Ordinances relative to the weekly, CHAP, XXVIII. monthly, and annual sacrifices M. cir. 2553. be poured unto the LORD for a for a burnt-offering unto the B. C. cir. 1451. An. Exod. Isr. drink-offering. cir. 40. ر 8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even as the meat-offering of the morning, and as the drink-offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD. · 9 And on the Sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering thereof: 10 This is the burnt-offering of every Sabbath, beside the continual burnt-offering, and his drink-offering. 11 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; LORD; two young bullocks, and S 20 And their meat-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; 21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs : 22 And one goat for a sin-offering, to make an atonement for you. 23 Ye shall offer these beside the burntoffering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt-offering. 24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the 12 And three tenth deals of flour for a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto meat-offering, mingled with oil, for one bul- the LORD: it shall be offered beside the con lock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat- tinual burnt-offering, and his drink-offering. offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; 25 And on the seventh day ye shall have 13 And a several tenth deal of flour mingled a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile with oil for a meat-offering unto one lamb; for a burnt-offering of a sweet savour, a sàcrifice made by fire unto the LORD. 14 And their drink-offering shall be half a hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of a hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of a hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year. 15 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt-offering, and his drink-offering. 16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. 17. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein : work. 26 Also in the day of the first-fruits, when ye bring a 'new meat-offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: 27 But ye shall offer the burnt-offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; wtwo young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; 28 And their meat-offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth, deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, 19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire drink-offerings. Ezek. xlvi. 4.- Chap. x. 10; 1 Sam. xx. 5; 1 Chron. xxiii. 31; 2 Chron. ii. 4; Ezra iii. 5; Neh. x. 33; Isa. i. 13, 14; Ezek. xlv. 17; xlvi. 6; Hos. ii. 11; Col. ii. 16.- Chap. xv. 4-12. Ver. 22; chap. xv. 24.-P Exod. xii. 6, 18; Lev. xxiii. 5; chap. ix. 3; Deut. xvi. 1; Ezek. xlv. 21. 9 Lev. xxiii. 6. Exod. xii. 16; Lev. xxiii. 7.- Ver. 31; Ver. 15. Lev. xxii. 20; chap. xxix. 8; Deut. xv. 21.u Exod. xii. 16; xiii. 6; Lev. xxiii. 8.-Exod. xxiii. 16; xxxiv. 22; Lev. xxiii. 10, 15; Deut. xvi. 10; Acts ii. 1. See Lev. xxiii. 18, 19.- * Ver. 19. Verse 26. Day of the first-fruits] Called Verse 31. Without blemish] This is to be under also the feast of weeks, and the feast of pente- stood as applying, not only to the animals, but also to cost. See it explained Exod. xxiii. 14, and Lev.the flour, wine, and oil; every thing must be perfect xxiii. 15. in its kind. 709 Of the feast of trumpets, NUMBERS. CHAPTER XXIX. annual atonement, &c. The feast of expiation, The offerings The feast of trumpets on the first day of the seventh month, and its sacrifices, 1–6. or annual atonement, on the tenth day of the same month, with its sacrifices, 7–11. cles held on the fifteenth day of the same month, with its eight days' offerings, 12. of the first day, thirteen bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs, and one kid, 13-16. The offerings of the second day, twelve bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs, and one kid, 17-19. The offerings of the third day, eleven bullocks; the rest as before, 20-22. The offerings of the fourth day, ten bullocks; the rest as before, 23-25. The offerings of the fifth day, nine bullocks, &c., 26-28. The offerings of the sixth day, eight bullocks, 4., 29-31. The offerings of the seventh day, seven bullocks, &c., 32–34. · The offerings of the eighth day, one bullock, one ram, seven lambs, and one goat, 35-38. These sacrifices to be offered, and feasts to be kept, besides vows, freewill-offerings, &c., &c., 39. Moses announces all these things to the people, 40. A. M. cir. 2535. cir. 40. A. M. cir. 2553. B. C. cir. 1451. An. Exod. Isr. cir. 40. AND in the seventh month, 8 But ye shall offer a burnton the first day of the offering unto the LORD for a sweet month, ye shall have a holy savour; one young bullock, one convocation; ye shall dō no servile work: it ram, and seven lambs of the first year'; & they is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. shall be unto you without blemish : 2 And ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish : 3 And their meat-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, 4 And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 5 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering, to make an atonement for you: 6 Beside the burnt-offering of the month, and his meat-offering, and the daily burntoffering, and his meat-offering, and their drinkofferings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. d 7 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month a holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein : a Lev. xxiii. 24, 25; Ezra iii. 6; chap. x. 1-10; 1 Chron. xv. 28; Psa. lxxxi. 3; lxxxix. 15. Chap. xxviii. 11.- - Chap. xxviii. 3.- d Chap. xv. 11, 12. NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX. 9 And their meat-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram, 10 A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 11. One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the sin-offering of atonement, and the continual burnt-offering, and the meat-offering of it, and their drink-offerings. 12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: 13 And ye shall offer a burnt-offering, a sa crifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: 14 And their meat-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth e Lev. xvi. 29; xxiii. 