2._If there be found among you. _The same punishment is here decreed against idolaters, to which apostates had been before condemned; and thus either transgression is declared a capital crime. Hence we gather that it is accounted before God no less weighty a sin to violate His worship by gross and i... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Then three shalt inquire _(307) _diligently. _Although this moderation here refers only to the present matter, yet should it always be maintained in judicial proceedings, lest innocent persons should be treated with undue severity. Again, we must remember what I have said elsewhere, that judges a... [ Continue Reading ]
As His severity in exacting punishment, where murder has been unquestionably committed, shows how highly God rates the life of men, so the qualification, which we find here, declares, that he takes equal care for the preservation of innocent blood. For, since too great credulity would often impel th... [ Continue Reading ]
7._The hands of the witnesses shall be first. _It was not without reason that God would have criminals put to death by the hand of those by whose testimony they were condemned. The ancient people did not employ public executioners, that there might be more solemnity, modesty, and reverence in the in... [ Continue Reading ]
8_If there arise a matter too hard for thee. _The principal office of the priests is here described under a single head, viz., that they should declare what was right in doubtful and obscure matters out of the Law of God; for although God seems only to refer to civil controversies, yet there is no d... [ Continue Reading ]
He pronounces a similar punishment on those who shall have contumaciously rejected the judgment of the priests. We have already seen that the prophetical office was united with the priesthood; since, according to Malachi 2:4, the covenant of God was with Levi, that his descendants might be the guard... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And all the people. _He shews from the object of the enactment why the proud despisers (of the priests) were not to be spared; for punishments have reference to common example, whilst, on the other hand, impunity is a bait to sin, and the nurse of unbridled licentiousness. And, assuredly, when H... [ Continue Reading ]
14._When thou art come unto the land. _In this passage God sets forth the merits of that sacerdotal kingdom, of which mention is made elsewhere; for, since the splendor of the royal name might dazzle their eyes, so that they should forget that God retained the sovereignty over them, they are thus ea... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee. _First of all, God maintains His own supremacy in the appointment of a king, and does not consign the matter to the people’s own suffrages; that thus He may chastise their audacity in demanding a king in accordance with a hasty impulse. Secondly, He... [ Continue Reading ]
16_But he shall not multiply horses. _The royal power is here circumscribed within certain limits, lest it should exalt itself too much in reliance on the glory of its dignity, (70) For we know how insatiable are the desires of kings, inasmuch as they imagine that all things are lawful to them. Ther... [ Continue Reading ]
17_Neither shall he multiply wives to himself. _Polygamy at that time had generally prevailed, so that the very humblest of the people violated the marriage vow with impunity; and therefore it was necessary that the kings should be bound with closer restrictions, lest by their example they should gi... [ Continue Reading ]
18._And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne. _It would not be enough to correct their errors unless kings were also instructed in the fear of God, and properly taught their duty; now, therefore, a system of discipline is added, whereby it was profitable for them to be grounded in the study... [ Continue Reading ]