INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 24 This chapter contains various laws concerning divorces, Deuteronomy 24:1; the discharge of a newly married man from war and business, Deuteronomy 24:5; about taking pledges, Deuteronomy 24:6; man stealing, Deuteronomy 24:7; the plague of leprosy, Deuteronomy 24:8; and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN A MAN HATH TAKEN A WIFE AND MARRIED HER,.... That is, when a man has made choice of a woman for his wife, and has obtained her consent, and the consent of her parents; and has not only betrothed her, but taken her home, and consummated the marriage: AND IT COME TO PASS THAT SHE FIND NO FAVOUR... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN SHE IS DEPARTED OUT OF HIS HOUSE,.... With her bill of divorce, by which departure out of his house it is notified to all: SHE MAY GO AND BE OTHER MAN'S [WIFE]; it was permitted her to marry another man, she being by her divorce freed from the law of her former husband; and who indeed, in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND [IF] THE LATTER HUSBAND HATE HER,.... Or less loves her than another woman, and she is disliked by him as she was by her former husband; AND WRITE HER A BILL OFF DIVORCEMENT, AND GIVETH [IT] INTO HER HAND, AND SENDETH HER OUT OF HIS HOUSE: as he had by this law a permission, in like manner as... [ Continue Reading ]
HER FORMER HUSBAND WHICH SENT HER AWAY MAY NOT TAKE HER AGAIN TO BE HIS WIFE,.... Though ever so desirous of it, and having heartily repented that he had put her away: this is the punishment of his fickleness and inconstancy, and was ordered to make men cautious how they put away their wives; since... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN A MAN HATH TAKEN A NEW WIFE,.... A wife he has lately married, new to him, though a widow, as Jarchi observes; but the Targum of Jonathan says a virgin; however this is opposed to his old wife, and divorced; for this, as Jarchi and Ben Melech say, excepts the return of a divorced wife, who cann... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN SHALL TAKE THE NETHER OR THE UPPER MILLSTONE TO PLEDGE,.... The first word being of the dual number takes in both stones, wherefore Vatablus renders the words, "ye shall not take for a pledge both the millstones, nor indeed the uppermost;'' which is the least; so far should they be from tak... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN BE FOUND STEALING ANY OF HIS BRETHREN OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... Whether grown up or little, male or female, an Israelite or a proselyte, or a freed servant; all, as Maimonides f says, are included in this general word "brethren"; though Aben Ezra observes, that it is added, "of the chi... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED, IN THE PLAGUE OF LEPROSY,.... Whether in the bodies of men, or in houses, or in garments, not to hide and conceal it; or, as Jarchi, weaken the signs of it, or cut out the bright spot; so the Targum of Jonathan: THAT THOU OBSERVE DILIGENTLY, AND DO ACCORDING TO ALL THE PRIESTS THE LEVITE... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD THY GOD DID UNTO MIRIAM,.... Who was stricken with leprosy for speaking against Moses, and was shut up seven days; and they are reminded of this instance, partly to warn them against entertaining evil suspicions, and surmises of persons in power and authority, and speaking evi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU DOST LEND THY BROTHER ANYTHING,.... Any sum of money he stands in need of, or demanded a debt of him, as Jarchi; money he is indebted to thee, which is the sense of the Septuagint version; and he is not able to pay it, but offers something: in pawn till he can pay it: THOU SHALL NOT GO IN... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL STAND ABROAD,.... Without doors, in the street, as the Targum of Jonathan, while the borrower or debtor looks out, and brings forth what he can best spare as a pledge: AND THE MAN TO WHOM THOU DOST LEND SHALL BRING OUT THE PLEDGE ABROAD UNTO THEE; now as, on the one hand, if the lender o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF THE MAN [BE] POOR,.... Which may be thought to be the case of everyone that gives pledges for a debt he owes, or a sum of money he borrows; yet there might be a difference: some might be so very destitute of goods and raiment in their houses, that whatever they parted with was distressing to... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ANY CASE THOU SHALT DELIVER HIM THE PLEDGE AGAIN, WHEN THE SUN GOETH DOWN,.... If it was a night covering, as Jarchi remarks; but if it was his day clothes, he was to return it in the morning, when the sun arose; and this was to be done every day, which resist occasion a great deal of trouble, an... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL NOT OPPRESS AN HIRED SERVANT,.... That is hired by the day, as appears by Deuteronomy 24:15; though the law may include such as are hired by the week, or month, or year; neither of whom are to be oppressed by any means, and chiefly by detaining their wages; so the Jerusalem Targum explain... [ Continue Reading ]
AT HIS DAY THOU SHALT GIVE [HIM] HIS HIRE,.... At the close of the day, when his work is done, the hire agreed for must be paid him; and, by the same rule, all such that were hired by the week, month, or year, were to have their wages paid them at the day their time was up: NEITHER SHALL THE SUN GO... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FATHERS SHALL NOT BE PUT TO DEATH FOR THE CHILDREN,.... By the civil magistrates, for sins committed by them of a capital nature, and which are worthy of death: NEITHER SHALL THE CHILDREN BE PUT TO DEATH FOR THE FATHERS; for sins committed by them that deserve it: EVERY MAN SHALL BE PUT TO DEA... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT PERVERT THE JUDGMENT OF THE STRANGER, [NOR] OF THE FATHERLESS,.... Who are unable to defend themselves, and have but few, if any, to take their part; and therefore particular care should be taken by judges and civil magistrates to do them justice, or God will require it of them: NOR... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU SHALT REMEMBER THAT THOU WAST A BONDMAN IN EGYPT,.... The remembrance of which may cause sympathy with persons in distress; particularly the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow: AND THE LORD THY GOD REDEEMED THEE THENCE; the Targum of Jonathan, "the Word of the Lord thy God;'' which,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU CUTTEST DOWN THINE HARVEST IN THY FIELD,.... Whether barley harvest or wheat harvest, when either of them are ripe for cutting, mowing, or reaping, and are cutting down: AND HAST FORGOT A SHEAF IN THE FIELD; Jarchi says the phrase "in the field" is to include standing corn, some of which... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU BEATEST THINE OLIVE TREE,.... With sticks and staves, to get off the olives when ripe: THOU SHALL NOT GO OVER THE BOUGHS AGAIN; to beat off some few that may remain; they were not nicely to examine the boughs over again, whether there were any left or not: IT SHALL BE FOR THE STRANGER, F... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU GATHEREST THE GRAPES OF THY VINEYARD,.... Which was done much about the same time that the olives were gathered, and both after wheat harvest, about the latter end of June, or beginning of July; for they were more forward in those hot countries: THOU SHALL NOT GLEAN [IT] AFTERWARDS; go ov... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT REMEMBER THAT THOU WAST A BONDMAN IN THE LAND OF EGYPT,.... When they would have been glad to have enjoyed the like favours, as small as they might seem to be, even to glean in their fields, vineyards, and oliveyards; THEREFORE I COMMAND THEE TO DO THIS THING; to suffer the poor to t... [ Continue Reading ]