СПАР. XLVIII. V. 1-7. This division of the land entirely differs from that which was made in the days of Joshua; and it is not probable that it should ever literally take place: but it seems to denote the equality of privilege, which subsists among all the tribes of the redeemed, whatever their previous characters have been; and their intimate union and communion with each other. This division of the land among the twelve tribes may imply, that 'all true Christians shall be equally sharers in 'the privileges of the gospel.' Lowth . A portion is laid out for each tribe, directly across the country from east to west: and Reuben's lot is placed between Ephraim and Judah ( Marg and Marg . Ref . Notes , 47:13-23. Josh
8 And by the border of Judah, from || twenty thousand, shall be " a profane place
the east side unto the west side, shall be * the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the anctuary shall be in the midst of it.
9 The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.
for the city, for dwelling and for suburbs and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
16 And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.
17 And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and
10 And for them, even mfor the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length , and toward the west ten thousand in fifty, and toward the west two hundred and
breadth, and toward the east ten thousand fifty.
in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.
11 * It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray, when the children of Israel went astray, Pas the Levites went astray.
12 And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy, by the border of the Levites.
13 And over against the border of the priests, the Levites shall have five and wenty thousand in length, and ten thouand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
14 And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the first-fruits of the land; for it is holy unto the LORD.
15 And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and
Levites , &c. (11) 'All
V. 8-13. Marg . and Marg. Ref . Notes , 44:15,16. 45:1-8. - As the Levites , &c. 'the priests were Levites; but no Levites were 'priests, except the descendants of Aaron." "As the other Levites went astray."
V. 14. This may intimate, been devoted to the immediate service of God should not be alienated from it; that ministers hould be contented with their provision, and ot shew a fickle or mercenary disposition; nd that the inheritance of believers is unchangeably secured to them. "The first fruits" signify their portion of land: no other first fruits are mentioned. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , Lev . 27:9-13, υ . 10,28-34.)
intimate, that what has
V. 15-17. Notes , 20. 42:15-20. 45:1-8, v .
V. 18. For food, &c.] 'For those who per- VOL. IV.
18 And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.
19 And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
20 All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand, by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.
21 And the residue shall be for the. Prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, band westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.
22 Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince's, between the border of Judah,
This ser
'form inferior offices in the city. Lowth . Per- haps for the Nethinim. ( Marg . Ref .) V. 19. ( Notes , 1 Kings 4:7-23.) 'vice being a burden, it is fit that all the tribes 'should bear their part in it.' Lowth.
V. 20. Square . ] Square .] 'A square figure being the 'emblem of perpetuity, strength, and solidity. (42:16-20.)-A great part of the wisdom of 'the eastern nations was wrapped up in hiero- 'glyphical emblems and numbers.... This meth- 'od God hath thought fit to make use of to dis- 'cover some mysterious truths in his word: such 'as perhaps he thinks not convenient to be more 'clearly revealed till the proper time or season; 'intending by such hints, to encourage men's searching into the more obscure parts of the 'scriptures.' Lowth . ( Note , Rev. 21:9-21, ν . 16.) V. 21. Marg . Ref . Note, 45:1-8, υυ . 7,8.
[625
and the border of Benjamin, shall be forvide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inthe prince.
23 As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have * a portion .
24 And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, d Simeon shall have a portion.
25 And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.
26 And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.
27 And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, & Gad a portion.
28 And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even h from Tamar unto the waters of † strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward * the great sea.
29 This is the land which ye shall di
c1-7. Gen. 35:16-19. Josh. 18:21-28.
* Heb. one portion. 1.
d Gen. 29:32. 49:5-7. Josh. 19:1-9.
e Gen. 30:14-18. Josh. 19:17 -23.
28.
h 47:19. 2 Chr. 20:2.
† Heb. Meribah - kadesh . Num. 20:1,13. Ps. 106:32.
i Gen. 15:18. Num. 34:5. Josh.
13:3. Is 27:12.
k 47:15,19,20,
V. 22, 23. The lot of Judah was north of the boly oblation, and that of Benjamin south of it. (Marg. Ref .) The contrary took place, in the division of the land by Joshua. ( Note , Josh . 18:11-20.)
