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388. OF THE first-born.

the seventh day from this time. On that day, he shaved off not only the beard and eyebrows, but the hair from every part of the body, washed again his body and his clothes, and was then esteemed perfectly purified, Lev. 14: 8, 9.

He brought also on the same day two rams of a year old, and a sheep of the same age, into the Tabernacle or Temple, also the customary quantity of flour overspread with oil, and a Log of oil in addition. The priest then presented the leper and the animals before God. He slew one ram, as a trespass offering, and offered the Log of oil to God, (PER as a wave-offering. He then put some of the blood of the trespass offering on the tip of the right ear of the recovered leper, on the thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot.

He scattered of the oil, moreover, which was poured out into his palm, seven times towards the Sanctuary with the finger of his right hand, besmeared with it, as he had done before with the blood, the thumb of the right hand and the great toe of the leper's right foot, and poured the remainder of it upon his head, Lev. 14: 10-18. He then slew the sheep for a sin offering and the other ram for a burnt offering. In case of poverty, two turtle doves and two young pigeons could be substituted in place of the sheep and the second ram, Lev. 14: 19–32. comp. Luke 17: 12-14. Matt. 8: 2--4. Mark 1: 40--44.

388. OF THE FIRST-BORN.

THE FIRST-BORN,, both of men and animals, were to be consecrated to God. The first-born children were to be presented before the Lord, and to be redeemed according to the estimation of a priest, but the amount of the sum paid in this redemption could not exceed five shekels. They could not be redeemed before the age of a month, and, for the most part, were not so, till the ceremony of purification for child birth, Num. 18: 14-16. Exod. 13: 13. Luke 2: 22.

The first-born of cattle, of goats and sheep, from eight days to a year old, were to be offered in sacrifice, and the parts designated being burnt, the remainder was left to the priests, Num. 18: 17, 18. Lev. 27: 26. Even in case there was any defect in the goats, sheep, or bullocks, so that they could not be legally of

389. OF THE first-fruits.

491

fered in sacrifice, they were, nevertheless, allotted for the use of the priests, the same as before, Deut. 15: 19–23.

The first-born of other animals, of which in Exod. 13: 13, the ass is given as an example, were to be slain, although they could not be offered in sacrifice, unless they were redeemed by offering a lamb in their stead, or by the payment of a certain sum, fixed by the estimation of the priest, said estimation being increased by the addition of a fifth, Lev. 27: 13.

If they were not redeemed, they were sold, and the price was given to the priests. It was in this way, that the Hebrews exhibited their gratitude to God, who preserved their first-born in Egypt from impending destruction, Exod. 13: 2, 11--16. Num. 3: 12, 13.

In respect to the first born sons, there was an additional reason for the regulations, of which we have been speaking; since they were by birth priests, and were to be redeemed from serving at the altar, Num. 3: 20—51.

It may be argued from Deut. 12: 6, 7. 14: 23. 15: 19, 23, that there was what may be called an after first-born, and that the second-born of goats, sheep, and the ox-kind, were brought to the Tabernacle or Temple, and converted into eucharistical or thanksgiving offerings, which could not be done with the first-born, properly so called. But it was permitted to the owner if there were blemishes in them, to slay them at home, and to employ them, as food, in the usual way.

§ 389. OF THE FIRST-Fruits,

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In speaking on the subject of first-fruits, it may be remarked here, that a division of them into two kinds cannot be established from the passages generally supposed, viz. Num. 18: 12, 13. Neh. 10: 36--38. This alone follows from them, that the first fruits were offered, (PER 7,) as a heave-offering.

The first sheaf of barley, on the second day of the Passover, and the first loaves, on the feast of the Pentecost, were offered in the name of the people. But individuals also were bound to offer the first fruits of the vine, of fruit trees, of their grain, honey and wool, by means of which offerings they exhibited that gratitude, which was due to God, for the country he had given them, Exod. 23:19. Lev. 2: 12. Num. 15: 17-21. 18:11-13. Deut. 26: 1–11.

492

§390. OF TYTHES.

The offerings thus made became the property of the priests, Num. 18: 11-13. Deut. 18: 4.

Some suppose, that it was not necessary for those first fruits, which, before being presented, underwent some previous preparation, such as the loaves on the Pentecost, to be brought to the Temple, but that they could be offered to any priest in any place; in the same way, that every Hebrew was bound to offer to some priest the shoulder, the cheeks 7, and the maw R, VUOTOOν, OMASUM, of the animals, which he sacrificed at home. Consult Deut. 18: 3. Josephus, Antiquities, IV. 4, 4, and Philo DE SACERDOTUM HONORIBUS et PRAEMIIS p. 832.

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It appears from Deut. 26: 1-11, that what are denominated the second first fruits were appropriated to the eucharistical sacrifices, and were consumed in the feasts, which were made from them; and, accordingly, every Hebrew was commanded, when he brought his basket to the Tabernacle or the Temple, to set it down before the altar, and return thanks with a loud voice to God, who had given to his undeserving countrymen so rich an inheri

tance.

