time, as" And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled (va-yimleu)" (Gen. XXV. 24):" And forty days were completed (va-yimleu) for him" (Gen. 1. It further denotes attainment of the highest degree of excellency, as Full (male) with the blessing of the Lord" (Dent. xxxiii. 23)
Them hath he filled (mille) with wisdom of heart" (Exod. xxxv. 35) He was filled (va-yimmale) with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning" (I Kings vii. 14). In this sense it is said" The whole earth is full (melo) of his glory" (Isa. vi. 4)," All the earth gives evidence of his perfection," i.e. leads to a knowledge of it. Thus also" The glory of the Lord filled (male) the tabernacle" (Exod. xl. 34): and, in fact, every application of the word to God must be interpreted in this manner; and not that He has a body occupying space. If, on the other hand, you prefer to think that in this passage by" the glory of the Lord," a certain light created for the purpose is to be understood, that such light is always termed" glory," and that such light" filled the tabernacle," we have no objection.
CHAPTER XX
THE word ram (high) is a homonym, denoting elevation in space, and elevation in dignity, i.e., greatness, honour, and power. It has the first meaning in" And the ark was lifted up (va-tarom) above the earth" (Gen. vii. 17): and the latter meaning in" I have exalted (harimoti) one chosen out of the people" (Ps. lxxxix. 20;" Forasmuch as I have exalted (harimoti) thee from amongst the dust" (I Kings xvi. 2):" Forasmuch as I exalted (harimott) thee from among the people" (I Kings xiv. 7).
Whenever this term is employed in reference to God, it must be taken in the second sense:" Be thou exalted (rumah), 0 God, above the heavens" (Ps. lvii.12). In the same manner does the root nasa (to Eft up) denote both elevation in space and elevation in rank and dignity. In the former sense it occurs in And they lifted up (va-yisseu) their corn upon their asses" (Gen. xlii. 26) and there are many instances like this in which this verb has the meaning to carry,"" to move" from place to place: for this implies elevation in space. In the second sense we have" And his kingdom shall be exalted" (ve-tinnase) (Num. xxiv. 7):" And he bare them, and carried them" (va-yenasseem) (Isa. Ixiii. 9):" Wherefore do ye exalt yourselves" (titnasseu) (Num. xvi. 3).
Every form of this verb when applied to God has this latter sense -- e.g.," Lift up thyself (hinnase), thou judge of the earth" (PS. XCiV. 2):" Thus saith the High (ram) and Exalted (nisia) One" (Isa. Ivii. 15) -- denoting elevation in rank, quality, and power, and not elevation in space.
You may be surprised that I employ the expression," elevation in rank, quality, and power," and you may say," How can you assert that several distinct expressions denote the same thing?" It will be explained later on (chap. 1. seqq.) that those who possess a true knowledge of God do not consider that He possesses many attributes, but believe that these various attributes which describe His Might, Greatness, Power, Perfection, Goodness, etc., are identical, denoting His Essence, and not anything extraneous to His Essence. 1 shall devote special chapters to the Names and Attributes of