V. 24-29. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes, Josh. 13:24-28. 19:1-28.) These appoint'ments are not laid out with any regard to the 'division of the land made in Joshua's time: for 'here a platform of a new church and state is 'set forth.' Lowth.
V. 30-35. It is most obvious to interpret
heritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.
30 And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.
31 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.
32 And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.
33 And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.
34 At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures , and the name of the city from that day, shall be, The Lord is
there.
rity, felicity, and holiness; and that at length these blessings will be abundantly communicated, and his presence and glory signally dis played among his people. ( Marg . Ref . o.Marg. and Ref . Notes , Matt . 18:19,20. 28:19, 20, v. 20. John 14:18-24. Rev. 21:22-27. 22:2 -5.)
these "measures," of the reed which the proph-tinctions are swallowed up, and the vilest of
et's conductor held in his hand: for what was the use of it, but to measure with? Or what measure should we compute by, but that which the Spirit of God has pointed out to us? By this measure the city would be near forty miles in circuit, or ten miles on each side of the square; which was vastly larger than Jerusalem ever was. Doubtless the large dimensions of the city and land were intended to intimate the great increase of religion, and the propagation of the gospel in the times predicted. ( Marg . Ref . -Notes, 45:1-8. Is . 26:1,2.54:2,3. 60:15-22, v . 18.
Rev. 21:9-21, υυ . 12,13,16,21.) 'The same 'description is given of the gates of the new Jerusalem, ( Rev. 21:12,13.) to signify that all 'true Israelites have their share in this heav'enly city, and a right to enter into it. ( Rev. '22:14.)' Lowth.- Levi . (31) One gate is here assigned to Levi; and only one to Joseph, or the two tribes descended from him. The land here divided is never called Canaan, nor the city measured, Jerusalem; probably because they were figurative of spiritual blessings to the church and to Israel: but.
"the LORD is there," or, "JEHOVAH-shammah," ( marg .) is the name given to this holy city: signifying that his powerful and gracious presence with his church is the source of all her peace, secu
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. When true converts enter the church by faith in Jesus Christ, all their former sins are blotted out, every stigma is removed, all disthem are admitted to a full participation of all the privileges of the children of God, and made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Yet on earth some of them must be placed more advantageously than others for their spiritual improvement: and in proportion to their degrees of grace and fruitfulness on earth, so will be their capacity for the glory and felicity of heaven, and their enjoyment of it.Our inheritance, as the spiritual priests of the living God, cannot be forfeited or exchanged: nor should we desire to change the temporal portion, which our gracious Lord has allotted us.
Especially it behoves the ministers of Christ to be contented in their places, and with "such things as they have:" and, as they must by no means waste or alienate the revenues appropriated to the maintenance of religion; so the Lord will call those to a strict account, who plunder them, or make the concerns of religion to subserve their love of filthy lucre.
In the visible church on earth, there will still be some part "profane; even believers must spend part of their time in those employments, which do not immediately belong to religion; and though these must be performed from pious motives and in a conscientious manner, yet they should be kept distinct from
spiritual concerns.-All that belong to the Is-city above: for all things are so regulated and
established by the power, truth, and love of God, that no believer shall ever be ashamed of his confidence. Through the whole extent of the church, even when it shall fill the earth, the Lord will vouchsafe his gracious presence and blessing. May we be found citizens of this holy city, and act consistently with that character; and have the benefit and comfort of the Lord's presence with us, in life, in death, and
rael of God should serve the common cause, in their proper places, and according to their abilities: and those who occupy themselves in so good a work, should not be left destitute of such things as are needful for them. The way of access into the church is open on every side, that sinners may enter by faith, from all the quarters of the globe, and from all the tribes of the earth: and all that belong to the true church below, shall at last find admission into the holy || for evermore.
THE
BOOK OF DANIEL.
THE writer of this book was contemporary with Ezekiel, but probably younger than he: yet he began to prophesy before him; and he continued in his prophetical office much longer.
