EXODUS CHAPTER 20 The object of man's worship, EXODUS 20:1,2. The decalogue, EXODUS 20:3. The people fear, EXODUS 20:18. They desire Moses to speak to them, and not God, EXODUS 20:19. Moses encourages them, EXODUS 20:20. Moses drawing near the darkness, God speaks to him, EXODUS 20:21,22. God's char... [ Continue Reading ]
The only true God, and THY GOD by special title, having entered into covenant with thee, and chosen thee for my peculiar people, to protect, and rule, and bless thee above all others. God's authority and right over them is fitly put in the front, as the foundation of all God's commands, and their du... [ Continue Reading ]
Heb. THERE SHALL NOT BE TO THEE ANOTHER GOD, OR OTHER GODS, to wit, idols, which others have, esteem, and worship as gods, and therefore Scripture so calls them by way of supposition, DEUTERONOMY 32:21 1 SAMUEL 12:21 1 CORINTHIANS 8:4,5; but thou shalt not have them in any such reputation or venerat... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT MAKE, either in thy mind, or with thy hand, ACTS 17:29, or by thy command. UNTO THEE, i.e. for thy use, or for thee to worship; for otherwise they were not absolutely forbidden to make any images, but only to make them for worship, as may appear by comparing this place with LEVITICUS... [ Continue Reading ]
Not only inward reverence is forbidden, but also all outward gestures that naturally or customarily express reverence, whether _bowing down_ the body, as here; or _bending the knee_, as 1 KINGS 19:18; or kissing the idol, or one's hand towards it, as JOB 31:27 HOSEA 13:2; one gesture being by a syne... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THOUSANDS, to wit, of their generations, i.e. for ever; whereas his punishment extended only to three or four of them: so far is God's mercy exalted above his justice. Compare PSALMS 103:17. THEM THAT LOVE ME, AND KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS: this conjunction is very observable, both against those tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, _not carry_, or _not take_, or lift up, to wit, in or into thy mouth, as the phrase is more fully expressed, Job 4:2; Psalms 16:4, Psalms 50:16. So men are said to _take up a proverb_, or a lamentation, Isaiah 14:4 Ezekiel 26:17. _The name of the Lord_; not only the proper name of the Lord, but... [ Continue Reading ]
This word REMEMBER is here very emphatical; and, 1. It reminds us of a former delivery of the substance of this command, to wit, GENESIS 2:3. 2. It insinuates the great necessity of consideration and preparation for the sabbath before it comes, 3. It shows the singular importance of this command,... [ Continue Reading ]
This may be either, 1. A command to employ those days in our worldly occasions, yet so as God and religion be not neglected on those days, as many scriptures teach us. Or, 2. A permission to do so; which I prefer, 1. Because so it is a proper argument to enforce the observation of the sabbath: q.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SABBATH OF THE LORD, or, _to the Lord_, i.e. consecrated to his use, honour, and service. Hence God calls them _my sabbaths_, LEVITICUS 26:2 ISAIAH 56:4, because they are _commended_ by his example, and enjoined by his command. _Any work_;, i.e. any servile, laborious, common, or worldly work, t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SIX DAYS, and neither in more nor less time, as he could have done. RESTED, i.e. ceased from his creating works; otherwise he worketh still _\1 THESSALONIANS 5:17\_ by his providence and grace; and neither is idle nor weary, ISAIAH 40:28; but this rest is ascribed to him for our admonition and im... [ Continue Reading ]
The word _honour_ doth not only note the reverence, love, and obedience we owe them, but also support and maintenance, as appears from MATTHEW 15:4, and from the like signification of that word, 1 TIMOTHY 5:3,17, which is so natural and necessary a duty, that the Jews say a man is bound even to beg,... [ Continue Reading ]
To wit any man or woman, without authority, and without just cause; which exception must necessarily be understood, because many other scriptures command the magistrate to kill great offenders. And this prohibition being delivered by God, who made, and searcheth, and commands men's hearts, must be e... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is mentioned one kind of uncleanness, as being eminently sinful, and unjust, and pernicious to human society. But under this are comprehended and forbidden all other kinds of filthiness, as bestiality, sodomy, whoredom, fornication, &c., and all means, occasions, and appearances of them; as it... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Either by deceit or violence, or without his knowledge and consent, take away another man's goods, EPHESIANS 4:28; but, on the contrary, shalt preserve and increase them, as need requires, and occasion is offered.... [ Continue Reading ]
Heb. _not answer_, viz. when thou art asked in judgment, LEVITICUS 5:1, LEVITICUS 19:16; or, not speak a false testimony, or as a false witness; which doth not only forbid perjury in judgment, but also all unjust censure, slander, backbiting, scorning, false accusation, and the like; and also requir... [ Continue Reading ]
The _coveting_ here forbidden is either, 1. The inward and deliberate purpose and desire of a deceitful or violent taking away of another man's goods; but this is forbidden in the eighth commandment. And it is hard to conceive that St. Paul should think that this command did not forbid such a practi... [ Continue Reading ]
SAW THE THUNDERINGS, i.e. heard them. One sense is oft put for another, as _seeing_, GENESIS 42:1, for _hearing_, ACTS 7:12. THEY REMOVED from the bottom of the mountain, where it seems they stood.... [ Continue Reading ]
This they speak from a sense of their own guilt, and of the greatness and holiness of the Divine Majesty, to whom they durst not approach but by a mediator. See DEUTERONOMY 5:27, DEUTERONOMY 18:16 GALATIANS 3:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ To prove you, or try, or search you_, whether you are innocent, and such as delight in my presence; or conscious of your guilt, and therefore afraid of my appearance; whether you have such a righteousness as can abide the trial of a severe Judge; or whether you are such as have cause to fear my wr... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE SEEN, i.e. heard, as EXODUS 20:18. He may use the word _seen_ here, to intimate that this was all they could see of God, to wit, his voice and speech, and that they saw no image of him, as is expressed in a parallel place, and therefore should make no resemblances of him, as it here follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ME, i.e. to worship together with me; I will allow _no companion_; or, _to me_, as it follows, _unto you_; and EXODUS 20:24, unto me; and the particle _eth_ is sometimes used for _el_, or _lamed_, as 1 SAMUEL 22:14 2 KINGS 22:14; or, _for me_, either to represent my person, by comparing this wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ALTAR THOU SHALT MAKE for thy present use, or whilst thou art in the wilderness: this he commanded, partly, that they might easily and readily erect an altar upon all occasions, which it might be hard for them to do there of better materials; partly, to mind them how much more God regarded the in... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ALTAR OF STONE in those rocky parts might be as easy for them to make as one of earth. _Hewn stone_ would require both time, and cost, and art. The reasons of this precept are in part the same with the former, EXODUS 20:24. IF THOU LIFT UP THY TOOL UPON IT, THOU HAST POLLUTED IT, by thy disobedie... [ Continue Reading ]
He seems to mean the steps of ladders, or others of the same nature, which could suddenly be made, and were proper for their present condition, where there was danger of the following inconvenience. For afterwards God appointed an altar ten cubits high, 2 CHRONICLES 4:1; though some conceive they we... [ Continue Reading ]