A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 72. Of the meaning of the 13 verse.

Heb. 7. 13. 14.

13.

For he of whom these things are spoken, pertaineth to another tri•…•…e, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no man gave attendance at the Altar.

14.

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Iuda, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning Priest-hood.

IN these two verses the Apostle giveth a proof of this main point, that Christs Priest-hood was of another kind then the Leviticall Priest-hood. His argument is drawn from the different tribes, whereof the one and the other Priests were. The grounds of the argument resteth upon this, that God restrained the Priest-hood, under the Law, to the tribe of Levi. None of any other tribe might be of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Priest-hood, Num. 18. 1. &c. Christ therefore being of another tribe, was no•…•… a Priest after that order. The first particle a 1.1 FOR intendeth a reason.

These words, b 1.2 He of whom these things are spoken, are relative. They have re∣ference to him that was the true Priest, whom Melchisedec prefigured: and •…•…o whom all those excellent things, before mentioned of Melchisedec, as a type, most truly and properly appertained. This was Jesus Christ, who in the next verse is stiled, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord, This relative description of Christ, giveth good ground to apply that Priest∣hood of Melchisedec, and other excellencies, spoken of him thereabout, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ See v. 3. §. 2•…•…, 26. and v. 4. §. 31.

Of the meaning of the Greek word translated, c 1.3 pertaineth, see Chap. 2. v. 14 •…•….* 1.4 139. Christ was pleased to associate himself among the people of God, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so as to be of on•…•… of their tribes.

A d 1.5 tribe was a company of people that descended from a distinct stock. Now I•…•…cob or Isaa•…•…k having twelve Sons, so many as descended from each of them, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 accounted to make so many tribes; and thereupon were called the twel•…•…e tribes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…∣rael, Gen. 49. 28. This word tribe, is also by way of resemblance, applied to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 divisions of people in other Nations, and translated, kindred, Rev. 5. 9. but here it is taken in the first and proper sen•…•…e.

This distributive pronoune, e 1.6 another, hath reference to the tribe of Levi: so as Christ was not of that tribe, yet of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 What that other tribe was, and why •…•…e was of that tribe, see v. 14. §. 75.

This in generall giveth evidence of a great condescention in Christ: who being one of the glorious Trinity in heaven, vouchsafed to be of one of the twelve tribes of Israel on earth.

Of the tribe whereof Christ was, it is said, no man gave attendance at the Al∣t•…•…r.

An Altar was that whereon sacrifices were offered up. The f 1.7 Hebrew word that signifieth an Altar, is derived from a g 1.8 verb that signifieth to sacrifice. The* 1.9 h 1.10 Greek word here used is a compound of two nounes, whereof one signifieth a sacrifice; the other implyeth a place to lay that sacrifice upon: our English word Altar is taken from the Latin i 1.11 Altar, which signifieth a thing raised on high: or so called, because it used to be raised up and set in high places.

This phrase, k 1.12 gave attendance, is the interpretation of one compound Greek word, whereof see Chap. 2. v, 1. §. 6. There is shewed, that it signifieth a serious •…•…eeding of a thing, or attending it: so as, it is here fitly translated gave attendance. Such as are said to l 1.13 wait at the Altar, 1 Cor. 9. 13.

The Altar is here metonymically put for the Priests offering sacrifices thereon; and the services about the Altar are synecdochically put for all other services apper∣•…•…aining to that calling.

Where he saith, no man gave attendance, he speakes rather of right then of fact.* 1.14 For Uzziah of the tribe of Iudah gave attendance at the Altar of incense (2 Chro* 1.15 26. 16.) but without warrant and against the Law. He had no right so to do: he ought not to have done it.

In this last clause one thing is expressed: that none of another tribe gave atten∣dance at the Altar: another is implyed: that the Priests who were of the tribe of Levi, did give attendance at the Altar.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• e 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• f 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• g 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sa∣crificavit.
• * 1.9

  Altare.
• h 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• i 1.11

  Altare ab adject. altus: quia altis lo∣cis excitari▪ solebat;
• k 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• l 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Assidere.
• * 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.15

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Proprio commo∣do invigilare. Arist. Polit. Lib.