Exodus 25:30

shewbread This rend. is first found in Tindale's version of Hebrews 9:2 (1526), being derived by him apparently from Luther's Schaubrot(1522). Though, however, a possible paraphrase of the expression used by Jerome (see below), it does not correctly represent the expression used here, which is undoubtedly Presence-bread (RVm.), i.e. bread set out in Jehovah's presence, and designed originally as His food. The custom of presenting food on a table as an oblation to a god was widely diffused among ancient peoples: it will be sufficient to instance the lectisterniaof the Romans, the similar custom abundantly attested for Assyria, even with the use of 12 loaves (EB.iv. 4116; KAT.3 [203] 600), the tables which the idolatrous Israelites laid out for Gad, the god of fortune (Isaiah 65:11), Bar 4:30, and the story of Bel and the Dragon. The gods were supposed to require food and drink; and reverence towards them naturally took the form of supplying their needs. These were the ideas out of which no doubt the Heb. institution originated; but in the light of the higher religion of Israel the -continual bread" (Numbers 4:7) acquired, we may be sure, a higher significance, and was regarded as a standing acknowledgement on the part of (Leviticus 24:8 RVm.) the children of Israel that Jehovah was the giver of their daily bread. See further on the Presence-bread (which is here mentioned only incidentally) the notes on Leviticus 24:5-9; Kennedy in DB.iv. 495 ff., 663; Jewish Encycl.art. Showbread; Edersheim, The Temple and its ministry, p. Exo 155 f. (with quotations from the Mishna). The antiquity of the institution is attested by the familiar incident, 1 Samuel 21:4-6.

[203] Die Keilinschriften und das A T., 1903, by H. Zimmern (pp. 345 653) and H. Winckler (pp. 1 342).

The post-exilic name of the Presence-bread derived from the fact that the twelve large flat oblong cakes of which it consisted were arranged on the table in two piles (Leviticus 24:6) was Bread set out(lit. Bread of arrangement), 1 Chronicles 9:32; 1 Chronicles 23:29 al.(cf. on Exodus 40:4). This was rendered by LXX. οἱ ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως, -the loaves of setting before" (viz. before God: cf. προτίθημι, to -set before," of a meal), whence the NT. expression ὁ ἄρτος τῆς προθέσεως, Matthew 12:4 al.(for ἡ πρ. τῶν ἄρτων Hebrews 9:2, see 2 Chronicles 13:11 LXX.). Jerome's panes propositionisis simply a lit. translation of the LXX. rend.; and this, understood as -loaves of exhibition," no doubt suggested to Luther his Schaubrot, whence our shewbread.

31 40 (cf. Exodus 37:17-24). The golden candlestickor lampstand. This consisted of a central stem, resting on feet, with three branches turned upwards and outwards on each side, the stem and branches being ornamented by the gold, at suitable distances, being beaten into the shape of the calyx and corolla of the almond-flower. The whole was of pure beaten gold, a talent (96 lb.) of the metal being employed in its construction. There were seven lamps, corresponding to the central stem and the six branches, which it was the duty of the priests to take off and trim daily, and to replace in the evening (Exo Exodus 27:21; Exodus 30:8).