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The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:9-14
Purity in the camp. The camp was to be free from: 1. Moral pollution (Deuteronomy 23:9). 2. Ceremonial pollution (verses10, 11). 3. Natural pollution (Deuteronomy 23:12, Deuteronomy 23:13)—M. Henry. This, because God wa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:9-14
Cleanliness a religious duty. The Law of Moses may be regarded as fourfold—moral, ritual, civil, and sanitary. The precepts in this paragraph are an example of the last-named part thereof. They refer to the inculcation…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:9-14
A pure camp for a pure King. After insisting on purity giving power in war (Deuteronomy 23:9), and giving direction to men about putting away uncleanness which may be due to natural causes, Moses urges the precaution, b…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:13
A paddle upon thy weapon; rather, a small spade (the word properly means a pin or nail) among thy furniture, or, according to another reading among thy implements or accoutrements; they were to carry with them along wit…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:14
The camp was to be kept holy, because God went forth with their armies, and in his presence there must be nothing that defileth or is unclean. That he see no unclean thing in thee; literally, nakedness, shamefulness of…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 23:15-25
It is honourable to shelter and protect the weak, provided they are not wicked. Proselytes and converts to the truth, should be treated with particular tenderness, that they may have no temptation to return to the world…
Protection of Fugitives; The Law Concerning Usury. (b. c. 1451.)
PROTECTION OF FUGITIVES; THE LAW CONCERNING USURY. (B. C. 1451.) Orders are here given about five several things which have no relation one to another:— I. The land of Israel is here made a sanctuary, or city of refuge,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:15-23
Various precepts No very close connection exists between the precepts in these verses, yet they are variously related, and suggest by their juxtaposition lessons of importance. We have— I. A WORD SPOKEN IN THE INTERESTS…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:17-25
Money-making must be above suspicion. We have in these verses an excellent lesson upon mercantile morality. There are too many people in this world who are not at all particular how money is made, if only it be made. "T…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:18
Unacceptable offerings. The value of religious offerings in God's sight is not measured by their magnitude, nor by splendor, but by the spiritual motive that originates them. I. GOD HAS NO SEED OF HUMAN OFFERINGS. He is…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:19-25
Certain civil rights and duties are here prescribed. Deuteronomy 23:19, Deuteronomy 23:20 An Israelite might lend on interest money, or victuals, or other property, to a foreigner, but of one of his own people he was no…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:21-23
Vows to God to be performed. The vow here made is supposed to be entirely voluntary. It was "a free-will offering." In Numbers 30:3-8, abuse is guarded against. Yews made without the knowledge or consent of the father o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:21-23
The place of vows. It is not obligatory to make vows; it is obligatory to fulfill them. We are often free to contract an obligation; we are not free to violate it. A man is not bound to marry; having married, he is boun…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:21-23
A vow to the Lord, once made, was to be religiously kept; the Lord would require it, and to refuse or neglect to pay it would be held a sin. No one, however, was under any obligation to vow—that was to be a purely volun…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Where the providence of God, or his own wrong choice in marriage, has allotted to a Christian a trial instead of a help meet; he will from his heart prefer bearing the cross, to such relief as tends to sin, confusion, a…
The Law Concerning Divorce. (b. c. 1451.)
THE LAW CONCERNING DIVORCE. (B. C. 1451.) This is that permission which the Pharisees erroneously referred to as a precept, Matthew 19:7, Moses commanded to give a writing of divorcement. It was not so; our Saviour told…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 24:5-13
It is of great consequence that love be kept up between husband and wife; that they carefully avoid every thing which might make them strange one to another. Man-stealing was a capital crime, which could not be settled,…
The Law of Divorce. (b. c. 1451.)
THE LAW OF DIVORCE. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. Provision made for the preservation and confirmation of love between new-married people, Deuteronomy 24:5. This fitly follows upon the laws concerning divorce, which would b…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 24:14-22
It is not hard to prove that purity, piety, justice, mercy, fair conduct, kindness to the poor and destitute, consideration for them, and generosity of spirit, are pleasing to God, and becoming in his redeemed people. T…
Justice and Generosity. (b. c. 1451.)
JUSTICE AND GENEROSITY. (B. C. 1451.) Here, I. Masters are commanded to be just to their poor servants, Deuteronomy 24:14-15. 1. They must not oppress them, by overloading them with work, by giving them undue and unreas…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 25:1-3
Every punishment should be with solemnity, that those who see it may be filled with dread, and be warned not to offend in like manner. And though the criminals must be shamed as well as put to pain, for their warning an…
Stripes Not to Exceed Forty. (b. c. 1451.)
STRIPES NOT TO EXCEED FORTY. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A direction to the judges in scourging malefactors, Deuteronomy 25:1-3. 1. It is here supposed that, if a man be charged with a crime, the accuser and the accused (…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:1-19
EXPOSITION LAWS RELATING TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, LEVIRATE MARRIAGES, AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:1-3
The first and second verses should be read as one sentence, of which the protasis is in Deuteronomy 25:1 and the apodosis in Deuteronomy 25:2, thus: If there be a strife between men, and they come to judgment, and they…