and
charity. <i>Secondly,</i> When we have been blessed with some
remarkable success in our affairs, and have had, as we say, a good
turn, it may be justly expected that we should do something more
than ordinary for the glory of God, consecrating our gain, in some
reasonable proportion of it, to the Lord of the whole earth,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.3" parsed="|Mic|4|3|0|0" passage="Mic 4:3">Mic. iv. 13</scripRef>. [2.] The
sanctuary that was to be built was intended for their benefit and
comfort, and therefore they must be at the expense of it. They had
been unworthy of the privilege if they had grudged at the charge.
They might well afford to offer liberally for the honour of God,
while they lived at free quarters, having food for themselves and
their families rained upon them daily from heaven. We also must own
that we have our all from God's bounty, and therefore ought to use
all for his glory. Since we live upon him, we must live to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p11">(2.) 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 <i>provoking many,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.9.2" parsed="|2Cor|9|2|0|0" passage="2Co 9:2">2 Cor. ix. 2</scripRef>. 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 <i>God loves a cheerful giver,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.9.7" parsed="|2Cor|9|7|0|0" passage="2Co 9:7">2 Cor. ix. 7</scripRef>. What is laid out in the
service of God we must reckon well bestowed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p12">(3.) The particulars are here mentioned
which they must offer (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.3-Exod.25.7" parsed="|Exod|25|3|25|7" passage="Ex 25:3-7"><i>v.</i>
3-7</scripRef>), 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p13">2. God himself would furnish him with the
model: <i>According to all that I show thee,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.9" parsed="|Exod|25|9|0|0" passage="Ex 25:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.11" parsed="|Ezek|43|11|0|0" passage="Eze 43:11">Ezek. xliii. 11</scripRef>.
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 particular 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 is more fully represented under the notion of a
new Jerusalem than under the notion of new heavens and a new
earth.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxvi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25" parsed="|Exod|25|0|0|0" passage="Ex 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxvi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.10-Exod.25.22" parsed="|Exod|25|10|25|22" passage="Ex 25:10-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.25.10-Exod.25.22">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxvi-p14">10 And they shall make an ark <i>of</i> shittim
wood: two cubits and a half <i>shall be</i> 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 shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a
crown of gold round about.   12 And thou shalt cast four rings
of gold for it, and put <i>them</i> in the four corners thereof;
and two rings <i>shall be</i> in the one side of it, and two rings
in the other side of it.   13 And thou shalt make staves
<i>of</i> 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.   17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat <i>of</i> pure
gold: two cubits and a half <i>shall be</i> the length thereof, and
a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.   18 And thou shalt
make two cherubims <i>of</i> gold, <i>of</i> 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:
<i>even</i> of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the
two ends thereof.   20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth
<i>their</i> wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their
wings, and their faces <i>shall look</i> 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 <i>are</i> upon
the ark of the testimony, of all <i>things</i> which I will give
thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p15">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, for which the
tabernacle was erected to be the receptacle.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p16">I. The ark itself was a chest, or coffer,
in which the two tables of the law, written with the finger of God,
were to be 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 (twenty-one
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, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.10-Exod.25.16" parsed="|Exod|25|10|25|16" passage="Ex 25:10-16"><i>v.</i> 10-16</scripRef>. The tables of the law are
called the <i>testimony</i> 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 <i>ark of the testimony</i>
(<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.6" parsed="|Exod|30|6|0|0" passage="Ex 30:6"><i>ch.</i> xxx. 6</scripRef>), and the
tabernacle <i>the tabernacle of the testimony</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.10.11" parsed="|Num|10|11|0|0" passage="Nu 10:11">Num. x. 11</scripRef>) or witness, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Acts.7.44" parsed="|Acts|7|44|0|0" passage="Ac 7:44">Acts vii. 44</scripRef>. The gospel of Christ is
also called a testimony or witness, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.24.14" parsed="|Matt|24|14|0|0" passage="Mt 24:14">Matt. xxiv. 14</scripRef>. It is observable, 1. That the
tables of the law were carefully preserved in the 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 <i>ark of his testament.</i>
See <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.19" parsed="|Rev|11|19|0|0" passage="Re 11:19">Rev. xi. 19</scripRef>. 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,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p16.7" osisRef="Bible:Heb.8.10" parsed="|Heb|8|10|0|0" passage="Heb 8:10">Heb. viii. 10</scripRef>. 3. That
provision was made for the carrying of this ark about with them in
all their removals, 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p17">II. The mercy-seat was the covering of the
ark or chest, made of solid gold, exactly to fit the dimensions of
the ark, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.17 Bible:Exod.25.21" parsed="|Exod|25|17|0|0;|Exod|25|21|0|0" passage="Ex 25:17,21"><i>v.</i> 17,
21</scripRef>. This <i>propitiatory covering,</i> 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 <i>end of the law for righteousness.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p18">III. The cherubim of gold were fixed to the
mercy-seat, and of a piece with it, and spread their wings over it,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.18" parsed="|Exod|25|18|0|0" passage="Ex 25:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. It is
supposed that these cherubim were designed to represent the holy
angels, who always attended the <i>shechinah,</i> 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, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.1.10" parsed="|Ezek|1|10|0|0" passage="Eze 1:10">Ezek. i. 10</scripRef>. Whatever the faces were, they
looked one towards another, and both downward towards the ark,
while their wings were stretched out so as to touch one another.
