Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/6_200.lzh/6_225.TXT

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the cieling: and on the wall of the temple: that is, they
were not only thus placed in the holiest of all; but in the
temple, or holy place on the wall of it all around; and
shews, that in the state of the church in the latter
day, which this part of the building represents more
especially, will be great numbers of Gospel ministers,
who will faithfully and uprightly preachit to men; see
Dan. xfi. 4. Rev. xiv. 6, 7, 8.
Ver. 21. The posts of the temple were squared, &c.]
Or, were four-square {n}; the two posts on each side the
door, the lintel and the threshold, made a square; the
posts themselves were not round, as pillars, but flat and
square; and the upper part was not arched, as in
some buildings, but square. Jarchi says he had heard
that the posts of Solomon's temple were four-square;
but that is not certain; however, these were. The
Vulgate Latin version renders it four-cornered; as
doors formerly were: this was the ancient way of
building, as Philander {o} observes; almost every thing
in this wonderful building was four-square; denoting
the firmness, stability, and perfection of all things in
it: and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the
otis as the appearance of the other; that is, the front of
the holy of belies was like that of the temple; they
both had the same appearance, though one was larger
than another. The posts of the one were squared,
even as the posts of the other; shewing that the same
is the way of entrance into the Gospel church and into
theNew-Jerusalem church-state, and even into the hea-
venly glory, which is Christ; and, whether in the less
or more perfect state of the church on earth, there are
the same precious faith, and love, and communion,
though different degrees. The Targum is, "and the
"face of the house of the propitiatory; and its appear-
" ante as the appearance of its glory ;" which Jarchi
interprets, as the appearance of the throne of glory,
seen by the prophet at the river Chebar, ch. i. 26--28.
Vet. 22. The altar of wood was three cubits high, and
the length thereof two cubits, &c.3 This was the altar
of incense, and was typical of Christ in his intercession
and mediation. It was made of wood; that in the
tabernacle of Moses was of shittim-wood, a kind of
cedar; and that in Solomon's temple was of cedar,
Exod. xxx. 1. I Kings vi. 20. and may signify the
human nature of Christ, in which he mediates and
intercedes; which is excellent as the cedars: fair and
beautiful, strong, durable, and incorruptible: though
its original is of the earth, as wood: or was made of a
woman; of the earth, earthly; but produced without
sin. This altar, both in the tabernacle and temple, was
covered with field; as it was fit it should be with some
hard substance that would bear incense to be burned
on it; and therefore was called the golden altar, Exod.
xxx. 3. Numb. iv. 11. I Kings vi. 2O, 22. and so the
altar at which our Lord officiates as Mediator and In-
tercessor is called a golden one, Rev. viii. 3. which
may denote the deity of Christ, that gives virtue to his
mediation; or the glorification of his human nature
in heaven, in which he ministers; and also the pre-
ciousness of his intercession, and the duration of it.
The incense burnt on this altar may signify both the
meditaion of Christ, which is pure and holy, though
for sinners; large and frequent, continually made, and
very fragrant and acceptable; and the prayers of the
saints which are offered up on this altar, which sanc-
tities them; and through the much incense, which
perfumes them, whereby they ascend up to God, and
are sweet odours to him, being fragrant and fervent.
pure and holy. This altar in the tabernacle of Moses,
and probably in the temple of Solomon, though its
dimensions there are not given, was four-square, Exod.
xxx. 2. very likely so was this; and indeed the Sep-
tuagint version adds, and the breadth two cubits; which,
being the same with its length, made it four-square;
and so may point at the firmness, unchangeablehess.
and perfection of thiS part of Christ's priesthood, his
intercession, which is true of the whole of it, Heb. vii.
19, 24, 25. and it may be observed, that the altar here
was a cubit longer, and a cnbit broader, as well as a
cubit higher, than the Mosaic one, Exod. xxx. 2.
Kimchi says this altar was not like to that which
Moses or Solomon, or the children of the captivity,
made; it was larger than any of them; which shews
that the intercession of Christ our high-priest is larger
and more extensive than that of the priests under the
law; they offered incense only for the people of Israel:
but Christ, as he is the propitiation, so the advocate
for Gentiles, as well as Jews; though not for the whole
world of men, yet for the world of the elect; and of
all blessings of grace and glory for them, 1 John ii.
1, 2. John xvii. 9, 20. and, moreover, that under the
Gospel dispensation there would be more praying souls,
and more use made of the Mediator, of his name,
blood, righteousness, sacrifice, and intercession; and
a greater spirit of grace and supplication poured out,
especially in the latter day; hence we r.ead of Christ's
much incense, John xvi. 23, e4. Zech. xii. 10. Rev.
viii. 3: and the corners thereof, and the length thereof,
and the walls thereof, were of wood ; that is, the horns
that were at the four coroners of it; and the top of it,
which was its length and breadth; and the sides of it,
called its wallS, were all of wood, though coverell with
gold. The mystical sense of which has been given;
only it may be observed, that the four corners or horns'
of i't may denote the strength of Christ's intercession;
and to which men have recourse, and lay hold on for
their relief, even from all parts of the world, east,
west, north, and south: and he said unto me, this is the
table that is before the Lord; that is, either the altar
before described is the table before the Lord, which
he has spread, and where his people feed in his pre-
sem'e; the intercession of Christ beh,g a feast to the
faith of saints: or it may be, that the divine guide of
the prophet, turning himself to the right hand of the
altar, pointed to the table. ofshew-bread, which stood
in the same place; and said this or that which stands
yonder is the table before the Lord; and which also
was typical of Christ, the true bread that comes dowa
from heaven, who is the food of his people; tbr quality,
the finest of the wheat; tbr quantity, enough and to
spare; for sayour, such as gracious souls desire always
to have; for duration, continual bread, set forth by

{n} \^hebr\^ quadratus, Montanus, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Pis-
cator.
{o} Not in Vitruvium de Architect. 1. 4. c. 6. p. 153.