Exodus 25

Exodus 25:2

SPeake] After the Morall and Judiciall Law, he giveth them the ceremoniall Laws, and that so punctually, that nothing should be left to mans invention: wherein some things have mysticall significations of great moment, and may have allusions to holy things, yet to be too curious, as many are in finding out conformities to every particular, may occasion both vanitie and presumption.

bring] Hebr. take for me.

of every one] Chap. 35. 5.

willingly] Judges 5:9. 1 Chronicles 29:9. Proverbs 11:25. Romans 12:3. 2 Corinthians 9:7. The chiefe grace of any gift is the good will of the heart, which advanceth two mites to more acceptance, then much more, either grudgingly given, or with vaine ostentation, Luke 21:3. & 2 Corinthians 8:12. & Chap. 9. 7.

Exodus 25:3

Take of them] For the building of the Tabernacle.

Exodus 25:4

• sine linnen] Or, silke. But linnen groweth from the ground, silke cometh from wormes. See Annot. on * Gen. 41. vers. 42.

Goats haire] To make a kinde of sackcloth for the covering of the Arke.

Exodus 25:5

• Shittimwood] Vers. 23. & 28. Which is thought to be a kinde of Cedar that will not rot, but Esa. 41. 19. it is called the Shittah tree, as a distinct tree from the Cedar, yet shooting up in height and growing in bulke to the stature of a Cedar tree, having a leafe like a white thorne, and haply agreeing with it in lasting and durablenesse; for it is commended for lightnesse, firmnesse, fairenesse, and for continuance, without putrefaction above all other timber; which though it grow not in the wildernesse, might border upon it, or be brought by the Israelites out of Egypt: whereof they might foresee manifold use, though not to this purpose.

Exodus 25:7

Ephod] Of this see Annot. on Chap. 28. 4.

breast-plate] Of this see Annot. on Chap. 28. 15.

Exodus 25:8

Sanctuary] A place for holy and solemne service to God, both to offer sacrifice, and to heare the law, to present prayers, and celebrate them, which at first was the Tabernacle, Leviticus 26:11.

dwell among them] Not that Gods essence or presence can be confined to any place, Psal. 139. 5: 7, 8. but that he will there give especiall evidence of his grace, and glory, and of his neere relation to his people, in entercourse with them by his Word and Sacraments: that Tabernacle was a type of the Church, the mysticall church of Gods people, in whom he dwelleth as in living Temples, 2 Corinthians 6:16. Hebrews 3:6.

Exodus 25:9

after the patterne] God shewed Moses a modell, after which he was to make the Tabernacle. See 1 Chron. 28. 19.

Exodus 25:10

two cubits] That is, of the common cubits, being in length from the bending of the arme to the end of the longest finger: some measure the cubite to a foote, and an halfe, of our measure: and so the Arke was in length, a yard and nine inches; and three quarters of a yard in height and breadth.

Exodus 25:11

crowne of gold] Crowns are commonly round, but this was a square erected border according to the figure of the Arke. See Annot. on Chap. 30. 3.

Exodus 25:16

in the Arke the * Testimony] Wherein the two Tables of stone written with the finger of God, Exodus 31:18. (called the Testimony, because by them was testified Gods will concerning their dutie) were placed, and nothing else for a long time, 1 Kings 8:9. 2 Chron. 5. 10. So that the golden Pot of Manna, & Aarons Rod that budded, were not then placed in the Arke, but elsewhere in the Tabernacle; but afterwards it seemes they were put with the Tables into the Arke, Hebrews 9:4. * 2 Kings 11:12. 1 Corinthians 2:1.

Exodus 25:17

Of the Mercy-seate] This was the covering of the Arke, made of pure gold; and not distinct from the Arke, but placed close unto it; and God sitting as it were, upon the wings of the Cherubims, (which made the representation of a seat) on the Arke below it. This narrow seate was a figure of Christ: the Word signifieth a Covering: the meaning is, mans iniquitie being covered by Christs merits, God is mercifull unto him, Psalms 32:1. and therefore it is called the Propitiatoire, and Christ a propitiation for mans sinnes, 1 John 2:2. because of the favour and mercy communicated to men, through his merit: and this was placed betwixt the Tables of the Law, and the Majestie of God appearing betweene the Cherubims, vers. 22. to note that Christ stands betweene God and the rigour of the Law, in our stead, and for our sakes, that God might looke upon the Law through him, as fulfilled by him for our sakes and on our behalfe.

