a This age was preſcribed, as the age of full ſtrength of body, and therefore moſt prep-1 for their preſent laborious work of carrying the parrs and v<ſſels of tte Tabernacle, and of matu:iry of judgment, which, is neceflary for the right management - of Holy Services. Whence even Jo/m and Chriſt entred not upon their Miniſiery till that age. And it ' may ſhll ſeem to be the fitreſt ſeaton for mens undertaking the Mini{tery of the Go'p-!, ex--pt in caſe of extraor- dinzry abilities, or tke Churches prefling nec ſhy. Obje#. They might enter upon this work at their 25th year, Numb: 8: 24 and in David's time and aiter ward at their 20th year. Auſw. 1. Their firſt entrance upon their work was at their :5th year, when they b:gart as learners, and ated only under 'he inſpe&ion and dirc&ione«£ their brethren ; but in their 3oth yeor they wer compleatly admitted toa full diſcharge of their whole office. 2 David, veing a Propher,
and did make a change in this mutrer, which ke might rhe bercer do, b-th becauſe it was bur 2 change in a circumſtance, and becaute the magnificence of the Temple, and the-gt2xr multi-ude of ſacred urenſils and ſacrifices, required a greater number of ar-endants than formerly was neceflary. 6 When they were exempred from the toilſome work of carrying burdens, but nor diicharged. from tae. honourable and eafie work done within the Taberiiacle, Numb 8: 26: c (i.e. ) That do and may enter, having no defect, Levit; 21. 17. nor other impediment. & The fociery of ſacred Minitters he Calls an koſt, becauſe of that excellent order which was among them, as. to perſons, place, time, the matter and manner, of their ſer- VICES.
4 This ſhall be the ſervice of the ſons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, abour the moſt holy things e. 3 | |
e Hereafrer mentioned, as the Ark, Tble; Altar, &'c, Compare Numb: 3: 31. ns 50 |
5 And when the camp ſetteth forward, Aaron ſhall come, and his ſons, and they f ſhajl take, down the co- vering vailg, and cover the 41k þ of teftimony with it: .
f For upon this neceſfary occaſion the inferiour Prieſts are allowed to come 1mco the Holy of Hobes, which otherwiſe was peculiar tg the High-Prieſt, H:b 9. 7« g The ſecond vail, of which fce Exod:
26: Zi, &c. Levit: 4: 6: Heb: 9: 3: wherewith the Ark was covered while the Tabernacle ſtood, Exod: 40: 3 hþ Becauſe the Levires,
who were to carry the Ark, might ucither ſee, nor immediately touch it, | | 6 And (ball put thereon the covering of badgers--
skins 3, and ſhall ſpread over 3t a cloth wholly of blue, and ſhall pur in the faves thereof k. Fae
5 Whereby the Ark was ſecured from the injuries of the weather, k Objeff. How could theſe ſtaves be put in, when they were never to bz raken our, Exod: 25: 15: compared with 1 Kings 8: 8: 1. An(w. Theſe p!:ces may [peak of the ftaves while the Ark and Tabernacle ſtood, but when they were to be removed the poſture of all things wasaltered. 2. The Hebrew Verb doth nor ſignifie putting in, bur barely putting or placing or diſpoſing, and may be underſtood .nor of
artingt: e itaves 'nto che rings, wherein they conſtantly remained, Ghar of the putting of rhem either upon their ſhoulders. to try and fit them for carriage, or into the holesor receptacles which probably were made in theſe coverings for the receiving and covering of theſe gilded ſtaves, to keep them both from the rouch of the Levites, and f:om the inconveniences of bad weather.
7 And upon the * table of ſhew-bread 1 they ſhall ſpread a cloth of biue, and put thereon the dilhes m, and the ſpoons, and the bowls and covers to cover withal : and the continual bread » ſhal' be thereon.
1 Heb. Of faces or preſence, for ' of the bread of faces or preſence, i.e. of the bread which was continually ſtinding in the preſence ,of the Lord. m Upon which the ſhew-bread was pur. »( 7.e. ) Shew-bread ; io called becauſe it was continually to be ther-, even in the wilders neſs ; where though rhey had only Manna, for themſelves, yet they reſerved Corn for the weekly making of theſe loaves, which. they. might with no grear difficulty procure from ſome of the people bordering upon the Wildernels in the innermoſt parts whereof they were.
8 And they ſhall ſpread upon them a cloth of ſcarlee; and cover the fame with a covering of badgers-skins, and ſhall pur in the ftaves thereof. , F
9 And they {hall take a cloth of blue, and cover the X candleſtick of the light, K and his lamps, and his congs, and his ſnuff.dithes, and all the oyl-veiſels thers- of, wberewith they miniſter unto it. EIS
io And they (ball put it, and all the veſſels thereof within a covering of badgers-skins : and ſhall put ji# upon a bar », To 0h | |
» So contrived that this cloth containing the candleſtick, &ci might bz either laid upon it, or ſome other way faſtened to ir.
11 And upon the golden o altar they fhall ſpread a
| cloth of blue; and cover it with a covering of badgers-
skins, and ihall pur to the ſtaves thereof. o All covered with plates of Gold.
12 And they ſhall take all the inſtruments of miniſtery
2, wherewith they miniſter in the ſanctuary, and pur -vers 1 A Cloth oi biue, and cover them with a covering
If badgers-$Kins, and _—_ Pur theres ON a bar, =
the ſons of Levi, after their families, by the houſe of
and particularly dire&ed by God in the affur. of rhe Temple, mighe ©
; Thi
Chap. IV.
* Exod
25: 38%
* Exe 25: ZI2 25:371
| Ex: 25:6;
if Exod: Bo: 34:
3 Exod:
38 9: 25:5
f Heb.
par the
warfare
1] Or, carriage. * Chap: 3325:
@hap.. IV.
not touch @»y holy thing # leſt they die «. * Thele
. 2 Sam: 6:6, 7.
- covering e, and the covering of the badgers-skins that
p The ſacred m__ uſed by the prieſts in their holy miniftra- S152
m_ And they ſhall take.away the aſhes from the altar