27. f Psa. xxxv. 13; Isa. lviii. 5. Chap. xxviii. 19. Lev. xvi. 3, 5.- Lev. xxiii. 33; Deut. xvi. 13; Ezek. xlv. 25,— Ezra iii. 4. Verse 7. On the tenth day] See the notes on Lev. xvi. 29; xxiii. 24. Verse 12. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month] On this day there was to be a solemn assembly, and for seven days sacrifices were to be offered; on the first day thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs. On each succeeding day one bullock less, till on the seventh day there were only seven, making in all seventy. What an expensive service! How should we magnify God for being delivered from it! Yet these were all the taxes they had to pay. At the public charge there were annually offered to God, in Verse 1. And in the seventh month, &c.] This was the beginning of their civil year, and was a time of great-festivity, and was ushered in by the blowing of trumpets. It answers to a part of our September. In imitation of the Jews different nations began their new year with sacrifices and festivity. The ancient Egyptians did so; and the Persians still celebrate their 2) nawi rooz, or new year's day, which they hold on the vernal equinox. The first day of the year is generally a time of festivity in all civilized nations. On this day the Israelites offered one young bullock, one ram, seven lambs, and a kid, for a sin-offering, be-dependently of trespass-offerings and voluntary vows, sides minchahs or meat-offerings. fifteen goats, twenty-one kids, seventy-two rams, one A. M. cir. 2553. deals to each ram of the two B. C. cir. 1451. An. Exod. Isr. cir. 40. rams, of the feast of tabernacles. 28 And one goat for a sinoffering; beside the continual 15 And à several tenth deal to burnt-offering, and his meat-offereach lamb of the fourteen lambs: ing, and his drink-offering. 16 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual burnt-offering, his meat-offering, and his drink-offering. 17 And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 18 And their meat-offering and their drinkofferings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 19 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual burnt-offering, and the meat-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings. 20 And on the third day, eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs. of the first year without blemish; 21 And their meat-offering and their drinkofferings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, m after the manner : 22 And one goat for a sin-offering;- beside the continual burnt-offering, and his meatoffering, and his drink-offering. 23 And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish : 24 Their meat-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 25 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual burnt-offering, his meatoffering, and his drink-offering. 26 And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 27 And their meat-offering and their drinkofferings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 1 Ver. 3, 4, 9, 10; chap. xv. 12; xxviii. 7, 14.- Ver. 18, n Lev. xxiii. 36. 0 Or, offer.- -P Lev. xxiii. 2; 1 Chron. xxiii. hundred and thirty-two bullocks, and eleven hundred and one lambs! But how little is all this when compared with the lambs slain every year at the passover, which amounted in one year to the immense number of 255,600 slain in the temple itself, which was the answer that Cestius, the Roman general, received when be asked the priests how many persons had come to 29 And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year ́without blemish: 30 And their meat-offering and their drinkofferings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 31 And one goat for a sin-offering; beside the continual-burnt-offering, his meat-offering, and his drink-offering. 32 And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish : 33 And their meat-offering and their drinkofferings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 34 And one goat for a sin-offering; beside the continual burnt-offering, his meat-offering, and his drink-offering.. 35 On the eighth day ye shall have a " solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein : 36 But ye shall offer a burnt-offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish : 37 Their meat-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 38 And one goat for a sin-offering, beside the continual burnt-offering, and his meatoffering, and his drink-offering. 0 .q 39 These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your P set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill-offerings, for your burnt-offerings, and for your meat-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and for your peace-offerings. 40 And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. 31; 2 Chron. xxxi. 3; Ezra iii. 5; Neh. x. 33; Isa. i. .14. Lev. vii. 11, 16; xxii. 21, 23. Jerusalem at their annual festivals; the priests, numbering the people by the lambs that had been slain, said, "twenty-five myriads, five thousand and six hundred."-For an account of the feast of tabernacles, see on Lev. xxiii. 34. Verse 35. On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly] This among the Jews was esteemed the Of vows, and in what cases NUMBERS. they may be annulled. chief or high day of the feast, though fewer sacrifices | letter to the spirit of the law, proposing himself were offered on it than on the others; the people seem as the sole fountain whence they could derive the to have finished the solemnity with a greater measure streams of salvation, John vii. 37. On the subject of spiritual devotion, and it was on this day of the feast of this chapter see the notes on Lev. xii., xvi., that our blessed Lord called the Jews from the and xxiii. CHAPTER XXX. The law concerning vows of men, 1, 2. Of women under age, and in what cases the father may annul them, 3-5. The vows of a wife, and in what cases the husband may annul them, 6–8. The vows of a widow, or divorced woman, in what cases they may be considered either as confirmed or annulled, 9-15. Recapitulation of these ordinances, 16. 4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. 5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. 6 And if she had at all a husband, when a Chapter i. 4, 16; vii. 2.b Lev. xxvii. 