Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. XXV.

1 AND the LORD spake a unto Moses, say∣ing,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they † bring me an ‖ offering: of every man that giv∣eth it willingly with his heart, ye shall take my offering.

3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass.

4 And blue b, and purple, and scarlet, and fine † linnen c, and goats hair d.

5 And rams skins died red, and badgers skins, and Shittim-wood e,

6 Oyl for the light f, Spices for anoint∣ing oyl g, and for sweet incense h,

7 Onyx-stones i, and stones to be set k in the Ephod, and in the breast-plate l.

8 And let them make me a sanctuary m, that I may dwell amongst them n.

9 According to all that I snew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

10 And they shall make an ark o, of Shittim∣wood: two cubits p and an half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and an half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown q of gold round about.

12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners r thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.

13 And thou shalt make staves of Shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings, by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be born with them.

15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

16 And thou shalt put into the ark, the Te∣stimony s, which I shall give thee.

17 And thou shalt make a mercy-seat t of pure gold two cubits and an half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

18 And thou shalt make two cherubims u of gold: of beaten work x shalt thou make them in the two ends of the mercy-seat.

19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even ‖ of the mercy-seat y shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.

20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another: toward the mercy-seat z shall the faces of the cherubims be.

21 And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark, and in the ark thou shalt put a the testimony that I shall give thee.

22 And there I will meet with thee b, and I will commune with thee, from above the mercy-seat from between the two cherubims c which are upon the ark of the Testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

23 Thou shalt also make a table of Shittim∣wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a Crown d of gold round about.

25 And thou shalt make unto it a border e of an hand-breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown f to the border thereof round about.

26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.

27 Over against the border g shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.

28 And thou shalt make the staves of Shittim∣wood,

and overlay them with gold, that the ta∣ble may be born with them.

29 And thou shalt make the dishes h thereof, and spoons i thereof, and covers k thereof, and bowls thereof, † to cover withal l: of pure gold shalt thou make them.

30 And thou shalt set upon the table shew∣bread m before me alway.

31 And thou shalt make n a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft o, and his branches, his bowls, his knops p, and his flowers shall be of the same q.

32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it r: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candle∣stick out of the other side.

33 Three bowls made like unto almonds with a knop and a flower in one branch: and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.

34 And in the candlestick s shall be four bowls t, made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.

35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches u that proceed out of the candlestick.

36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.

37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps there∣of: and they x shall † light the lamps there∣of, that they may give light over against ‖ it y.

38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuff-dishes thereof shall be of pure gold.

39 Of a talent z of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.

40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, † which was shewed thee in the mount.

Notes

• a

  Having delivered the Moral and Judicial Laws, he now comes to the Ceremonial Law, wherein he sets down all things very minutely and particularly, whereas in the other Laws he was content to lay down general rules, and leaveth many other things to be by analogy deduced from them. The reason of the difference seems to be this, That the light of reason im∣planted in all men gives him greater help in the discovery of Moral and Judicial things, then in Ceremonial matters, or in the external way and manner of Gods Worship; which is a thing depending wholly upon Gods institution, and not left to mans invention, which is a very incompetent Judge of those things, as appears from hence, because the wittiest men desti∣tute of Gods revelation have been guilty of most foolery in their devices of Gods Worship.
• †

  Heb. take for me.
• ‖

  Or. heave▪ of∣fering.
• chap. 35. 5.
• b

  Or, Skie-coloured, But here you must not understand the meer colours, which could not be offered, but some materials proper for the work and of the colours here mentioned, to wit, Wool, or Threds, or some such like things, as appears, from Heb. 9. 19. and from the testimony of the Jews.
• †

  Or, silk.
• c

  Which was of great esteem in antient times, and used by Priests and great Officers of state. See Gen. 41. 42. Rev. 19. 8, 14.
• d

  Heb. Goats. But that their hair is understood is apparent from the nature of the thing, and from the use of the word in that sense, in other places.
• e

  A kind of Wood growing in Egypt and the Deserts of Ara∣bia, very durable and pretious. See Exod. 35. 24. Numb. 33. 49. Esa. 41. 19. Ioel 3. 18.
• chap 27. 20.
• f

