_CONCERNING THE EXPIATION OF AN UNCERTAIN MURDER: MARRIAGES WITH CAPTIVES: THE RIGHTS OF THE FIRST-BORN: THE PUNISHMENT OF THOSE WHO REBEL AGAINST THEIR PARENTS; AND THE BURIAL OF CRIMINALS._ _Before Christ 1451._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 2. _THY ELDERS AND THY JUDGES_— i.e. Of the neighbouring cities. See Numbers 11:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 3. _SHALL TAKE AN HEIFER_— If two cities happened to be equidistant from the dead body, then they joined together to provide this heifer, which might be of three years old.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 4. _UNTO A ROUGH VALLEY,_ &C.— _Unto a watered valley._ Schult, p. 248. The heifer was to be brought into an uncultivated ground, (probably with a brook running through it, as _the elders_ are required to _wash their hands over the heifer,_ ver. 6.) as some say, to represent the horridness of... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 6. _SHALL WASH THEIR HANDS_— In testimony of their innocence. See the following verses, Psalms 26:6 and Matthew 27:24. It is supposed by many, that the words in the next verses are spoken by the priests: there seems as much reason to believe that they were spoken by the elders. A learned Jewi... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 9. _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 solemn performance the government was deemed to have discharged its duty, and the nation was cleared of all guilt in the matter. This law, we see, made provi... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 11. _AND SEEST AMONG THE CAPTIVES A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN_— The Jewish rabbis have many of them supposed, licentiously enough, that criminal familiarities were first allowed with these women. But Schickard and Grotius have, with great learning, endeavoured, to disprove this opinion; the latter of w... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 12. _SHE SHALL SHAVE HER HEAD, AND PARE HER NAILS_— _Shaving the head_ was one of the external signs of mourning. See Leviticus 19:27; Leviticus 21:15. St. Jerome, and others, however, understand this shaving as a species of purification, and an abjuration of paganism. _Paring the nails_ seem... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 13. _AND SHE SHALL PUT THE RAIMENT OF HER CAPTIVITY FROM OFF HER_— The French renders this more clearly: _and she shall put off the raiment which she wore when she was taken captive;_ evidently to put on more vile apparel, and such as was better suited to the state and habit of mourning. In t... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 14. _THOU SHALT LET HER GO—BECAUSE THOU HAST HUMBLED HER_— These things were permitted to the Jews for the hardness of their hearts, and the violence of their passions: but the Gospel of Jesus Christ allows no such indulgences: it commands the conquest and abolition of all such unworthy passi... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 15. _IF A MAN HAVE TWO WIVES_— Moses here enacts, that where any Israelite had two wives, (for polygamy, contrary to the original institution of marriage, was suffered, but never enjoined) and when the man was partial in his affections towards them; such partiality should not hinder the right... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 18, &C. _IF A MAN HAVE A STUBBORN AND REBELLIOUS SON_— Ample provision having been made for the security of private rights between neighbour and neighbour, Moses made another law for the regulation of families, by giving to parents a well-tempered power over incorrigible children: which was n... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 20. _HE IS A GLUTTON AND A DRUNKARD_— Under these words are comprehended all other riotous courses. He was not to suffer for these vices only, but for stubbornly persisting in them, in spite of the repeated admonition and reproof of his parents, as appears from the 18th verse. Gluttony and dr... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 22, 23. _HE BE TO BE PUT TO DEATH, AND THOU HANG HIM ON A TREE_— Or, _He be put to death,_ &c. Calmet and Waterland. Hence it appears, that this punishment was not the same with the Roman crucifixion; for they hanged men alive upon the gibbet, and there let them expire; but this was only hang... [ Continue Reading ]