INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 25 Several laws are contained in this chapter, as concerning beating such whose crimes required it, Deuteronomy 25:1; of not muzzling the ox in treading out the corn, Deuteronomy 25:4; of marrying a deceased brother's wife, when there was no issue, and of the disgrace of... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THERE BE A CONTROVERSY BETWEEN MEN,.... Between two or more: AND THEY COME UNTO JUDGMENT; into a court of judicature, bring their cause thither: THAT [THE JUDGES] MAY JUDGE THEM; who were never less than three; the great sanhedrim at Jerusalem consisted of seventy one, the lesser court was of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL BE, IF THE WICKED MAN BE WORTHY TO BE BEATEN,.... There were four kinds of death criminals were put to by the Jews, stoning, strangling, burning, and slaying with the sword; and such crimes not as severe as these were punished with beating or scourging; and who they were that were worth... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTY STRIPES HE MAY GIVE HIM, AND NOT EXCEED,.... And that this number might not be exceeded, it is ordered by the Jewish canons that only thirty nine should be given; for it is asked b, "with how many stripes do they beat him? with forty, save one, as it is said, in number "forty" that is, in the... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHEN HE TREADETH OUT [THE CORN]. As oxen are used in ploughing, so likewise in treading or beating out the corn; of the manner of which, 1 Corinthians 9:9; now while it was thus employed, it might not be restrained by any means from eating the corn as it had an opportuni... [ Continue Reading ]
IF BRETHREN DWELL TOGETHER,.... Not only in the same country, province, town, or city, but in the same house; such who had been from their youth brought up together in their father's house, and now one of them being married, as the case put supposes, they that were unmarried might live with him, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL BE [THAT] THE FIRSTBORN THAT SHE BEARETH,.... To her husband's brother, now married to her: SHALL SUCCEED IN THE NAME OF HIS BROTHER [WHICH IS] DEAD; the meaning is, as the Targum of Jonathan, "he shall rise up in the inheritance in the name of his brother;'' or, as Jarchi expresses... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MAN LIKE NOT TO TAKE HIS BROTHER'S WIFE,.... The provision here made by this law, when this was the case, is such as did not take place before it became a law; for then Onan would have taken the advantage of it, and refused marrying his brother's wife, which it is plain was not agreeable to... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE ELDERS OF HIS CITY SHALL CALL HIM,.... Require him to come, before them, and declare his resolution, and the reasons for it; recite this law to him, and explain the nature of it, and exhort him to comply with it, or show reason why he does not, at least to have his final resolution upon it:... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL HIS BROTHER'S WIFE COME UNTO HIM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ELDERS,.... The time and place being appointed the evening before by three Rabbins, and two witnesses, as Leo of Modena says p; of which she was apprized, and ordered to come tasting: AND LOOSE HIS SHOE FROM OFF HIS FOOT; his right... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED IN ISRAEL,.... Not his particular and personal name, but his family; for it seems that not only a mark of infamy was set upon him for refusing to marry his brother's widow, but upon his family also; THE HOUSE OF HIM THAT HATH HIS SHOE LOOSED; which, as Leo of Modena say... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN MEN STRIVE TOGETHER, ONE WITH ANOTHER,.... Quarrel with one another, and come to blows, and strive for mastery, which shall beat, and be the best man: AND THE WIFE OF THE ONE DRAWETH NEAR FOR TO DELIVER HER HUSBAND OUT OF THE HAND OF HIM THAT SMITETH HIM; perceiving that his antagonist has mor... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THOU SHALL CUT OFF HER HAND,.... Which was to be done not by the man that strove with her husband, or by any bystander, but by the civil magistrate or his order. This severity was used to deter women from such an immodest as well as injurious action, who on such an occasion are very passionate... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT HAVE IN THY BAG DIVERS WEIGHTS,.... Or, "a stone and a stone" y; it being usual, in those times and countries, to have their weights of stone, as it was formerly with us here; we still say, that such a commodity is worth so much per stone, a stone being of such a weight; now these wer... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL NOT HAVE IN THINE HOUSE DIVERS, MEASURES,.... Or, "an ephah and an ephah"; which was one sort of measure in use with the Jews, and held above a bushel; and is put for all others, which should be alike, and not A GREAT AND A SMALL; one to buy with, and another to sell by, as before observ... [ Continue Reading ]
[BUT] THOU SHALL HAVE A PERFECT AND JUST WEIGHT, A PERFECT AND JUST MEASURE SHALL THOU HAVE,.... That is, full weights, and full measures; and such as are alike, and everywhere used, according to the standard of the country; Leviticus 19:36; THAT THY DAYS MAY BE LENGTHENED IN THE LAND WHICH THE LOR... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL THAT DO SUCH THINGS,.... Keep, different weights and measures, and make use of them to defraud their neighbours in buying and selling: [AND] ALL THAT DO UNRIGHTEOUSLY; what is not just and right between man and man, in any other instance whatever: [ARE] AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD THY GOD... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID UNTO THEE,.... The Amalekites, how they came out against them, and fought with them at Rephidim, Exodus 17:8; BY THE WAY, WHEN YE WERE COME FORTH OUT OF EGYPT; which was an aggravation of their cruel and inhuman action, that they not only came out against them unprovoked, w... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW HE MET THEE BY THE WAY,.... Not with necessary provisions, food and drink, which would have been but a piece of kindness and humanity to travellers; but met them sword in hand, in order to stop their journey, and make them captives, at least to harass and distress them: AND SMOTE THE HINDMOST O... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE IT SHALL BE, WHEN THE LORD THY GOD HATH GIVEN THEE REST FROM ALL THINE ENEMIES ROUND ABOUT,.... Not only when they had subdued the Canaanites, and got possession of their land, but when they were clear and free from all their neighbouring nations, Moabites, Midianites, Edomites, Ammonites,... [ Continue Reading ]