  For the Lamps or Candlesticks, ver. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• chap. 30. 23▪
• g

  Wherewith the Priests, and the Tabernacle, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof, were to be anointed.
• chap. 30. 3•…•…▪
• h

  Heb. Incense of Spices or Sweet-odors: So called to distinguish it from the incense of the fat of Sacrifices, which was burnt upon the Altar.
• i

  Or, Sardonyx-stones. Note, that the signification of the He∣brew Names of the several stones are not agreed upon by the Jews at this day, and much more may we safely be ignorant of them, the religious use of them being now abolished.
• k

  Stones of fulness, or filling, or perfecting stones, so called either because they did perfect and adorn the Ephod, or because they filled up the ouches or the hollow places, which were left vacant for this purpose.
• chap. 28. 4.
• chap. 28. 15.
• l

  What the Ephod and Breast-plate were. See Exod. 28.
• m

  A place of publick and solemn Worship.
• chap. 29. 45. 1 King. 6. 13. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Heb. 3. 6. Rev. 21. 3.
• n

  Not by my essence, which is every where, but by my grace and glorious operations.
• chap. 37. 1.
• o

  Or, Little chest or coffer, for the uses after mentioned.
• p

  Un∣derstand it of the common cubit, which is generally conceived to contain a foot and half of our measure. See Gen. 6. 15.
• q

  Or, A border, raised up above the rest of the Ark as a Crown is above that which it is applyed to, onely a crown is round, and this was square. This was both for ornament, and for the fastning of the covering of the Ark to it.
• r

  In the middle of each corner for conveniency of carriage. See 1 King. 7. 30.
• Deut. 10. 2▪ 1 King. 8. 9.
• s

  To wit, The two Tables of stone, wherein the Decalogue was written called, the Testimony here, and Exod. 30. 6. Levit. 16. 33. and more fully the Tables of the Testimony, Exod. 31. 18. Numb. 1. •…•…0. because they were witnesses of that Covenant made between God and his people, whence they are called the Tables of the Covenant, Deut. 9. 9. and the Ark, the Ark of the Covenant, Numb. 10. 33. This being as a publick Record both of Gods Mercy promised to them, and of the duty and conditions re∣quired of them. See Exod. 16. 34.
• t

  Or, Propitiatory: Which seems from the sameness of di∣mensions, to be nothing else but the covering of the Ark, up∣on which God is said to sit, whence the Ark is called Gods footstool. This covering is a manifest Type of Christ, who is therefore called the propitiation, or propitiatory, Rom. 3. 25. 1 Iohn 2. 2. and 4. 10. because he interposeth himself between God our Judge, and the Law by which we all stand condemned and accursed, Gal. 3. 10, 13. that God may not deal rigorously with us according to that Law, but mercifully for his sake who hath fulfilled the Law and therefore boldly presents himself to his Father on our behalf.
• u

  Figures of humane shape, in which alone the Angels used to appear: But they had wings to signifie their expedition in Gods work and messages. And between these Angels God is said to sit and dwell. So this place was a representation of Heaven, where God sitteth and dwelleth among the Cheru∣bims and other glorious Angels.
• x

  Not made of several par∣cels joyned together, as images commonly are, nor yet melted and cast in a frame of mould, but beaten by the hammer out of one continued piece of Gold, possibly to note the exact uni∣ty or indivisibility and the simplicity of the Angelical Na∣ture.
• ‖

  Or, of the matter of the mercy-seat.
• y

  (i. e.) Of one and the same piece of massie Gold out of which the Cherubims were made.
• 1 King. 8. 7. 1 Chro. 28. 18. Heb. 9. 5.
• z

  Towards God, who is supposed to sit there, whose face the Angels in Heaven always behold, and upon whom their eyes are fixed to observe and receive his commands; and towards Christ, the true propitiatory, which mystery they desire to look into, 1 Pet. 1. 12. not envying mankind their near and happy relation to him, but taking pleasure in the con∣templation of it.
• a

  Or, After thou shalt have put in the Ark: For the Ark was not to be opened after the covering was put upon it. The He∣brew particle Vau oft signifies after that, as Ier. 43. 13. and 51. 60.
• b

