He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. Ver. 1. _Or hath his privy member cut off._] As it is a barbarous custom at this day among the Turks, to deprive various Christian children of their privities, supplying the uses o... [ Continue Reading ]
_A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD._ Ver. 2. _A bastard shall not enter._] Lest the reproach of his birth render him contemptible, or less courageous; _a_ lest some son of Belial set upon hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:_ Ver. 3. _For ever,_] _i.e., _ This law is perpetual and indispensable; so highly displeasing are many mere omissions of duty. O... [ Continue Reading ]
Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. Ver. 4. _Because they met you not._] As God takes notice of the least courtesy showed to his people, ev... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee. Ver. 5. _Nevertheless the Lord, &c., _] _q.d., _ No thanks to the wicked Moabites, that Balaam blasted thee not; as neither to Balaam, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever. Ver. 6. _Thou shalt not seek their peace._] Or, Enter into confederacy with them; which when David did, 2Sa 10:1-2 he was basely abused in his ambassadors. Hannibal's hatred to the Romans is well known. Tyrone, 1567, so boi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he [is] thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land._ Ver. 7. _For he is thy brother._] And therefore to be borne with, though unkind and injurious. Howbeit, _Fratrum concordia rara est:_ "A brother offended is harder... [ Continue Reading ]
The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation. Ver. 8. _In their third generation._] The Edomites for their consanguinity, - it is some privilege to be allied to the saints, to be "sister's son to Barnabas," - the Col 4:10 Egyptians f... [ Continue Reading ]
When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. Ver. 9. _Then keep thee from every wicked thing._] Walk accurately, as carrying thy life in thy hand; for "the sword devoureth one as well as another," 2Sa 11:25 it spares neither lord nor losel, as they say. E... [ Continue Reading ]
If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp: Ver. 10. _Then shall he go abroad._] Go voluntarily, though he be not excluded, as lepers and the like were, _Arcta nimis... [ Continue Reading ]
But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash [himself] with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp [again]. Ver. 11. _He shall wash himself with water._] See Leviticus 15:1,33 _See Trapp on "_ Lev 15:2 _"_ &c. The Turks at this day pertinaciously and superstitiously... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:_ Ver. 12. _And shalt turn back and cover._] How much more curious should they be of soul defilements? Sin is the soul's excrements, and defiles a man worse than any excement. Matthew 7:15 _; Matthew 7:20_ _; _ Mat 7... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee: Ver. 13. _Thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp._] Where he is both van and rear. Isa 52:12 _ And to give up th... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: Ver. 15. _The servant that is escaped._] A heathen servant that flees for religion, and desires to "join himself to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servant," such must... [ Continue Reading ]
There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Ver. 17. _There shall be no whore._] And what a stinking shame is that, that stews and brothel houses are licensed by the Pope, who reaps no small profit by them? The Papists themselves write with detestation,... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God. Ver. 18. _Nor the price of a dog._] Plutarch tells us that it was not permitted to a dog to enter into the chief tower or tem... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: Ver. 19. _Thou shalt not lend upon usury._] Heb., Upon biting usury. It must needs bite at length that licks so clean. Amalek, the licking people, I mean the nation of usure... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it._ Ver. 20. _Unto a stranger thou mayest._] And they do it to purpose at this da... [ Continue Reading ]
_When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee._ Ver. 21. _Thou shalt not slack to pray._] Come off with it round and readily, as those Zec 5:9 that had "wings," and "wind in their wi... [ Continue Reading ]
But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. Ver. 22. _It shall be no sin in thee,_] _i.e., _ No such great sin; as John 9:41, so John 15:22; Joh 15:24 James 4:17. See Ecclesiastes 5:5. _Vovere nusquam est praeceptum,_ saith Bellarmine: We are nowhere in Scripture commanded to vow.... [ Continue Reading ]
When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put [any] in thy vessel. Ver. 24. _When thou comest, &c._] As a passenger; Mat 12:1-2 how much more as a labourer; 1Co 9:7 thou mayest take what thou wilt for necessity, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn. Ver. 25. _But thou shalt not move a sickle._] Here God reserveth the right and property of the owner, which no man might in... [ Continue Reading ]