mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 30.xml

<div2 id="Ex.xxxi" n="xxxi" next="Ex.xxxii" prev="Ex.xxx" progress="45.58%" title="Chapter XXX">
<h2 id="Ex.xxxi-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.xxxi-p0.2">CHAP. XXX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.xxxi-p1">Moses is, in this chapter, further instructed, I.
Concerning the altar of incense, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.1-Exod.30.10" parsed="|Exod|30|1|30|10" passage="Ex 30:1-10">ver. 1-10</scripRef>. II. Concerning the ransom-money
which the Israelites were to pay, when they were numbered,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.11-Exod.30.16" parsed="|Exod|30|11|30|16" passage="Ex 30:11-16">ver. 11-16</scripRef>. III.
Concerning the laver of brass, which was set for the priests to
wash in, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.17-Exod.30.21" parsed="|Exod|30|17|30|21" passage="Ex 30:17-21">ver. 17-21</scripRef>. IV.
Concerning the making up of the anointing oil, and the use of it,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.22-Exod.30.33" parsed="|Exod|30|22|30|33" passage="Ex 30:22-33">ver. 22-33</scripRef>. V.
Concerning the incense and perfume which were to be burned on the
golden altar, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.34" parsed="|Exod|30|34|0|0" passage="Ex 30:34">ver. 34</scripRef>,
&amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30" parsed="|Exod|30|0|0|0" passage="Ex 30" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.1-Exod.30.10" parsed="|Exod|30|1|30|10" passage="Ex 30:1-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.30.1-Exod.30.10">
<h4 id="Ex.xxxi-p1.8">The Tabernacles and Its
Furniture. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxi-p2">1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense
upon: <i>of</i> shittim wood shalt thou make it.   2 A cubit
<i>shall be</i> the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth
thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits <i>shall be</i> the
height thereof: the horns thereof <i>shall be</i> of the same.
  3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof,
and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou
shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.   4 And two
golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the
two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make
<i>it;</i> and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it
withal.   5 And thou shalt make the staves <i>of</i> shittim
wood, and overlay them with gold.   6 And thou shalt put it
before the vail that <i>is</i> by the ark of the testimony, before
the mercy seat that <i>is</i> over the testimony, where I will meet
with thee.   7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense
every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense
upon it.   8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he
shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p2.1">Lord</span> throughout your generations.   9
Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor
meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.  
10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a
year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the
year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations:
it <i>is</i> most holy unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p2.2">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxi-p3">I. The orders given concerning the altar of
incense are, 1. That it was to be made of wood, and covered with
gold, pure gold, about a yard high and half a yard square, with
horns at the corners, a golden cornice round it, with rings and
staves of gold, for the convenience of carrying it, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.1-Exod.30.5" parsed="|Exod|30|1|30|5" passage="Ex 30:1-5"><i>v.</i> 1-5</scripRef>. It does not appear
that there was any grate to this altar for the ashes to fall into,
that they might be taken away; but, when they burnt incense, a
golden censer was brought with coals in it, and placed upon the
altar, and in that censer the incense was burnt, and with it all
the coals were taken away, so that no coals nor ashes fell upon the
altar. The measure of the altar of incense in Ezekiel's temple is
double to what it is here (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.41.22" parsed="|Ezek|41|22|0|0" passage="Eze 41:22">Ezek. xli.
