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Text -- Exodus 13:9 (NET)

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Cross Reference (TSK)
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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Exo 13:9
Proverbial expressions; denoting things which are never out of our thoughts.
JFB: Exo 13:9 - -- There is no reason to believe that the Oriental tattooing--the custom of staining the hands with the powder of Hennah, as Eastern females now do--is h...
There is no reason to believe that the Oriental tattooing--the custom of staining the hands with the powder of Hennah, as Eastern females now do--is here referred to. Nor is it probable that either this practice or the phylacteries of the Pharisees--parchment scrolls, which were worn on their wrists and foreheads--had so early an existence. The words are to be considered only as a figurative mode of expression.

JFB: Exo 13:9 - -- That is, that it may be the subject of frequent conversation and familiar knowledge among the people.
That is, that it may be the subject of frequent conversation and familiar knowledge among the people.
Clarke -> Exo 13:9
Clarke: Exo 13:9 - -- And it shall be for a sign - upon thine hand - This direction, repeated and enlarged Exo 13:16, gave rise to phylacteries or tephillin, and this is ...
And it shall be for a sign - upon thine hand - This direction, repeated and enlarged Exo 13:16, gave rise to phylacteries or tephillin, and this is one of the passages which the Jews write upon them to the present day. The manner in which the Jews understood and kept these commands may appear in their practice. They wrote the following four portions of the law upon slips of parchment or vellum: Sanctify unto me the first-born, Exodus 13, from Exo 13:2-10 inclusive. And it shall be, when the Lord shall bring thee into the land, Exodus 13, from Exo 13:11-16 inclusive. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, Deuteronomy 6, from Deu 6:4-9 inclusive. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently, Deuteronomy 11, from Deu 11:13-21 inclusive. These four portions, making in all 30 verses, written as mentioned above, and covered with leather, they tied to the forehead and to the hand or arm
Those which were for the Head (the frontlets) they wrote on four slips of parchment, and rolled up each by itself, and placed them in four compartments, joined together in one piece of skin or leather. Those which were designed for the hand were formed of one piece of parchment, the four portions being written upon it in four columns, and rolled up from one end to the other. These were all correct transcripts from the Mosaic text, without one redundant or deficient letter, otherwise they were not lawful to be worn. Those for the head were tied on so as to rest on the forehead. Those for the hand or arm were usually tied on the left arm, a little above the elbow, on the inside, that they might be near the heart, according to the command, Deu 6:6 : And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. These phylacteries formed no inconsiderable part of a Jew’ s religion; they wore them as a sign of their obligation to God, and as representing some future blessedness. Hence they did not wear them on feast days nor on the Sabbath, because these things were in themselves signs; but they wore them always when they read the law, or when they prayed, and hence they called them
It appears that the Jews wore these for three different purposes: -
1. As signs or remembrancers. This was the original design, as the institution itself sufficiently proves
2. To procure reverence and respect in the sight of the heathen. This reason is given in the Gemara, Berachoth, chapter i: "Whence is it proved that the phylacteries or tephillin are the strength of Israel? Ans. From what is written, Deu 28:10 : All the people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord (
3. They used them as amulets or charms, to drive away evil spirits. This appears from the Targum on Son 8:3 : His left hand is under my head, etc. "The congregation of Israel hath said, I am elect above all people, because I bind my phylacteries on my left hand and on my head, and the scroll is fixed to the right side of my gate, the third part of which looks to my bed-chamber, that demons may not be permitted to injure me
One of the original phylacteries or
These passages seem to be chosen in vindication of the use of the phylactery itself, as the reader may see on consulting them at large. Bind them for a Sign upon thy Hand; and for Frontlets between thy Eyes; write them upon the Posts of thy House and upon thy Gates; all which commands the Jews take in the most literal sense. To acquire the reputation of extraordinary sanctity they wore the fringes of their garments of an uncommon length. Moses had commanded them, Num 15:38, Num 15:39, to put fringes to the borders of their garments, that when they looked upon even these distinct threads they might remember, not only the law in general but also the very minutiae or smaller parts of all the precepts, rites, and ceremonies belonging to it. As those hypocrites (for such our Lord proves them to be) were destitute of all the life and power of religion within, they endeavored to supply its place with phylacteries and fringes without. The same principles distinguish hypocrites every where, and multitudes of them may be found among those termed Christians as well as among the Jews. It is probably to this institution relative to the phylactery that the words, Rev 14:1, allude: And I looked, and, lo, a hundred and forty-four thousand having his Father’ s name written on their foreheads. "That is,"says Mr. Ainsworth, "as a sign of the profession of God’ s law; for That which in the Gospel is called his Name, (Mat 12:21), in the prophets is called his Law, (Isa 42:4)."So again antichrist exacts the obedience to his precepts by a mark on men’ s right hands or on their foreheads, Rev 13:16.
