CHAPTER XX _The preface to the ten commandments_, 1, 2. _The_ FIRST _commandment, against_ mental _or_ theoretic idolatry, 3. _The_ SECOND, _against_ making _and_ worshipping images, _or_ practical idolatry, 4-6. _The_ THIRD, _against_ false swearing, blasphemy, _and_ irreverent use _of the_... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT Against _mental_ or _theoretic idolatry_. Verse Exodus 20:2. _I_ AM _THE_ LORD _THY GOD_] יהוה אלהיך _Yehovah_ _eloheycha_. On the word JEHOVAH, which we here translate LORD, Genesis 2:4, and _"_Exodus 6:3_"_. And on the word Elohim, here translated GOD, Genesis 1:1. It is w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:3. _THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME._] אלהים אחרים _elohim acherim_, no _strange gods _- none that thou art not _acquainted_ with, none who has not _given thee_ such _proofs_ of his power and godhead as I have done in delivering thee from the Egyptians, dividing the Red Sea,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT Against _making_ and _worshipping images_. Verse Exodus 20:4. _THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE_] As the word פסל _pasal_ signifies to _hew_, _carve, grave_, c., פסל _pesel_ may here signify any kind of image, either of _wood, stone_, or _metal_, on which the _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:5. _JEALOUS GOD_] This shows in a most expressive manner the love of God to this people. He felt for them as the most affectionate husband could do for his spouse; and was _jealous_ for their fidelity, because he willed their invariable happiness. _VISITING THE INIQUITY OF THE FATH... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:6. _AND SHOWING MERCY UNTO THOUSANDS_] Mark; even those who love God and keep his commandments _merit_ nothing from him, and therefore the salvation and blessedness which these enjoy come from the _mercy_ of God: _Showing mercy_, c. What a disproportion between the works of _justice_... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT Against _false swearing, blasphemy_, and _irreverent use of the name of God_. Verse Exodus 20:7. _THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN_ _vain_] This precept not only forbids all _false oaths_, but all _common swearing_ where the name of God is used, or where... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT Against _profanation_ of the _Sabbath_, and _idleness_ on the _other days_ of the _week_. Verse Exodus 20:8. _REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY._] See what has been already said on this precept, Genesis 2:2, and elsewhere. Genesis 2:2. As this was the most ancient... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:9. _SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOUR_] Therefore he who idles away time on any of the six days, is as guilty before God as he who works on the Sabbath. No work should be done on the Sabbath that can be done on the preceding days, or can be deferred to the succeeding ones. Works of absolut... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT Against _disrespect_ and _disobedience_ to _parents_. Verse Exodus 20:12. _HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER_] There is a degree of affectionate respect which is owing to parents, that no person else can properly claim. For a considerable time parents stand as it were in the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT Against _murder_ and _cruelty_. Verse Exodus 20:13. _THOU SHALT NOT KILL._] This commandment, which is general, prohibits _murder_ of every kind. 1. All _actions_ by which the lives of our fellow creatures may be _abridged_. 2. All _wars_ for extending empire, commerce, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT Against _adultery_ and _uncleanness_. Verse Exodus 20:14. _THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY._] Adultery, as defined by our laws, is of _two_ kinds; _double_, when between two married persons; _single_, when _one_ of the parties is married, the other single. One principal part... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT Against _stealing_ and _dishonesty_. Verse Exodus 20:15. _THOU SHALT NOT STEAL._] All _rapine_ and _theft_ are forbidden by this precept; as well _national_ and _commercial_ wrongs as petty larceny, highway robberies, and private stealing: even the taking advantage of a sel... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT Against _false testimony, perjury_, c. Verse Exodus 20:16. _THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, C._] Not only false oaths, to deprive a man of his _life_ or of his _right_, are here prohibited, but all _whispering, tale-bearing, slander_, and _calumny_ in a word, whatever is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TENTH COMMANDMENT Against _covetousness_. Verse Exodus 20:17. _THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE - WIFE, C._] _Covet_ signifies to desire or long after, in order to enjoy as a _property_ the person or thing coveted. He breaks this command who by any means endeavours to deprive a man... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:18. _AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAW THE THUNDERINGS, C._] They had witnessed all these awful things before, (see Exodus 19:16), but _here_ they seem to have been repeated probably at the end of each command, there was a peal of thunder, a blast of the trumpet, and a gleam of lightning, to i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:20. _AND MOSES SAID - FEAR NOT: FOR GOD IS COME TO PROVE YOU,_ _AND THAT HIS FEAR MAY BE BEFORE YOUR FACES_] The maxim contained in this verse is, _Fear not, that he may fear _- do not fear with such a fear as brings _consternation_ into the soul, and produces nothing but terror and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:22. _I HAVE TALKED WITH YOU FROM HEAVEN._] Though God manifested himself by the _fire_, the _lightning_, the _earthquake_, the _thick darkness_, c., yet the _ten words_, or _commandments_ were probably uttered from the _higher regions of the air_, which would be an additional proof... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:23. _YE SHALL NOT MAKE WITH ME GODS OF SILVER_] The expressions here are very remarkable. Before it was said, Ye shall have no other gods BEFORE _me_, אל פני al panai, Exodus 20:3. Here they are commanded, ye shall not make gods of _silver_ or _gold_ _itti_ WITH _me_, as _emblems_ or... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:24. _THY BURNT-OFFERINGS, AND THY PEACE-OFFERINGS_] The _law_ concerning which was shortly to be given, though sacrifices of this kind were in use from the days of Abel. _IN ALL PLACES WHERE I RECORD MY NAME_] Wherever I am worshipped, whether in the open wilderness, at the taberna... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:25. _THOU SHALT NOT BUILD IT OF HEWN STONE_] Because they were now in a wandering state, and had as yet no fixed residence; and therefore no time should be wasted to rear costly altars, which could not be transported with them, and which they must soon leave. Besides, they must not l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 20:26. _NEITHER SHALT THOU GO UP BY STEPS UNTO MINE ALTAR_] The word altar comes from _altus, high_ or _elevated_, though the Hebrew word מזבח _mizbach_, from זבח _zabach_, to _slay, kill_, c., signifies merely a _place for sacrifice_ see Genesis 8:20. But the heathens, who imitated th... [ Continue Reading ]