XXVII. THE LAW TO BE ESTABLISHED IN CANAAN AS THE LAW OF THE LAND. (1) MOSES WITH THE ELDERS. — Here joined in exhortation for the first time in this book. KEEP. — Literally, _to keep._ Possibly we are intended to connect the two verses. In order to keep them, ye shall write them. _Deuteronomy 27... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ALTAR OF STONES. — Rashi propounds the theory that these stones were taken from Jordan. But there is nothing to countenance this theory in the words of the text.... [ Continue Reading ]
BURNT OFFERINGS. — The idea of these is the dedication of man’s life to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
PEACE OFFERINGS — i.e., offerings for health, salvation, or _deliverance already granted._ On this occasion, the passage of Jordan, and the arrival of Israel in the heart of the country, would be good ground for thanksgiving before God. AND SHALT EAT THERE, AND REJOICE.-The peace offerings were the... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT WRITE UPON THE STONES ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW — _i.e.,_ the ten commandments. All else in the Law of Moses is but an application of the Decalogue to a particular people under particular circumstances. (See Notes on Joshua 3; Joshua 8:32, for more upon the relation of the ten commandment... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES AND THE PRIESTS. — As in Deuteronomy 27:1, “Moses and the elders.” TAKE HEED. — A word used nowhere else in the Old Testament. THIS DAY THOU ART BECOME THE PEOPLE. — “Every day His commandments shall be before thine eyes, as though thou hadst that day entered into covenant with Him.” It woul... [ Continue Reading ]
CURSED BE HE THAT SETTETH LIGHT. — The first curse points to the first two commandments of the first table, and the second to the first commandment in the second table. If we mark off the first offence specified, secret idolatry — the only one which distinctly recalls the _first_ commandment of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLIND. — “He that is in the dark upon any matter, when one deceives him with evil counsel” (Rashi).... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SMITETH HIS NEIGHBOUR SECRETLY.-”Spoken of a backbiting tongue” (Rashi).... [ Continue Reading ]
CURSED BE HE THAT CONFIRMETH NOT ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW TO DO THEM. — “Here he sums up the whole Law, all of it, and they took it upon them with a curse and an oath” (Rashi). From this verse St. Paul also reasons that “as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse.” For no man can do a... [ Continue Reading ]