Deuteronomy 12:1
_These. Having inculcated the general precepts, and the obligation of loving God above all things, Moses now descends to particular duties. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_These. Having inculcated the general precepts, and the obligation of loving God above all things, Moses now descends to particular duties. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tree. See Genesis xxi. 33. All the monuments of idolatry must be destroyed. The very names of the idols must be abhorred and obliterated, (Exodus xxiii. 13,) to shew that they have lost possession of the country. So, (ver. 5,) to put his name there, means to take possession of a place._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Statues. The most ancient idols were not finely carved, but only rough stones. The Phrygian goddess, sent to Rome by Attalus, was a small dark-coloured stone of this nature. (Arnob., contra Gentes. 8.) --- The Venus of the Arabs was but a stone in the form of a pyramid. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_It, where the ark was to be kept. (Haydock) --- Before the building of the temple, it was removed from one tribe or place to another. Jerusalem was thenceforward styled the city of the great king, Psalm xlvii. 1, 9._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hands, which you have procured by your industry, (Menochius) or what you are able to present to the Lord, Leviticus v. 11._... [ Continue Reading ]
_You. In gratitude, you shall therefore offer your victims. (Haydock) --- The Jews were accustomed to make a feast thrice a year in the holy city. They might also eat some parts of the peace-offerings. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Himself. Some confine this to the sacrifices, which each person might offer, where he thought proper, till the ark was fixed at Silo. But many other parts of the ceremonial law, seem not to have been in force till the Hebrews crossed the Jordan, Amos v. 25. Circumcision was omitted, as well as most... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therein. While you are performing your duty to God, you need not fear the incursions of your enemies; or, according to the Hebrew, Septuagint, and Chaldean, "There shall be a place which....Thither," &c. (Menochius) --- Hands. Aquila, &c., have, "your voluntary oblations." --- Gifts. Hebrew, "your... [ Continue Reading ]
_You. The Levite hath no portion of the land like the rest. He and all people in distress shall be invited to these feasts, chap. xvi. 11. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_See. On the high places, &c., as the heathens did, (ver. 2,) or in any other place but that which God appointed._... [ Continue Reading ]
_But. Hebrew, "Yet thou mayst kill and eat the flesh which thy soul desireth in all thy gates, with which the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roe buck," &c. (Haydock) --- The Vulgate translates ver. 22 in this sense, intimating that these meats di... [ Continue Reading ]
_Water, without any ceremony. It was afterwards to be covered, Leviticus xvii. 13._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tithes. These were of an extraordinary nature, destined for feasts, chap. xiv. 22., and Leviticus xxvii. 30. The usual tithes belonged entirely to the Levitical tribe. (Calmet) --- First-born, or the most excellent, ver. 11., and Exodus xii. 11, 12. The first-born, if it proved to be without defect... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hand, in all thy undertakings and labours, (Haydock) and in all thy goods. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Far off. Hence many conclude, that those who lived near the tabernacle, were bound to bring the animals which they designed for their own use, to be slain there, as they did in the desert. Others suppose that all were under the same predicament, and are hereby authorized to follow the same regulati... [ Continue Reading ]
_Alike. This must be understood of those who had contracted only a smaller stain, which did not communicate the uncleanness to others, but debarred people from approaching to sacred things. (Calmet) --- Those who had touched the dead, &c., were not allowed to eat with people, who were not under any... [ Continue Reading ]
_Soul. See Genesis ix. 4. Blood maintains the life of animals, and it would seem cruel to begin to eat them before they were perfectly dead. But the obligation of this positive law has long ago ceased, as it was intended chiefly for the Jews._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Oblations. Hebrew, "holocausts....and the blood of the sacrifices," of peace. Parts of the latter were eaten by the offerer, but the former victims were entirely burnt. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Imitate. Hebrew, "be ensnared by imitation them." The example of the wicked, is one of the most dangerous snares which the devil can place in our way. Notwithstanding these repeated admonitions of God, we see how prone the Hebrews were to adopt the superstitious customs of these nations, whose dest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fire. See Leviticus xviii. 21._... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XII. That only do thou, &c. They are forbid here to follow the ceremonies of the heathens, or to make any alterations in the divine ordinances. (Challoner) --- To adopt fresh regulations, in the same spirit, was not forbidden. Thus David ordered those who had kept the baggage, to share equa... [ Continue Reading ]