CHAP. XLV. V.1-8. The division of the land, appointed in these verses and in the forty-eighth chapter, entirely differs from that which took place in the days of Joshua; and nothing, at all answerable to it, seems to have occurred when the Jews returned from Babylon: but whether it will be, in any measure,
the same as before. ( Notes , 40:5. 42:15-20.) So that, unless the text be there totally changed, without any authority; this passage, as well as that, must be understood of "reeds." Except when the suburbs are mentioned, the word cubit does not once occur in either place. (2)-'According to this measure,' (of cubits,) 'the portion here set out will be almost 'seven miles square; whereas, if we measure 'by reeds, it will arise to six times as much, 'and can only be understood in a mystical 'sense.' Lowth .
This surely is not a sufficient reason for altering the original text: for a great part of the vision, on any supposition, must be thus interpreted. There are, however, on the other hand, those who make these measures immensely larger: but I can neither understand their rules of computation, nor the grounds on which they proceed.
It is indeed evident, that the land of Canaan could by no means admit of so large a proportion being allotted to the sanctuary, with the priests and Levites: but, it is probable this was intended to intimate the immensely large extent of the Christian church, above that of Israel; especially in those glorious times which are doubtless emblematically predicted.-Supposing, therefore, that reeds are intended, this
9 Thus saith the Lord GoD; m Leta bath out of the cor, which is an homer of it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove ten baths; for ten baths are an homer. violence and spoil, and execute judgınent and justice, take away your * exactions from my people, saith the Lord God.
10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
11 The Pephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.
12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.
15 And onet lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, sout of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat-offering, and for a burnt-offering, and for + peace-offerings, t to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord God.
16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel.
17 And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt-offerings, and meat-offerings, and drink-offerings, in the feasts, and in the new-moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin-offering, and the meat-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the
13 This is the oblation that ye shall offer: the sixth part of an ephah of an ho-peace-offerings, to make reconciliation for
mer of wheat; and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley.
14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of
m 44:6, 1 Pet. 4:3.
n Neh. 5:10. Ps. 82:2-5. Is. 1:17. Jer. 22:3. Zech. 8:16. Luke 3:14.
* Heb. expulsions. Job 20:19. 22:9. 24:2-12. Mic. 2:1,2,9. o Lev. 19:35,36. Prov. 11:1. 16:
11. 20:10. 21:3. Am. 8:4-6. Mic. 6:10,11.
holy oblation would on the lowest computation, constitute a square of above forty miles on every side. From the north part of this square, a portion, of about sixteen miles in width, and above forty in length, is appointed for the priests, for their houses and possessions: but in the midst of this portion, the area of the sanctuary, about a mile square, was to be enclosed by a wall. ( Note , 42:15-20.) This was to be "a place for their houses:" for no cities, in other parts of the land, either for priests or Levites, as under the law, are mentioned.
Next to this, on the south, the other Levites were to receive their portion, of the same dimensions with that of the priests and the sanctuary. And south of this, the portion for the city was to be marked out, of the same length as the portions allotted to the priests and Levites, but only half the width.
'These three portions constitute the square of twentyfive thousand reeds: and that set apart for the Prince (the breadth of which is not mentioned,) extended in length, equal to the breadth of the before-mentioned portions; from north to south, on both the east and the west sides of the square. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .
Notes , 48:8-22.) In the predicted period, the worship and ministers of God will be liberally and conveniently provided for: the princes will be both able and willing to defray the expenses of government, without oppressing their sub*jects; and will rule over them with equity and clemency, as the vicegerents of Christ; and the people will submit to them conscientiously, and live in peace, prosperity, and godliness.
These things seem to be represented, in language taken from the customs of the times in which the prophet wrote.-Tithes are not mentioned, either her here, or in any part of the vision; whi which shews that in the times predicted, the ritual law of Moses will not be in force. Suburbs . (2) Or "void places." Marg . For fifty cubits round about the bounds thereof,' the sanctuary,) 'shall be waste ground, free from any employ any employment of building.' Bp . Hall .
the house of Israel.
Heb. shall be for.
Or, with . Is. 16:1.
u 46:4-12. 2 Sam. 6:19. 1 Kings 8:63,64. 1 Chr. 16:2,3. 29:3
9. 2 Chr. 7:4,5. 8:12,13, 30:24. 31:3. 35:7,8. Ps. 68:18. John 1:16. Rom. 11:35,36. Eph. 5:2.
x Lev. 23: Num. 28: 29: Is. 66:23.
y Ps. 22:15-26,29. John 6:51 -57. 1 Cor. 5:7,8. Heb. 13: 10. 1 Pet. 2:24. 3:18.
11 Or, thank-offerings. 43:27. Col. 3:17. Heb. 13:15.
Chambers. (5) Or, “To the Levites, who min ister in the twenty chambers." ( Marg . Ref . h.) The Septuagint read, "for a possession, cities to inhabit."
V. 9. 'This is a reproof of the oppressions o 'their former kings, and their chief officers." Lowth . ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , 19:2— 9. 22:27,28. 44:6. Ps . 82: Is . 32:1,2. Jer . 22:13 -19.)
V. 10-12. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . o. See on Note, Prov. 11:1.-Note, Am. 8:4-10, υ. 5.) The ephah was the measure of dry things, as the bath was of liquid. The homer was about 'ten bushels, which amounts to about eighty 'gallons in liquid things. .. The dividing the 'maneh into twenty, twenty-five, and fifteen 'shekels, supposes there were coins of these 'several values, which taken all together were 'to be of the same weight with the maneh.' Lowth . This is not very probable: as such coins would weigh almost a pound troy. Perhaps some methods of computation then in use, but unknown at present, are referred to. ( Marg . Ref . p, q.-Note, Is. 5:8-10, v. 10. Tables .)
