incense’ is rendered by θυσιαστήριον θυμιάματος, see Lev. iv. 7, 1 Chron. vii. 49, etc. But Philo (p. 512 A, 668, C), Josephus Ant., ili. 6, 8, and the versions of Symmachus and Theodotion in Exod. xxxi. use θυμιατήριον for ‘altar of in- cense’’. Besides, the form of the word indicates that it could be used of any- thing on which incense is offered. It was, therefore, understood of the ‘‘ altar” by Clement Alex. and other fathers; by Calvin, who says, ‘‘quo nomine altare
censer; while ‘altar of
suffitus vel thymiamatis potius intelligo quam thuribulum ;” and by most modern scholars. As has frequently been urged it is incredible that in describing the fur- niture of the tabernacle there should be no mention of the altar of incense. Diffi- culty has been felt regarding the position here assigned to it, for in fact it stood outside the veil; and the author has been charged with error. But the change from ἐν q of νετ. 2 to ἔχουσα is significant, and indicates that it was not precisely its local relations he had in view, but rather its ritual associations, ‘‘its close connection with the ministry of the Holy of Holies on the day of atonement, of which he is speaking” (Davidson). The altar was indeed so strictly connected with the Sancta Sanctorum that in the directions originally given for its construc- tion this was brought out (Exod. xxx. 1-6). ** Thou shalt set it before the veil (ἀπέ- ναντι τ. καταπετάσματος) that is over the ark of the testimony,” and in ver. το, “it is most holy (ἅγιον τῶν ἁγίων) to the Lord”. Inr Kings vi. 20 it is also said of Solomon that he made the altar ot incense κατὰ πρόσωπον τοῦ δαβὶρ “in front of the oracle,” which brings it into direct connection with the ark Cf. also τ Kings ix. 25. χρυσοῦν, although made of shittim wood it was overlaid with gold and is often called *‘golden”. Here emphasis is laid upon its golden appearance as being worthy of itsuse. καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν. -.. “and the ark of the covenant covered all over with gold”. κιβωτός, a box or chest (in Aristoph. Wasps, 1056, wardrobe) or atk (a word still used in Scotland, where the meal-chest is known as the meal-ark). In LXX and N.T. appropriated to the chest in the Holy of Holies or to the ark in which Noah was rescued. For its con- struction see Exod. xxv. το. περικεκ. πάντοθεν χρυσίῳ representing “ in- side and outside”? ἔσωθεν καὶ ἔξωθεν χρυσώσεις αὐτήν of Exod. xxv. 11. Here called τῆς διαθήκης because in it were kept at πλάκες τ. δια- θήκης ‘the tables of the covenant” on which were written the ten command- ments, the sum of the terms to which the people swore on entering the covenant. Therefore called in Exod. xxxi. 18 πλάκες
4---6.
σασα, καὶ αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης: 5. “ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερου- ἃ Exod. 9 ε A XXV βὶμ δόξης, κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον: περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστι νῦν
λέγειν κατὰ μέρος.
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