TSK -> Exo 13:9
TSK: Exo 13:9 - -- a sign : This expression, says Michaelis, alludes to the custom of the Orientals, of burning in their right hand all kinds of marks with the ashes of ...
a sign : This expression, says Michaelis, alludes to the custom of the Orientals, of burning in their right hand all kinds of marks with the ashes of henna, which gives an indelible colour; and this is done even to this day. They were likewise accustomed to write all kinds of sayings, and frequently superstitious words, on slips or pieces of linen, which they wore as ornaments on their foreheads. Exo 13:16, Exo 12:14; Num 15:39; Deu 6:6, Deu 6:8, Deu 11:18, Deu 11:19; Pro 1:9, Pro 3:21, Pro 6:20-23; Pro 7:23; Son 8:6; Isa 49:16; Jer 22:24; Mat 23:5
may be : Deu 30:14; Jos 1:8; Isa 59:21; Rom 10:8
strong hand : Exo 13:3, 6:1-30; Jos 1:9; Neh 1:10; Psa 89:13; Isa 27:1, Isa 40:10, Isa 51:9; Joe 2:11; Rev 18:8

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Exo 13:9
Barnes: Exo 13:9 - -- Hebrew writers have generally regarded this as a formal injunction to write the precepts on slips of parchment, and to fasten them on the wrists and...
Hebrew writers have generally regarded this as a formal injunction to write the precepts on slips of parchment, and to fasten them on the wrists and forehead; but other commentators are generally agreed that it is to be understood metaphorically. The words appear to be put into the mouths of the parents. They were to keep all the facts of the Passover constantly in mind, and, referring to a custom prevalent ages before Moses in Egypt, to have them present as though they were inscribed on papyrus or parchment fastened on the wrists, or on the face between the eyes. If, as may be inferred from Deu 6:7-8, Moses adopted this custom, he would take care to warn the people against the Egyptian superstition of amulets. Modern Israelites generally allege this precept as a justification for the use of phylacteries.
Poole -> Exo 13:9
Poole: Exo 13:9 - -- The celebration of this feast shall be to thee instead of a mark which a man makes, or a ring, or any thing else which he puts upon his hand or arm,...
The celebration of this feast shall be to thee instead of a mark which a man makes, or a ring, or any thing else which he puts upon his hand or arm, to bring any thing to his remembrance; for such things his eye is most frequently fixed upon. Compare Son 8:6 Isa 49:16 Jer 22:24 Hag 2:23 .
A memorial between thine eyes instead of any monument or memorial, which is placed between, and therefore directly before a man’ s eyes, which he can scarcely overlook, and therefore must needs bring to remembrance the thing which he would not forget. Such proverbial phrases are usual in Scripture, as Deu 6:8 Pro 3:3 6:21 7:3 ; and are not to be understood literally, as the superstitious Jews understood them, who hence derive their custom of wearing scrolls of parchment upon their foreheads, and arms, and garments, which they call phylacteries, wherein they wrote certain portions of Scripture. But they might as well have added parcels of God’ s law to be kept in their mouths, because it follows,
that the Lord’ s law may be in thy mouth from whence we may better infer that neither mouth , nor hand , nor eyes are to be properly understood, for then, it had been an improper method to fasten a parchment between their eyes, that it might be in their mouths; but figuratively, as they are commonly understood in Scripture.
