Page images
PDF
EPUB

teral branches mentioned in the next verse, and in chap. xxv. 32. This branch is certainly a part of the main column of the candlestick, of which what is called the shaft is another part. The two 7 and

form the whole middle pillar of the candlestick. 7 was the lower part, or haunch, as it might be called; the P, a mere slender rod rising from the haunch, which might be called the leg. The Hebrew names seem to allude to the thigh, and the bone of the leg in the human body. (See Arius Montanus's Figure and Description of the Candlestick.)

CHAP. XXXViii. 14, 15. Hangings fifteen cubits on this side and on that side of the gate of the court. On the one side hangings fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15. And on the other side hangings fifteen cubits, their pillars three and their sockets three (See Houbigant's emendation of the original.)

Verses 21, 22, 23. These verses are unquestionably misplaced. The 22d and 23d should follow the 20th, and the 21st should come in between the 23d and the 24th.

Verse 21. "This is the sum." Rather, "These were the contributions."

Ibid.

contributed."

as it was counted,"" what was

Ibid. -"for the service." For ny, read, with Houbigant, yn, "by the ministry."

Verse 24. "All the gold, 29 talents and 730

shekels"

Verse 25. "All the silver, 100

£34,112 19 8

talents, and 1775 shekels" = 7,904 2 7.1

[blocks in formation]

According to Michaelis's estimation of the Mosaic shekel, and reckoning the gold worth what the same weight of gold would be worth now. But the truer way would be to value the gold by the proportion which gold at that time bore to silver, which could not be more than 10 to 1. By this way reckoning, the gold will have amounted to no more

than

And the silver being as before

£22,978 7 1

of

7,904 2 7

The whole will have been

£30,882 9 8

CHAP. XXXIX. 31.

"to fasten it on high up

on the mitre." Rather, "to fasten it upon the mitre, at the very top." This flower-bud formed the apex of the mitre. (See chap. xxviii. 86, 37.)

LEVITICUS.

CHAP. I. 1.

"if any man of you

Rather, " If any

flock."

man of you bring an offering to Jehovah of cattle, of the herd and of the flock shall you bring your offering." God does not command that an offering should always be of beasts; but, when any one shall choose to make an offering of beasts, he prescribes what beasts they must be. Namely, kine, sheep, or goats, not asses, swine, horses, dogs, &c.

Verse 3.

"of his own voluntary will."

Rather, "to be a propitiation for him," or, " to obtain favour for him; and so the LXX. and Vulg.

And, in confirmation of this sense, see chap. xxii.

20. 21. 23. 25. 27.

CHAP. ii. 11.

66 ye

shall burn no leaven."

Farinam fermenti imbutam attingere ei fas non Massurius Sabinus De Flamine Diali apud

est."

Ayell, Lib. x. c. 15.

Ibid.

"nor any honey." On the contrary, in the great Egyptian sacrifice, the body of the heifer which was offered to Isis, was stuffed with bread, honey, dried grapes, frankincense, myrrh, and other perfumes.

Verse 12.

[ocr errors]

ye shall offer them;" them, i. e. honey and leaven. These substances were to make a part of the offering of First Fruits, but they were not to be burnt upon the altar.

Verse 13. "the salt of the covenant of thy God." Rather, "the salt, the purifier of thy God," i. e. "the purifier appointed by thy God." "Salt

added to the sacrifices, was a type of the purity or sinlessness of Christ, and of that which purifies believers. Now that which purifies believers is faith in Christ and his atonement, and a consequent hope of seeing God through him. Salt was therefore a type of that purifying faith and hope which is the gift of the Holy Spirit. And believers themselves,

inasmuch as they contribute to propagate these heavenly graces, and thereby purify the corrupted mass of mankind, are sometimes called salt.'

hurst, ♫, 2.)

(Park

[blocks in formation]

CHAP. iv. 3.

"according to the sin of the

people." Rather, "so as to bring the people into blame." (LXX. Vulg. Houb.) The faults here intended seem to be inadvertencies in some of the public rites and offices of religion.

Verse 14.

a young bullock." This law seems to have been altered afterwards. For, in Numbers xv. 24, the atonement for a sin of ignorance of the congregation, is a bullock, with the proper minutia and libation for a burnt-offering, and a kid for a sin-offering. Unless the atonement required here is for doing what was forbidden, and the atonement exacted Numbers xv. is for omitting something commanded.

Verse 20.

"as he did with the bullock for a sin-offering." In the original, after N, insert

as he did *-הכהן as in verse 21) or) הראשון either .

with the first bullock for the sin-offering;" or, "as

« PreviousContinue »