A. M. B. C. CHRONOLOGY OF ANCIENT KINGDOMS. departure from Egypt, the tabernacle is reared up, and Aaron and his sons An. Dil. An. Ex. 2514 1490 Jethro brings Zipporah and her two sons to Moses in the wilderness, and gives him wholesome directions concerning the best mode of governing the people, which Moses thankfully accepts, and God approves; chap. xviii., and see the notes there. A TABLE of the THREE GREAT EPOCHS, A. M., B. C., and the JULIAN PERIOD, synchronized with the reigns of the sovereigns of the four principal monarchies; viz., Egypt, Sicyon, the Argivi, and the Athenians, from the death of Jacob, A. M. 2315, to the erection of the tabernacle, A. M. 2514, by which any event in the preceding Chronological Table may be referred to its corresponding year of the reign of any of the above sovereigns. E. G. To find out the year of the birth of Moses, inspect the preceding table, by which it appears he was born A. M. 2433, B. C. 1571, and from the DELUGE 777. Then look in the following table for A. M. 2433, where it appears that this event took place in the year of the Julian Period 3143—the 7th of Rameses Miamun, king of Egypt-the 46th of Orthopolis, king of Sicyon-the 17th of Phorbas, king of the Argivi—and the 15th before the reign of Cecrops, king of the Athenians. 2317 1687 3027 2318 1686 3028 Prœtus. ****** Amenophis. 25 1318 26 130 27 129 Before the foundation of this kingdom. 2356 1648 2357 1647 3067 18 Orus. 17 642 92 18 Plemnæus. 65.09 91 66 67 Before the foundation of this kingdom. 2358 1646 3068 19 19 68 Criasus. 76 16313083 34 34 11 75 74 2334 1670 | 3044 | 25 41 42 114 2375 1629 3085 36 36 13 73 PREFACE TO THE BOOK OF THE LEVITICUS. THE Greek version of the SEPTUAGINT, and the VULGATE Latin, have given the title of LEVITICUS to the third book of the Pentateuch, and the name has been retained in almost all the modern versions. The book was thus called because it treats principally of the laws and regulations of the Levites and priests in general. In Hebrew it is termed p" Vaiyikro, "And he called," which is the first word in the book, and which, as in preceding cases, became the running title to the whole. It contains an account of the ceremonies to be observed in the offering of burnt-sacrifices; meat, peace, and sin-offerings; the consecration of priests, together with the institution of the three grand national festivals of the Jews, the Passover, PENTECOST, and TABERNACLES, with a great variety of other ecclesiastical matters. It seems to contain little more than the history of what passed during the eight days of the consecration of Aaron and his sons, though Archbishop Usher supposes that it comprises the history of the transactions of a whole month, viz., from April 21 to May 21, of the year of the world 2514, which answers to the first month of the second year after the departure from Egypt. As there are no data by which any chronological arrangement of the facts mentioned in it can be made, it would be useless to encumber the page with conjectures which, because uncertain, can answer no end to the serious reader for doctrine, reproof, or edification in righteousAs the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, the whole sacrificial system was intended to point out that Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world. reading over this book, this point should be kept particularly in view, as without this spiritual reference no interest can be excited by a perusal of the work. ness, In The principal events recorded in this book may be thus deduced in the order of the chapters: Moses having set up the tabernacle, as has been related in the conclusion of the preceding book; and the cloud of the Divine glory, the symbol of the presence of God, having rested upon it; God called to him out of this tabernacle, and delivered the laws and precepts contained in the seven first chapters. In chap, i. he prescribes every thing relative to the nature and quality of burnt offerings, and the ceremonies which should be observed, as well by the person who brought the sacrifice as by the priest who offered it. In chap, ii. he treats of meat-offerings of fine flour with oil and frankincense; of cakes, and the oblations of first-fruits. Chap. iii. treats of peace-offerings, prescribes the ceremonies to be used in such offerings, and the parts which should be consumed by fire. Chap. iv. treats of the offerings made for sins of ignorance; for the sins of the priests, rulers, and of the common people. Chap. v. treats of the sin of him who, being adjured as a witness, conceals his knowledge of a fact; the case of him who touches an unclean thing; of him who binds himself by a vow or an oath; and of trespass-offerings in cases of sacrilege, and in sins of ignorance. Chap, vi, treats of the trespass-offerings for sins knowingly committed; and of the offerings for the priests, the parts which should be consumed, and the parts which should be considered as the priests' portion, And in Chap. vii. the same subject is continued, PREFACE TO LEVITICUS. Chap. viii. treats of the consecration of Aaron and his sons; their sin-offering; burnt-offering; ram of consecration; and the time during which these solemn rites should continue. Chap. ix. After Aaron and his sons were consecrated, on the eighth day they were commanded to offer sin-offerings and burnt-offerings for themselves and for the people, which they accordingly did, and Aaron and Moses having blessed the people, a fire came forth from before the Lord, and consumed the offering that was laid upon the altar. Chap. x. