WORK, BUT ON THE SEVENTH DAY THOU SHALT REST. 6. IN PLOUGHING TIME AND IN HARVEST THOU SHALT REST. And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, even of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. 7. THREE TIMES A YEAR SHALL ALL THY MALES APPEAR BEFORE THE LORD GOD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL. For I will east out nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou goest up to appear before the LORD thy God three times in the year. 8. THOU SHALT NOT OFFER THE BLOOD OF MY SACRIFICE WITH LEAVENED BREAD: neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning. 9. THE FIRST Of the firstfruits of THY GROUND THOU SHALT BRING UNTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD THY GOD. 10. THOU SHALT NOT SEETHE A KID IN ITS MOTHER'S MILK. J. I entitle this 'Law and Ritual': the earlier part makes prominent the actual oblations, the latter part gives more specific directions to the priests as to details in the mode of offering. K. This is a case where the word 'law' includes an historic incident associated with its institution or early execution. Compare E, or Section D of Book IV. L. In the institution of the Scapegoat the words (page 150) he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleannesses of the children of Israel, show that this is to be taken as a part of the general Law of Purification. M. For this important 'Covenant of Holiness' compare other Covenants [above, sections F, H; and Deuteronomy volume, page 149]. The conception of Holiness seems to include separation from the sins or evil customs of the surrounding peoples; separation by national signs, such as the Sabbath and the Jubile; separateness in the way of laws and legal customs; holiness as opposed to uncleanness in the offerings of the LORD. The section is further unified by characteristic expressions, such as “I am the LORD." The first four paragraphs (chapter xvii of Leviticus) are by some separated from this section. But their connection consists in their providing as to the proper place of sacrifice; and it is noticeable that both the Covenant in section F above, and that in Deuteronomy, commence with provisions as to the rightful place of sacrifice. Q. Sundry laws: the law of the Leper, of Restitution, of the Jealous Husband, of the Nazirite, and of the Priestly Blessing. T. The supplementary, sometimes called the Little Passover. BOOK IV 1. In preparation for the Start from Sinai, which makes the natural place for beginning Book IV, are given the general ordinances and arrangements for the march. 5. This incident of the Spies is the turning point in the Israelitish migration; it is the foundation for the thirty-eight years' wandering in the wilderness, and the provision of a new generation to enter the Land of Promise. D. Though the section is full of historic difficulties, yet the general tenor of this documentary section seems to connect the laws as to the position of priests and Levites with the incidents of rebellion here narrated. 6. Another turning point: the incident of Meribah appears as the foundation for the deposition of Moses. 9. This brief section has an importance as connected with the 'devoting' of the conquered Canaanitish nations. The word Hormah means 'devoted.' 11, 12. I have represented certain portions of these sections as footnotes, because of their unlikeness to the rest of the narrative. It must be understood that such arrangement is not meant to suggest any doubt as to the authenticity of passages so treated; it is solely a question of the different page setting of ancient and modern books. xiii. For this epic incident of Balaam see the Introduction, page ix. 14. This section has a double importance, as laying the foundation of the greatness of one of the priestly houses (compare the prominence of Phinehas in the son of Sirach's list of the Worthies of Israel: Ecclesiasticus volume, page 156); and also as the origin of the lasting feud with Midian. J. It is somewhat difficult to determine whether this is not to be reckoned as a section of the historic narrative; but on the whole it appears that the narrative is introduced as the foundation of what was a general law. 303 |