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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Construction of the Tabernacle. (b. c. 1491.)
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE. (B. C. 1491.) The first work they set about was the framing of the house, which must be done before the furniture of it was prepared. This house was not made of timber or stone, but of cu…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 36:14-34
Here, 1. The shelter and special protection that the church is under are signified by the curtains of hair-cloth, which were spread over the tabernacle, and the covering of rams' skins and badgers' skins over them, Exod…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 36:35-38
In the building of a house there is a great deal of work about the doors and partitions. In the tabernacle these were answerable to the rest of the fabric; there were curtains for doors, and veils for partitions. 1. The…
The Tabernacle and Its Furniture. (b. c. 1491.)
THE TABERNACLE AND ITS FURNITURE. (B. C. 1491.) I. It may be thought strange that Moses, when he had recorded so fully the instructions given him upon the mount for the making of all these things, should here record as…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 37:10-24
Here is, 1. The making of the table on which the show-bread was to be continually placed. God is a good householder, that always keeps a plentiful table. Is the world his tabernacle? His providence in it spreads a table…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 37:25-29
Here is, 1. The making of the golden altar, on which incense was to be burnt daily, which signified both the prayers of saints and the intercession of Christ, to which are owing the acceptableness and success of those p…
The Tabernacle and Its Furniture. (b. c. 1491.)
THE TABERNACLE AND ITS FURNITURE. (B. C. 1491.) Bezaleel having finished the gold-work, which, though the richest, yet was ordered to lie most out of sight, in the tabernacle itself, here goes on to prepare the court, w…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 38:9-20
The walls of the court, or church-yard, were like the rest curtains or hangings, made according to the appointment, Exodus 27:9-19, &c. This represented the state of the Old-Testament church: it was a garden enclosed; t…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 38:21-31
Here we have a breviat of the account which, by Moses's appointment, the Levites took and kept of the gold, silver, and brass, that was brought in for the tabernacle's use, and how it was employed. Ithamar the son of Aa…
The Tabernacle and Its Furniture. (b. c. 1491.)
THE TABERNACLE AND ITS FURNITURE. (B. C. 1491.) In this account of the making of the priests' garments, according to the instructions given (ch. 28), we may observe, 1. That the priests' garments are called here clothes…
The Tabernacle Completed. (b. c. 1491.)
THE TABERNACLE COMPLETED. (B. C. 1491.) Observe here, I. The builders of the tabernacle made very good despatch. It was not much more than five months from the beginning to the finishing of it. Though there was a great…
The Rearing of the Tabernacle. (b. c. 1491.)
THE REARING OF THE TABERNACLE. (B. C. 1491.) The materials and furniture of the tabernacle had been viewed severally and approved, and now they must be put together. 1. God here directs Moses to set up the tabernacle an…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 40:16-33
When the tabernacle and the furniture of it were prepared, they did not put off the rearing of it till they came to Canaan, though they now hoped to be there very shortly; but, in obedience to the will of God, they set…
The Tabernacle Filled with Glory. (b. c. 1491.)
THE TABERNACLE FILLED WITH GLORY. (B. C. 1491.) As when, in the creation, God had finished this earth, which he designed for man's habitation, he made man, and put him in possession of it, so when Moses had finished the…
The Law Concerning Offerings. (b. c. 1490.)
THE LAW CONCERNING OFFERINGS. (B. C. 1490.) Observe here, 1. It is taken for granted that people would be inclined to bring offerings to the Lord. The very light of nature directs man, some way or other, to do honour to…
Law of the Burnt-Offering. (b. c. 1490.)
LAW OF THE BURNT-OFFERING. (B. C. 1490.) If a man were rich and could afford it, it is supposed that he would bring his burnt-sacrifice, with which he designed to honour God, out of his herd of larger cattle. He that co…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 1:10-17
Here we have the laws concerning the burnt-offerings, which were of the flock or of the fowls. Those of the middle rank, that could not well afford to offer a bullock, would bring a sheep or a goat; and those that were…
The Law of the Meat-Offering. (b. c. 1490.)
THE LAW OF THE MEAT-OFFERING. (B. C. 1490.) There were some meat-offerings that were only appendices to the burnt-offerings, as that which was offered with the daily sacrifice (Exodus 29:38-39) and with the peace-offeri…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 2:11-16
Here, I. Leaven and honey are forbidden to be put in any of their meat-offerings: No leaven, nor any honey, in any offering made by fire, Leviticus 2:11. 1. The leaven was forbidden in remembrance of the unleavened brea…
Law of the Peace-Offering. (b. c. 1490.)
LAW OF THE PEACE-OFFERING. (B. C. 1490.) The burnt-offerings had regard to God as in himself the best of beings, most perfect and excellent; they were purely expressive of adoration, and therefore were wholly burnt. But…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 3:6-17
Directions are here given concerning the peace-offering, if it was a sheep or a goat. Turtle-doves or young pigeons, which might be brought for whole burnt offerings, were not allowed for peace-offerings, because they h…
Law of the Sin-Offering. (b. c. 1490.)
LAW OF THE SIN-OFFERING. (B. C. 1490.) The laws contained in the first three chapters seem to have been delivered to Moses at one time. Here begin the statutes of another session, another day. From the throne of glory b…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 4:13-21
This is the law for expiating the guilt of a national sin, by a sin offering. If the leaders of the people, through mistake concerning the law, caused them to err, when the mistake was discovered an offering must be bro…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 4:22-26
Observe here, 1. That God takes notice of and is displeased with the sins of rulers. Those who have power to call others to account are themselves accountable to the ruler of rulers; for, as high as they are, there is a…