In the seventh month— "He shall do at the feast of tabernacles all the same things which have already been appointed for him to do on the passover."
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The division of the land here directed is very different from that made by Moses and Joshua, and the extent of the country divided vastly exceeds that ancient inheritance of God's Israel, the land of Canaan: this, therefore, may properly be referred to the kingdom of Christ, and his church, enlarged by the vast accession of converts both of Jews and Gentiles.
1. The first portion is for God, his sanctuary in the midst, and around it the abode of the priests and Levites, with the land appropriated for their use; and this is considered as an oblation unto the Lord; for what is done to them for his sake, he accepts as done unto himself. Their residence is near the sanctuary, for there must their constant attendance be. A non-resident minister of Christ is a contradiction in terms.
2. The next portion is for the city, where the whole house of Israel, some at least of every tribe, dwelt: a figure of the Israel of God, united in one communion, and become one fold under one shepherd.
3. The portion of the prince is allotted him without: the admeasurement is not mentioned, but enough to maintain his dignity, and prevent the oppression of the people; which some interpret of the prince Messiah, whose dominion shall extend east and west, and who is around his church and people as a guard to protect them from the inroads of every enemy. (But see the Annotations).
4. The rest of the land is appointed for the tribes to inhabit, who, under the government of their prince Messiah, shall be safe and happy.
2nd, We have,
1. An injunction laid on the princes to avoid all oppression, and minister true judgment to the people, it being high time to put an end to the past scene of extortion and violence. Princes must remember that they are but men, and accountable to him from whom they have received their power; the abuse of which will in the end prove fatally ruinous to themselves.
2. The people must exercise uprightness in their dealings toward each other, and particularly be conscientiously exact in their coins, weights, and measures. True piety towards God will ever produce honesty towards men.
3rdly, Particular directions are laid down for the service of God.
1. Respecting the oblations to be offered by all the people of the land: of their corn a sixtieth part; of their wine a hundredth; of their lambs one in two hundred, from the fattest pastures, must be offered, for the prince in Israel, or to the prince in Israel, the Lord Jesus, to whose honour these were devoted for the more immediate service of his church, and for whose sake they are accepted. Note; (1.) They who enjoy the blessings of God's providence are bound to honour him with a part of their abundance. (2.) Our oblations, prayers, and praises are then accepted, when the atoning blood of the Lamb has made the reconciliation, and opened for us a way to the throne of God.
2. Respecting their solemnities, which differed very much from the Mosaical institutions, and intimated a change in that dispensation:
[1.] On the first day of the year the sanctuary was to be cleansed by the blood of a sin-offering; and the same ceremony was to be repeated on the seventh day for him that had erred and was simple. Even sanctuaries on earth have need of the atoning blood; the purest societies of Christians must ever apply to the atoning blood; and we are bound every year, yea, every day, to beg the forgiveness of our negligences and ignorances, which, without the all-powerful intercession and oblation of the great high priest of our profession, Jesus Christ, must eternally destroy us.
[2.] On the fourteenth of Nisan the passover is to be kept, with the seven days of unleavened bread; and a bullock each day, offered for a sin-offering, prepared by the prince, with its meat and drink-offering; besides a kid of the goats each day for a sin-offering, and seven bullocks and rams for a burnt-offering. All which are typical of the Lord Jesus, who has prepared himself a sacrifice for us, and is our passover, by whose blood we have received the atonement, to whom we must have an eye in all our approaches to God, and on whom by faith we must feast, to the strengthening and refreshing of our souls.
[3.] On the seventh month, the fifteenth day, the feast of tabernacles is ordered to be observed seven days, with the same sacrifices as before: all pointing to the great Redeemer, and directing us to him in and through whom alone all our services are accepted of God.