Exodus 25:18

Cherubims] The word Cherub, as some Hebrews conceeive, is compounded of Che, that is, as it were, & Rabin, that is, a boy or a young man. Cherubims were figures of appearing angels, or glorious representations in humane shape, chiefly in the resemblance of beautifull youth, made with wings, to signifie the expedition which is used by Angels, in obeying the will of God; whereby the Papists would defend their Idolatrie against the second Commandement: they might as well take upon them, to roote out whole Nations by warre, against the sixth Commandement, and spoyle men of their goods, against the eighth; because God gave an especiall warrant to his people of Israel for them both against a generall rule; and when there is a generall rule, as that prohibition concerning Images, the exception must have especiall warrant by the same Authoritie that made the rule; but it is absurd from a speciall exception from a generall rule, to set up a generall contradiction to the rule, as the Papists do in this particular.

of beaten worke] Not melted and so cast into a would, but beaten out of the whole piece with an hammer.

Exodus 25:19

Mercy-seat] Or, the matter of the Mercy-seat.

Exodus 25:20

their faces looke] Heb. The face of a man turned to the face of his brother; Which further confirmeth their portraiture to have been of an humane shape: as Annotation on verse 18.

Exodus 25:22

• there will I meete with thee] That is, above the Cherubims, and in the middle between them I will gloriously appeare, and declare my minde unto my people, thence it is probable were formed sensible words. 1 Samuel 4:4. Exod. 29. 42, 43. & Chap. 30. 6. Judg. 20. 27 2 Kings 19:15. Psalms 80:1.

Exodus 25:23

Table] As it is described from vers. 23. to 28.

Shittim wood] Chap. 37. 10. See Annot. on vers. 5.

Exodus 25:25

a border] Made of gold bounding the table upon every side, and lying flat upon it like a gard on a garment; upon this was set a Crowne foure fingers high, yet not round, (as Crowns usually are) but as the Table foure-square; there is twice mention of a Crown, vers. 24, 25. whence some take it, there were two Crowns; but it is more like it is but one, though twice named.

Exodus 25:29

dishes] To receive the fine flower, and other oblations brought unto the Temple; and for the Shew-bread, which were to be placed upon them.

spoones] To put frankincense in, and to take it out of the dishes, when it was to be burned upon the Altar of Incense.

boules] For the drink-offerings, into which they were put; and out of which they were powred in oblation to God.

to cover withall] Or rather to powre out withall; for out of the bouls they were powred, and yet the boules also might be covered.

Exodus 25:30

Shew-bread] Heb. the bread of faces; that is, the bread shewed, presented, or set in view as before the face: the manner how, is set down, Leviticus 24:5. they were in number twelve, according to the number of the Tribes of Israel; in measure each conteyned two homers; enough to serve two men for one day; and they were placed on a Table not in the holy of holies (where onely the High-priest came) but in the holy place; the place of the Priests, not of the people; and sixe and sixe in a row, were these cakes or loaves placed, answering each other. This bread was (every Sabbath) set new on the Table, and when the new came the Priest did eate the old in the holy place. The setting of these loaves was a memoriall of Gods beneficence to his people, preparing (for them) a Table in the wildernesse, Psalms 23:5. and to admonish them, that in taking their repast, they should have an especiall eye to God, in whose presence that provision was set, to whom they were to give thankes, and eate to his glory, 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Exodus 25:31

candlestick] Zac 4:2. Revelation 1:4.

Exodus 25:34

In the candlestick] That is, in the shaft of the candlestick.

Exodus 25:37

they shall light] Or, cause to ascend: Chap. 30. 8. & 27. 20. 2 Chron. 13. 11. Levit. 24. 2, 3. 1 Samuel 3:3.

over against it] Heb. the face of it. That is, towards the Table of the shew-bread.

Exodus 25:39

talent] The ordinary talent contained 54 pounds, eight ounces, and a quarter of Troy weight; the Sacred talent contained an hundred pound. So in some directions before Josephus: others augment it to an hundred and twenty five pound weight, reckoning twelve ounces to the pound.

Exodus 25:40

patterne] Chap. 26. 30. & 1 Chron. 28. 12. 19. Acts 7:44. See Annot. on vers. 9.

which was shewed] Heb. which thou hast caused to see.