The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 33

was, as Its name Implies, that holy convocation In which the covenant people were oleansed from the sin contaminating their holiest service, "year by year continually.'' -the Fast of Absolution. Hence follows the meaning of that festival which formed the climax or the festive se8.llons of the year, the Feast of Tabernacles. Naturally enough it was jubilant and exultant; dances and singing and mirth werB' its natural accompaniments. For a time. at least, there was a joyous sojourn in the courts of the Lord's house, and a kind of Paradise restored where man might hear the voice of God amidst the leaves of the trees in which the swallow had built a nest for herself. The season was a symbolic represen- tation of the joy of the elect, who dwell in Jehovah's temple fearlessly and gleefully. '!'he Feast of Tabernacles, religiously regarded, was the Feast of the Joy of the Reconciled. Such, at any rate, were the religious truths these festivals were fitted to convey, and the types of religious life they were adapted to gratify, mould, and objectify. Doubtless the picture drawn is ideal, as has been the whole delineation of the si,;,.-nificance of the Levitical sacrifices. Undoubtedly also the realization was but rarely attained, and that not in the entire nation, but in the sanctified heart of some solitary worshipper like David or Ezekiel Nevertheless, these Divine object-lessons were not without their value. They were at once an exercise and an embodiment of an indispensable form of educational religion. They were admirably qualified for a paternal education of a religious- childhood, if they fell short of a personal culture of a religious manhood. Add the further truth, so clearly taught in the old coveuant, of the preparatory character of Judaism, and this divinely given cultus by presentation and atonement was blessed and stimulating indeed, "a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ." c. THE APPLICATION OF THE PnINCIPLEB DEDUCED TO THE ENTIRE ScHEIIB OP THE LEVITICAL SACRIFICES. There is, alas! no royal road to the comprehension of the Lcvitical sacrifices, nnd in. the esteem of the present writer it is only after a laborious, observant, protracted, and possibly wearisome journey through a wide realm of detail, that anything like sure approach can be made to a mastery of the difficulties of the way. A few jottings only of that journey have been given, a few impressions recorded in transit, but even now some advance can be made to the promised land of intelligibility. To speak without. figure, a complete synthesis of the facts and interpretations already obtained could only result upon a full and exhaustive survey by the light of the principles deduced of the entire Jewish calendar of sacrifice, Such a survey is precluded by our liwits; but. some suggestive outlines thereof may now be drawn. Let us suppose ourselves standing within the entrance of the court of the tabernacle or the temple as twilight is passing into dawn on the morning of the 1st of Abib, or, as it was afterwards called, the 1st of Nisan. For years the same round of ritual has been pursued, at once reminding the chosen people of their exceptional religious privileges, and expressing with eloquent symbol the religious sentiments which so benevolent a. religious system could evoke and educate, and once more the blank page of the new year is being presented for completion, and the services of the year 'ire recommencing. Before our eyes the barefooted priests, who are to officiate in their course, are already preparing themselves for their solemn duties by ablution at the brazen !aver, whilst, on the hearth of the 11ltar of burnt offerings the remnants of the first evening sacrifice of the new year are still burning. The ceremonies of the day begin. First comes the con- tinuous burnt offering. One of the eldera of tho people possibly presents himself in th& llCople's name at the altar. brine;ing with him the appointed lamb for the sacrifice and  xxii THE LEVITICA.L SACRIFICES LITERALLY CONSIDERED.