Deuteronomy 27:1
_Ancients, particularly the priests, ver. 9. (Haydock) --- These exhorted the people to observe diligently, what they had all heard from the mouth of Moses, chap. v. i. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ancients, particularly the priests, ver. 9. (Haydock) --- These exhorted the people to observe diligently, what they had all heard from the mouth of Moses, chap. v. i. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Stones. The Latin translation of the Samaritan copy, defines the number to be two, (Exodus xx. 18,) and shews that the law, which was to be written upon them, was no other than the decalogue, to which the curses and blessings here recorded have a direct reference. When no number is specified, the du... [ Continue Reading ]
_That, &c. Hebrew and Septuagint, "And thou shalt write upon them (stones) all the words of," &c. (Haydock) --- This law, the decalogue, (Masius in Josue viii. 32,) or all the laws of Moses, leaving out the historical parts of his work, or the 20th and three following Chapter s of Exodus, or the dis... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebal. It affords a matter of surprise to Ludolf, that this barren mountain of cursing, (ver. 13,) should be fixed upon by God for the erection of his altar and for solemn feasting, instead of Garizim, which is most luxuriant. Reland believes that their very names designate sterility and fruitfulnes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stones: the same as those which composed the monument, (Calmet) or rather different from them, (Menochius) as those were polished, ver. 2._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Polished. Hebrew simply, "of whole stones."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And clearly. Hebrew, "very plainly;" (Haydock) so that they might be easily read. Some Rabbins say that Josue wrote them in 70 different languages, that all nations might read them. Happy expedient! (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Garizim. The children of Jacob, by Lia and Rachel, have the more honourable function of blessing, while those of the handmaids, with Ruben and Zabulon, the first and the sons of Lia, at their head, on Hebal, have to answer to the various curses which were to be proclaimed by the priests and Levites,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pronounce. Hebrew, "answer," as the older Protestant editions, 1540, &c., had it; though "our last translators, 1613, says Kennicott, in this, as in several other instances, altered for the worse," shall speak. A select company of Levites in the valley repeated what had been declared from Hebal._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thing. Protestant, any....image. They insert the word any, and translate image, as they almost constantly do where idols are meant, to make the ignorant believe, that all images are to be rejected with the utmost abhorrence, as cursed things. Why then do they not observe the injunction themselves?... [ Continue Reading ]
Honoureth not. Hebrew, "curseth." Septuagint, "despiseth." See Leviticus xx. 9. --- "Exodus xxi. 17., Moses proclaimed, He that curseth his father or (Hebrew and) mother, shall die the death. " But here he goes still farther and denounces a curse on those who make light of (Hebrew makle, vilipendit)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Landmarks, contrary to the prohibition, chap. xix. 14. The Rabbins say that Cain first adopted such distinctions. The ancient Greeks placed little pillars at the end of their fields, with the name of the owner engraven upon them. (Pollux, iii. 9.) --- All Thrace was divided in this manner. (Xenopho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blind; or, according to the Rabbins and Grotius, those who are on a journey, and do not know the road. "Cursed, said Diphilis, is the man who does not tell the right road." Those who lead the simple astray, are no less blameable, Leviticus xix. 14. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXVII.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mother. Some copies of the Septuagint have "daughter-in-law;" and some Latin manuscripts add, "Cursed is he who sleepeth with his neighbour's wife; and all the people shall say, Amen." (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Secretly, as is commonly the case; though such as committed murder in public were equally if not more guilty. (Haydock) --- Assassins, traitors, and those guilty of calumny, &c., are to be abhorred._... [ Continue Reading ]
In the. The Samaritan, Septuagint, and St. Paul (Galatians iii. 10) read, in all the words, &c., which must probably be understood of the principal points of the law, specified in the preceding verses. (Calmet) See ver. 4. --- The Jews could derive no advantage from the omission of the word all, as... [ Continue Reading ]