Eig de rq devrépav. Vulg. Lat., “in secundo autem.” Syr., 12 wud mira 21, “and into the tabernacle that was within it,” or “within the other.” “Tn secundum autem,” “sed in alterum;” “ but into the second,” or “the other.” “Agwé, Syr., 7 879; which Boderus renders substantively, “unum est,” “ that
inward tabernacle was one.” But the reference is unto what follows, and is better rendered adverbially, “semel,” “once.”
O08 ywpls wiwaros, “non sine sanguine.” Syr., “cum sanguine illo,” “ with that blood.”
“O rpooQepe, Vulg. Lat., Eras., “ quem offert;” Syr., “which he was offering,” “which he offereth.” “Yxcp éavrod nal ray Tov Anod dyvonuarav. Vulg. Lat., “pro sua et populi ignorantia;” very corruptly. Syr., 8227 41722 mem mee Aen “ for his own soul, and the errors of the people;” rightly.
Ver. 6, '7.—Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, ac- complishing the service [of God.| But into the second [ went | the high priest alone once every year, not with- out blood, which he offered for himself, and [ for] the errors of the people.
I follow the common translation, but shall take notice of what it seems defective in. And there is in the words,—
First, A supposition of what was before declared, as the founda- tion of what he was now further to assert: “Now when these things _ were thus ordained.” And there is therein, 1. The manner of the inference; 2. The subject spoken of; 8. What is spoken of it:—
1. The manner of the inference is the particle 64, which we ren- -der “now when;” “vero,” “but.” “ Now when” is in- cluded in the tense of the participle.
2. The subject spoken of, roiray, “ these things;” that is, the things
oken of in the precedent verses,—namely, the two parts of the tabernacle, and the sacred furniture of them. ' 3. That which is affirmed of them is, that they were “ ordained.” And the manner thereof is also added, that they were “thus ordained,’ —xzarcoxevacuévar. Beza once ren- dered it by “ ordinatis;’ whom I suppose ours follow, rendering it by “ordained.” But “ordinatis” is rather “ordered”
Ae.
Tovrwy,
Karecxevac- wivwy,
224 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Ix.
than “ordained.” “To be ordained,” signifies the appointment and designation of them; and so they were ordained of God: but that which is here expressed is their building, framing, finishing, and dis- position into their actual order. So the word is used for the making of the tabernacle, verse 2: “ A tabernacle was made.” ‘ These things being prepared, made, and finished.’ The preparation, structure, and finishing of the tabernacle, and all its utensils, with their disposition into their sacred order, are respected in this word. They were “ dis- posed” otrw, “thus;” that is, in the manner declared,— that the tabernacle should consist of two parts, that the one should contain such and such holy utensils, and the other those of another sort.
Secondly, When these things were thus prepared and ordered, they stood not for a magnificent show, but were designed unto con- stant use in the service of God. This the apostle declares, in the same order wherein he had described the parts of the tabernacle in their distribution into the first and the second, the outward and in- ward tabernacle.
As to the first tabernacle, wherein were the candlestick, and the table, and the shew-bread, he declares the use of it, 1, With respect unto the persons for whose ministry it was ordained; 2. Of that ministry itself; 8. Of the time and season of its performance.
1. The persons who administered therein were the priests. They, and they alone, entered into the sanctuary. All others were for- bidden to approach unto it, on pain of excision. These priests, who had this privilege, were all the posterity of Aaron, unless they fell under exception by some legal incapacitating blemish. For a long time,—that is, from the preparing of the tabernacle unto the build- ing of the temple,—they administered in this sanctuary promis- cuously, under the care of God and directions of the high priest. For the inspection of the whole was committed in an especial manner unto the high priest, Num. iv. 16; Zech. i. 7; yea, the actual per- formance of the daily service of this part of the sanctuary was im the first place charged on him, Exod. xxvii. 21. But the other priests being designed to help and assist him on all occasions, this service in process of time was wholly devolved on them. And if the high priest did at any time minister in this part of the sanctuary, he did it not as the high priest, but as a priest only, for all his peculiar ser- vice belonged unto the most holy place.
In process of time, when the priests of the posterity of Aaron were multiplied, and the services of the sanctuary were to be increased by the building of the temple, wherein instead of one candlestick there were ten, David, by God’s direction, cast all the priests into twenty-four courses or orders, that should serve in their turns, two courses in a month; which rule continued unto the destruction of
Odru.
o
VER. 6, 7.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 225
the second temple, 1 Chron. xxiv.; Lukei. 5. And he did it for sun- dry ends: (1.) That none of the priests of the posterity of Aaron might be utterly excluded from this privilege of approaching unto God in the sanctuary; and if they had been, it is likely they would have disposed of themselves into other ways and callings, and so have both neglected and defiled the priesthood. (2.) That there might be no neglect at any time in the solemn ministry, seeing that which lies on all promiscuously is too often neglected by all. For although the high priest was to “ keep the charge, to judge the house, and to keep the courts,” Zech. iii. 7, and so take care for the due attendance unto the daily ministration ; yet was the provision more certain, when, being ordained by law, or by divine institution, all persons concerned herein knew the times and seasons wherein they might and wherein ._ they ought to attend on the altar. These were the officers that be- longed unto the sanctuary, the persons who alone might enter into it on a sacred account. And when the structure of the whole was to be taken down, that it might be removed from one place to another, as it was frequently in the wilderness, the whole was to be done by the priests, and all the holy utensils covered, before the Levites were admitted to draw nigh to carry them, so as they might not touch them at all, Num. iv. 15.