Vera. 61-63. -The privileges of the priesthood. We are here forcibly reminded- !. THAT THE PRIESTHOOD HAD ITS PRIVILEGES. These were-1. They were sancti- fied to the service of God. (1) Distinguished from the tribes whose inheritance was in the soil (see Num. xviii. 20). (2) Distinguished among the Levites. They were sons of Aaron. Were served by the Levites. While they served in the holy places, at the altar, within the veil (see Num. xviii. 7). 2. They ate of the most holy tliings. (1) As Levites, they had tithes from the nation. (2) As priests, they had tithes from the Levites (Num. xviii. 20, 21, 26-28). (3) They partook of the altar (see Lev. vi,. 16, 26; vii. 6, &c.). (4) They ate the shew-bread of the Presence, viz., of the Shekinah, the visible glory of God. All this symbolically expressed near fellowship with God. II. THE LAW PRIESTS WERE TYPES OF TRUE CHRISTIANS. 1. In their birth, as sons of Aaron. (1) Aaron was a type of Christ. See arguments in Epistle to the Hebrews. (2) Christians are of the family of Christ (see Eph. iii. 14, 15; Gal. iv. 4-7). Have we the spiritual birth? 2. In their ojfice, as priests of God. (1) Christians are a spiritual priesthood (see Isa.. lxi. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 5, 9; Rev. i. 6). (2) They have a spiritual consecration (see 2 Cor. i. 21; 1 John ii. 20, 27). (3) They offer spiritual sacrifices. Themselves (Rom. xii. 1). Sacrifices of prayer, of praise, of service (see Hosea xiv. 2; Heh. xiii. 15). 3. In the privileges of their office. (1) They draw nigh to God. The law priest entered the ho1y place. We enter the most holy (see Heb. x. 19-22). (2) They feast with God. This glorious fellowship is now expressed in the Lord's Supper. III. THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO THESE PIUVILEGES MUST BE ADLE TO SHOW A VALID TITLE. 1. As to tlie priesthood under the law. ( 1) Case of the children of Habai and Koz. These not elsewhere otherwise mentioned. Here acknowledged ris sons of Aamn. Their reputed descendants could not show their genealogy from them. (2) Case of the children of Barzillai's daughter. Honourable mention made of Barzillai (see 2 Sam. xvii. 27-29 ; xix. 31-39). This accounts for descendants of his daughter assuming his name rather than that of their father. (3) They were therefore excluded (Heh., polluted) from the priesthood. Lost the sanctity; also the privileges. 2. As to tlie priesthood under tlie go.,pel. (1) As with the aspirants through Habai and Koz, the reputation of being of the family of Jesus will not avail. Have you evidence of spiritual birth? (2) As with the aspirants bearing the honourablo name of Barzillai, respectability will not avail in place of a spiritual title. We must be real. (3) The Tirshatha will scrutinize our claims. We must all pass the scrutiny of the judgment. 3. But i,s it possible for us to make up a valid title 1 ( 1) What does the Tirshatha say (see ver. 68)? (2) The Urim and Thummim were wanting then. These were used in the breastple.te of the high priest for obtaining responses THE BOOK OF EZRA. LCH. II. 68-70.
from the ~hekina~ of <3:od in the temple. Neitl~er these" lights and perfections" nor the ~hekma:,h to illuminate them_were found m the second temple. (3) We have an High Priest who _stands_ up wit!~ _these, even Jesu~, who ministers in the grander temple. Through his g-Ionous Spmt, the true Shekmah, we have in our breasts t~e most perfect illuminations. By these we ascertain our spiritual birth with its titles. Have we this most sacred, this most indubitable assurance ?-J. A. M.
EXPOSITION. THE OFFERINGS MADE BY THE RETURNED The word transle.ted " dram " is darklm8n, EXILES ON THEIR ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM which appears to be the Hebrew represent- (vers. 6S-70). It has been customary among ative of tne Persian word which the Greeks the pious of all a,,o-es and countries to make rendered by dareikos, or "daric." This was a gold coin, stamped with the figure of e. thank-offerings to the Almighty on the Persian king, wearing his crown, and armed accomplishment of any important OJ.':'danger- with a bow and arrow. According to the ous work. The long journey of the exiles from most exact computation, each such coin Babylonia to Jerusalem involved considerable contained somewhat more pure gold than an risk (see eh. vili. 22, 31 ), and its successful English guinea, and was worth .1'.1 ls. l0½d, of our money. The 61,000 darics would termination natnrally called forth their therefore have been equal to £66,718 16s. gratitude.. The character of the offerings Five thousand pounds of silver. The word made is indicative of the fact, otherwise translated" pound" is maneh, an equivalent probable, ihat the exiles had turned all that of the Greek mna and the Latin mina. In they possessed into money, and had brought Greece the silver mina was worth a little more than £4 of our money. The value of to Jerusalem a considerable amount of coin. the Hebrew silver maneh is uncertain, but Ver. 68. -Some of the chief of the probably was not very different from the fathers. That is, "Some of the heads of Greek. Thus the sum contributed in silver families." Each :fa.mily went up under a may be estimated at above £20,000, and recognized head or chief, the number of such the entire contribution at nearly £90,000. heads being, as it would seem, nearly a It must be noted, however, that Nehemiah's hundred (vers. 3-61). When they came to estimate (vii. 71, 72) is less. One hundred the hollile of the Lord. No doubt consider- priests' garments. Nehemiah says ninety- able rains of Solomon's temple existed seven (ibid. vers. 70, 72), whence we may when the exiles returned, and were easily to conclude that Ezra uses a round number. be recognized, both by their situation and Ver. 7O.-In their cities. Not in Jerusa- by the size of the stones employed (1 Kings lem only, but in the neighbouring towns v. 17). The place occupied by these ruins also, e. g. Bethlehem, Anathoth, Ramah, was that whereto the emigrants flocked, Gaba, Michmash, Bethel, Ai, N ebo, and and about which they, in the first instance, Jericho (see above, comment on ver. 1). All located themselves. Offered freely for the Israel Ezra very determinately puts for- house of God, to set it up in its place. The ward this aspect of the return-that it was first object of the returned exiles was the participated in by all the tribes (see ii. 2 ; rebuilding of the temple, and their offer- iii 1 ; vi 16, 17 ; vii. 13 ; viii. 29, 36, &c.). ings were consequently given expressly Ho does not, however, exclude the other towards the expenses of this costly work. aspect that it was especially a return of Ver. 69.-After their ability. As each Judah: or "Judah and Benjamin" (see eh. was e.ble ; the richer more, the poorer less. v. 1; x. 9). Threescore and one thousand drams of gold.