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, having offered strange fire before the Lord, are consumed; and the priests are forbidden the use of wine and all inebriating liquors. Chap. xi. treats of clean and unclean beasts, fishes, birds, and reptiles. Chap. xii. treats of the purification of women after child-birth, and the offerings they should present before the Lord. Chap. xiii. prescribes the manner of discerning the infection of the leprosy in persons, garments, and houses. Chap. xiv. prescribes the sacrifices and ceremonies which should be offered by those who were cleansed from the leprosy. Chap. xv. treats of certain uncleannesses in man and woman; and of their purifications. Chap. xvi. treats of the solemn yearly expiation to be made for the sins of the priest and of the people, of the goat and bullock for a sacrifice, and of the scape-goat; all which should be offered annually on the tenth day of the seventh month. Chap. xvii. The Israelites are commanded to offer all their sacrifices at the tabernacle; the eating of blood is prohibited, as also the flesh of those animals which die of themselves, and of those that are torn by dogs. Chap. xviii. shows the different degrees within which marriages were not to be contracted, and prohibits various acts of impurity. Chap. xix. recapitulates a variety of laws which had been mentioned in the preceding book, (Exodus,) and adds several new ones. Chap. xx. prohibits the consecration of their children to Molech, forbids their consulting wizards and those which had familiar spirits, and also a variety of incestuous and unnatural mixtures. Chap. xxi. gives different ordinances concerning the mourning and marriages of priests, and prohibits those from the sacerdotal office who have certain personal defects. Chap. xxii. treats of those infirmities and uncleannesses which rendered the priests unfit to officiate in sacred things, and lays down directions for the perfection of the sacrifices which should be offered to the Lord. Chap. xxiii. treats of the Sabbath and the great annual festivals—the passover, pentecost, feast of trumpets, day of atonement, and feast of tabernacles. Chap. xxiv. treats of the oil for the lamps, and the shew-bread; the law concerning which had already been given, see Exod. xxv., &c.; mentions the case of the person who blasphemed God, and his punishment; lays down the law in cases of blasphemy and murder; and recapitulates the lex talionis, or law of like for like, prescribed Exod. xxi. Chap. xxv. recapitulates the law, given Exod. xxiii., relative to the Sabbatical year; prescribes the year of jubilee; and lays down a variety of statutes relative to mercy, kindness, benevolence, charity, &c. Chap. xxvi. prohibits idolatry, promises a great variety of blessings to the obedient, and threatens the disobedient with many and grievous curses. Chap. xxvii. treats of vows, of things devoted, and of the tithes which should be given for the service of the tabernacle. No Chronological Table can be affixed to this book, as the transactions of it seem to have been included within the space of eight days, or of a month at the utmost, as we have already And even some of the facts related here seem to have taken place previously to the erection of the tabernacle; nor is the order in which the others occurred so distinguished as to enable us to lay down the precise days in which they took place. seen. THE THIRD BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED LEVITICUS. Year before the common Year of Christ, 1490.-Julian Period, 3224.-Cycle of the Sun, 27.-Dominical Letter, D.-Cycle of the Moon, 9.—Indiction, 6.—Creation from Tisri or September, 2514. CHAPTER I. The Lord calls to Moses out of the tabernacle, and gives him directions concerning burnt-offerings of the beeve kind, 1, 2. The burnt-offering to be a male without blemish, 3. The person bringing it to lay his hands upon its head, that it might be accepted for him, 4. He is to kill, flay, and cut it in pieces, and bring the blood to the priests, that they might sprinkle it round about the altar, 5, 6. All the pieces to be laid upon the altar and burnt, 7-9. Directions concerning offerings of the SMALLER Cattle, such as sheep and goats, 10-13. Directions concerning offerings of rowLs, such as doves and pigeons, 14-17. congregation, saying, a Exod. xix. 3.- b Exod. xl. 34, 35; Num. xii. 4, 5. NOTES ON CHAP. I. Verse 1. And the Lord called unto Moses] From the manner in which this book commences, it appears plainly to be a continuation of the preceding; and indeed the whole is but one law, though divided into five portions, and why thus divided is not easy to be conjectured. or offering of access. This custom has been often referred to in the preceding books. See also chap. vii. Of the cattle]nnan habbehemah, animals of the beeve kind, such as the bull, heifer, bullock, and calf; and restrained to these alone by the term herd, pa bakar, which, from its general use in the Levitical writings, is known to refer to the ox, heifer, &c. And therefore other animals of the beeve kind were excluded. Previously to the erection of the tabernacle God had given no particular directions concerning the manner Of the flock] Y tson, SHEEP and GOATS; for we of offering the different kinds of sacrifices; but as have already seen that this term implies both kinds; soon as this Divine structure was established and con- and we know, from its use, that no other animal of the secrated, Jehovah took it as his dwelling place; de- smaller clean domestic quadrupeds is intended, as no scribed the rites and ceremonies which he would have other animal of this class, besides the sheep and goat, observed in his worship, that his people might know was ever offered in sacrifice to God. The animals what was best pleasing in his sight; and that, when mentioned in this chapter as proper for sacrifice are the thus worshipping him, they might have confidence that very same which God commanded Abraham to offer; they pleased him, every thing being done according to see Gen. xv. 9. And thus it is evident that God dehis own directions. A consciousness of acting accord-livered to the patriarchs an epitome of that law which ing to the revealed will of God gives strong confidence to an upright mind. Verse 2. Bring an offering] The word p korban, from p karab, to approach or draw near, signifies an offering or gift by which a person had access unto God and this receives light from the universal custom that prevails in the east, no man being permitted to approach the presence of a superior without a present or gift; and the offering thus brought was called korban, which properly means the introduction-offering, was afterwards given in detail to Moses, the essence |