22</scripRef>), and it is there called <i>an altar of wood,</i> and
there is no mention of gold, to signify that the incense, in gospel
times, should be spiritual, the worship plain, and the service of
God enlarged, for <i>in every place incense should be offered,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Mal.1.11" parsed="|Mal|1|11|0|0" passage="Mal 1:11">Mal. i. 11</scripRef>. 2. That it was
to be placed before the veil, on the outside of that partition, but
before the mercy-seat, which was within the veil, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.6" parsed="|Exod|30|6|0|0" passage="Ex 30:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. For though he that
ministered at the altar could not see the mercy-seat, the veil
interposing, yet he must look towards it, and direct his incense
that way, to teach us that though we cannot with our bodily eyes
see the throne of grace, that blessed mercy-seat (for it is such a
throne of glory that God, in compassion to us, holds back the face
of it, and spreads a cloud upon it), yet we must in prayer by faith
set ourselves before it, direct our prayer, and look up. 3. That
Aaron was to burn sweet incense upon this altar, every morning and
every evening, about half a pound at a time, which was intended,
not only to take away the ill smell of the flesh that was burnt
daily on the brazen altar, but for the honour of God, and to show
the acceptableness of his people's services to him, and the
pleasure which they should take in ministering to him, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.7-Exod.30.8" parsed="|Exod|30|7|30|8" passage="Ex 30:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>. As by the offerings
on the brazen altar satisfaction was made for what had been done
displeasing to God, so, by the offering on this, what they did well
was, as it were, recommended to the divine acceptance; for our two
great concerns with God are to be acquitted from guilt and accepted
as righteous in his sight. 4. That nothing was to be offered upon
it but incense, nor any incense but that which was appointed,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.9" parsed="|Exod|30|9|0|0" passage="Ex 30:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. God will have
his own service done according to his own appointment, and not
otherwise. 5. That this altar should be purified with the blood of
the sin-offering put upon the <i>horns of it,</i> every year, upon
<i>the day of atonement,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.10" parsed="|Exod|30|10|0|0" passage="Ex 30:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. See <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.18-Lev.16.19" parsed="|Lev|16|18|16|19" passage="Le 16:18,19">Lev. xvi. 18,
19</scripRef>. The high priest was to take this in his way, as he
came out from the holy of holies. This was to intimate to them that
the sins of the priests who ministered at this altar, and of the
people for whom they ministered, put a ceremonial impurity upon it,
from which it must be cleansed by the blood of atonement.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxi-p4">II. This incense-altar typified, 1. The
mediation of Christ. The brazen altar in the court was a type of
Christ dying on earth; the golden altar in the sanctuary was a type
of Christ interceding in heaven, in virtue of his satisfaction.
This altar was before the mercy-seat; for Christ always appears in
the presence of God for us; he is our <i>advocate with the
father</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1John.2.1" parsed="|1John|2|1|0|0" passage="1Jo 2:1">1 John ii. 1</scripRef>),
and his intercession is unto God of a sweet-smelling savour. This
altar had a crown fixed to it; for Christ intercedes as king.
<i>Father, I will,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:John.17.24" parsed="|John|17|24|0|0" passage="Joh 17:24">John xvii.
24</scripRef>. 2. The devotions of the saints, whose prayers are
said to be set forth before God as incense, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.141.2" parsed="|Ps|141|2|0|0" passage="Ps 141:2">Ps. cxli. 2</scripRef>. As the smoke of the incense
ascended, so much our desires towards God rise in prayer, being
kindled with the fire of holy love and other pious affections. When
the priest was burning incense the people were praying (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.1.10" parsed="|Luke|1|10|0|0" passage="Lu 1:10">Luke i. 10</scripRef>), to signify that prayer is
the true incense. This incense was offered daily, it was a
perpetual incense (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.8" parsed="|Exod|30|8|0|0" passage="Ex 30:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>); for we must pray always, that is, we must keep up
stated times for prayer every day, morning and evening, at least,
and never omit it, but thus pray without ceasing. The lamps were
dressed or lighted at the same time that the incense was burnt, to
teach us that the reading of the scriptures (which are our light
and lamp) is a part of our daily work, and should ordinarily
accompany our prayers and praises. When we speak to God we must
hear what God says to us, and thus the communion is complete. The
devotions of sanctified souls are well-pleasing to God, of a
sweet-smelling savour; the prayers of saints are compared to sweet
odours (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.5.8" parsed="|Rev|5|8|0|0" passage="Re 5:8">Rev. v. 8</scripRef>), but it is
the incense which Christ adds to them that makes them acceptable
(<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Rev.8.3" parsed="|Rev|8|3|0|0" passage="Re 8:3">Rev. viii. 3</scripRef>), and his blood
that atones for the guilt which cleaves to our best services. And,
if the heart and life be not holy, even <i>incense is an
abomination</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.1.13" parsed="|Isa|1|13|0|0" passage="Isa 1:13">Isa. i.
13</scripRef>), and he that offers it is <i>as if he blessed an
idol,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p4.9" osisRef="Bible:Isa.56.3" parsed="|Isa|56|3|0|0" passage="Isa 56:3">Isa. lxvi. 3</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxxi-p4.10" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30" parsed="|Exod|30|0|0|0" passage="Ex 30" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxi-p4.11" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.11-Exod.30.16" parsed="|Exod|30|11|30|16" passage="Ex 30:11-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.30.11-Exod.30.16">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxi-p5">11 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p5.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   12 When thou takest the sum of the
children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every
man a ransom for his soul unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p5.2">Lord</span>, when thou numberest them; that there be no
plague among them, when <i>thou</i> numberest them.   13 This
they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are
numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a
shekel <i>is</i> twenty gerahs:) an half shekel <i>shall be</i> the
offering of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p5.3">Lord</span>.   14
Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty
years old and above, shall give an offering unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p5.4">Lord</span>.   15 The rich shall not give more,
and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when
<i>they</i> give an offering unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p5.5">Lord</span>, to make an atonement for your souls.
