Deuteronomy 22:1--23:14
see ............... return ... without fail <07200 07725> [Thou shalt.]
ignore ..... return ... without fail <05956 07725> [hide thyself.]
return <07725> [thou shalt restore.]
help ... get <06965> [thou shalt surely.]
woman ...... clothing ......... women's <0802 03627> [woman shall not.]
offensive <08441> [abomination.]
chicks ....... bird <0667> [young ones.]
take <03947> [thou shalt not]
be sure ... let .... go <07971> [But thou shalt.]
The extirpation of any species of birds, whether edible or birds of prey, is often attended with serious consequences, and is always productive of evil; to prevent which was the object of this law. Palestine is situated in a climate producing poisonous snakes and scorpions, and between deserts and mountains, from which it would be inundated by them, as well as with immense swarms of flies, locusts, and mice, if the birds which feed upon them were extirpated. In a moral point of view, it may have been intended to inculcate a spirit of mercy and kindness, and to prevent the exercise of cruelty even towards a sparrow; for he who is guilty of such cruelty will, if circumstances be favourable, be cruel to his fellow-creatures.
well <03190> [that it may.]
long <0748> [thou mayest.]
construct <06213> [then thou shalt.]
The eastern houses being built with flat roofs, which were used for various purposed, as walking, sleeping, etc., it was therefore necessary to have a sort of battlement, or balustrade, to prevent accidents, by people falling off.
roof <01406> [thy roof.]
avoid <07760> [thou bring.]
plant .................. plant <02232> [shalt not sow.]
[fruit of thy seed. Heb. fulness of thy seed.]
Two different species cannot associate comfortably together, nor pull pleasantly either in cart or plough; and the ass being lower than the ox, when yoked, he must bear the principal part of the weight.
tassels <01434> [fringes.]
corners <03671> [quarters. Heb. wings.]
never divorce <03201 07971> [he may not put.]
stone <05619 068> [stone her.]
done <06213> [she hath wrought.]
purge <01197> [shalt thou.]
stone <05619> [and ye shall stone.]
In these laws, the betrothed damsel was considered as the wife of the man to whom she was engaged, though they had not come together; and therefore the crime was adjudged adultery. But a charitable supposition is admitted in the damsel's favour, in case she was found in a solitary place.
violated <06031> [he hath humbled.]
purge <01197> [so thou shalt put.]
overpowered .... raped ...... rapist <02388 07901> [force her. or, take strong hold of her.]
<02399> [no sin.]
cried out <06817> [cried.]
violated <06031> [because he hath humbled.]
man .... marry <0376 03947> [a man shall.]
This is to be understood as referring to the case of a stepmother. A man in his old age may have married a young woman, and on his dying, his son by another, or a former wife, may desire to espouse her; which is here forbidden.
dishonor <01540> [discover.]
man <06481> [wounded.]
enter <0935> [shall not enter.]
It is evident that his law was not meant to exclude such Israelites either from the common benefits of civil society, or any essential religious advantages; but merely to lay them under a disgraceful distinction. This would tend to discourage parents from thus treating their children; a practice which was exceedingly common in those ages and countries. To this they were induced by the custom which prevailed, of employing such in the houses of the great and the courts of princes; so that they often rose to the highest posts of honour and authority. Some expositors therefore consider the phrase, "shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord," as meaning, that they should be incapable of bearing any office in that government which was placed over the people of God, who must thus enter a protest against this custom, and deliver selfish parents from this temptation.
Ammonite <05984> [Ammonite.]
These nations were subjected for their impiety, wickedness, and enmity to Israel, (ver. 4, 5,) to peculiar disgrace; and on this account were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites. This did not, however, disqualify them from becoming proselytes; for Ruth, who was a Moabitess, was married to Boaz, and became one of the progenitors of our Lord.
meet <01697 06923> [Because they met.]
hired <07936> [because they hired.]
Lord .......... changed ......... Lord <03068> [Nevertheless.]
Lord .......... changed ......... Lord <03068> [because the.]
seek <01875> [Thou shalt.]
prosperity <02896> [prosperity. Heb. good.]
relative <0251> [he is thy.]
foreigner <01616> [because thou.]
enter ... assembly <0935 06951> [enter into.]
third generation <01755 07992> [third generation.]
evening <06153> [when evening.]
arrives <06437> [cometh on. Heb. turneth toward. wash himself.]
In such a vast camp as that of the Israelites, (See Notes on Nu ch. 1; 2,) and indeed, as Scheuchzer remarks, in every well regulated camp, cleanliness is considered as indispensably necessary.
relieve yourself outside <03427 02351> [wilt ease thyself. Heb. sittest down. cover that.]
walks <01980> [walketh.]
anything indecent <01697 06172> [unclean thing. Heb. nakedness of any thing.]
