Numbers

Numbers:  Desultory Musings and Notes.  (1) Living in the Wilderness and (2) Sometimes, with difficult choices, one must be different than parents, living by faith and embracing Divine Promises when they don’t.  In such a case, "live the faith and respect them," despite parental unbelief, failures, and/or disorders.  See the Heidelberg Catechism on the 5^th commandment for moral orientation.  Now, to the book itself.

1.      Mosaic authorship based upon internal testimony from the Pentateuch (argued and defended elsewhere)

2.      Mosaic authorship based upon “clear witness” of the Old and New Testaments ascribing these books to Moses (argued and defended elsewhere)

3.      Moses was engaged in “literary activity,” e.g. Numbers 33.1-2 (inter alia): 

These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.  Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points. 

4.      Numbers was written late in the wilderness wandering, but before Moses’ death 

5.      Preps for journey, experiences in wilderness, the failure of the first generation (= don’t be like your unfaithful parents), preparations for conquest, and implicit warning to second generation—faith, fidelity and perseverance 

6.      God is the ever-faithful Covenant God, comforting, keeping, saving, and delivering His people according to His infallible and sure promises 

7.      By contrast to God’s faithfulness, there is substantial failure.  Even Moses is not permitted to enter Canaan.  See 20.9-11; 27.12-14.  Even the big guys—the celebs—the bishops—including the Romanist popes—are sinners.  Salvation is always by grace alone, by faith alone, and by Christ alone. 

8.      God’s sovereignty is always all-sufficient for everything and every obstacle, danger and failure…including profound generational failures.  We live in such times.  

9.      Chaps 1-10: Journey through the desert.  Chaps 10.11-22: Sinai to Moab.  Chaps 22-25.18: Balaam, the Talking Ass, and God’s Sovereign Promises.  Chaps 26-36: Preps to Enter the Land

H.W. Soltau: "The Tabernacle, Priesthood, and Offerings"

Soltau, Henry William. The Tabernacle, the Priesthood, and the Offerings (2nd Ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1972.

It is available at: http://www.amazon.com/Tabernacle-Priesthood-Offerings-Henry-Soltau/dp/0825437504/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376685328&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=henry+william+soltau+the+tabernacle%2C+the+priesthood%2C+and+the+offerings

It is available onlne at:

http://books.google.com/books?id=leICAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=henry+william+soltau&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QI0OUvKeOZG54APbgIHgBA&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=henry%20william%20soltau&f=false

Also, Mr. Soltau authored this second book, although we do not own it or will, at this point, review it. But here is the second book.

Soltau, Henry William. The Holy Vessels and Furniture of the Tabernacle (10th Ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publishers, 1971.

Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Vessels-Furniture-Tabernacle/dp/0825437512/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376685453&sr=1-2 

It is available online at: http://books.google.com/books?id=_b0CAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=henry+william+soltau&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Qo4OUrTECYWC8gT6zIHgDQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=henry%20william%20soltau&f=false

Back to the first volume. An aside. We anticipate that reviewing the relevant sections of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers will emphasize issues of canonical authority and inspiration, the covenant of grace, historic continuity with the patriarchs, divine holiness, divine wrath, divine justice, divine love, divine mercy, substitutionary, vicarious and penal atonement as well as underscoring the Incarnation, Cross of Christ, St. John's Gospel, and Hebrews. We will see the King, the Prophet and the Priest who became the sum and substance of the sacrifice, satisfaction and oblation for the sins of His people. Also, importantly, the inspiration and authority of the Mosaic canon.

At base, theological liberals dislike these themes, e.g. Mr. (Prof.) C.H. Dodd, an English Dissenter, who wrote very capably and accurately about these things but didn't believe them. 

 But, first, back to a brief sketch of Mr. Soldau's life and, secondly, an outline of the book's contents.

A few sketch details emerge about Mr. Soltau from the following source.

“Whose Faith Follow: William Henry Soltau.” Believer’s Magazine. Last modified September, 2005. Accessed August 16, 2013. http://www.believersmagazine.com/bm.php?i=20050910

Mr. Soltau was born July 11, 1805 in Plymouth, UK, to a prosperous merchant. His father and mother were devout Anglicans. His father sponsored the establishment of a school. Mr. Soltau was sent to tutors to prepare for Cambridge. Two companion students were the two sons of William Wilberforce, one of whom would be Samuel Wilberforce (later the Bp. of Oxford and opponent of John Henry Newman).

Mr. Soltau went to Trinity College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, he attended Mr. (Rev.) Charles Simeon's Holy Trinity Church. He completed his baccalaureate degree in 1825. He was now a "Cambridge man."

