_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ Rules concerning priests and Levites, Deuteronomy 18:1. Cautions against witchcraft, Deuteronomy 18:9. A promise of Christ, Deuteronomy 18:15. The punishment and mark of a false prophet, Deuteronomy 18:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_His inheritance_ The Lord's portion or inheritance, which God had reserved to himself, as tithes and first-fruits, and other oblations distinct from those which were made by fire.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The maw_ The Hebrew word here rendered _maw_, or _stomach_, may have another signification; and some render it the _breast;_ others take it for the part which lies under the breast.... [ Continue Reading ]
_With all the desire of his mind_ With full purpose to fix his abode, and to spend his whole time and strength in the service of God. It seems, the several priests were to come from their cities to the temple by turns, before David's time; and it is certain they did so after it. But if any of them w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Like portions_ With their brethren, who were in actual ministration: as they share with them in the work, so shall they in the encouragements. _Besides that which cometh_ The reason of this law was, because he that waited on the altar, ought to live by the altar; and because it was fit he should ke... [ Continue Reading ]
_That maketh his son or daughter pass through the fire_ By a superstitious dedicating, or a cruel sacrificing of them, see on Leviticus 18:21. _That useth divination_ Of which there were many sorts, as is implied in the original expressions here: קסם קסמים, _kosem kesamim_, divining divinations, or... [ Continue Reading ]
_Or a charmer_ One that charmeth serpents or other creatures. Or rather, as the Hebrew חבר חבר, _chober chaber_, seems to mean, _an astrologer_, or such as, by the conjunction of the planets, pretended to foretel the events of men's lives, or other future things. It must be observed that the eastern... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God_ Sincerely and wholly his, seeking him and cleaving to him, and to his word alone, and therefore abhorring all commerce and conversations with devils. _Hath not suffered thee so to do_ Hath not suffered thee to follow these superstitious and diabolical pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Will raise up_ Will produce and send into the world in due time. _A Prophet of thy brethren, like unto me_ These words are very remarkable, and deserve our very particular attention. Moses was now about to leave his people, and therefore informs them, for their comfort, that God would raise them up... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the thing follow not_ Which he gives as a sign of the truth of his prophecy. _That is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken_ The falsehood of his prediction shows him to be a false prophet. _He hath spoken it presumptuously_ Impudently ascribing his own vain and lying fancies to the God of tr... [ Continue Reading ]