John Calvin Commentary Numbers 7:89

"And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spake unto him." — Numbers 7:89 (ASV)

And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle, there seems at first sight to be a kind of contradiction between this passage and the other, in which we saw that a thick cloud stood in the door of the tabernacle, so that Moses could not enter it.

It might, indeed, be answered that this only occurred once; but to me it appears more probable that Moses sought the replies of God at the mercy-seat until Aaron began to exercise the priesthood, and then abandoned his dignity, which was only temporary, regarding his entering the sanctuary. For we know that by the established Law of God the priesthood was distinct from the civil government; and therefore that he could not, except by special privilege, be at the same time the leader and the priest.⁴⁰⁴

If this exposition be accepted, he does not here record in its proper place that answers were given to him by God from the mercy-seat, since it is by no means unusual that what has preceded in order of time should be annexed at the end of a narrative. His intention, indeed, was to declare to posterity that God had not promised in vain that the Israelites should experience the presence of His favor; because He had chosen His dwelling-place in the sanctuary, to sit between the cherubim.

By this testimony, therefore, of God’s grace, the external anointing was ratified and confirmed, inasmuch as God appeared to Moses upon the Ark of the Covenant.

⁴⁰⁴ This sentence is omitted in Fr.