Deuteronomy 22 - Introduction
_THINGS FOUND ARE TO BE RESTORED: MEN AND WOMEN ARE NOT TO INTERCHANGE APPAREL: THE PUNISHMENT OF MARRIED AND SINGLE PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF UNCLEANNESS._ _Before Christ 1451._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THINGS FOUND ARE TO BE RESTORED: MEN AND WOMEN ARE NOT TO INTERCHANGE APPAREL: THE PUNISHMENT OF MARRIED AND SINGLE PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF UNCLEANNESS._ _Before Christ 1451._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 1. _AND HIDE THYSELF FROM THEM_— That is, "pass by them, as if thou didst not see them." The expression is borrowed from people's hiding themselves from those whom they do not choose to meet.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 4. _THOU SHALT NOT SEE THY BROTHER'S ASS—FALL DOWN BY THE WAY,_ &C.— See Exodus 23:5. A famous example to this purpose is mentioned of Alphonsus, king of Naples, who, travelling upon a road, attended by a great retinue of courtiers, saw an ass with a heavy burden fallen into a deep slough: al... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 5. _THE WOMAN SHALL NOT WEAR THAT WHICH PERTAINETH UNTO A MAN,_ &C.— _A woman shall not wear man's clothes, neither shall a man put on women's clothes._ Vid. Mill. Dissert. 9: p. 258, &c. The last words of the verse clearly shew this to have been an idolatrous custom; and several authors have... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 6. _THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE DAM WITH THE YOUNG_— This is one of those merciful constitutions in the law of Moses, which, inspiring the minds of his people with a regard for the animal creation, tended much to humanize their hearts, to breed in them a sense of the Divine Providence extending i... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 8. _THOU SHALT MAKE A BATTLEMENT FOR THY ROOF_— The Jewish houses were flat-roofed, for the convenience of taking the air and discoursing together, or for meditation and prayer in little closets which they had there; and as they used to frequent this outer part so much, it is enjoined that a... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 10. _THOU SHALT NOT PLOW WITH AN OX AND AN ASS TOGETHER_— We refer to Leviticus 19:19 respecting these unnatural mixtures. This, as well as the other particulars, is thought to have respect to some idolatrous custom of the Gentiles, who were taught to believe, that their fields would be more... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 13-17. _IF ANY MAN TAKE A WIFE,_ &C.— The most probable arguments we can meet with, in support of the literal sense of this passage, amount to this; first, That the Jewish young women were married at the age of twelve or thirteen. Secondly, That we are not to judge of the constitution of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 18, 19. _THE ELDERS—SHALL—CHASTISE—HIM,_ &C.— That is, say the Talmudists, condemn him to receive forty stripes, save one; and they add, that the woman was sent back with a solemn benediction; and that the false witnesses who deposed against her were stoned. See ch. Deuteronomy 19:18. It is t... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 21. _THEN THEY SHALL BRING OUT THE DAMSEL,_ &C.— As a disgrace to her parents, who had not taken better care to preserve her chastity, she was to be punished at their door, having committed the crime in their house.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 24. _YE SHALL STONE THEM WITH STONES_— Moses appoints the same punishment for debauching a young woman contracted with a man, though not actually married, as for adultery; provided the fact was committed while she was at home, with her friends about her; in which case, it is presumed, it was... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 26. _AS WHEN A MAN RISETH AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOUR,_ &C.— Chastity, say Grotius and Louis de Dieu, is as valuable as life: hence, the depriving another of life in its defence, has been deemed just by the most sensible nations. See Seneca de Beneficiis, lib. 1: cap. 11 and Paulus, Sentent. 5: tit... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 30. _NOR DISCOVER HIS FATHER'S SKIRT_— A modest phrase for unlawful commerce. See the places referred to in the margins of our Bibles.... [ Continue Reading ]