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three ordinances whichnow follow (vers, 18-19), the first refers to the Paschal
sacrifice (comp. Exodus 12:15,20; 13:7;34:25), and the second to the feast of first
fruits or of weeks. From this it would follow, that theprohibition to "seethe a kid in its
mother's milk" (ver. 19)must, at least primarily, have borne somereference to the
festivities of the week of tabernacles; perhaps, as the learned Rabbinicalcommentator
Abarbanel suggests, because some such practices were connected with
heathen,idolatrous rites at the time of the ingathering of fruits.
The "judgments" which the Lord enjoins upon His people are appropriately followed
by promises(23:20-33), in which, as their King and Lord, He undertakes their
guidance and protection, and theirpossession of the land He had assigned to them.
First and foremost, assurance is given them of thepersonal presence of Jehovah in that
ANGEL, in Whom is the Name of the Lord (ver. 20). This wasno common angel,
however exalted, but a manifestation of Jehovah Himself, prefigurative of,
andpreparatory to His manifestation in the flesh in the Person of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. Forall that is here said of Him is attributed to the Lord Himself in
Exodus 13:21; while in Exodus 33:14,15, He is expressly designated as "the Face" of
Jehovah ("My Face" - in the Authorized Version"My presence"). Accordingly, all
obedience is to be shown to His guidance, and every contact withidolatry and idolaters
avoided. In that case the Lord would fulfill every good and gracious promise toHis
people, and cause them to possess the land in all its extent.
Such were the terms of the covenant which Jehovah made with Israel in their national
capacity. whenthe people had ratified them by acceptance, (Exodus 24:3) Moses wrote
all down in what wascalled "the book of the covenant" (24:7). And now the covenant
itself was to be inaugurated bysacrifice, the sprinkling of blood, and the sacrificial
meal. This transaction was the most important inthe whole history of Israel. By this
one sacrifice, never renewed, Israel was formally set apart as thepeople of God; and it
lay at the foundation of all the sacrificial worship which followed. Only after itdid
God institute the Tabernacle, the priesthood, and all its services. Thus this one
sacrificeprefigured the one sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ for His Church, which is
the ground of ouraccess to God and the foundation of all our worship and service.
Most significantly, an altar wasnow built at the foot of Mount Sinai, and surrounded
by twelve pillars, "according to the twelvetribes of Israel" Ministering youths - for as
yet there was no priesthood - offered the burnt, andsacrificed the peace offerings unto
Jehovah. Half of the blood of the sacrifices was put into basins,with the other half the
altar was sprinkled, thus making reconciliation with God. Then the terms of
thecovenant were once more read in the hearing of all, and the other half of the blood,
by whichreconciliation had been made, sprinkled on the people with these words:
"Behold the blood of thecovenant which Jehovah hath made with you upon all these
words (or terms)."
(^)