Posted on 03/30/2002 7:53:37 PM PST by malakhi
| Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams |
Chapter 1 > Verse 26 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
Acts 1:26
And they gave forth their lots… Or "gave forth lots for them", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; for Joseph and Matthias; some for one, and some for another; and which were cast into a man's lap, or into a vessel, and was no other than balloting for them; and so he that had the majority upon casting them up, when taken out, was declared the person chosen; or "they cast their lots"; that is, into an urn, or vessel; which lots had the names of the two persons on them; and into another vessel, as is thought, were put two other lots; the one had the name of "apostle" upon it, and the other nothing; and these being taken out by persons appointed for that purpose, the lot with Matthias's name on it, was taken out against that which had the name of apostle on it, upon which he was declared to be the apostle: it may be that this was done in the same manner, as the goats on the day of atonement had lots cast on them, (Leviticus 16:8) which the Jews say was thus performed: there was a vessel which they call "Kalphi", set in the court, into which two lots, which were made of wood, or stone, or metal, were put; the one had written on it, for Jehovah, and on the other was written, "for the scapegoat"; the two goats being, the one at the right hand of the priest, and the other at the left; the priest shook the vessel, and with his two hands took out the two lots, and laid the lots on the two goats; the right on that which was at his right hand, and the left on that which was at his left F9; and so the goat which had the lot put upon him, on which was written, "for the Lord", was killed; and that which had the other lot, on which was written, for the scapegoat, was presented alive; so the lot here is said to fall upon Matthias: or the lots being cast into the vessel, as above related, these two drew them out themselves; and Matthias taking out that which had the word apostle on it, the lot fell on him: the manner of Moses's choosing the seventy elders, is said to be this F11:
etc.............
The Levites did not intermix. If they had, they would have been ineligible to serve as priests.And he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or one divorced, or a woman who has been defiled, or a harlot, these he shall not marry; but he shall take to wife a virgin of his own people, that he may not profane his children among his people; for I am the LORD who sanctify him." (Leviticus 21:13-15)Might it be that the Levite men did not intermarry with the other tribes, but that the Levite women were free to do so ?
If not, how did the marriage between Mary and Joseph come about ?
Do we know "a virgin of his own people" meant his own tribe?
And as for you, if you walk before me, as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, `There shall not fail you a man to rule Israel.' (2 Chronicles 7:12,16-18)
He did not walk before God as David his father. If you'll remember he had 700 wives resulting in the Kingdom being split in two. The northern kingdom and the southern kingdom.
Exactly!
As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. (Psalm 55:16)
A game of chance, in other words.
SD
All subsequent kings of Israel were of the line of David through Solomon.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men;
but I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.'"(2 Samuel 7:14-16)
This does not mean that there will always be a king in Israel (obviously). If the nation is disobedient, there will be no king or kingdom. But, this does not mean that God would put someone else on the throne other than one of Solomon's descendants. They will be "chastened", but, unlike Saul, this line will not lose the right to kingship.
Behold, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.
He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel for ever.' (1 Chronicles 22:9-11)
The author of Matthew was probably aware of this, because he does list the genealogy through Solomon:
and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah (Matthew 1:6)
Hence, Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
SD
God does not make His decisions this way, but He certainly has revealed them this way.
Projecting egalitarian democracy upon this event is just a mite bit ethno-centric.
SD
That's what it says in the Book.
SD
Let me clarify. It did happen occasionally that Levites would marry outside of the tribe. But those who did so were then ineligible for temple service. Consider this:
If a priest's daughter is married to an outsider she shall not eat of the offering of the holy things. (Leviticus 22:12)
So the possibility of such marriages is considered. They are not prohibited. But the daughter cannot then eat of the offerings.
There would have been no need to specify, otherwise. All Israelites were prohibited from intermarriage with non-Israelites.
I've already asked Quester this question and I'll ask you as well. Does "outsider" mean outside the tribe of Levi or outside the tribes of Israel?
Boaz did.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.