Upon completion of the BA, he went to London. He took further studies at Lincoln’s Inn. He became a barrister and took a call to the Chancery Bar. While practicing as a barrister, he began studying Hebrew and the Old Testament privately.

However, he claimed that religion to him was "duty." He stated that “faith in the merits of Christ and doing one’s duty” were “inseparably mixed.” As such, he did “what was right,” observed the “forms of religion,” gave to charities and read the Bible. Evidently or apparently, he did not apprehend, comprehend or understand justification by faith alone. At least that's how the little website above summarizes it. Clearly, he needed further instruction but either wasn't getting it or wasn't hearing it.

Shortly after his mother died in 1837, he was "converted." He encountered a Royal Navy Captain, CAPT Hull. CAPT Hull was speaking at an on 2 Kings 7 and this was the occasion of Mr. Soltau’s conversion. In the meanwhile, he was residing Exeter and had becomes a headmaster of a school. Somewhere in the "mist" here, he unnecessarily--on our view--leaves the Church of England and joins the sectarianized Plymouth Brethren.

Little more can be gleaned from brief internet searches.

This 474-page volume is structured along four parts: Memoir, Illustrations, Tabernacle, Priests, and Offerings. The book appears to be simply written.

We'll see what this "priest" (priesthood of all believers) puts forward as his "offering" from the "tabernacle" of his study.

Memoir: Little can be added beyond the above.

Illustrations:

1. Tabernacle and court
2. Israel encamped by the Waters of Elim before the journey to the Wilderness of Sin
3. Diagram of the tabernacle
4. Offerings
5. Blood and Passover applied to house posts of Israelite family
6. Table of Shewbread
7. Brazen Laver
8. Table of Shewbread partially covered
9. Golden candlestick, lamps and vessels
10. High priest in robes of glory and beauty
11. High priest on the Day of Atonement
12. Ark and Mercy Seat
13. Altar of Incense—partially covered and uncovered
14. Ark and Mercy Seat—partially covered
15. Tabernacle with its coverings rolled back
16. General view of the Tabernacle
17. Altar and Burnt Offering—partially covered
18. Altar, Burnt Offering and Brazen Altar
19. Scapegoat
20. Sin Offering

The Tabernacle:

1. Division of the tribe of Levi
2. The Vail [sic]
3. Colours
4. Ribands of Blue
5. Rent Vail
6. Pillars of Vail
7. Curtains of Tabernacle
8. Loops and Taches
9. Curtains of goats hair
10. Coverings
11. Covering of badgers’ skins
12. Door of the Tabernacle
13. Boards of bars of Tabernacle
14. Atonement money
15. Use of atonement money
16. Silver trumpets
17. Floor of Tabernacle
18. Court of Tabernacle
19. Gate of the Court
20. Pins and cords
21. Cords
22. Materials
23. Principal workmen
24. Sabbath
25. Free gifts of the Tabernacle
26. Liberal offering

Priesthood:

1. Service of the priests
2. Priests
3. Garments for glory and beauty
4. Ephod
5. Ephod girdle
6. Onyx stone, ouches, and chains
7. Breastplate
8. Sardius
9. Topaz
10. Carbuncle
11. Emerald
12. Sapphira
13. Diamond
14. Ligure
15. Agate
16. Amethyst
17. Beryl
18. Onxy
19. Jasper
20. Memorial
21. Urim and Thummim
22. Robe of ephod
23. Golden bells and pomegrates
24. Mitre
25. Golden plate
26. Embroidered coat
27. Girdle
28. Garments of Aaron’s son
29. Girdles of Aaron’s sons
30. Bonnets
31. Linen breeches
32. Rearing up Tabernacle
33. Cloud
34. Consecration of Priests
35. Anointing oil

Offerings:

1. Bullock for sin offering
2. Ram for burnt offering
3. Ram of consecration
4. Food of priests
5. Eighth day of service
6. Law of burnt offerings
7. Day of Atonement
8. Holy linen garments
9. Offerings for sin
10. Sprinkling of blood on Mercy Seat
11. Scapegoat
12. Burnt Offering

Concluding Address

We believe that reviewing the relevant sections of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers will emphasize issues of divine holiness, wrath, justice, love, and substitutionary, vicarious penal atonement. Also, it will underscore the Incarnation, Cross of Christ, St. John's Gospel, and Hebrews.

When John the Baptist breaks the silence of divine revelation and cries, "Behold the Lamb of God," every believing Jewish ear schooled in the canonical Old Testament would discern the sense of it.