CHAPTER XXI _If a man be found slain in a field, and the cause of his death_ _be unknown, the murder shall be expiated by the sacrifice of a_ _heifer in an uncultivated valley_, 1-4. _The rites to be used on the occasion_, 5-9. _The ordinance concerning marriage with a captive_, 10-14. _The la... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:4. _SHALL BRING DOWN THE HEIFER UNTO A ROUGH VALLEY_] נחל איתן _nachal eythan_ might be translated a _rapid_ stream, probably passing through a piece of uncultivated ground where the elders of the city were to strike off the head of the heifer, and to wash their hands over her i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:6. _SHALL WASH THEIR HANDS OVER THE HEIFER_] Washing the hands, in reference to such a subject as this, was a rite anciently used to signify that the persons thus washing were innocent of the crime in question. It was probably from the Jews that Pilate learned this symbolical me... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:11. _AND SEEST - A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN_] No forcible possession was allowed even in this case, when the woman was taken in war, and was, by the general consent of ancient nations, adjudged as a part of the spoils. The person to whose lot or share such a woman as is here described fe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:12. _SHE SHALL SHAVE HER HEAD_] This was in token of her renouncing her religion, and becoming a proselyte to that of the Jews. This is still a custom in the East; when a Christian turns Mohammedan his head is shaven, and he is carried through the city crying, [Arabic] _la alahi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:15. _ONE BELOVED, AND ANOTHER HATED_] That is, one _loved_ _less_ than the other. This is the true notion of the word _hate_ in Scripture. So _Jacob_ HATED _Leah_, that is, he _loved her less_ than he did _Rachel_; and _Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I_ HATED, that is, I hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:18-5. _THE STUBBORN, REBELLIOUS, GLUTTONOUS, AND_ _DRUNKEN SON IS TO BE STONED TO DEATH_. - This law, severe as it may seem, must have acted as a powerful preventive of crime. If such a law were in force now, and duly executed, how many deaths of disobedient and profligate child... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:23. _HIS BODY SHALL NOT REMAIN ALL NIGHT UPON THE TREE_] Its exposure for the space of _one day_ was judged sufficient. The law which required this answered all the ends of public justice, exposed the shame and infamy of the conduct, but did not put to torture the feelings of h... [ Continue Reading ]