Leviticus 19:1-37. A Miscellany of Laws, Moral and Ceremonial
The fragmentary character of this ch. is apparent on a first reading.
The ch. thus affords ample ground for the conclusion that it is
composite, although it may be impossible to trace with certainty the
process of compilation. The comman... [ Continue Reading ]
_his mother, and his father_ The command in the Decalogue is to
-honour," here to -fear," or act reverently towards parents. The
mother is put first, as in Leviticus 21:2. This order probably
indicates diversity of origin. But Rashi, on the authority of the
Midrashic commentary, _Mechilta_, on Exodu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Turn ye not unto_ As in Leviticus 19:31 (A.V. -Regard not"), and
Leviticus 20:6.
_idols ("ělîlîm) things of nought_R.V. mg. See reference there. The
Heb. word occurs only here and Leviticus 26:1 in Pentateuch; a word of
uncertain etymology, possibly suggesting the idea of gods from its
sound (simi... [ Continue Reading ]
See introd. note to ch.... [ Continue Reading ]
_it is an abomination_ As in Leviticus 7:18. See note there.
The precepts in Leviticus 19:9 set forth the duty of each man towards
his neighbour, especially towards the poor, and such as are in need of
protection.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Leviticus 23:22. The law of gleaning: a portion of the produce of
the soil is to be left for the poor. A similar law is found in
Deuteronomy 24:19-21. The word translated - _the fallen fruit_"
(-every grape," A.V.) occurs only here in O.T., but is of common
occurrence in Mishnaic Heb. to denote... [ Continue Reading ]
Precepts analogous to those in the Decalogue and expressed in 2nd
pers. plur. (except the last).... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Deuteronomy 24:14-15; Malachi 3:5; James 5:4. Precepts expressed
in 2nd pers. sing. against unjust dealing, and taking advantage of a
neighbour's infirmities. Though the deaf cannot hear, the curse must
not be uttered, and the helpless condition of the blind calls for
protection and the removal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement_ Cp. Leviticus 19:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
Against unrighteousness in judgement, and slander. Cp. Exodus 23:1-3;
Exodus 23:6-7; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 16:19; Deuteronomy 27:19;
Psalms 82:2; Proverbs 24:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a talebearer_ Cp. Proverbs 11:13; Proverbs 20:19. Jewish teachers
frequently insist on the heinousness of slander. See Otho, _Lex. Rabb.
s.v. Calumnia_, and note the rendering of Targ. Jon., -Thou shalt not
go after the slanderous (lit. triple) tongue." The epithet -triple"
implies that slander aff... [ Continue Reading ]
Against hatred and vengeance; instead of cherishing hatred, rebuke thy
neighbour (i.e. point out his fault), and persist in so doing (thou
shalt _surely_), e.g. as in the case mentioned in Matthew 18:15 f.; in
so doing thou wilt not -bear sin because of him." The command to love
thy neighbour as thy... [ Continue Reading ]
Prohibition of improper mixtures. Apparently the precept was based
upon the view that each individual, animate or inanimate, had
individual qualities assigned by the Creator, and that to mix them was
therefore directed against God's ordinance, and as such involved
impurity. Cp. Deuteronomy 22:5; Deu... [ Continue Reading ]
Miscellaneous precepts in reference to the various circumstances of
every-day life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Inasmuch as the woman here referred to, though betrothed to a husband,
is still a slave, it is no ordinary case of adultery, which is
punishable by death (Leviticus 20:10), and so the penalty is to be
less severe, but is nevertheless demanded, on the ground that she is
the husband's property.
_bond... [ Continue Reading ]
See introd. note to ch.... [ Continue Reading ]
The fruit tree in its first three years is to be regarded as a male
infant during his first eight days (Dillm.), i.e. as unconsecrated.
Probably the object was to allow the tree time to become accustomed to
the soil, and so to postpone the enjoyment of the fruit till both
quantity and quality had ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_with the blood_ The LXX. has here instead -upon the mountains,"
probably influenced by the phrase in Ezekiel 18:6; Ezekiel 22:9,
which, however, according to Rob.-Sm. (_Kinship_, p. 312), should be
assimilated to accord with Ezekiel 33:25.
_use enchantments_ Employ divination. See e.g. Genesis 44:... [ Continue Reading ]
_round the corners of your heads_ i.e. cut off the hair from the
temples. Cp. Jeremiah 9:26; Jeremiah 25:23; Jeremiah 49:32. According
to Herod. (iii. 8) it had a religious significance with certain Arab
tribes. The belief that the hair was specially fitted to mark union
with the Divine being, seems... [ Continue Reading ]
For -the land" in the sense of its inhabitants, cp. Leviticus 18:25;
Judges 18:30; Hosea 1:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall keep my sabbaths_ Cp. Leviticus 19:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_familiar spirits … wizards_ Cp. ch. Leviticus 20:6; Leviticus
20:27. For the difference between the two see Driver on Deuteronomy
18:11. The former expression (_"ôb_) may be rendered _ghost_. Its
oracles were uttered in a twittering voice, which, through
ventriloquism, appeared to rise from the gro... [ Continue Reading ]
_rise up_, etc.] Herodotus (ii. 80) speaks of this and other acts of
respect on the part of youth to age as practised by the Egyptians, to
whom, according to him, the Lacedaemonians alone of the Greeks furnish
a parallel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Exodus 22:21; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 10:19; cp. Malachi 3:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Uprightness enjoined in judgement and in commercial dealings. Cp.
Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Ezekiel 45:9 ff.
_meteyard_ lit. (Anglo-Saxon _met-geard_) a measuring rod. For the
word see _Taming of the Shrew_, iv. 3. 153.
_ephah … hin_ The former was about a bushel, the latter about 1 1/2
gallons of our... [ Continue Reading ]