XXIII. The old heading of this chapter, “_Who may or may not enter into the congregation,”_ supplies a good connection with what goes before. From the law of marriage in the _Church of Israel_ it is a natural step to the _Children of Israel,_ the members of this Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
The rule that a eunuch should not enter into the congregation was doubtless intended to prevent the Israelitish rulers from making eunuchs of their brethren the children of Israel. As a set off to this apparent harshness towards the man who had been thus treated, we must read Isaiah 56:3, in which a... [ Continue Reading ]
A BASTARD SHALL NOT ENTER. — Such a person would not, even now, be circumcised by the Jews, or permitted to marry an Israelitish woman, or be buried with his people; therefore he was excluded from the covenant. It is manifest how efficacious would be the enforcement of this law also in preserving th... [ Continue Reading ]
AN AMMONITE OR MOABITE SHALL NOT ENTER. According to Rashi, “shall not marry an Israelitish woman.” It must be remembered that the children, according to Jewish law, follow the _father,_ not the mother. The case of Ruth would not, therefore, be touched by this precept.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THEY MET YOU NOT WITH BREAD AND WITH WATER. — We learn incidentally from this passage how the Moabites and the Ammonites requited the forbearance shown them by the Israelites (Deuteronomy 2:9; Deuteronomy 2:19; Deuteronomy 2:29). No one not acquainted with the details of Israel’s intercourse... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE LORD THY GOD LOVED THEE. — The contrast between what He says to Israel in this book and what He said by Balaam is very striking. (See on Deuteronomy 31:16.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT ABHOR AN EDOMITE... AN EGYPTIAN. — The contrast between these and the Moabite and Ammonite is drawn rather well by Rashi in this passace. “Learn here,” he says, “that he who makes a man to sin, treats him worse than he who kills-him; for he that kills, kills only in this world, but he... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN THAT ARE BEGOTTEN OF THEM From this passage it is clear that it was not only from Egypt that a “mixed multitude” came up with Israel. It seems to have been impossible to prevent some inter-marriages between Edom, Moab, and Israel when the Israelites passed through their land. Such a pre... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 23:9. PURITY OF THE CAMP. (9) WHEN THE HOST GOETH FORTH AGAINST THINE ENEMIES... KEEP THEE. — “Because Satan maketh his accusations in the hour of danger” (Rashi). (10) UNCLEANNESS THAT CHANCETH HIM BY NIGHT. As in Leviticus 15:16. (11) WHEN THE SUN IS DOWN. — “No man is clean (after... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 23:15. — REFUGEES. Thou shalt not deliver... the servant. — Even on Israelitish ground the escaped slave was free. Rashi adds, “Even a Canaanitish slave who has escaped from abroad into _the land_ of Israel.”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHORE AND SODOMITE seem both intended to be taken in the sense in which they belonged to the temples of Baal and Ashtaroth, of persons dedicated to impurity.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIRE OF A WHORE. — Even a lamb or a kid might not be sacrificed for them, if obtained as the wages of sin (Genesis 38:17). THE PRICE OF A DOG. — The ass might be redeemed with a lamb, and the lamb could be sacrificed. The dog could not be treated thus. Yet “the dogs under the table eat of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
USURY. — See Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35. Some recent writers on this law have thought that it forbids the putting out of money to interest. But it is noticeable that in both the previous passages referred to (in Exod. and Lev.) the loan is supposed to be made to a “poor man” in “real distress.” U... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU SHALT VOW... THOU SHALT NOT BE SLACK... — The three yearly feasts are mentioned by Rashi and the Rabbis as occasions for the payment of vows. (See 1 Samuel 1:21.) This precept is cited in Ecclesiastes 5:4, but with sufficient verbal variation to prevent its being called a quotation.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU COMEST INTO THY NEIGHBOUR’S VINEYARD. — Rashi tries to limit both this and the following precept to the labourer engaged in gathering the vintage or the harvest, when vessels are used and sickles employed. But the plain meaning will stand, and is accepted by our Lord in the Gospel. The obj... [ Continue Reading ]