_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ The expiation of an uncertain murder, Deuteronomy 21:1. The usage of a captive taken to wife, Deuteronomy 21:10. The firstborn not to be disinherited, Deuteronomy 21:15. A stubborn son to be put to death, Deuteronomy 21:18. Bodies of malefactors to be buried, Deuteronomy 21:... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lying in the field_ Or, in the city, or any place: only the field is named as the place where such murders are most commonly committed. _Thy elders and judges_ Those of thy elders who are judges: the judges or rulers of all the neighbouring cities. _Measure_ Unless it be evident which city is neare... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto a rough valley_ The Hebrew word נחל, _nachal_, here used, signifies either a valley or a torrent; and most probably is here meant of a valley with a brook running through it. For (Deu 21:6) the elders are required to wash their hands over the heifer, which seems to intimate that there was runn... [ Continue Reading ]
_By their word shall every controversy be tried_ That is, every one of this kind, every one that shall arise about any stroke, whether such a mortal stroke as is here spoken of, or any other, or wound given by one man to another. In these matters they shall give sentence, being consulted by the elde... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall answer_ To the priests who shall examine them. _This blood_ This about which the present inquiry is made; or this which is here present: for it is thought the corpse of the slain man was brought into the same place where the heifer was slain. Nor have we seen or understood how or by whom... [ Continue Reading ]
_So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood_ Till this was done, the guilt was to be looked upon as national; but upon this being solemnly performed, the government was deemed to have done its duty, and the nation cleared of all guilt in this matter. No doubt the chief end of the appointment... [ Continue Reading ]
_And hast a desire unto her_ Moses here returning to the case of war with the neighbouring nations, directs that, if a Hebrew soldier conceived a peculiar regard for a captive woman, and desired to marry her, he must not do it immediately after she became his prisoner, it being of dangerous conseque... [ Continue Reading ]
_She shall shave her head_ This was one of the external signs of mourning, Leviticus 19:27; Leviticus 21:5. _Shall pare her nails_ This also seems to have been done in mourning. In the original it is, _Shall make her nails_, which may be understood of letting her nails grow, which to us seems more s... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou have no delight in her_ The sense may either be, 1st, If, after he had afflicted her, by making her shave her head, change her garments, &c., and keeping her a full month in hope of marriage, he should change his mind and refuse to marry her: or, 2d, If, after he had married her, and she ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_If a man have two wives_ This practice, though tolerated, is not hereby made lawful; but only provision is made for the children in that case. _Hated_ Comparatively, that is, less loved.... [ Continue Reading ]
_His father and mother_ The consent of both is required, to prevent the abuse of this law to cruelty. And it cannot reasonably be supposed that both would agree without the son's abominable and incorrigible wickedness, in which case it seems a righteous law, because the crime of rebellion against hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_A glutton and a drunkard_ Under which two offences others of a like or worse nature are comprehended.... [ Continue Reading ]
_On a tree_ Which was done after the malefactor was put to death some other way; this public shame being added to his former punishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He is accursed of God_ He is in a singular manner cursed and punished by God's appointment with a most shameful kind of punishment, as this was held among the Jews and all nations; and therefore this punishment may suffice for him, and there shall not be added to it that of lying unburied. And this... [ Continue Reading ]