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23:1 Non suscipies vocem mendacii, nec junges manum tuam ut pro impio dicas falsum testimonium.
*H Thou shalt not receive the voice of a lie: neither shalt thou join thy hand to bear false witness for a wicked person.


Ver. 1. Lie, by countenancing calumny. Judges must never do any thing which they know to be unjust, whatever the witnesses may assert. The person who speaks against his neighbour, would injure him, if he had an opportunity. Quintel. — Heb. "Thou shalt not raise a false report." H.

23:2 Non sequeris turbam ad faciendum malum : nec in judicio, plurimorum acquiesces sententiae, ut a vero devies.
Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil: neither shalt thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from the truth.
23:3 Pauperis quoque non misereberis in judicio.
*H Neither shalt thou favour a poor man in judgment.


Ver. 3. Favour. Mercy would then be contrary to justice. Ps. lxxi. 2. S. Aug. q. 88.

23:4 Si occurreris bovi inimici tui, aut asino erranti, reduc ad eum.
If thou meet thy enemy's ox or ass going astray, bring it back to him.
* Footnote * Deuteronomy 22 : 1 Thou shalt not pass by if thou seest thy brother's ox, or his sheep go astray: but thou shalt bring them back to thy brother.
23:5 Si videris asinum odientis te jacere sub onere, non pertransibis, sed sublevabis cum eo.
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lie underneath his burden, thou shalt not pass by, but shalt lift him up with him.
23:6 Non declinabis in judicium pauperis.
Thou shalt not go aside in the poor man's judgment.
23:7 Mendacium fugies. Insontem et justum non occides : quia aversor impium.
Thou shalt fly lying. The innocent and just person thou shalt not put to death: because I abhor the wicked.
* Footnote * Daniel 13 : 53 In judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith: The innocent and the just thou shalt not kill.
23:8 Nec accipies munera, quae etiam excaecant prudentes, et subvertunt verba justorum.
*H Neither shalt thou take bribes, which even blind the wise, and pervert the words of the just.


Ver. 8. Bribes, which naturally induce the receiver to shew favour, and therefore cannot be too carefully avoided. The Athenians put to death those who bribed the judges, and required the latter to restore ten-fold. C.

* Footnote * Deuteronomy 16 : 19 And not go aside to either part. Thou shalt not accept person nor gifts: for gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words of the just.
23:9 Peregrino molestus non eris. Scitis enim advenarum animas : quia et ipsi peregrini fuistis in terra Aegypti.
*H Thou shalt not molest a stranger, for you know the hearts of strangers: for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.


Ver. 9. The hearts. You have experienced what sorrow and misery they feel. M.

* Footnote * Genesis 46 : 6 And all that he had in the land of Chanaan: and he came into Egypt with all his seed;
23:10 Sex annis seminabis terram tuam, et congregabis fruges ejus :
Six years thou shalt sow thy ground, and shalt gather the corn thereof.
23:11 anno autem septimo dimittes eam, et requiescere facies, ut comedant pauperes populi tui : et quidquid reliquum fuerit, edant bestiae agri : ita facies in vinea et in oliveto tuo.
*H But the seventh year thou shalt let it alone, and suffer it to rest, that the poor of thy people may eat, and whatsoever shall be left, let the beasts of the field eat it: so shalt thou do with thy vineyard and thy oliveyard.


Ver. 11. Year. Thus God was pleased to teach them to place entire confidence in him, and to compassionate the distress of the poor. Most people suppose, that the sabbatic year commenced in autumn; as otherwise the land would have remained without any harvest two years. This law began to be observed the 7th year after Josue crossed the Jordan. Jerusalem was thrice besieged during the sabbatic years. Jer. xxxiv. 8. 1 Mac. vi. 51. See Josep. Ant. xii. 14. xiv. 28. God blessed the 6th year, so that it produced as much as three. Lev. xxv. 21. C. — On the feast of tabernacles, (in September) at the beginning of the 7th year, Deuteronomy was to be read aloud to all the people, the Hebrew slaves might obtain their liberty, and if a person could not restore what he had borrowed, it was to be remitted for ever. Deut. xv. and xxxi. 10. T.

* Footnote * Leviticus 25 : 4 But in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath to the land, of the resting of the Lord. Thou shalt not sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
23:12 Sex diebus operaberis : septimo die cessabis, ut requiescat bos et asinus tuus, et refrigeretur filius ancillae tuae, et advena.
Six days thou shalt work: the seventh day thou shalt cease, that thy ox and thy ass may rest: and the son of thy handmaid and the stranger may be refreshed.
23:13 Omnia quae dixi vobis, custodite. Et per nomen externorum deorum non jurabitis, neque audietur ex ore vestro.
*H Keep all things that I have said to you. And by the name of strange gods you shall not swear, neither shall it be heard out of your mouth.


