1._Thou shalt not receive _(margin) _a false report_. It might also be translated, Thou shalt not _raise_, or _stir up_: and, if this be preferred, God forbids us to invent calumnies; but, if we read, Thou shalt not receive, He will go further, _i e_. , that none should cherish, or confirm the lie o... [ Continue Reading ]
Exodus 23:4._If thou meet thine enemy’s ox_. From these two passages it is very clear that he who abstains from evil doing, is not therefore guiltless before God, unless he also studies to do good. For our brethren’s advantage ought to be so far our care, that we should be disposed mutually to aid e... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor_. Since laws are enacted to repress the vices which are of frequent occurrence, no wonder that God should put forward the case of the poor, to whom it often happens that they fail though their causes are good, both because they are without interest an... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Keep thee far from a false matter_. Since he seems to speak of perjury, which brings about the death of the innocent, some might perhaps prefer that this passage should be annexed to the Sixth Commandment; but this is easily solved; for Moses is expressly condemning false-witness, and at the same... [ Continue Reading ]
Exodus 23:8_And thou shalt take no gift_. This kind of theft is the worst of all, when judges are corrupted either by bribes, or by affection, and thus ruin the fortunes which they ought to protect: for, since their tribunal is as it were sacred asylum, to which those who are unjustly oppressed may... [ Continue Reading ]
10._And six years shalt thou sow. _Another Sabbatical institution (_Sabbathismus_) follows, viz., that of years, in reference to the cultivation of the land; for as men and cattle rested on every seventh day, so God prescribed that the earth should rest on the seventh year. According to the fertilit... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Six days thou shalt do thy work. _In this passage the incidental use of the Sabbath is again referred to, although it is no inherent part of its original institution, viz., that by its means the family also and the cattle shall be benefited. There is no impropriety in reckoning this amongst the... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Make no mention of the name of other gods. _There is no sort of doubt but that this declaration should be connected with the Third Commandment. Moses explains that God’s name is taken in vain and abused, if men swear by other gods; for it is not lawful to refer the judgment of things unknown to... [ Continue Reading ]
Exodus 23:14._Three times shalt thou keep a feast. _It is strange that Moses, who elsewhere enumerates several feast-days, should here only command them to appear in God’s presence thrice a year. Where then is the feast of trumpets and the day of atonement? for undoubtedly all were to be celebrated... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Thou shalt not seethe a kid. _The threefold repetition of the command reminds us that a serious matter is spoken of, whereas it would be a light and almost frivolous one, if, as some suppose, it is merely the prohibition of a somewhat unwholesome food. But the Jews, not considering its intent, a... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Behold, I send an Angel before thee. _God here reminds the Israelites that their wellbeing is so connected with the keeping of the Law, that, by neglecting it, they would sorely suffer. For He says that He will be their leader by the hand of an angel, which was a token of His fatherly love for t... [ Continue Reading ]
22._But if thou shalt indeed obey. _He moderates the terror with which He had inspired them for two reasons, — _first, _that He may rather gently attract them than force them by the fear of punishment; _secondly, _lest, if they imagine that the Angel is formidable to them, the anxiety conceived in t... [ Continue Reading ]
Exodus 23:24._Thou shalt utterly overthrow them. _I allow indeed that these supplements would partly agree with, and be applicable to, the First Commandment; but since express mention is everywhere made in them of idols, this place seems to be better suited to them. After Moses has taught what was n... [ Continue Reading ]
25._And ye shall serve the Lord your God. _It is true that this promise is very similar to others, to which I have assigned a peculiar place, but it has this difference, that, in inviting the people to be zealous in keeping the Law, it sets before their eyes the effect of the covenant already made w... [ Continue Reading ]
27._I will send my fear before thee. _It is very clear from these words that God’s fatherly love towards the people is magnified, to prepare their minds to submit themselves to the yoke of the Law. Therefore their reward, if they should keep the Law, is not so much set before them here, as shame is... [ Continue Reading ]
28._And I will send hornets. _Although that secret terror, of which He had made mention, would be sufficient to put their enemies to flight, He states that there would also be other ready means, to rout them without any danger, or much difficulty to His people. Yet He does not threaten to send great... [ Continue Reading ]
31._And I will set thy bounds. _There is no question that He confirms here the covenant which he had made with Abraham in somewhat different words. More briefly had it been said to Abraham, “Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” (G... [ Continue Reading ]