CHAPTER XXI
_If a man be found slain in a field, and the cause of his death_
_be unknown, the murder shall be expiated by the sacrifice of a_
_heifer in an uncultivated valley_, 1-4.
_The rites to be used on the occasion_, 5-9.
_The ordinance concerning marriage with a captive_, 10-14.
_The la... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:4. _SHALL BRING DOWN THE HEIFER UNTO A ROUGH
VALLEY_] נחל איתן _nachal eythan_ might be translated a _rapid_
stream, probably passing through a piece of uncultivated ground where
the elders of the city were to strike off the head of the heifer, and
to wash their hands over her i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:6. _SHALL WASH THEIR HANDS OVER THE HEIFER_]
Washing the hands, in reference to such a subject as this, was a rite
anciently used to signify that the persons thus washing were innocent
of the crime in question. It was probably from the Jews that Pilate
learned this symbolical me... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:11. _AND SEEST - A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN_] No forcible
possession was allowed even in this case, when the woman was taken in
war, and was, by the general consent of ancient nations, adjudged as a
part of the spoils. The person to whose lot or share such a woman as
is here described fe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:12. _SHE SHALL SHAVE HER HEAD_] This was in token
of her renouncing her religion, and becoming a proselyte to that of
the Jews. This is still a custom in the East; when a Christian turns
Mohammedan his head is shaven, and he is carried through the city
crying, [Arabic] _la alahi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:15. _ONE BELOVED, AND ANOTHER HATED_] That is,
one _loved_ _less_ than the other. This is the true notion of the word
_hate_ in Scripture. So _Jacob_ HATED _Leah_, that is, he _loved her
less_ than he did _Rachel_; and _Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I_
HATED, that is, I hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:18-5. _THE STUBBORN, REBELLIOUS, GLUTTONOUS, AND_
_DRUNKEN SON IS TO BE STONED TO DEATH_. - This law, severe as it may
seem, must have acted as a powerful preventive of crime. If such a law
were in force now, and duly executed, how many deaths of disobedient
and profligate child... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 21:23. _HIS BODY SHALL NOT REMAIN ALL NIGHT UPON
THE TREE_] Its exposure for the space of _one day_ was judged
sufficient. The law which required this answered all the ends of
public justice, exposed the shame and infamy of the conduct, but did
not put to torture the feelings of h... [ Continue Reading ]