  There I will be in a special and gracious manner present with thee.
• chap. 29. 42. and 30. 36. Lev. 16. 2. Num. 7. 89.
• c

  Which spreading forth their wings formed a kind of seat, which the Divine Majesty was pleased to po∣ssess.
• chap. 37. 10. 1 King. 7. 48. 2 Chro. 4. 8.
• d

  A square-border at the top of it, as ver. 11. partly for Ornament, and principally to keep what was put upon it from falling off.
• e

  Which encompassed and kept together the feet of the Ta∣ble, and seems to have been towards the bottom of it.
• f

  Not the same mentioned before, ver. 24. but another for further Ornament to the Table.
• g

  As much below the top, as the border was above the bot∣tom, of the feet of the Table, which was a convenient place for the carriage. Others, near the border, in that part of the feet which is next to it.
• h

  In which the bread and Frankincense upon it were put, Le∣vit. 24. 7. Of this sort there were twelve one for every loaf.
• i

  In which incense was put, as appears from Numb. 7. 14. and by which incense was either put into the dishes, or taken out of them, as occasion required.
• k

  So the Hebrew word is used Exod. 37. 16. Numb. 4. 7. Herewith either the Bread or In∣cense or both.
• †

  Or, to pour out withal.
• l

  To cover the same things. So this and the former were two several sorts of covers, the one deeper than the other, one to cover the bread, another, the incense. Or, Bowls thereof, to pour out withall, to wit, liquid things, as Wine and Oyl, when they were offered. See Gen. 35. 14. Or these last words may relate not onely to the bowls, but the other things, here mentioned, and may be thus rendred, where∣with it, to wit, the Table, shall be covered, as indeed it was in a manner quite covered with these vessels.
• Lev. 24. 5.
• m

  Heb. Bread of faces, or of the presence, so called because it was constantly placed in Gods presence. This bread was di∣vided into twelve loaves, one for every Tribe, and they were in their name presented to God in the nature of an offering, as the Frankincense shews, as a publick acknowledgment, that they received all their bread or food both corporal and spi∣ritual from Gods hand, and were to use it as in Gods pre∣sence.
• chap. 37. 17. 1 King. 7. 49. Zech. 4. 2. Rev. 1. 12. and 4. 5.
• n

  Either by thy self, or by some other person whom thou shalt cause to make it.
• o

  The trunk or main body of it.
• p

  Or, Apples, made in form of a Pemegranate.
• q

  To wit, beaten out of the same piece by the hammer. Compare ver. 36.
• r

  In every one of which was a Lamp, and there was a seventh Lamp in the chief stem of it, as appears from ver. 37. And all these together represent the seven Spirits of God, Revel. 1. 4. and 4. 5. and 5. 6. Or the spirit of God, the great enlightner of the Church, with his sevenfold or various gifts and ope∣rations.
• s

  (i. e.) In the shaft or trunk of the Candlestick, which is here distinguished from its branches.
• t

  Whereas there were but three in each of the branches.
• u

  And, to compleat the number of four mentioned in the foregoing verse, we must understand, that there was another knop and bowl and flower in the upper part of the shaft, above all the branches, as the rules of proportion and common use in making such things will easily evince.
• chap. 27. 20. and 3•…•…. 8. Lev. 24. 3, 4.
• x

  Whom I shall appoint for that work.
• †

  Or, cause to ascend.
• ‖

  Heb. the face of it.
• y

  (i. e.) Either 1. The table of Shew-bread. Or rather 2. The Candlestick, as it is expressed, Numb. 8. 2. where by the Candlestick you are to understand, as here verse 33. 34. the stem or main body of it, and the sense is, that the lamps shall be so placed, that they and their light may look towards that stem: unless you will suppose that the seven lamps were distinct and separated from the candlestick and fastned to the sides of the Tabernacle, in several places, and all giving light to or over against the great candlestick which was in the midst, as the candlestick did over against them, which is also now usual among us.
• z

  Which contains three thousand shekels, Exod. 33. 25. or 125 pound.
• Num. 8. 4. 1 Chr. 28. 19. Act. 7. 44. Heb. 8. 5.
• †

  Heb. which thou wast caused to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.