  16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children
of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle
of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of
Israel before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p5.6">Lord</span>, to make an
atonement for your souls.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxi-p6">Some observe that the repetition of those
words, <i>The Lord spoke unto Moses,</i> here and afterwards
(<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.17 Bible:Exod.30.22 Bible:Exod.30.34" parsed="|Exod|30|17|0|0;|Exod|30|22|0|0;|Exod|30|34|0|0" passage="Ex 30:17,22,34"><i>v.</i> 17, 22,
34</scripRef>), intimates that God did not deliver these precepts
to Moses in the mount, in a continued discourse, but with many
intermissions, giving him time either to write what was said to him
or at least to charge his memory with it. Christ gave instructions
to his disciples as they were able to hear them. Moses is here
ordered to levy money upon the people by way of poll, so much a
head, for the service of the tabernacle. This he must do when he
numbered the people. Some think that it refers only to the first
numbering of them, now when the tabernacle was set up; and that
this tax was to make up what was deficient in the voluntary
contributions for the finishing of the work, or rather for the
beginning of the service in the tabernacle. Others think that it
was afterwards repeated upon any emergency and always when the
people were numbered, and that David offended in not demanding it
when he numbered the people. But many of the Jewish writers, and
others from them, are of opinion that it was to be an annual
tribute, only it was begun when Moses first numbered the people.
This was that tribute-money which Christ paid, for fear of
offending his adversaries (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.17.27" parsed="|Matt|17|27|0|0" passage="Mt 17:27">Matt. xvii.
27</scripRef>), when yet he showed good reason why he should have
been excused. Men were appointed in every city to receive this
payment yearly. Now, 1. The tribute to be paid was <i>half a
shekel,</i> about fifteen pence of our money. The rich were not to
give more, nor the poor less (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.15" parsed="|Exod|30|15|0|0" passage="Ex 30:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), to intimate that the souls of
the rich and poor are alike precious, and that God is <i>no
respecter of persons,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Acts.10.34 Bible:Job.34.19" parsed="|Acts|10|34|0|0;|Job|34|19|0|0" passage="Ac 10:34,Job 34:19">Acts x. 34; Job xxxiv. 19</scripRef>. In other
offerings men were to give according to their ability; but this,
which was the <i>ransom of the soul,</i> must be alike for all; for
the rich have as much need of Christ as the poor, and the poor are
as welcome to him as the rich. They both alike contributed to the
maintenance of the temple-service, because both were to have a like
interest in it and benefit by it. In Christ and his ordinances
<i>rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker,</i> the Lord
Christ is the Redeemer of them both, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Prov.22.2" parsed="|Prov|22|2|0|0" passage="Pr 22:2">Prov. xxii. 2</scripRef>. The Jews say, "If a man refused
to pay this tribute, he was not comprehended in the expiation." 2.
this tribute was to be paid as a <i>ransom of the soul, that there
might be no plague among them.</i> Hereby they acknowledged that
they received their lives from God, that they had forfeited their
lives to him, and that they depended upon his power and patience
for the continuance of them; and thus they did homage to the God of
their lives, and deprecated those plagues which their sins had
deserved. 3. This money that was raised was to be employed in the
service of the tabernacle (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.16" parsed="|Exod|30|16|0|0" passage="Ex 30:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>); with it they bought sacrifices, flour, incense,
wine, oil, fuel, salt, priests' garments, and all other things
which the whole congregation was interested in. Note, Those that
have the benefit of God's tabernacle among them must be willing to
defray the expenses of it, and not grudge the necessary charges of
God's public worship. Thus we must honour the Lord with our
substance, and reckon that best laid out which is laid out in the
service of God. Money indeed cannot make an <i>atonement for the
soul,</i> but it may be used for the honour of him who has made the
atonement, and for the maintenance of the gospel by which the
atonement is applied.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxxi-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30" parsed="|Exod|30|0|0|0" passage="Ex 30" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.xxxi-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.17-Exod.30.21" parsed="|Exod|30|17|30|21" passage="Ex 30:17-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.30.17-Exod.30.21">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxi-p7">17 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p7.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   18 Thou shalt also make a laver
<i>of</i> brass, and his foot <i>also of</i> brass, to wash
<i>withal:</i> and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the
congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
  19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their
feet thereat:   20 When they go into the tabernacle of the
congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or
when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made
by fire unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p7.2">Lord</span>:   21 So
they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and
it shall be a statute for ever to them, <i>even</i> to him and to
his seed throughout their generations.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxi-p8">Orders are here given, 1. For the making of
a laver, or font, of brass, a large vessel, that would contain a
good quantity of water, which was to be set near the door of the
tabernacle, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.18" parsed="|Exod|30|18|0|0" passage="Ex 30:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>.
