_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ Who are to be excluded the congregation of rulers, Deuteronomy 23:1. An Edomite and an Egyptian not to be abhorred, Deuteronomy 23:7; Deuteronomy 23:8. No uncleanness to be in the camp, Deuteronomy 23:9. Of servants escaped from their masters, Deuteronomy 23:15; Deuteronomy... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is wounded_ It is generally agreed that Moses is here speaking of eunuchs. _Shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord_ The meaning is, not that they should be debarred from the public worship of the true God, as the phrase sometimes signifies, for that privilege was granted to all n... [ Continue Reading ]
_An Ammonite or a Moabite_ The Jews will have it, that the women of these two nations were not concerned in this law. And that though an Israelitish woman might not marry an Ammonite or Moabite, yet a man of Israel might marry one of their women, after she professed the Jewish religion. _For ever_ T... [ Continue Reading ]
_They met you not with bread and water_ That is, meat and drink; as the manner of those times and countries was, with respect to strangers and travellers, which was the more necessary because there were no public-houses of entertainment. Their fault, then, was unmercifulness to strangers and afflict... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not seek their peace_ That is, make no contracts, either by marriages, or leagues, or commerce with them; but rather constantly keep a jealous eye over them, as enemies who will watch every opportunity to insnare or disturb thee. This counsel was now the more necessary, because a great p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou wast a stranger_ And didst receive habitation, protection, and provision from them a long time, which kindness thou must not forget for their following persecution. It is ordinary with men that one injury blots out the remembrance of twenty favours. But God doth not deal so with us, nor will h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Keep from every wicked thing_ Then especially take heed, because that is a time of confusion and licentiousness; when the laws of God and man cannot be heard for the noise of arms; because the success of thy arms depends upon God's blessing, which wicked men have no reason to expect; and because th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cover_ To prevent the annoyance of ourselves or others; to preserve and exercise modesty; and principally that by such outward rites they might be inured to the greater reverence of the Divine Majesty, and the greater caution to avoid all real and moral uncleanness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The servant which is escaped from his master_ It seems, from the connection, that this has a particular relation to times of war, when heathen soldiers or servants might desert and come over to the Israelites with intent to turn proselytes to the true religion. In which case, they were neither to s... [ Continue Reading ]
_There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel_ No common prostitute, such as were tolerated and encouraged by the Gentiles, and used even in their religious worship. Not that such practices were allowed to the strangers among them, as is evident from many passages of Scripture and reason; but... [ Continue Reading ]
_The hire of a whore_ It was a custom among the idolatrous nations for prostitutes to dedicate to the honour of their false gods some part of what they had earned by prostitution. In opposition to which abominable practice this law is thought to have been instituted. _Or the price of a dog_ It is no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother_ To an Israelite. They held their estates immediately from God, who, while he distinguished them from all other people, might have ordered, had he pleased, that they should have all things in common. But instead of that, and in token of their joint inte... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 23:21 ; DEUTERONOMY 23:23. _Not slack_ Not delay; because delays might make them both unable to pay it, and unwilling too. _A free-will-offering_ Which, though thou didst freely make, yet, being made, thou art no longer free, but obliged to perform it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_At thy pleasure_ Which was allowed in those parts, because of the great plenty and fruitfulness of vines there.... [ Continue Reading ]