$390. OF TYthes.

TYTHES are very ancient, and were exacted, in the earliest times, among almost all nations, Herod. I. 5, 77. Pausan. Eliac. 1. c. 10. Phocic. c. 11. Diodor. Sic. XX. 14.

Abraham offered the tythes of his spoils to Melchisedec, priest of the most high God, Gen. 14: 20. Jacob vowed unto God the tenth of all his income; a vow, which was observed both by himself and his posterity, Gen. 28: 22.

Tything is mentioned, as a practice well known and of ancient standing, in Deut. 12: 11, 17-19. 14: 22, 23; and the precepts, which are there given in respect to it, aim at this point merely, viz. that the tythes should be presented at the Tabernacle for a thank-offering, with the exception, that, on every third year, the people might make a feast of them at their own houses, for the servants, widows, orphans, the poor, and the Levites, Deut. 14: 28, 29. 26: 12-15.

But before the tythes, which have now been mentioned, and which were denominated the second, were taken from the yearly

$391. OF THE sacred oil.

493

increase, there was another taken, called the first, Tobit 1: 7. The latter belonged to God, as the ruler of the state, and was assigned by Him as a sort of salary, to the Levites, for their services both sacred and civil, Lev. 27: 30. Num. 18: 20–24. Deut. 14: 22, 23. Neh. 13: 5, 12. The tythe of the fruits of the earth could be redeemed, in case a fifth part of the estimated value was added to the whole amount; in as much as the redeemer was thereby freed from the expense of transportation. But this liberty was not given in respect to the tythe of sheep, goats, and cattle, Lev. 27: 31.

The tenth of the fruit and grain was easily estimated. In regard to animals, the ceremony was this. They passed one by one before a servant, who numbered them, and designated every tenth one by a rod, which he held in his hand. If another was afterwards substituted in place of the one then designated, they both fell to the Levites, Lev. 27: 32, 33. comp. Jer. 33: 13. Ezek. 20: 37, 38.

The Levites made a subsequent division of the tythes, and gave a tenth of them to the priests, Num. 18: 25-32. Neh. 10: 28. 13: 10—14. Mal. 3: 8-10. comp. Heb. 7: 5—7.

$391. OF THE Sacred Oil.

THE SACRED OIL, with which the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the golden candlestick, the table, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt-offerings, the laver, and all the sacred utensils, and indeed the priests themselves were anointed, was composed of an hin of the oil of olives, of the richest myrrh, D¬?; of cassia, p; of cinnamon, Dye jap; and of sweet calamus map. Da. The proportions of the mixture were five hundred parts of the myrrh and cassia, and two hundred and fifty of the cinnamon and calamus. This ointment, which could not be applied in any other way than those mentioned at the head of this section under penalty of excision from the people, conferred an honour on the persons and things anointed with it. Exod. 30: 20—33.

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392. OF OATHS.

שְׁבָעוֹת שְׁבוּעָה,OF OATHS .392 $

The person, who confirmed his assertion by a voluntary oath, pronounced the same, with his right hand elevated. Sometimes the swearer omitted the imprecation, as if he were afraid, and shuddered to utter it, although it was, from other sources, sufficiently well understood, Gen. 14: 22, 23. Ps. 106: 26. 80: 18. Ezek. 17: 18.

Sometimes the imprecation was, as follows; "This and more than this may God do to me," 2 Sam. 3: 9, 35. Ruth 1: 17. 1 K. 2: 23. 2 K. 6: 31. Sometimes the swearer merely said; "Let God be a witness;" and sometimes affirmed saying; "As surely as God liveth," Jer. 42: 5. Ruth. 3: 13. 1 Sam. 14: 45. 20: 3, 21.

It is to be recollected, that the remarks which have now been made, apply to the person, who uttered the oath himself of his own accord. When an oath was exacted, whether by a judge or another, the person, who exacted it, put the oath in form; and the person, to whom it was put, responded by saying, 128, 128, so let it be or gave his response in other expressions of like import, such as où ɛinas, Num. 5: 19–22. Lev. 5: 1. Prov. 29: 24. 1 K. 22: 16. Deut 27: 15-26.

Sometimes the exacter of the oath merely used the following adjuration, viz. I adjure you by the living God to answer, whether the thing be so or not. And the person sworn accordingly made answer to the point inquired of, Num. 5: 22. Matt. 26: 63. It should be remarked here, though the formulary of assent on the part of the respondent to an oath was frequently AMEN, AMEN, that this formulary did not always imply an oath, but, in some instances, was merely a protestation. We see from the nature of these adjurations, why the Niphal form of the verb is used, viz. v, to swear, properly to be sworn.

As the oath was an appeal to God, (Lev. 19: 12. Deut. 6: 13.) the taking of a false oath was deemed a heinous crime, and perjury, accordingly, was forbidden in those words, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, i. e. shalt not call God to witness in pretended confirmation of a falsehood, Exod. 20: 6.

It was a common thing in Egypt in the time of Joseph, to swear by the life of the king, Gen. 42: 15; and this practice pre

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