2; Deut. xxiii. 21; Judg. xi. 30, 35; Eccles. v. 4. Lev. v. 4; Matt. xiv. 9; Acts xxiii. 14.- d Heb. profane; Psa. Iv. 20. NOTES ON CHAP. XXX. Verse 2. If a man vow a vow] A vow is a religious promise made to God. Vows were of several kinds 1. Of abstinence or humiliation, see ver. 13; 2. Of the Nazarite, see chap. vi.; 3. Of giving certain things or sacrifices to the Lord, Lev. vii. 16; 4. Of alms given to the poor, see Deut. xxiii. 21. The law in this chapter must have been very useful, as it both prevented and annulled rash vows, and provided a proper sanction for the support and performance of those that were rationally and piously made. Besides, this law must have acted as a great preventive of lying and hypocrisy. If a vow was properly made, a man or woman was bound, under penalty of the displeasure of God, to fulfil it. Verse 3. In her youth] That is, say the rabbins, under twelve years of age; and under thirteen in case 7 And her husband heard-it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 8 But if her husband & disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her. 9 But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. 10 And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath; 11 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 12 But if her husband hath utterly made them of a young man. Young persons of this age were considered to be under the authority of their parents, and had consequently no power to vow away the property of another. A married woman was in the same circumstances, because she was under the authority of her husband. If however the parents or the husband heard of the vow, and objected to it in the same day in which they heard of it, (ver. 5,) then the vow was annulled; or, if having heard of it, they held their peace, this was considered a ratification of the vow. A rash vow was never to be kept; "for," says Philo, and common sense and justice say the same, "he who commits an unjust action because of his vow adds one crime to another, 1. By making an unlawful vow; 2. By doing an unlawful action." Verse 12. Concerning the bond of her soul] Her The Israelites are commanded B. C. cir. 1451. An. Exod. Isr. cir. 40. CHAP. XXXI. A. M. cir. 2553. void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her. 13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. 14 But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he esta to make war on the Midianites. A. M. cir. 2553. B. C. cir. 1451. An. Exod. Isr. cir. 40. blisheth all her vows, or all her 16 These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house. life is at stake if she fulfil not the obligation under he may lay upon his own conscience. which she has laid herself. Verse 16. These are the statutes] It is very probable that this law, like that concerning the succession of daughters, (chap. xxvii.,) rose from the exigency of some particular case that had just then occurred. Making vows, in almost any case, is a dangerous business; they seldom do any good, and often much evil. He who does not feel himself bound to do what is fit, right, and just, from the standing testimony of God's word, is not likely to do it from any obligation If God's word lack weight with him, his own will prove lighter than vanity. Every man who professes the Christian religion is under the most solemn obligation to devote body, soul, and spirit to God, not only to the utmost extent of his powers, but also as long as he exists. Being baptized, and receiving the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, are additional ratifications of the great, general, Christian vow; but every true follower of Christ should always remember, and frequently renew, his covenant with God. . CHAPTER XXXI. One thousand men are chosen out of each of the twelve tribes, and sent with Phinehas against the Midianites, 3-6. They slay all the males, 7; their five kings and Balaam, 8. They take all the women captives, with the flocks and goods, 9; burn their cities, and bring away the spoil, 10, 11. They bring the captives, &c., to Moses, who is wroth with the officers for sparing the women, who had formerly been the cause of their transgression and punishment, How the 12-16. He commands all the male children and all the grown up females to be slain, 17, 18. soldiers were to purify themselves, 19, 20; and the different articles Laken in war, 21-24. They are commanded to take the sum of the prey, to divide it into two parts; one for the 12,000 warriors, and the other for the rest of the congregation, 25–27. One of 500, both of persons and cattle, of the share of the warriors, to be given to the Lord, 28, 29; and one part of fifty, of the people's share, to be given to the Levites, 30. The sum of the prey remaining after the above division; sheep 675,000, beeves 72,000, asses 61,000, young women 32,000, ver. 31-35. How the soldiers' part was divided, 36-40. How the The officers report that they had not lost a man part belonging to the congregation was divided, 41-47. in this war, 48, 49. They bring a voluntary oblation to God, of gold and ornaments, 50, 51; the amount of which was 16,750 shekels, 52, 53. Moses and Eleazar bring the gold into the tabernacle for a memorial, 54. The command of the Lord to make war on the Midianites, 1, 2. A. M. 2553. -B. C. 1451. An. Exod. Isr. 40. AND A. M. 2553. ND the LORD spake unto of the Midianites: afterward shalt 2 Avenge the children of Israel a Chap. xxv. 17. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI. Verse 2. Gathered unto thy people.] When? Not in the grave surely. Moses was gathered with none of them, his burial-place no man ever knew. "But being gathered unto one's people means dying." It does imply dying, but it does not mean this only. The truth is, God considers all those who are dead to men in a state of conscious existence in another world. Therefore he calls himself the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob; now God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; because all LIVE to HIM, whe b Chap. xxvii. 13. 40. ther dead to men or not. Moses therefore was to be Verse 3. Avenge the Lord of Midian.] It was God's quarrel, not their own, that they were now to take up. These people were idolaters; idolatry is an offence against GOD; the civil power has no authority to meddle with what belongs to Him, without especial 713 |