_MOSES APPOINTS A FORM OF CONFESSION FOR THOSE WHO OFFER THEIR FIRST-FRUITS AND TITHES: HE ASSURES THE ISRAELITES THAT THEY SHALL BE HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS, IF THEY OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD._ _Before Christ 1451._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 2. _SHALT PUT IT IN A BASKET,_ &C.— The baskets used by the rich upon this occasion were sometimes of silver, or overlaid with gold, and these the priest restored to the owner; but if it was a wicker-basket, or the like, the priest had it, together with the first-fruits. Bishop Patrick thinks... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 5. _AND THOU SHALT SPEAK,_ &C.— The sum of the acknowledgment amounts to this: that their possession of that land was entirely owing to the bounty of God, and not left them by their ancestors; for Jacob or Israel, their progenitor, was forced to fly into Syria in a poor condition, and afterwa... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 10. _THOU SHALT SET IT BEFORE THE LORD_— i.e. Before the sanctuary where God was especially present. It appears from this, that the person who made the former profession held the basket in his hand during the time; which done, he set it before the altar, as at the first, ver. 4 and _worshippe... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 12. _THE THIRD YEAR, WHICH IS THE YEAR OF TITHING_— The third year is that in which the tenths were to be given to the poor, for _every year_ they were to give only to the Levites; but the _third year_ they gave both to the poor and the Levites.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 14. _I HAVE NOT EATEN THEREOF IN MY MOURNING,_ &C.— The expressions in this verse evidently refer to idolatrous customs, and they are further proofs how careful their legislator was to guard them from the then prevailing idolatry of worshipping the dead. Had they not been restrained by this a... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 17. _THOU HAST AVOUCHED,_ &C.— Thou hast _said, solemnly professed,_ or _protested;_ and so in the 18th verse it is said, _the Lord hath avouched thee,_ &c. the close of which sentence should be rendered, _if thou shalt keep his commandments._ See Houbigant's note on the place. The paraphrase... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 19. _TO MAKE THEE HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS_— The greatest glory and exaltation of any nation is, to be peculiarly grateful and obedient to God. It is both a very high and a very noble privilege, and full of such blessings as will infallibly render a people great and happy above all others. REFL... [ Continue Reading ]