The foot of brass, it is supposed, was so contrived as to receive
the water, which was let into it out of the laver by spouts or
cocks. They then had a laver for the priests only to wash in, but
to us now there is a fountain open for Judah and Jerusalem to wash
in (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Zech.13.1" parsed="|Zech|13|1|0|0" passage="Zec 13:1">Zech. xiii. 1</scripRef>), an
inexhaustible <i>fountain of living water,</i> so that it is our
own fault if we remain in our pollution. 2. For the using of this
laver. Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet at this
laver every time they went in to minister, every morning, at least,
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.19-Exod.30.21" parsed="|Exod|30|19|30|21" passage="Ex 30:19-21"><i>v.</i> 19-21</scripRef>. For
this purpose clean water was put into the laver fresh every day.
Though they washed themselves ever so clean at their own houses,
that would not serve; they must wash at the laver, because that was
appointed for washing, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.5.12-2Kgs.5.14" parsed="|2Kgs|5|12|5|14" passage="2Ki 5:12-14">2 Kings v.
12-14</scripRef>. This was designed, (1.) To teach them purity in
all their ministrations, and to possess them with a reverence of
God's holiness and a dread of the pollutions of sin. They must not
only wash and be made clean when they were first consecrated, but
they must wash and be kept clean whenever they went in to minister.
He only shall <i>stand in God's holy place</i> that has <i>clean
hands and a pure heart,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.24.3-Ps.24.4" parsed="|Ps|24|3|24|4" passage="Ps 24:3,4">Ps. xxiv.
3, 4</scripRef>. And, (2.) It was to teach us, who are daily to
attend upon God, daily to renew our repentance for sin and our
believing application of the blood of Christ to our souls for
remission; for in many things we daily offend and contract
pollution, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:John.13.8 Bible:John.13.10 Bible:Jas.3.2" parsed="|John|13|8|0|0;|John|13|10|0|0;|Jas|3|2|0|0" passage="Joh 13:8,10,Jam 3:2">John xiii. 8,
10; Jam. iii. 2</scripRef>. This is the preparation we are to make
for solemn ordinances. <i>Cleanse your hands and purify your
hearts,</i> and then <i>draw nigh to God,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Jas.4.8" parsed="|Jas|4|8|0|0" passage="Jam 4:8">Jam. iv. 8</scripRef>. To this law David alludes in
<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.26.6" parsed="|Ps|26|6|0|0" passage="Ps 26:6">Ps. xxvi. 6</scripRef>, <i>I will wash
my hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O
Lord.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.xxxi-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.22-Exod.30.38" parsed="|Exod|30|22|30|38" passage="Ex 30:22-38" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.30.22-Exod.30.38">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.xxxi-p9">22 Moreover the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p9.1">Lord</span> spake unto Moses, saying,   23 Take
thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred
<i>shekels,</i> and of sweet cinnamon half so much, <i>even</i> two
hundred and fifty <i>shekels,</i> and of sweet calamus two hundred
and fifty <i>shekels,</i>   24 And of cassia five hundred
<i>shekels,</i> after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive
an hin:   25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment,
an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be
an holy anointing oil.   26 And thou shalt anoint the
tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the
testimony,   27 And the table and all his vessels, and the
candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,   28
And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver
and his foot.   29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may
be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.   30 And
thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that
<i>they</i> may minister unto me in the priest's office.   31
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This
shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
  32 Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye
make <i>any other</i> like it, after the composition of it: it
<i>is</i> holy, <i>and</i> it shall be holy unto you.   33
Whosoever compoundeth <i>any</i> like it, or whosoever putteth
<i>any</i> of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his
people.   34 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p9.2">Lord</span> said
unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and
galbanum; <i>these</i> sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each
shall there be a like <i>weight:</i>   35 And thou shalt make
it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary,
tempered together, pure <i>and</i> holy:   36 And thou shalt
beat <i>some</i> of it very small, and put of it before the
testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet
with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.   37 And <i>as
for</i> the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to
yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto
