perhaps extravagant, profusion displayed at (see Exod. iii. 4 and :u:xiii. 9) ; but this re- the dedication of the temple and alt.ar by cords the fulfilment r1f that promise whicl\ Solomon ; but we may believe they were at was part of God's covenant with Israel, tho,t least as acceptable. The verb substantive he would at all times converse with Moses aa l!lhould be removed from these verses (86- their mediator from above the mercy-seat 8~). which simply continue the totals 'of the (see on Exod. xxv. 20-22, and cf. Deut. v. offerings which formed the dedfoation. 23-28}. And he apake unto him, i. e. God Yer. 89.-And when Koaea was gone into spake unto Moses: the voice made itself the tabernacle of the congregation. Rather, audible, and by the voice God himself spake '' the tent of meeting." Hebrew, ohel moiid, Ullto him. It is quite obvious that this where God had promised to meet with him statement more properly belongs to an earlier (Exod. xxv. 22). To speak with him, i. e. period, viz., to that immediately succeeding with God, as implied in the word "meet- the consecration of the tabernacle. On the ing." Ee hea.rd the voice of one speaking day it wa.s set up Moses was not able to enter UI1to him. Rather, "he heard the voice it (Exod. x:L 35), but no doubt he did so conversing with him," making it.self audi- very soon afterwards, and received from the ble to him. i;;.i:1,;,, part. Hithpael, as in mouth of the Lord, speaking in the holiest, all Ezek. ii. 2. Here is a distinct statement of the commandments and ordinances recorded the supernatural fact that God spake to in Leviticus and in the beginning of this Moses with an audible human voice, and (no book. Perhaps the first communication made doubt) in the Hebrew language, from out the to him in this way concerned the offerings of empty darkness behind the veil In the fact, the princes when first brought near (vers. 4, indeed, of God so speaking audibly there wa.s 11}, and for that reason the statement may nothing new (see Gen. iii. 8; x:vii. 1, &c.), have been appended to the record of those nor in the fact of his so speaking to Moses offerings.
HOMILETICS. Ch. vii.-.Acceptable offerings. In this chapter we have, spiritually, the free- will offering, acceptable unto God, of what they have and what they are, by his people. Consider, therefore- I. THAT THE OFFERINGS WERE CONNECTED IN TIHE WITH THE DAY OF CONSECRATION, IIUT WERE ACTUALLY PRESENTED LATER. Even BO all Christian offerings, whether of ourselves or of our substance, date from the day when the altar of the cross was consecrated, and the mercy-seat sprinkled with the precious blood ; it is from that day they draw their inward inspiration and their meaning, but they are outwardly dispersed through many days (2 Cor. v. 14). II. THAT THE COMMON OFFERING OF THE PRINCES WAB FOR THE EASIER ONWARD III0VEMENT OF THE SANCTUARY, the pattern, centre, and microco~m of the Church. Even eo all the faithful a1e bound to give common help to further the onward progress of the Church in her ceaseless extension and her journey towards her con- summation. III. THAT ALL THE SEVERAL OFFERINGS OF THE PRINCES WERE RECEIVED WITH LIKIB FAVOUR AND SOLEMNITY: that of Dan as much as that of Judah. Even so all equal offering or eacri1ice on the part of Christian Churches or individuals is equally accept- able with God, and comes into the same remembrance with him. Only this equality is not now a material equality (as then), but is proportioned to advantages and opportunities (Mark xii, 43 ; Luke xii. 48 ; 2 Cor. viii. 12). IV. THAT THE OFFERINGS WERE IN EACH CASE :MINUTELY RECORDED, bnving evidently been entered in some roll kept in the sanctuary. Even so there is nothing, however trivial, done for God or given to him which shall ever be forgotten (Mal. iii. 16; Matt. L 42; xxv. 40; Heb. vi, 10; xiii. 16). V. THAT WHILE TBK BURNT OFFERINGS AND (STILL MORE) THE PEACE OFFERINGS WERE :MULTIPLIED, THE SIN OFFERING REMAINED {IN EACH CASE) DU1' ONE, Even 80 it is open to all good people to multiply their self-oblations and their offerings of thankfulness and praide, but there is for each (and can be) but the one offering for sin, even he who was in himself the Lamb of God, and yet in respect of the ein whicb. he assumed, and the curse he endured, was as it were II the shaggy one of the goats." Note that this word, Ba 'ur, is translated "devil 11 (Lev it. xvii. 7 ; 2 Chron. xi. 15 ). and II satyr" in lea. iiii. 21 ; :u.xiv. 141 being a most manifest type of Christ. ea. nr. 1-89.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 61
VI. THAT Goo SPAKE UNTO MOSES ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, FROII ABOVE THE 1macY-SEA·r (a11w)rv T'oii IAatrTrJpiov). Even so the Divine intercourse with man in Christ rests upon the incarnation and the atonement, of which the ark and the mercy-seat wt.re the types. But note that whereas these holy things were but figures, Gud hnth now spoken unto us plainly by his Son, whom he set forth as the propitiation through faith (3111rpoi)rT'o !AatrT'~paov .,,a Tij, 1ritrn""). And note that then the voice spake out of the darkness behind the veil, but in Christ the veil is taken away, and heaven laid open, and God himself renaled and declared (Matt. :usii. 51 ; John i. 18; 2 Cor. iii. 14; Heb. ix. 8). VII. THAT WHENEVER (AS IT WOULD SEEM) MOSES WENT IN TO SPEAK UNTO Goo, HE BEARD THE DIVINE VOICE SPEAKING TO HIM. Even so as often as we go to God in Christ, having somewhat really to say to him, we shall not fail also to hear the Divine voice speaking unto us in answer.