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VERS. XLII.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.
Have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices, &c.
KImchi upon this place of Amos speaks out what the Jewish Schools think in this matter, by a passage taken out of Bab. Chagigah k 1.1, There is a Tradition concern∣ing the daily sacrifice made in mount Sinai. R. Eliezer saith, that there were rules indeed gi∣ven concerning it on mount Sinai, but the sacrifice it self was not offered. R. Akibah saith, it was offered, and from that time hath not ceased. But what do I prove (in these words) Have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices, by the space of forty years in the wilderness, O ye house of Israel? viz. the Tribe of Levi that had not committed Idolatry, they offered, but Israel did not offer. And in those words the children of Israel kept the Passover in its time, seems to be some reproach reflected upon Israel, as hinting that they had observed no Passover in the wil∣derness but that.
It is most certain that Sacrifices were offered in the striking of the Covenant, Exod. XXIV. in the Consecration of the Altar and the Tabernacle, and in the celebration of that Passover; and this was all done in Sinai, before the fatal decree past of their not en∣tring the land. But it may not without reason be suspected that though the daily Sacri∣fice were continued after that time, (for we find live-coals upon the Altar, Numb. XVI. 46. and it is not to be thought that fire would be perpetually burning on the Altar to no purpose.) But Gods complaint seems to be about the free-will offerings, that they ceased, and that none made oblations of their own good will. Nor let any think it strange that the Prophet, and after him the Proto-martyr counts up the time in that round sum of forty years, when it was indeed but eight and thirty and an half, for so doth God himself, Numb. XIV. 34.