The apostle calls them <i>cherubim of glory shadowing the
mercy-seat,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.5" parsed="|Heb|9|5|0|0" passage="Heb 9:5">Heb. ix. 5</scripRef>.
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 (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.17 Bible:1Cor.11.10" parsed="|Ps|68|17|0|0;|1Cor|11|10|0|0" passage="Ps 68:17,1Co 11:10">Ps. lxviii. 17; 1 Cor. xi. 10</scripRef>), and
their desire to look into the mysteries of the gospel which they
diligently contemplate, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.12" parsed="|1Pet|1|12|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:12">1 Pet. i.
12</scripRef>. God is said to dwell, or sit, <i>between the
cherubim,</i> on the mercy-seat (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.1" parsed="|Ps|80|1|0|0" passage="Ps 80:1">Ps.
lxxx. 1</scripRef>), and thence he here promises, for the future,
to meet with Moses, and to <i>commune with him,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.22" parsed="|Exod|25|22|0|0" passage="Ex 25:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. There 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 <i>the
throne of grace</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:Heb.4.16" parsed="|Heb|4|16|0|0" passage="Heb 4:16">Heb. iv.
16</scripRef>); for we <i>are not under the law,</i> which is
covered, <i>but under grace,</i> which is displayed; its wings are
stretched out, and we are invited to come under the shadow of them,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p18.9" osisRef="Bible:Ruth.2.12" parsed="|Ruth|2|12|0|0" passage="Ru 2:12">Ruth ii. 12</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxvi-p18.10" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.23-Exod.25.30" parsed="|Exod|25|23|25|30" passage="Ex 25:23-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.25.23-Exod.25.30">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxvi-p19">  23 Thou shalt also make a table <i>of</i>
shittim wood: two cubits <i>shall be</i> the length thereof, and a
cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height
thereof.   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 <i>are</i> 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 <i>of</i> shittim wood, 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: <i>of</i> pure gold shalt thou make them.
  30 And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me
alway.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p20">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
<i>sanctuary,</i> or <i>holy place,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.2 Bible:Heb.9.23" parsed="|Heb|9|2|0|0;|Heb|9|23|0|0" passage="Heb 9:2,23">Heb. ix. 2, 23</scripRef>, &amp;c. There must also be
the usual furniture of the sideboard, dishes and spoons, &amp;c.,
and all <i>of gold,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.29" parsed="|Exod|25|29|0|0" passage="Ex 25:29"><i>v.</i>
29</scripRef>. 2. This table was to be always spread, and furnished
with the show-bread (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.30" parsed="|Exod|25|30|0|0" passage="Ex 25:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>), or <i>bread of faces,</i> twelve loaves, one for
each tribe, set in two rows, six in a row; see the law concerning
them, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.24.5-Lev.24.10" parsed="|Lev|24|5|24|10" passage="Le 24:5-10">Lev. xxiv. 5</scripRef>,
&amp;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 <i>the corn of his
floor,</i> as they are called, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.21.10" parsed="|Isa|21|10|0|0" passage="Isa 21:10">Isa.
xxi. 10</scripRef>. 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 acknowledgement 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
<i>blow upon it,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.9" parsed="|Hag|1|9|0|0" passage="Hag 1:9">Hag. i.
