SOME NOTES ON THE PRECEDING PAGES
A brother writes: "Don't forget, the placing of the tribes around the tabernacle is very important, too. And every one knew his place, and did not hesitate to keep it, also the pedigrees. Num. 1.18.”
Chapter 2; Page 2. "Symbolism of Vessels and Materials." Some saints see other meanings to some of these symbols. Let us remember that we cannot limit the Infinite, and these symbols may include all, and more, than any have ever seen in them. "Thy Commandment is exceeding broad." (Psa. 119.96). About some of these meanings we cannot be too dogmatic, and let us remember the writer points out (the end of Chapter 1) they may possess "other and secondary values.”
Page 6; 23rd line, beginning, "Fire.—" Should not the comma be omitted between "final" and "judgment"?
Page 9; Line 8. We would prefer to say "for whose sake He is the gate.”
Page 10; 11Th line. Would it not be more clear if it read: "angels' nature", or "the nature of angels"?
Page 10. The gate, 20 cubits broad, about 35 feet according to the Egyptian cubit, would surely suggest the widest invitation and welcome to all: "Whosoever will" may come. Remember the door of the Ark was large enough to admit an elephant.
Page 20. Last line, should not "Person" have a capital?
Page 26. Line 4. Steps to the altar might suggest raising oneself by ones own strength little by little, one step at a time Page 27. Lines 1, 4 "capable person"; "perfect person". Should not "person" be spelled with a capital "P": "Person"?
Page 33. End of 1St Paragraph. May not the sinner slaying his own substitute also include the realization that it was my sins, apart from those of any other person, that caused the death of my Substitute: it was I who slew Him?
“Teach me that if none other
Had sinned, but I alone,
Yet still Thy blood, Lord Jesus,
Thine only, must atone.”
Page 38; Last Line; Page 39; Line 1. Does not the young bullock remind us of the words in Psa. 110.3: "Thou hast the dew of thy youth"? There was nothing old or worn about the One Who gave Himself for us.
Page 56. The Burnt Offering. Some have questioned Mr. Pressland's application. May we suggest that those interested read with care Mr. Darby's remarks on the 1St Chapter of Leviticus in "The Synopsis of the Books of the Bible", Vol. 1, where this subject is further discussed.
Page 65. Line 4. It would seem that "all" should read "both", or, "in complete contrast".
Page 70; Last Paragraph. The Golden Altar. Considerable difficulty has been felt by many regarding Heb. 9.3 & 4: "And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant...". The Greek word translated "censer" may also mean "altar", so that as far as the translation is concerned the passage may read: "which had the golden altar, and the ark of the covenant." Heb. 9:22For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. (Hebrews 9:2) enumerates the candlestick and the table: but if "censer" is used in verse 3, the Golden Altar is omitted from the list of furniture, which would seem to be unlikely, While no mention is made in the Old Testament of a Golden Censer as part of the furniture of the Holiest of all.
At first sight however it is difficult to understand how the Altar of incense could be described as part of the Holiest of all: but it should be noted that the Spirit of God changes His language in the 3rd verse, from that used in verse 2. In verse 2 The candlestick and the table are said to be "in" the first tabernacle, or Holy place, or "the holy", as Mr. Pressland speaks. But the "golden censer", or, "golden altar", whichever it should read, is not said to be "in" the Holiest of all, but the Holiest of all "had" this article of furniture. It would seem that the Golden altar of incense really belonged to the Holiest of all, but as the way was not yet made open to enter there, God, in His grace, put it just outside the Veil, where the priests could ever approach it, instead of inside, where it belonged. In Ex. 30:66And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. (Exodus 30:6) it is said to be "before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee." And in Lev. 4:1212Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt. (Leviticus 4:12) it is said to be "before the Lord." (See, "The Epistle to the Hebrews" by Dr. Westcott).
If the bars of this altar were through rings "by the two corners thereof", (Ex. 30.4), might it not seem likely that the altar would be put in front of the Veil cornerwise, so the bars would be parallel to the veil? If that were so, the horns would point North, South, East and West; suggesting the directions which our prayers might include.
Page 71; Last line. Should not "completely" read "completeness"?
Page 72; Second Paragraph. Let us remember that in Rev. 5.8, Margin, "Incense" is said to be the "prayers of the saints." See also, Rev. 8.3 & 4.
Page 72; Last line but one. Would it not be clearer if we read, "When, then, the incense..."?
Page 73; 6 lines from bottom: Should not "blesser" read "Blesser"?
Page 80; 8 lines from bottom. We would like to put a capital to "Bible".
Page 91. Line 15. "Taches." We find the golden taches mentioned in Ex. 26:66And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle. (Exodus 26:6), and then follow the words: "And it shall be one tabernacle." And in 36.13, after speaking of the golden taches, we read: "So it became one tabernacle." Similarly in 26.11, after speaking of the brass taches, we read: "That it may be one.' And in 36.18, almost the same words. The taches are again mentioned in Ex. 39, where a list is given of the parts of the Tabernacle and its furniture that they brought to Moses: and in verse 33 we find the "taches" head the list, though perhaps they were the smallest of anything in the tabernacle: but what a place of honor is given to them! If they do not typify, they at least remind us of, the "joints and bands" (Col. 2:1919And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 2:19)) which make the body one; and they make us think of those saints, often poor and unknown, hidden and lightly esteemed, who hold the saints together: for let us remember that it' is generally the well known leaders who scatter the sheep.
Pages 82, 83. The Boards. Mr. Pressland's arrangement of the bars that held together the Tabernacle Boards, as I understand it, is shown in the sketch, marked "Sketch A". Though I very much hesitate to differ from this writer, it has seemed to me that perhaps the arrangement was as shown in the second sketch, marked "Sketch B". You will note that Mr. Pressland is not at all dogmatic about the arrangement he suggests; nor would it be possible to say with any certainty that the other arrangement is more correct. If we accept Mr. Pressland's suggestion that the boards were half a cubit thick, (using 21 inches to a cubit), this would mean they were 102 inches thick, which would give ample room for a concealed bar to "shoot through" the boards, and would make the strongest link of all in holding the boards together. I have thought perhaps the five bars might be seen in Eph. 4:2, 32With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2‑3):
Lowliness would be the bottom bar. Meekness the second bar.
Longsuffering the fourth bar.
Forbearing one another in love, the top bar; and, The Unity of the Spirit, the "middle bar to shoot through the boards from one end to the other." (Ex. 36.33). That unseen bar, the strongest link of all between the boards, would represent the mighty, unseen power of the Spirit of God that does still link together in a very real way all believers. Some have thought the Golden rings which held the bars represented Love.
Page 94; 4th Paragraph; 1St Line. It might be clearer if the words "wood and gold" were inserted.
Page 117; Line 25. Does not the girdle represent service? See Luke 12.37; John 13.4. Compare this with 1 Peter 5. 5, where the meaning probably is "gird on the slave's apron"; where Peter probably refers to our Lord the night He washed the disciples feet. John 13. The one who became a voluntary slave in Ex. 21. 1-6, "shall serve him forever.”
Earlier in the story. The individual name on the individual stone would surely represent the individual love that our Great High Priest has to each individual saint, borne separately and individually on His heart.