Ver. 13. Name. Hence it is supposed, the Jews have given abusive titles to the idols; as they call Beelzebub the god-fly, &c. No respect was to be shewn to them. C.

23:14 Tribus vicibus per singulos annos mihi festa celebrabitis.
*H Three times every year you shall celebrate feasts to me.


Ver. 14. Three. Women are not here mentioned; but they are, Deut. xxxi. 12. Children under 13, were exempted from the obligation, according to the Caraites. Men from 20 to 60, not lawfully hindered, were bound to appear. Levit. xxvii. 3.

23:15 Solemnitatem azymorum custodies. Septem diebus comedes azyma, sicut praecepi tibi, tempore mensis novorum, quando egressus es de Aegypto : non apparebis in conspectu meo vacuus.
*H Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month of new corn, when thou didst come forth out of Egypt: thou shalt not appear empty before me.


Ver. 15. Empty. But shalt offer something in sacrifice, and for the support of the Levites, freely. Deut. xvi. 10. At the Passover, the first-fruits of barley were to be offered, as those of wheat would be ready at Pentecost. The third feast, was that of tabernacles, at the conclusion of the civil year. Presents were to be made to God, in testimony of their submission to him; as they were to the kings of the east, by their subjects. Tavernier, Perse. iv. 16. See 1 K. x. 27. 1 Par. xviii. 2. — A sixtieth part of the fruits, at least, was carried to the temple. They consisted of wheat, barley, grapes, figs, apricots, olives, and dates. The king himself carried his basket, and when the solemn procession arrived at the temple, the Levites began to sing the Ps. xxix. I will extol thee, O Lord, &c. After which, the people repeated the words of Deut. xxvi. 3.; and having given their baskets to the priests, (v. 4,) recited parts of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th verses. C. — God. Here the Sept. add, "For when I shall have cast the Gentiles from before thy face, and extended thy limits."

* Footnote ** Deuteronomy 16 : 16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. No one shall appear with his hands empty before the Lord:
23:16 Et solemnitatem messis primitivorum operis tui, quaecumque seminaveris in agro : solemnitatem quoque in exitu anni, quando congregaveris omnes fruges tuas de agro.
And the feast of the harvest of the firstfruits of thy work, whatsoever thou hast sown in the field. The feast also in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in all thy corn out of the field.
23:17 Ter in anno apparebit omne masculinum tuum coram Domino Deo tuo.
Thrice a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God.
* Footnote * Deuteronomy 16 : 16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. No one shall appear with his hands empty before the Lord:
23:18 Non immolabis super fermento sanguinem victimae meae, nec remanebit adeps solemnitatis meae usque mane.
*H Thou shalt not sacrifice the blood of my victim upon leaven, neither shall the fat of my solemnity remain until the morning.


Ver. 18. Thou, &c. This has a reference to the feast of the Passover, v. 15, (Onkelos) as well as the following verse. C.

23:19 Primitias frugum terrae tuae deferes in domum Domini Dei tui. Non coques haedum in lacte matris suae.
*H Thou shalt carry the first-fruits of the corn of thy ground to the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of his dam.


Ver. 19. Dam. The paschal victim must not be so young as to be still suckled. The Sam. subjoins, "Because that would be like immolating an animal found dead, and the God of Jacob hates it." C. — Some imagine that this law alludes to a superstitious custom of the pagans, (Spencer Rit. ii. 8,) or it forbids eating animals while they are, as it were, all milk, not eight days old. Rivet.

* Footnote ** Deuteronomy 14 : 21 But whatsoever is dead of itself, eat not thereof. Give it to the stranger, that is within thy gates, to eat, or sell it to him: because thou art the holy people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of his dam.
23:20 Ecce ego mittam angelum meum, qui praecedat te, et custodiat in via, et introducat in locum quem paravi.
*H Behold I will send my angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared.


Ver. 20. Angel; my only son. Philo. — S. Paul says, they tempted Jesus Christ, (1 Cor. x. 9,) who is styled, the angel of the covenant. Mal. iii. 1. Some apply this to Josue, others to S. Michael, who, from the cloud, conducted the army of Israel. C.

23:21 Observa eum, et audi vocem ejus, nec contemnendum putes : quia non dimittet cum peccaveris, et est nomen meum in illo.
*H Take notice of him, and hear his voice, and do not think him one to be contemned: for he will not forgive when thou hast sinned, and my name is in him.


Ver. 21. Forgive. Dimittet, as well as the Heb. and Sept., may signify, "he will not abandon." H. — My name. Moses, Josue, and still more our Saviour, acted in the name and by the authority of God the Father.