Haydock -> Exo 13:9
Haydock: Exo 13:9 - -- And it, &c. The festivals appointed by God and his Church, naturally remind us of the favours which we have received, and help us to meditate on the...
And it, &c. The festivals appointed by God and his Church, naturally remind us of the favours which we have received, and help us to meditate on the law. (Haydock) ---
The Jews, understanding the precept literally, write verses taken from this chapter, and Deuteronomy vi. and xi., upon parchment, and bind these tephilins, or phylacteries, on their forehead. But if these scrolls were requisite, why do they not also put them in their mouth and in their heart? Jesus Christ condemns the vanity of the Pharisees, who wore these bandages extremely large, Matthew xxiii. 5. The Mahometans teach their scholars, by writing the Coran upon a tablet, and exposing it to their view: (Calmet) a plan lately introduced in England with great success by Mr. Lancaster.
Gill -> Exo 13:9
Gill: Exo 13:9 - -- And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes,.... These are not the words of God or of Moses to the chi...
And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes,.... These are not the words of God or of Moses to the children of Israel, but of an lsraelitish parent to his son, telling him that this feast of unleavened bread would serve the same purpose to refresh his memory with what God did for his people of old, as the tying of a thing on the hand, or placing it before the eye, is to a person to bring anything to his remembrance, to which the allusion is; the like figurative phrases may be observed in Pro 1:9, the Jews understand this literally, and hence the use of phylacteries among them, which they bind upon their left hand, and place upon their foreheads between their eyes, of which See Gill on Mat 23:5, but such a practice could be of no use to answer the end next mentioned:
that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth; for surely this cannot be taken literally, but the sense is, that being instructed by the observance of the above feast, and being taught the meaning of it, they might be able to speak of it to their children, and so transmit it from age to age to their latest posterity:
for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt; See Gill on Exo 13:3.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Exo 13:9 This causal clause gives the reason for what has just been instructed. Because Yahweh delivered them from bondage, he has the strongest claims on thei...
Geneva Bible -> Exo 13:9
Geneva Bible: Exo 13:9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee ( f ) upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Exo 13:1-22
TSK Synopsis: Exo 13:1-22 - --1 The firstborn are sanctified to God.3 The memorial of the passover is commanded.11 The firstlings of man and beast are set apart.17 The Israelites g...
Maclaren -> Exo 13:9
Maclaren: Exo 13:9 - --Exodus 13:9
The question may be asked, whether this command is to be taken metaphorically or literally. No doubt the remembrance of the great delivera...
MHCC -> Exo 13:1-10
MHCC: Exo 13:1-10 - --In remembrance of the destruction of the first-born of Egypt, both of man and of beast, and the deliverance of the Israelites out of bondage, the firs...
Matthew Henry -> Exo 13:1-10
Matthew Henry: Exo 13:1-10 - -- Care is here taken to perpetuate the remembrance, I. Of the preservation of Israel's firstborn, when the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain. In m...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Exo 13:1-16
Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 13:1-16 - --
Sanctification of the first-born, and Promulgation of the Law for the Feast of Mazzoth. - Exo 13:1, Exo 13:2. The sanctification of the first-born w...
Constable: Exo 1:1--15:22 - --I. THE LIBERATION OF ISRAEL 1:1--15:21
"The story of the first half of Exodus, in broad summary, is Rescue. The ...

Constable: Exo 12:1--13:17 - --C. God's redemption of His people 12:1-13:16
Scholars differ in their opinions as to when Israel actuall...