He was of the royal family of Judah; and having been early in life carried captive to Babylon, he soon became renowned for wisdom, and was advanced to great authority under Nebuchadnezzar: and he seems to have continued in an exalted station, and in offices of great trust and power, through all the subsequent period of the Chaldean monarchy; and afterwards under Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian: yet he was even then far more eminent for wisdom and piety, than for rank and authority. ( Notes , 1:3-7.
Ez . 14:13-—21, υν . 14,20. 28:2-5, v . 3.) Josephus, no doubt speaking the current opinion of his countrymen at that time, calls Daniel 'one of the greatest of the prophets; for he was wont not only to 'foretel future things, as other prophets also did; but he likewise determined the time when 'they should come to pass.
But since his time, 'the Jews, in order to invalidate the evidence, 'that results from the prophet's writings in support of Christianity, have, on the authority of 'a few doctors, agreed to class him among the Hagiographi ; which decision, however, does 'not, upon their own rules, affect his pretensions to be considered as an inspired writer.' Gray's Key.
It may further be noted, that this determination, and the frivolous reasons assigned for it, are strong proofs, that his prophecy of seventy weeks has created them exceedingly great difficulties; because it so fixes the time of the Messiah's advent, that, unless Jesus of Nazareth be He, all expectations of his coming must be finally disappointed, if Daniel was indeed a prophet in the highest sense of the word. ( Notes , 9:24-27.)-Our Lord, however, called him "Daniel the prophet," with a special recommendation of his predictions, even the most difficult of them, to the attention of his disciples. (Comp. 8:13. 9: 27. 11:31. 12:11. with Matt . 24:15.
Mark 13:14.) And there is such a coincidence between his prophecies and those of St. John, 'that the latter, in his Revelation, doth more distinctly 'unfold those events, which the foriner foretels in general terms. Mede .-'In his work hath been produced such instances of his having been a prophet, as an infidel cannot deny, or, if 'he denies, cannot disprove.' Bp.
Newton . - 'The first six chapters are chiefly historical, 'though indeed the second chapter contains the prophetical interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's 'dream, concerning the kingdoms which were successively to illustrate the power of God, 'who removeth and setteth up kings as seemeth good to him....
The four historical chapters 'which succeed, relate the miraculous deliverance of Daniel's companions from the furnace; 'the remarkable punishment of Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance; the impiety and portended fate 'of Belshazzar; and the divine interposition for the protection of Daniel in the lions' den. 'All these are written with a spirit and animation highly interesting. We seem to be present 'at the scenes described; and the whole is enriched with the most exalted sentiments of 'piety, and with the finest attestations to the praise and glory of God.' Gray's Key .
The last six chapters are entirely prophetical; and a great part of them has generally been considered as extremely obcsure. But it is the nature of prophecies not to be thoroughly 'understood, till they are thoroughly fulfilled. Not that such prophecies are therefore like 'the pagan oracles, of an ambiguous, equivocal, and delusive nature. Obscure they may be: 'but there is a wide difference between obscurity and equivocation.
The pagan oracles 'were purposely worded in such a manner, that if they failed in one sense, they might hold 'good in another, though directly the contrary: the scripture-prophecies have a determined 'meaning; and though sometimes they may comprehend more events than one, yet they are
'never applicable to contrary events. The pagan oracles were delivered for the immediate 'direction of those who consulted them; and therefore a mistake at first was of more fatal 'consequence: the scripture-prophecies were intended more for the instruction ... of future 'ages; and therefore it is sufficient if time shall illustrate the particulars. The pagan 'oracles are no sooner understood, than they are despised:... the reverse is true of the 'scripture-prophecies: and the better you understand, the more you will admire them.
The 'completion of the former demonstrates their fraud and futility, the completion of the latter 'their truth and divinity.' Bp . Newton .-Some parts, however, of these predictions are so exceedingly plain, and have been so exactly and circumstantially fulfilled, that Porphyry, a bitter enemy of Christianity, took occasion from this circumstance, to maintain that they were written after the predicted events.
