Tabernacle now reared up, was then taken downe againe, and the Israelites tooke their jour∣neyes out of the wildernesse of Sinai, Num. 10. 11. In the meane space, God by voice out of the most holy of the tabernacle, taught Moses and Israel all those lawes, for sacrificing, cleansing, and other re∣ligious duties, wch are written in the whole booke of Leviticus, and the nine first Chapters of Numb∣bers, Lev. 1. 1. &c. Num. 1. 1. &c. of the Congrega∣tion] or, of the meeting: where-God met wth his peo∣ple, Ex. 25. 22. & 30. 36. Elsewhere it is named the Tent of the testimony (or Tabernacle of witnesse) Num. 9. 15. & 17. 7. 8. so in the new Testament, Act. 7. 44 Rev. 15. 5. because the Tables of Testimony were kept in the Arke therein, Exod. 25. 16. and so the Greeke translateth it in this place.
Ver. 3. cover the Arke,] that is, hide it from the [unspec 3] eyes of men, by hanging the veile before it: which parted the most holy place from the holy. Hereup∣on it is called the covering veile, Numb. 4. 5. The mystery of this veile is noted on Ex. 26. 33.
V. 4. the order] or the disposition thereof, that is, the shewbread; which was weekly to be set in two rows [unspec 4] upon it: see Ex. 25. 30. The Gr. translateth, shalt pro∣pose the proposition, meaning the bread of propositiō or shew-bread; so called in Matt. 12. 4. cause to as∣cend] that is, to burne; or shalt light: see Exodus 25. 37. and 27. 20.
V. 5. set] Heb. shalt give, which is used for setting, [unspec 5] placing, disposing, &c. often in this chapter, and else-where: see Gen. 1. 17. hanging-veil] or covering∣veil: which hindred the people from entring or seeing into the holy place; see Exod. 26. 36.
Ver. 6. Tabernacle of the Tent] so called because the [unspec 6] Tabernacle was overspread, and covered with the Tent, as v. 19. and Ex. 26. 7. and so it was an over∣spread and covered Tabernacle, signifying Gods Church, by his providence covered & protected. A like phrase is in Rev. 15. 5. the Temple of the tent of the testimony in heaven was opened. For Moses Taber∣nacle is also called a Temple (or Palace.) as 1 Sam. 1. 9. and 3. 3. Psal. 27. 4. and 138. 2.
V. 7. there] that is, therein, as the Gr. translateth [unspec 7] in it; so v. 30. See Exod. 30. 18.
V. 8. hanging veil] or, covering: see Ex. 27. 16. [unspec 8]
V. 9. oile] whereof see Ex. 30. 23. &c. Levit. 8. 10. Num. 7. 1. holy] Hebr. holinesse. [unspec 9]
V. 10. holy of holies] Hebrew, holinesse of holinesses, [unspec 10] that is, most holy; as that which hallowed the sacri∣fices: see Exod. 29. 37.
V. 15. eternal priesthood] so that their children after [unspec 15] the shold not need to be anointed, but administer by reason of this first unction of their fathers: only the high Priests were anointed in the generations following, Lev. 4. 3. See the notes on Exod. 30. 33.
V. 17. second yeere] to wit, after they were come out [unspec 17] of Egypt; as the Gr. version here addeth for expla∣nation: and as Moses speaketh in Num. 9. 1. first of the moneth] that is, the first day of it: as the first of the feast, Matt. 26. 17. is expounded, the first day of the feast, Mark. 14. 12. The Greeke saith, in the New moone: see the annotations on v. 2.
V. 18. the Tabernacle] a visible signe of Gods pre∣sence, [unspec 18] dwelling with & governing his Church in Christ, Lev. 26. 11. Eze. 3. 27. 28. as it is said, I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying; Behold the Taber∣nacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, & they shal be his people, & God himself wil be with them, &c. Rev. 21. 3. set] or fastened: Heb gave; which is used for a firme setting or stablishing, as is noted on Gen. 1. 17. This setting of the sockets, with the boards bars, and pillars, signified the stability of the Church, and members thereof, grounded and sta∣blished by faith in Christ, Esay 33. 20. and 14. 32. 1. Tim. 3. 15.
V. 19. the Tent] in Gr. the curtaines: which were of [unspec 19] two sorts, some of white, blew, purple, and scarlet, cunningly wrought with Cherubims, & coupled together: others, of Goats haire, Exod. 26. 1. 7. the covering] both that of rams skins, and the other of Tachash skins, Ex. 26. 14. This tent & covering, shadowed the heavenly graces wherewith Christ and his Church in him are adorned, their uniting together by the Spirit, through faith and love; and their safe protection: though these things veiled and obscure. See the notes on Exod. 26.
V. 20. the Testimonie] the two tables of Gods law, [unspec 20] Ex. 25. 16. Covering-mercy-seat] a figure of Christ, in whose heart was Gods law; by whom our trans∣gressions of the Law are covered, and the word of grace from God commeth unto us: see Ex. 25. 17.
V. 21. covered the Arke] hid it with the veile han∣ged [unspec 21] before it. A figure of Christs flesh, veiling the divine things in him, till hee entred through it into the holy heavens, and opened a way for his Church thereinto, Heb. 10. 19. 20. Rev. 11. 19.
Ver. 23. the order of bread] that is, the bread set in [unspec 23] order, called in Gr. the bread of proposition, and so in Mat. 12. 4. but Paul nameth it the proposition of bread Heb. 9. 2. which we call Shew-bread: twelve cakes representing the twelve tribes, that is, all beleevers presented pure unto God in Christ: see Ex. 25. 30.
Vers. 24. the Candlesticke] a figure of the Law, [unspec 24] which giveth light to his people standing before God in his sanctuary, Psal. 119. 105. See the notes on Exod 25. 31. &c.
Ver. 25. to ascend] that is, to burne and shine, as v. [unspec 25] 4. representing the seven Spirits of Christ, where∣by (through the oile of his grace) his word shineth unto his Church, Rev. 4. 5.
Ver. 26. Altar of gold] figuring Christs mediati∣on [unspec 26] for his Church, whereby they and their praiers are presented as sweet odours unto God. See the notes on Ex. 30. These all being in the most holy, and holy places, hidden with veiles from the eies of the people, signified the obscuritie of the hea∣venly mysteries of the Gospell, before the veile of Christs flesh was rent, & the treasures of his grace more fully opened, Heb. 10. 1. Rom. 16. 25. 26. Ephes. 3. 5.
Ver. 29. the altar of burnt-offring] the brazen Al∣tar, [unspec 29] standing in the open Court, for all to see: wher∣upon the daily sacrifices (figuring Christs death and sufferings) were burned: to lead the Church unto the expectation of his body to bee offred for us, and our bodies by him unto God, Heb. 10. 5. 6. 7. Rom. 12. 1.
Ver. 30. The Laver] a figure of the sanctification [unspec 30]