Contemporary Literature [pp. 549-569]

1875.] CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE. 557
History and Szgnzftcance of the Sacred Tabernacle of the Hebrews. By
EDWARD A. ATWATER, New York. Dodd & Mead, pp. 448, with 47 illustrations. The author of this able book has been at work upon it for mdre than
a generation. It comes t6 us without any parade of commendations, and it
is one of the books which can stand on its own merits. Without committing
ourselves to all its views, we can safely say that it is a valuable and important contribution to the whole question, not only about the Tabernacle, but
about Scripture symbolism in general. He is justified in saying in his preface, "Confident that my studies have added to the knowledge of Hebrew
symbolism, both in breadth and accuracy, I hope they may assist those who
come after me to make additional discoveries." Though he has written especially for clergymen, yet there is so little of the technicality of learning,
that his book will be found advantageous to all who are interested in thorough
biblical investigations. He rightly follows the general method of Ba~hr, who,
in his well-known "Symbolism of Mosaic Worship," gave a new impulse and
character to this department of scientific theology, while he avoids the serious
error into which Ba~hr fell by his denial of the vicarious import and value of
the sufferings of Christ in his atoning work.
Mr. Atwater divides his investigations into two books, the first treating of
the Tabernacle, and the second of its significance. Under the first, in nine
chapters, we have a learned and detailed account of the edifice, its furniture,
erection, attendants, sacrifices, lustrations, calendar, migrations, and expenses. The second book, comprising more than two-thirds of the volume,
grapples with the subject of the symbolical and typical import of the Tabernacle, which it elucidates with simplicity and acuteness, and on the whole in a
more satisfactory manner than can be found in almost any other treatise. Symbols and types are carefully distinguished, and the nature of each is fully
explained. The Tabernacle "synzbolised the truths of the Mosaic revelation," while at the same time it "typi~ed the truths of Christianity." The
natural and religious symbolism of number and form, of color and minerals,
of vegetable substances, of animals and composite animal forms, is examined
at length, with use of the best authorities and with unusual discretion. The
principles and rules thus obtained are then applied to the interpretation of
the edifice, its furniture, the priesthood and sacrifices, the lustrations, and
the calendar. Carefully avoiding the opposite errors of too great excess and
too great baldness, the condusons arrived at generally commend themselves
to the good sense of the reader and furnish important aid to the right understanding of this difficult part of scripture where it is so easy to go astray.
"Truth dwells," the writer wisely says, "neither in the childish fancies of
the ancient typologists, nor in the scepticism and infidelity of the later times~
but in a rational typology, founded in nature, and regulated by laws almost as.
definite, inflexible, and ascertainable as tife laws of language." The writers.
of the New Testament "saw that the system of Moses was identical with.
Christianity in its root, and different only in the degree of development; consequently, they regarded the symbols of the earlier, as also prophetic symbols.
of the later and more glorious dispe nsation they ~~ere ccirmissioned to am