This is a most important testimony: for it shews, that the completion of those parts, which relate to historical facts, terminating in the reign of tiochus Epiphanes, was absolutely undeniable: yet it is capable of clear proof, pro that these prophecies w were extant, in the Greek language, many years before Antiochus was born: and in the hands of the Egyptians, who had no kindness either to the Jews, or their religion. But in fact, the prophecies of Daniel have in all succeeding generations received as undeniable omplishments, as those did which relate to more ancient events.
They all take their beginning from about the prophet's days: they all give a concise prophetical history of the church, and of the world, as far as immediately immediately connected with it, nearly to the end of time: for even the prophecy of the seventy weeks, though ugh the first coming of the Messiah is the most prominent subject, shews the state of the Jewish nation to this day, and intimates events which have not yet taken place.
They all, either expressly, or by consequence, predict four great monarchies; the fourth of which shall last "to the time of the end," "the end of the indignation." They all foretel long continued calamities to the Jewish nation, and to the people of God; at length terminating in the restoration of Israel, and the final and universal triumph of true religion; the kingdom of Christ and of his saints, which must endure to the general resurrection.
They are not insulated predictions: they all exhibit the same grand outlines of the plan of Providence, to the period of the church's calamities, varied in such a manner, as to reffect reciprocal light on each other. And for above two thousand years, the most prominent parts of history form the best interpretation of these astonishing prophecies. These four kingdoms have succeeded each other: they have answered the description given of them with surprising exactness.
The Messiah came at the appointed period, and was cut off; "the abomination of desolation" was set up in the holy place; Jerusalem was destroyed; the poor remnant of the Jews were scattered, and remain so to this day.
The fourth kingdom, which thus desolated them, and persecuted the infant Christian church, after a time appearing in another form, has exactly answered the predictions of its blasphemy, tyranny, idolatry, and long continued dominion, given in this ancient book: and nothing now remains, but the destruction of this kingdom, the conversion of the Jews, and the final triumphs of true religion, to render the whole history of all those ages, a clear comment on Daniel's prophecies.*-One great cause of the uncertainty, which numbers complain of as to the real meaning of these predictions, arises from learned and ingenious men trying to accommodate the events of their own time, (important indeed to them, but small in the grand concerns of the world, during revolving thousands of years,) to some detached particulars in the prophecy.
But it should be remembered, that prophecy is a very small, though exact map; on which, not every country-town or considerable place is found, but merely those of pre-eminent consequence. No city, so to speak, is marked in Britain but London. It should, however, be also understood, that any interpretation, which violates the geography or chronology of prophecy, must be "a private interpretation," and not the real meaning. ( Note , 2 Pet . 1:20,21.) The grand outlines alone are marked, and those in their due order and arrangement.
It is also of great importance to note, that many of the prophets, perhaps all in some measure, agree in the grand events predicted: the coming of a Savior, to be the Light of the world, a great High Priest, and a glorious King; "His sufferings, and the glory which would follow;" the present state of the Jews, the corruption and persecutions of the church by a powerful and blasphemous enemy; the final restoration of Israel; and the victories, triumphs, and kingdom of the Redeemer.
Some give one view of these subjects, and some another: but all agree in the general outlines; the prophets uniformly confirm each other's testimony; and in no one instance is there a discordant voice, or any thing that can be thought so, by those who diligently examine and compare the whole. This combination of testimony gives prophecy its full force; and, connected with its accomplishment, amounts to a complete moral demonstration, that the scriptures are the oracles of God.
'The prophecy is writ, part in Hebrew, part in Chaldee: for which this reason may be assigned; 'that those parts of it, in which the Babylonian empire was concerned, were writ in their language, viz. from 2:4. to the end of the seventh chapter; a great part of which was 'probably entered into their public registers.' Lowth .
From the consideration, that this eminent and greatly beloved servant of God was, to extreme old age, and probably till his death, a minister of state in a heathen court, we may conclude with observing, that faith and piety are not confined to any place or station in life, but that the Lord can preserve his people humble and spiritual in the midst of all possible snares, and in the most entangling employments, to which his providence calls them.
* The rise and surprising progress of the Mohammedan delusion seem also clearly predicted, under the emblem of the "little horn of the third beast." ( Notes , 8:9-12,22-26.) 628]