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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Deuteronomy 5

Deuteronomy 5:1

_All Israel: not one was wanting, chap. xxix. 10. God enabled all to hear the words of their lawgiver, (Menochius) by an evident miracle. (Jansenius) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:3

_Fathers, the ancient patriarchs, who were not favoured in such a signal manner. (Menochius) --- Though many of those who had heard the words of God at Horeb, were dead, and had not enjoyed the full benefit of the covenant, some still remained, and the children of the deceased were about to enter th... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:4

_To us. Hebrew and Septuagint, "to you." --- Face to face, in such a manner that no doubt could be entertained of his presence. (St. Augustine) --- God addressed the decalogue to all the people, who saw no similitude. But to Moses he delivered the rest of his ordinances, with as much familiarity and... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:5

_Mediator. St. Paul acknowledges this title of Moses, (Galatians iii. 9,) who was a figure of Jesus Christ, the mediator of the New Testament, Hebrews viii. 6., ix. 15., and xii. 24. (Calmet) --- Let not Protestants, therefore, reject this title with so much indignation, when it is applied in the li... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:7

_Sight. Chaldean, "Thou shalt not have any other god but me." Elohim often designates the true God. (Calmet) --- See the decalogue explained, (Exodus xx.,) where we have observed, that pictures are only forbidden when they are the objects of sovereign worship, as the context here plainly shews, ver.... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:9

_Serve. We must neither treat idols, nor their images, with the honour due to God alone. (St. Augustine, q. 61, in Gen.) --- If we do, he will punish our infidelity. --- Generation, for a long time, or as long as the remembrance of the parents' wickedness subsists, so as to have an influence upon ot... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:15

_Therefore. This is another reason why the Jews were to observe the sabbath with particular rigour. The institution of a day of rest every week, (Haydock) was intended to preserve the memory of the creation. (Calmet) --- God also requires that his people should be grateful on this day for the rest w... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:21

_His. Here the Samaritan copy inserts the order for erecting an altar upon Mount Garizim, which we have given, Exodus xx. 27. It occurs below, chap. xxviii. 2., &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:22

_More to the people: the other precepts were communicated to Moses. The Chaldean and others give a contrary turn to the Hebrew, "and he ceased not" ever since to instruct us. (Calmet) --- Moses gives the sense, not the very words of the decalogue, in which he is not guilty of any lie. (St. Augustine... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:25

_Die. Past experience did not entirely remove from them the fear which was so generally entertained, that the sight of the heavenly beings would prove destructive. So Daniel (chap. x. 17) said on a similar occasion, my breath is stopped. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:29

_A mind. God speaks like men, and insinuates how agreeable to him is a disposition influenced by a salutary fear. He does not mean that He cannot convert the heart of man. (Estius) --- God exerts his power over our will by persuasive invitations. (Maimonides)_... [ Continue Reading ]

Deuteronomy 5:32

_Left: a proverbial expression, to signify that no sort of transgression is to be allowed. (Menochius) --- It is of the same import as, You shall not add, &c., chap. iv. 2. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]

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