9</scripRef>. 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. <i>In our Father's house there is bread enough and to
spare,</i> a loaf for every tribe. All that attend in God's house
shall be abundantly satisfied with the goodness of it, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.36.8" parsed="|Ps|36|8|0|0" passage="Ps 36:8">Ps. xxxvi. 8</scripRef>. Divine consolations are
the continual feast of holy souls, notwithstanding there are those
to whom <i>the table of the Lord,</i> and the <i>meat thereof</i>
(because it is plain bread), are <i>contemptible,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:Mal.1.12" parsed="|Mal|1|12|0|0" passage="Mal 1:12">Mal. i. 12</scripRef>. Christ has a table in his
kingdom, at which all his saints shall for every eat and drink with
him, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p20.9" osisRef="Bible:Luke.22.30" parsed="|Luke|22|30|0|0" passage="Lu 22:30">Luke xxii. 30</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxvi-p20.10" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.31-Exod.25.40" parsed="|Exod|25|31|25|40" passage="Ex 25:31-40" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.25.31-Exod.25.40">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxvi-p21">31 And thou shalt make a candlestick <i>of</i>
pure gold: <i>of</i> beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his
shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers,
shall be of the same.   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, <i>with</i> a knop
and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in
the other branch, <i>with</i> a knop and a flower: so in the six
branches that come out of the candlestick.   34 And in the
candlestick <i>shall be</i> four bowls made like unto almonds,
<i>with</i> their knops and their flowers.   35 And <i>there
shall be</i> 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 it <i>shall be</i> one beaten work <i>of</i> 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 snuffdishes
thereof, <i>shall be of</i> pure gold.   39 <i>Of</i> a talent
of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.   40
And look that thou make <i>them</i> after their pattern, which was
showed thee in the mount.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p22">I. The next thing ordered to be made for
the furnishing of God's palace was a rich stately candlestick, all
of pure gold, not hollow, but solid. The particular directions here
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 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
candle-light, which intimates the comparative darkness of that
dispensation, while the Sun or righteousness had not as yet risen,
nor had the day-star 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, <i>a light shining in a dark
place</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.1.19" parsed="|2Pet|1|19|0|0" passage="2Pe 1:19">2 Pet. i. 19</scripRef>),
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
<i>seven lamps</i> which <i>burn before the throne,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.4.5" parsed="|Rev|4|5|0|0" passage="Re 4:5">Rev. iv. 5</scripRef>. The churches are golden
candlesticks, the lights of the world, <i>holding forth the word of
life</i> as the candlestick does the light, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Phil.2.15-Phil.2.16" parsed="|Phil|2|15|2|16" passage="Php 2:15,16">Phil. ii. 15, 16</scripRef>. Ministers are to light
the lamps, and snuff them (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.37" parsed="|Exod|25|37|0|0" passage="Ex 25:37"><i>v.</i>
37</scripRef>), by opening the scriptures. The treasure of this
light is now put into <i>earthen vessels,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p22.5" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.4.6-2Cor.4.7" parsed="|2Cor|4|6|4|7" passage="2Co 4:6,7">2 Cor. iv. 6, 7</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p22.6" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.14-Matt.5.15" parsed="|Matt|5|14|5|15" passage="Mt 5:14,15">Matt. v. 14, 15</scripRef>. There is a
<i>diversity of gifts,</i> but the same Spirit gives to each to
profit withal.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxvi-p23">II. There is in the midst of these
instructions an express caution given to Moses, to take heed of
varying from his model: <i>Make them after the pattern shown
thee,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.25.40" parsed="|Exod|25|40|0|0" passage="Ex 25:40"><i>v.</i> 40</scripRef>.
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 (<scripRef id="Ex.xxvi-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.28.20" parsed="|Matt|28|20|0|0" passage="Mt 28:20">Matt.
xxviii. 20</scripRef>) is similar to this: <i>Observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you.</i></p>
</div></div2>