23:22 Quod si audieris vocem ejus, et feceris omnia quae loquor, inimicus ero inimicis tuis, et affligam affligentes te.
But if thou wilt hear hi voice, and do all that I speak, I will be an enemy to thy enemies, and will afflict them that afflict thee.
* Footnote * Deuteronomy 7 : 11 Keep therefore the precepts and ceremonies and judgments, which I command thee this day to do.
23:23 Praecedetque te angelus meus, et introducet te ad Amorrhaeum, et Hethaeum, et Pherezaeum, Chananaeumque, et Hevaeum, et Jebusaeum, quos ego conteram.
And my angel shall go before thee, and shall bring thee in unto the Amorrhite, and the Hethite, and the Pherexite, and the Chanaanite, and the Hevite, and the Jebuzite, whom I will destroy.
* Footnote * Josue 24 : 11 And you passed over the Jordan, and you came to Jericho. And the men of that city fought against you, the Amorrhite, and the Pherezite, and the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Gergesite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite: and I delivered them into your hands.
* Footnote * Deuteronomy 7 : 22 He will consume these nations in thy sight by little and little and by degrees. Thou wilt not be able to destroy them altogether: lest perhaps the beasts of the earth should increase upon thee.
23:24 Non adorabis deos eorum, nec coles eos : non facies opera eorum, sed destrues eos, et confringes statuas eorum.
Thou shalt not adore their gods, nor serve them. Thou shalt not do their works, but shalt destroy them, and break their statues.
23:25 Servietisque Domino Deo vestro, ut benedicam panibus tuis et aquis, et auferam infirmitatem de medio tui.
*H And you shall serve the Lord your God, that I may bless your bread and your waters, and may take away sickness from the midst of thee.


Ver. 25. Waters, or all things necessary for your sustenance.

23:26 Non erit infoecunda, nec sterilis in terra tua : numerum dierum tuorum implebo.
*H There shall not be one fruitless nor barren in thy land: I will fill the number of thy days.


Ver. 26. Fruitless. Heb. may also be, "miscarrying." — Days. An untimely death was a judgment of God on the wicked, though sometimes he chooses to draw his elect quickly out of this dangerous world. Wisd. iv. 11.

23:27 Terrorem meum mittam in praecursum tuum, et occidam omnem populum, ad quem ingredieris : cunctorumque inimicorum tuorum coram te terga vertam :
*H I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come: and will turn the backs of all thy enemies before thee:


Ver. 27. Destroy. Heb. "fill with consternation."

23:28 emittens crabrones prius, qui fugabunt Hevaeum, et Chananaeum, et Hethaeum, antequam introeas.
*H Sending out hornets before, that shall drive away the Hevite, and the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, before thou come in.


Ver. 28. Hornets, or wasps. Wisd. xii. 8. Josue (xxiv. 12,) assures us this was verified. Thus scorpions forced the Ethiopians to abandon their country; and flies and wasps drove away the Mysians and Phaselides. See Bochart iv. 13. The latter people were of Phœnician extraction, and probably fled before Josue. Most of the Chanaanites withdrew into Africa; some perhaps into America. C.

* Footnote * Deuteronomy 7 : 20 Moreover the Lord thy God will send also hornets among them, until he destroy and consume all that have escaped thee, and could hide themselves.
23:29 Non ejiciam eos a facie tua anno uno : ne terra in solitudinem redigatur, et crescant contra te bestiae.
*H I will not cast them out from thy face in one year; lest the land be brought into a wilderness, and the beasts multiply against thee.


Ver. 29. Beasts. Herod the great killed many in hunting. Josep. Bel. i. 16. Two bears rushed upon the children, 4 K. ii. 24. How much would they have increased in all the countries from the Euphrates to the Nile, had they been destitute of any other inhabitants but the Hebrews, (C.) many of whom perished in the desert!

23:30 Paulatim expellam eos de conspectu tuo, donec augearis, et possideas terram.
By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, till thou be increased, and dost possess the land.
23:31 Ponam autem terminos tuos a mari Rubro usque ad mare Palaestinorum, et a deserto usque ad fluvium : tradam in manibus vestris habitatores terrae, et ejiciam eos de conspectu vestro.
And I will set thy bounds from the Red Sea to the sea of the Palestines, and from the desert to the river: I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hands, and will drive them out from before you.
23:32 Non inibis cum eis foedus, nec cum diis eorum.
Thou shalt not enter into league with them, nor with their gods.
* Footnote * Deuteronomy 7 : 2 And the Lord thy God shall have delivered them to thee, thou shalt utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no league with them, nor shew mercy to them:
23:33 Non habitent in terra tua, ne forte peccare te faciant in me, si servieris diis eorum : quod tibi certe erit in scandalum.
*H Let them not dwell in thy land, lest perhaps they make thee sin against me, if thou serve their gods; which, undoubtedly, will be a scandal to thee.


Ver. 33. Scandal. If you have any society with these nations, it will turn to your ruin, which was but too literally manifested afterwards.

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