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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:11
Rejoice before the Lord. "The expression, to rejoice before the Lord, denotes here nothing else than to honor him by sacred songs; comp. Spencer, 'De Legg. Hebrews Ritual.,' p. 881, edit. 3". In the place which the Lord…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:13-15
The Feast of Tabernacles, properly, Booths (cf. Leviticus 23:33-44; Numbers 29:12-38). This feast was to be observed at the end of harvest, after the corn had been gathered into granaries, and the produce of the vineyar…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:13-17
The Feast of Tabernacles-life a tented state. This was the third great festival, and it was after all the harvest and vintage had been gathered home. It was celebrated in the seventh month, from the fifteenth day to the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:13-17
The Feast of Tabernacles, or of Ingathering. "The festival of tabernacles, as originally instituted, presents but little symbolism. Its primary design was to give expression to joy and gratitude in view of the products…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:13-16
The Feast of Tabernacle. I. A FEAST OF THE INGATHERING. (Deuteronomy 16:13.) Held in the seventh month, when all the fruits of the earth had been gathered in. Thus: 1. Every stage of labor was sanctified by the recognit…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:18-21
Model judges. I. JUDGES OCCUPY A HIGH AND RESPONSIBLE POSITION. 1. They are necessary. They require to be set up "in all thy gates … throughout thy tribes." 2. They represent God (Deuteronomy 1:17). They are called "god…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:18
Judges and officers. The "officers" (shoterim, writers) associated with the judges both in the earlier arrangements and in that which was to succeed were secretaries and clerks of court, and acted also as assessors and…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:18-22
The administration of justice. True religion is related to true morality as the parent is related to the child. God cares as much that right dispositions should prevail between man and man as between man and God. By an…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Impartial judges. We have here the election of judges or magistrates laid down as a duty. In the election they are to secure impartial and incorruptible men. A bribe is not to be thought of by the judges—nor are they to…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:18-20
(See Homily, De 10:17—11:1, "God no respecter of persons.") Deuteronomy 16:21, Deuteronomy 16:22 (See Homily, Deuteronomy 5:8-10, on "The second commandment," and also Homily, Deuteronomy 13:1-18; on "Temptations to ido…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Moses had at an earlier period appointed judges to settle disputes among the people, and had given instructions to them for the discharge of their duty (Exodus 18:1-27; Deuteronomy 1:12-18). Whilst the people were in th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:19
(Cf. Exodus 23:6, Exodus 23:8.) Respect persons (cf. Deuteronomy 1:17). Pervert the words [margin, matters] of the righteous; rather, the case or the cause of the righteous.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:20
That which is altogether just; literally, justice, justice. The repetition of the word is for the sake of emphasis, as in Genesis 14:10, "pits, pits," equal to full of pits. Deuteronomy 16:21, Deuteronomy 16:22 In all s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:21
Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees; thou shalt not plant, i.e. place or set up, an asherah of any wood. The asherah was an idol of wood in the form of a pillar, usually placed by the side of the altars of Ba…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:22
Any image; any pillar, etc. The Hebrew word ( מַצֵבָה, mazzebah) denotes generally any pillar or stone that is set up, whether as a memorial (Genesis 28:18), or as a sign (Exodus 24:4; Isaiah 19:19), or for purposes of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1
The priests the Levites, the whole tribe of Levi; i.e. the whole tribe of Levi, including both the priests and the general body of the Levites. They shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire. "The offerings of th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1-8
The true priest is the highest type of man. God here lays down the lines along which men may rise to the dignity of the true priesthood. The ordinance did not secure the ideal reality. "The Law was weak through the fles…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1-22
EXPOSITION RIGHTS OF THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES. THE ARTS OF DIVINATION OF THE HEATHEN TO BE AVOIDED. PROPHETS PROMISED WHOM ISRAEL MUST HEAR. THE FALSE AND PRESUMPTUOUS PROPHET TO BE PUT TO DEATH.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1-8
After the ruling powers, the judges and the king, come the priests and the Levites. In regard to them Moses repeats here the law as before laid down (cf. Numbers 18:20, Numbers 18:23, Numbers 18:24).
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1-8
The support of the ministry the duty of God's people. In a note on a corresponding passage in Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:22, Dr. Jameson remarks, "Neither the priests nor the Levites were to possess any allotments of lan…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1-8
God's provision for the priests and Levites. From the limitations of the monarchy, Moses next turns to the provision for the "priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi." They were not to receive any estate in Canaa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:4
In addition to the firstfruits already prescribed by the Law to be given to the priests (Numbers 18:12, Numbers 18:13), Moses here enacts that the first fleece of the sheep shall be given. All these, though legally pres…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:5
The priesthood. Israel, as a holy nation, consecrated to God's service, was "a kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6). This priestly character of the nation was represented formally in the tribe of Levi. The distinctive duti…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:5
The reason assigned for the enactment is that God had chosen the priest to stand and minister in the Name of Jehovah, i.e. not only by his appointment and authority, but with full power to act as mediator between the pe…