150 The Fundamentals duction we take up the subject; merely premising further, that this article was originally prepared as a booklet, i n which shape i t contained a considerable amount of matter not appearing here. THE DISCUSSION One peculiarity of the hjgher criticism is what may be called its unbounded audacity in attacking and attempting to destroy many of the most solidly established facts of the Bible. No matter with what amount of evidence any partic ular Scripture fact may be capable of demonstration, if it happens to oppose any of the more fundamental notions of the critical hypothesis, away it must go as unworthy of accept ance by so-called "science," or at all events, the entire array of critical doubts and imaginings is brought to bear, in order to cast suspicion upon it, or to get rid of it in some way. I. THE BIBLE SIDE OF THE QUESTION A striking illustration of such procedure is furnished by the peculiar treatment accorded by the critics to that old relig ious structure which, being built by Moses near Mt. Sinai, is usually named the Tabernacle, or the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. That such a structure not only existed, but was for some five hundred years a very conspicuous object in ancient Israelitish history, is a fact to which the Bible itself lends no small amount of evidence. For example, there are found in the book of Exodus alone some thirteen chapters devoted to a minute description of the plan and construction of that building. Then, as explanatory of the Tabernacle's services, its dedication, means of transportation, the work of the priests and Levites to some extent, and various other mat ters connected with the structure, the entire book of Leviticus with some ten chapters in Numbers may be cited. Besides, scattered all through both the Old and New Testaments there are many allusions and notices-some of them merely inci dental, but others more historical in nature-all of which go toward establishing the Tabernacle's historicity. And finaJly-
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker