Deuteronomy 4:1
statutes <02706> [unto the statutes.]
Statutes, every thing that concerned morals and the rites and ceremonies of religion; judgments, all matters of civil right and wrong.
live <02421> [that ye may.]
Deuteronomy 23:1--24:22
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.]
We cannot suppose that this law required the Israelites to entertain slaves who had robbed their masters, or left their service without cause; but such only as were cruelly treated, and fled to them for protection, especially from the neighbouring nations. To such they were commanded to afford shelter, and shew great kindness.
live <03427> [shall dwell.]
prefers <02896> [liketh him best. Heb. is good for him. thou shalt not.]
sacred prostitute <06948> [There shall be, etc.]
The prohibition in the text, like many others, has no direct application to practices that were common among the Israelites at that time; but was intended to guard them against the enormities which were practised among the surrounding nations.
sacred prostitute <06948> [whore. or, sodomitess.]
sacred male prostitute <06945> [sodomite.]
pay <0868> [hire.]
male prostitute <03611> [dog.]
vow <05088> [any vow.]
lend ..... a foreigner <05237> [a stranger.]
Lord <03068> [that the.]
vow <04161> [That which.]
vowed <05087> [hast vowed.]
eat <0398> [thou mayest.]
pluck <06998> [then thou mayest.]
<03947> [hath taken.]
offensive <06172> [uncleanness. Heb. matter of nakedness. then let him.]
divorce <03748> [divorcement. Heb. cutting off.]
evict ..... house <07971 01004> [send her.]
go <01980> [she may go.]
first <07223> [Her former.]
land <0776> [thou shalt.]
man <0376> [a man.]
obligated <05674> [neither, etc. Heb. not any thing shall pass upon him. cheer up.]
take ....... as security ......... taking ..... as security <02254> [shall take.]
Small hand-mills, which ground at one time only a sufficient quantity for a day's consumption; hence they were forbidden to take either of the stones to pledge, because if they did, they would be deprived of the means of preparing their necessary food, and the family be without bread. On this account they are called in the text, a man's life. The same reason holds good against receiving in pledge, or distraining for debt, any instrument of labour, by which men earn their livelihood.
life <05315> [life.]
found <04672> [found.]
kidnapper <01590> [then that.]
purge <01197> [and thou shalt.]
Remember <02142> [Remember.]
Miriam <04813> [Miriam.]
<05383> [When.]
loan .... neighbor <07453 03972 04859 05383> [lend thy brother any thing. Heb. lend the loan of any thing to thy brother.]
return <07725> [deliver.]
sunset <08121> [the sun.]
garment <08008> [in his own raiment.]
The raiment here referred to was most likely the same as the {hyke} of the Arabs, a long kind of blanket, resembling a Highland plaid, generally about six yards in length, and five or six feet broad; in which they often carry their provisions, as well as wrap themselves in, in the day, and sleep in at night, it being their only substitute for a bed. How necessary, then, it was to restore the {hyke} to a poor man before the going down of the sun, that he might have something to repose on, will sufficiently appear from these considerations.
just deed <06666> [shall be.]
day <03117> [At his.]
life depends <05315 05375> [setteth his heart upon it. Heb. lifteth his soul unto it.]
cry out <07121> [lest he.]
pervert <05186> [pervert.]
take ..... as security for a loan <02254> [nor take.]
reap <07114> [When thou.]
resident foreigner <01616> [it shall be.]
bless <01288> [may bless.]
repeat ... procedure <0310 06286> [go over the boughs again. Heb. bough it after thee.]
grapes <01219> [gatherest.]
<0310> [afterward. Heb. after thee.]
