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this worldly Sanctuary and all the Contents of it, (no matter how or where plac'd) is utterly fuperfeded by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle, now made manifeft by Chrift, who is the High Priest of it.

Pot of Manna, and
Ark of the Covenant,
Tables. For tho' it

St. Paul who, most probably, was the Author of this Epiftle, feems not to have tranfcrib'd this Account from Mofes, but rather to have learnt it, as a Piece of Tradition, from his Preceptor Gamaliel, by his placing the Aaron's Rod in the along with the two was exprefly commanded that these Things fhould be kept before the Testimony, yet it is no where faid or hinted, in the Books of Mofes, that they were put within the Ark. But, on the contrary, when the Ark was put into the Temple by Solomon, it 2 Chron. is declar'd, there was nothing in it, fave the two tables which Mofes put therein, at Horeb.

Exod.

xvi. 34.

Numb.

xvi. 10.

V. IO.

Numb.

iv. 5.

But, to purfue the Hiftory of the Tabernacle. Being contriv'd in fuch a Manner, as to be taken to pieces, and put together again as Occafion requir'd, whenever the Camp mov'd, that was to be re

mov'd

6.

mov'd likewife; and fo it accompanied the Ifraelites in all their Marches, 'till they arriv'd at the Land of Canaan. And when they came to the River Jordan, over which they were to pafs, the Priests that bore Jofh, iii. the Ark of the Covenant were order'd to go firft; by which an immediate Miracle was wrought; For the Waters of Jordan stopping in their Course, and standing on an Heap, left dry Land for all the People to pass over. Presently after, the Walls of Jericho fell down upon the Ark's vi. 20. being carried feven Times round them, and the Children of Ifrael enter'd and fack'd the City,

After that, the Tabernacle was pitch'd in Shiloh; as a commodious Situation for the People to meet at from all Parts, three Exod. Times every Year, to present themselves xxxiv. before the LORD. Before the Death of 23. Phinehas the High-Priest, we find it is said Judg. xx, to have been at Mixpeh. Which probably was no other than Shiloh; or fome Place very near it. For there we again read of it in the Days of Eli the Prieft and Judge; when the Ifraelites being beaten by the Philistines, fent and fetch'd the Ark of the Co- 1 Sara.

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27.

iv. 4.

venant from Shiloh into the Camp, that the Prefence of it might be aufpicious to them. However, the Philistines ftill prevailing, the Ark of God was taken; and they carried it to Ashdod or Azotus, one of their Cities, and plac'd it in the Temple of Dagon their God.

The next Day, the Idol of Dagon was found, fall'n upon his Face to the Earth; and, upon being fet up again, he was found the Day after, not only fall'n to the Ground, but with his Head and his Hands cut off, and nothing but his Stump left whole. Befides, the LORD fhew'd his Displeasure against the Men of Ashdod, for detaining the Ark, and fmote them with a terrible Difeafe. Upon a Consultation held amongst them therefore, the Ark was remov'd to Gath, another of their Cities, whofe Inhabitants underwent the fame Chaftifement for their Prefumption. Thence it was carried to Ekron, a third City; the Refentment of God ftill falling upon the Inhabitants of the Place, wherefoever it was carried. The Philistines therefore, af ter it had been in their Cuftody feven Months, fent it back, with an Offe

ring of Jewels of Gold to atone for their Violation of it.

After this the Men of Bethfhemesh (* a City in the Tribe of Judah, bordering upon the Philistines) receiv'd it; but were flain in great Numbers, for prefuming to look into it. From thence therefore it was fetch'd away, at their Requeft, by the Men of Kirjath-jearim (another City in the faid Tribe) and put into the Coftody of Abinadab of Gibeab in Benjamin, their Neighbour, where it remain'd twenty Years; it being fo long before Samuel could reclaim the People from the grofs Idolatries they were fallen into, during its Abfence; and afterwards, during the whole Reign of Saul; which was forty Acts xiii. Years.

21.

When David was King, and had got full Poffeffion of Jerufalem, he made an Attempt to bring the Ark thither; but 2 Sam. was discourag'd from pursuing his Defign, under an Apprehenfion of incurring the

Jofh. xv. 10. xxi. 16. It fell to Tribe of Naphtali, who had never been from the Inhabitants. [Jofh. xix. 38. we may therefore conclude Judah did.

G 4

the Lot of the
able to take it
Judg. i. 33.]

Difplea

vi.

Displeasure of the LORD thereby; because he had feen an Example of the divine Vengeance in Uzzah one of the Sons of Abinadab, who had prefum'd rashly and unadvisedly to lay his Hand upon it: fo it was left, as it was bringing along, somewhat short of where he intended to depofit it, at the House of * Obed-Edom the Gittite.

With Obed-Edom, the Ark remain'd three Months. After which, it was brought with great Solemnity, into that Part of Jerufalem called the City of David; where a Place was prepar'd, and a Tent pitch'd for it: and there it remain'd 'till it was put into the Temple, afterwards built by Solomon. But from thence it was afterwards removed, in the Reign of one of the idolatrous Kings of Judah; or perhaps fecreted by the Levites:

*One of the Tribe of Levi, fo call'd probably from bis having fojourn'd formerly among the Gittites; for the Levites having no Inheritance of their own, were fometimes oblig'd to feek a Dwelling where they cou'd find it; efpecially when their Brethren of the other Tribes among whom they liv'd, were given up to Idolatry; by which their Office was fuperfeded.

+1 Chron. xv. 25. And the CXXXII Pfalm appears plainly to have been compofed upon that Occafion.

For

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