thee holy for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.xxxi-p9.3">Lord</span>.   38
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even
be cut off from his people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.xxxi-p10">Directions are here given for the
composition of the holy anointing oil and the incense that were to
be used in the service of the tabernacle; with these God was to be
honoured, and therefore he would appoint the making of them; for
nothing comes <i>to</i> God but what comes <i>from</i> him. 1. The
holy anointing oil is here ordered to be made up the ingredients,
and their quantities, are prescribed, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.23-Exod.30.25" parsed="|Exod|30|23|30|25" passage="Ex 30:23-25"><i>v.</i> 23-25</scripRef>. Interpreters are not
agreed concerning them; we are sure, in general, they were the best
and fittest for the purpose; they must needs be so when the divine
wisdom appointed them for the divine honour. It was to be
compounded <i>secundum artem—after the art of the apothecary</i>
(<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.25" parsed="|Exod|30|25|0|0" passage="Ex 30:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>); the spices,
which were in all nearly half a hundred weight, were to be infused
in the oil, which was to be about five or six quarts, and then
strained out, leaving an admirable sweet smell in the oil. With
this oil God's tent and all the furniture of it were to be
anointed; it was to be used also in the consecration of the
priests, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.26-Exod.30.30" parsed="|Exod|30|26|30|30" passage="Ex 30:26-30"><i>v.</i>
26-30</scripRef>. It was to be continued <i>throughout their
generations,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.31" parsed="|Exod|30|31|0|0" passage="Ex 30:31"><i>v.</i>
31</scripRef>. The tradition of the Jews is that this very oil
which was prepared by Moses himself lasted till near the captivity.
But bishop Patrick shows the great improbability of the tradition,
and supposes that it was repeated according to the prescription
here, for Solomon was anointed with it (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.1.39" parsed="|2Kgs|1|39|0|0" passage="2Ki 1:39">2 Kings i. 39</scripRef>), and some other of the kings;
and all the high priests with such a quantity of it that it ran
down to the skirts of the garments; and we read of the making up of
this ointment (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.9.30" parsed="|1Chr|9|30|0|0" passage="1Ch 9:30">1 Chron. ix.
30</scripRef>): yet all agree that in the second temple there was
none of this holy oil, which he supposes was owing to a notion they
had that it was not lawful to make it up, Providence overruling
that want as a presage of the better unction of the Holy Ghost in
gospel times, the variety of whose gifts was typified by these
several sweet ingredients. To show the excellency of holiness,
there was that in the tabernacle which was in the highest degree
grateful both to the sight and to the smell. Christ's name is said
to be as <i>ointment poured forth</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Song.1.3" parsed="|Song|1|3|0|0" passage="So 1:3">Cant. i. 3</scripRef>), and the good name of Christians
better than <i>precious ointment,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.7.1" parsed="|Eccl|7|1|0|0" passage="Ec 7:1">Eccl. vii. 1</scripRef>. 2. The incense which was burned
upon the golden altar was prepared of sweet spices likewise, though
not so rare and rich as those of which the anointing oil was
compounded, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.9" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.34-Exod.30.35" parsed="|Exod|30|34|30|35" passage="Ex 30:34,35"><i>v.</i> 34,
35</scripRef>. This was prepared once a year (the Jews say), a
pound for each day of the year, and three pounds over for the day
of atonement. When it was used, it was to be beaten very small:
thus it pleased the Lord to bruise the Redeemer when he offered
himself for a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour. 3. Concerning
both these preparations the same law is here given (<scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.10" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.32-Exod.30.33 Bible:Exod.30.37 Bible:Exod.30.38" parsed="|Exod|30|32|30|33;|Exod|30|37|0|0;|Exod|30|38|0|0" passage="Ex 30:32,33,37,38"><i>v.</i> 32, 33, 37, 38</scripRef>),
that the like should not be made for any common use. Thus God would
preserve in the people's minds a reverence for his own
institutions, and teach us not to profane nor abuse any thing
whereby God makes himself known, as those did who invented to
themselves (for their common entertainments) instruments of music
like David, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.11" osisRef="Bible:Amos.6.5" parsed="|Amos|6|5|0|0" passage="Am 6:5">Amos vi. 5</scripRef>. It is
a great affront to God to jest with sacred things, particularly to
make sport with the word and ordinances of God, or to treat them
with lightness, <scripRef id="Ex.xxxi-p10.12" osisRef="Bible:Matt.22.5" parsed="|Matt|22|5|0|0" passage="Mt 22:5">Matt. xxii.
5</scripRef>. That which is God's peculiar must not be used as a
common thing.</p>
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