V. 14, 15. The oblation of the sixtieth part of the wheat, barley, and oil, and of one lamb out of two hundred, may be considered as the stock for the daily sacrifices, and the fund from which the ordinary expenses of the sanctuary were to be defrayed. - The word rendered reconciliation signifies atonement , or expia tion ; that which "covereth," or blotteth out , the guilt of sin. This regulation entirely differs from the requirements in the Mosaic ritual. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . - Tables .)
V. 16. The prince shall join with the peo'ple in making these these oblations; whereas those 'that follow in the next verse, are to be at the 'sole charge of the prince.' Lowth. ( Marg .)
V. 17. If Christ be meant by the Prince, as some think, this signifies, that he alone is the atoning Sacrifice for the sins of his people: and whatever oblations they present, or whatever services they acceptably perform, must
18 Thus saith the Lord GoD; In the first month , in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:
19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.
22 And upon that day shall & the prince prepare for himself, and for all the people of the land, a bullock for a sin-offering.
23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt-offering to the LORD, k seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish, daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin-offering.
20 And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for devery one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye rec-ephah.
oncile the house.
24 And he shall prepare la meat-offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an 25 In the seventh month , in the fif
21 In the first month , in the fourteenth teenth day of the month, shall he do the day of the month, 'ye shall have the pass- like in the feast of the seven days, accordover, a feast of seven days; unleavened ing to the sin-offering, according to the
bread shall be eaten.
z Ex. 12:2. Num. 28:11-15. Matt. 6:33.
a Lev. 22:20. Heb. 7:26. 9:14. 1 Pet. 1:19.
b 43:22,26. Lev. 16:16,33. Heb. 9:22-25. 10:3,4,19-22.
C 43:14,20, Lev. 16:18-20.
be offered in his name. Yet it is far from clear, that Christ is meant by "the prince." ( Notes , 18-25. 46:1-7,16-18.) -The The feas feasts here
specified were typical of Christ and his salvation, and represented the sacred seasons and instituted ordinances in the church, by which they are commemorated, and the blessings of them applied to the soul; especially the preaching of the gospel, the Lord's day, and the Lord's supper. The difference between these regulations and the ceremonial law, may intimate a change in the external constitution of the church. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .)
V. 18-25. The words are directed to the 'prince. ... The prince was to provide the sac'rifices, and the priest was to offer them.' Lowth . ( Marg . Ref. Notes, Ex . 29:38-41. Lev . 16:11-19. 23: Num . 15:28: 29: Deut . 16:) The variations from the Mosaic law, in the number of the several sacrifices, and the proportion of the meat-offering to each, being ten times as much as the law prescribed; with several other circumstances, seem more like enacting a new ceremonial law, than enforcing that of Moses. It must then be understood emblematically .
"The prince" is never mentioned in the ritual appointments of Moses: but here he is required to provide the oblations. Does not this statement of what shall take place in the millennium (for that must be intended,) imply, that in those happy days, kings and rulers will take a more leading and active and liberal part, in supporting the worship of God, according to the gospel, than many at present think they ought to do? ( Notes , 2 Chr . 29:10,11,12--19, v. 15. 30:12. 31: 3,4. 35:7-9. Ezra 7:27,28. Ps . 72:8--11. Is . 49: 22,23. 60:1--14. Rev. 11:15--18.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. We should present to the Lord an oblation, of the first and best of all our possessions; that we may honor him with our substance, and obtain bis blessing on all our labors and comforts.--It is the duty of Christians, according to their ability, to provide for the decent and comfortable subsistence of ministers, that they may attend to their work without distraction. But it becomes ministers to be content even
burnt-offering, and according to the meatoffering, and according to the oil.
things rather than hinder the gospel of Christ." The interests of religion require that they should generally reside near their work, and as retired as may be from the vain hurry hurry of the world: that they may "give themselves to the word of God and prayer;" and that every thing pertaining to them may savor of holiness and piety.--Subjects also should willingly contribute what is requisite to the honorable support of their governors, and the charges of government: and princes, especially "the princes of Israel," ought to imitate the equity and lenity of Christ our King: they should use their authority for the good of the people, and lay no needless or oppressive burdens on them; that they may comfortably enjoy their possessions.
If any have deviated (as alas! too many have, and still do,) from these salutary rules; they must be warned to proceed no further, but to let the past iniquity suffice; to remove all violence and spoil, and to terminate all exactions. These are the duties of men in every age: and the happy time is coming, when all ranks in every part of the earth will attend to them.
Then there will be no more fraud, oppression, misery, war, or devastation; but universal righteousness, peace, and prosperity. (Note, Rev. 20:1--6.)--It is an important part of the will of God, that men should deal with exact honesty in all the transactions of life: no zeal, orthodoxy, or diligence in religion can compensate for the want of truth and justice in our moral conduct; though for a time they may cloak it.
The Lord requires a just weight, and a true balance, and exactress in every one of our dealings.--All should use their influence, and improve their talents, in promoting the cause of godliness. The sabbaths and ordinances of God, and the commemoration of his benefits, should be our chief delight and satisfaction: and we should aim to reduce our various duties to some regular method, that they may not interfere with each other; and to persist in it till it become habitual.
And, though nothing we do can atone for sin; our zealous services testify our acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ our Prince and High Priest, which according to [617
with a scanty provision, and to "suffer all || his part, he has most graciously prepared for VOL. IV.