COITSC (Ch. V :1-4).
(2) Authority of Priests. Thus, after civil and sacerdotal life had been brought into a definite form, other laws based upon this form came into force, especially those laws which regulated the authority of the priests in civil affairs (ch. v: 5; vi:27). These regulations conclude with the beautiful form of benediction which indicates the blessing to be expected from the true observance of the preceding directions. The people are im pressed with this fact ; the hearts of the Israelites are willing to offer the required gifts, and to en trust them to the Levites.
(3) Lamps. Jehovah is faithful to his promise, and gloriously reveals himself to his people (ch. vii). Before the Levites enter upon the discharge of their sacred functions, the law concerning the lamps to be lighted in the sanctuary is signifi cantly repeated (ch. viii). These lamps symbolize the communication of the Holy Spirit and bring to the recollection of the nation the blessings of the ocracy to be derived from setting apart the tribe of Levi, which had recently been separated from the rest of the people.
(4) Celebration of Passover.. Then follows a description of the celebration of the Passover, pre paratory to the departure of the people from Mount Sinai (ch. ix Some regulations are connected with the celebration of the Pass over, and the whole miraculous guidance of the people is described (ch. ix:t5-x).
(5) Entrance Into Canaan. Thus the en trance of Israel into the Holy Land seemed to be fully prepared; and it was of great importance to show how they were prevented from entering it. Accurate details are therefore given of the spirit which pervaded the nation; a spirit which. in spite of the forbearance of God, manifested itself in daring rebellions against the divine au thority (chapters xi and xii).
(6) Turning Point of History. Now comes the turning point of the history. Everything seems externally prepared for the conquest of the country, when it appears that the nation are not yet internally ripe for the performance of so im portant an act (chapters xiii, xiv).
In immediate connection with this are some laws which were given in the desert; the inten tion of which was to recall to the recollection of the rejected race, which had been justly con demned to suffer severe punishment, that never theless they had not ceased to be the people of the covenant, and the depositary of divine revelation (comp. ch. xv :2, 13-16, 22, 23, 37, sq.). In this respect the facts mentioned in ch. xv :32-36 and ch. xvi are also of great importance. They show, on the one hand, the continuance of an evil disposi tion in the people, and, on the other, the majesfy of God watching over his holy law.
The contents of chapters xv-xix arc of a similar character. The facts there recorded relate to a period of thirty-cight years The conciseness with which they are stated significantly indicates the strictly legal and theocratical principles of the Mosaical legislation.
(7) Period of Israel's Rejection. The period of Israel's rejection is characterized by the cir cumstance, that the historian is almost silent re specting it, as being a period not strictly belonging to theocratical history. During this period the striking deeds of God, his miracles and signs, the more prominent operations of his grace, and his peculiar blessings, cease. The rejection of the nation. consisted in this suspension of the divine operations. During this period God, as it were, ignored his people. Consequently, the historian also almost ignores the rebellious race. But the period in which the divine promises were to be fulfilled again forms a prominent portion of the history.
(8) Termination of Penal Period. The ter mination of the penal period is the commencement of the most important era in the Mosaical history. It brings the legislation to a splendid conclusion. The most glorious facts here follow each other in close succession ; facts which were intended clearly to demonstrate that the chosen people en tered into the land of promise, not by their own power and might, but that this land was given into their hands by the God of promise.