(3.) In this ark, as it was placed in the tabernacle, the apostle affirmeth that there were three things:—
[1.] “The golden pot that had manna.” When the manna first
xréuvos xp» tell, every one was commanded to gather an omer, for oh txovex = his own eating, Exod. xvi. 16. Hereon God appointed ae that a pot should be provided which should hold an omer, to be filled with manna, to be laid up before the Lord for their generations, verse 38. There was it miraculously preserved from putrefaction, whereas of itself it would not keep two days unto an end. And it is added, “ As the Lorp commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the testimony, to be kept,” verse 34. But there is a prolepsis in the words; Aaron is said to do what he did afterwards. For the testimony was not yet given, nor Aaron yet consecrated unto his office. It is not said in this place, where the making of it is appointed, that it was of gold, nor is there any mention of what matter it was made. That it was of gold the apostle here declares, who wrote by inspiration. And the thing is evident itself; for it was to be placed in that part of the sanctuary wherein all the vessels were either of pure gold, or at least overlaid with it, and a pot of another nature would have been unsuitable thereunto, And it was to be made of that which was most durable, as being to be kept for a memorial throughout all generations.
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VER. 3-5. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 207
The reason of the sacred preservation of this manna in the most holy place was, because it was a type of Christ; as himself declares, John vi, 48-51.
[2.] The next thing mentioned is “Aaron’s rod that budded.” This rod originally was that wherewith Moses fed the = «quedo. sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro, in the wilderness, ’Azpa»% prac which he had in his hand when God called unto him 700 out of the bush, And thereon God ordained it to be the token of the putting forth of his power in the working of miracles, having by a trial confirmed the faith of Moses concerning it, Exod. iv. 17. Hereby it became sacred; and when Aaron was called unto the office of the priesthood, it was delivered into his keeping. For on the budding of it, on the trial about the priesthood, it was laid up before the testimony; that is, the ark, Num. xvii. 10. That same rod did Moses take from before the testimony when he was to smite the rock with it, and work a miracle; whereof this was consecrated to be the outward sign, Num, xx. 8- ‘UL Hereof the apostle affirms only that it “ fiadded ? but in the story it is, that it “ brought forth
buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds ;” being originally cut from an almond tree, Num. xvii. 8. But the apostle mentions what was sufficient unto his purpose.
This rod of Moses belonged unto the holy furniture of the taber- nacle; because the spiritual Rock that followed them was to be smitten with the rod of the law, that it might give out the waters of life unto the church.
[3.] TheJlast thing mentioned is “the tables of the covenant;”
the two tables of stone, cut out by Moses, and written Rens on with the finger of God, containing the ten command- Fe rs ments; which were the substance of God’s covenant with
the péaple: This testimony, this covenant, these tables of stone, with the moral law engraven in them, were, by the express command of God, put into the ark, Exod. xxv. 16, 21, xl. 20; Deut. x. 5. And “there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone” with the law written im them, as is expressly affirmed, 1 Kings vui. 9; 2 Chron. v. 10. Wherefore, whereas it is said of Aaron’s rod and the pot of manna, that they were placed before the testimony, Num. xvii. 10, Exod. xvi. 34,—that is, the ark; and that the book of the law was also put into the side of it,—that is, laid beside it, Deut. xxxi. 26; and not only are the tables of stone appointed expressly to be put into the ark, but also it is likewise affirmed that “there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone;” this place of the apostle hath been exceedingly tortured and perplexed by critics, and all sorts of expositors, with multiplied conjectures, objections, and solutions. I know not that the repetition of them in this place would be of any use, ‘Those who have a mind to exercise themselves about them, do
208 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX.
know where to find them. I shall therefore give only that interpre- tation of the words which, for the substance of it at least, all sober ex- positors do betake themselves unto. The true, real positure of these things was after this manner: In the closed ark there was nothing at all but the two tables of stone. Before it, or at the ends of it, ad- joining unto it, were the pot of manna and the miracle-working rod. Neither of these was of any actual use in the service of God, but only were kept as sacred memorials. Unto this end being placed by it, they were joined unto and reckoned with the ark. This appur- tenance of them unto the ark the apostle expresseth by the preposi- tion 2», from the Hebrew 2. Now this preposition is so frequently used in the Scripture to signify adhesion, conjunction, approximation, appurtenance of one thing unto another, that it is mere cavilling to assign it any other signification in this place, or to restrain it unto in- clusion only, the things themselves requiring that sense. See Job xix. 20; Deut. vi. 7; 1Sam.i. 24; Hos. iv. 3; Josh. x. 10; Matt. xxi.12; Lukei.17. And a multitude of instances are gathered by others.