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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Cautions Against Idolatry. (b. c. 1451.)
CAUTIONS AGAINST IDOLATRY. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A very strange supposition, Deuteronomy 13:1-2. 1. It is strange that there should arise any among themselves, especially any pretending to vision and prophecy, who s…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 13:6-11
Further provision is made by this branch of the statute against receiving the infection of idolatry from those that are near and dear to us. I. It is the policy of the tempter to send his solicitations by the hand of th…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 13:12-18
Here the case is put of a city revolting from its allegiance to the God of Israel, and serving other gods. I. The crime is supposed to be committed, 1. By one of the cities of Israel, that lay within the jurisdiction of…
What Might Be Eaten, and What Not. (b. c. 1451.)
WHAT MIGHT BE EATEN, AND WHAT NOT. (B. C. 1451.) Moses here tells the people of Israel, I. How God had dignified them, as a peculiar people, with three distinguishing privileges, which were their honour, and figures of…
Tithes for Feasting and Charity. (b. c. 1451.)
TITHES FOR FEASTING AND CHARITY. (B. C. 1451.) We have here a part of the statute concerning tithes. The productions of the ground were twice tithed, so that, putting both together, a fifth part was devoted to God out o…
The Year of Release. (b. c. 1451.)
THE YEAR OF RELEASE. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A law for the relief of poor debtors, such (we may suppose) as were insolvent. Every seventh year was a year of release, in which the ground rested from being tilled and se…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 15:12-18
Here is, I. A repetition of the law that had been given concerning Hebrew servants who had sold themselves for servants, or were sold by their parents through extreme poverty, or were sold by the court of judgment for s…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 15:19-23
Here is, 1. A repetition of the law concerning the firstlings of their cattle, that, if they were males, they were to be sanctified to the Lord (Deuteronomy 15:19), in remembrance of, and in thankfulness for, the sparin…
Yearly Release. (b. c. 1451.)
YEARLY RELEASE. (B. C. 1451.) Much of the communion between God and his people Israel was kept up, and a face of religion preserved in the nation, by the three yearly feasts, the institution of which, and the laws conce…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 16:18-22
Here is, I. Care taken for the due administration of justice among them, that controversies might be determined, matters in variance adjusted, the injured redressed, and the injurious punished. While they were encamped…
The Punishment of Idolatry. (b. c. 1451.)
THE PUNISHMENT OF IDOLATRY. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A law for preserving the honour of God's worship, by providing that no creature that had any blemish should be offered in sacrifice to him, Deuteronomy 17:1. This ca…
The Authority of the Judges. (b. c. 1451.)
THE AUTHORITY OF THE JUDGES. (B. C. 1451.) Courts of judgment were ordered to be erected in every city (Deuteronomy 16:18), and they were empowered to hear and determine causes according to law, both those which we call…
The Choice of a King. (b. c. 1451.)
THE CHOICE OF A KING. (B. C. 1451.) After the laws which concerned subjects fitly followed the laws which concern kings; for those that rule others must themselves remember that they are under command. Here are laws giv…
Maintenance of the Levites. (b. c. 1451.)
MAINTENANCE OF THE LEVITES. (B. C. 1451.) Magistracy and ministry are two divine institutions of admirable use for the support and advancement of the kingdom of God among men. Laws concerning the former we had in the cl…
Idolatrous Customs of the Canaanites. (b. c. 1451.)
IDOLATROUS CUSTOMS OF THE CANAANITES. (B. C. 1451.) One would not think there had been so much need as it seems there was to arm the people of Israel against the infection of the idolatrous customs of the Canaanites. Wa…
The Great Prophet; False Prophets. (b. c. 1451.)
THE GREAT PROPHET; FALSE PROPHETS. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. The promise of the great prophet, with a command to receive him, and hearken to him. Now, 1. Some think it is the promise of a succession of prophets, that sh…
The Cities of Refuge. (b. c. 1451.)
THE CITIES OF REFUGE. (B. C. 1451.) It was one of the precepts given to the sons of Noah that whoso sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed, that is, by the avenger of blood, Genesis 9:6. Now here we have th…
False Witnesses. (b. c. 1451.)
FALSE WITNESSES. (B. C. 1451.) Here is a statute for the preventing of frauds and perjuries; for the divine law takes care of men's rights and properties, and has made a hedge about them. Such a friend is it to human so…
Directions Concerning War; Persons Excused from War. (b. c. 1451.)
DIRECTIONS CONCERNING WAR; PERSONS EXCUSED FROM WAR. (B. C. 1451.) Israel was at this time to be considered rather as a camp than as a kingdom, entering upon an enemy's country, and not yet settled in a country of their…
Proclamations of War; Directions Concerning War. (b. c. 1451.)
PROCLAMATIONS OF WAR; DIRECTIONS CONCERNING WAR. (B. C. 1451.) They are here directed what method to take in dealing with the cities (these only are mentioned, Deuteronomy 20:10, but doubtless the armies in the field, a…
Undetected Murder. (b. c. 1451.)
UNDETECTED MURDER. (B. C. 1451.) Care had been taken by some preceding laws for the vigorous and effectual persecution of a wilful murderer (Deuteronomy 19:11-13, &c.), the putting of whom to death was the putting away…
The Case of Captive Women. (b. c. 1451.)
THE CASE OF CAPTIVE WOMEN. (B. C. 1451.) By this law a soldier is allowed to marry his captive if he pleased. For the hardness of their hearts Moses gave them this permission, lest, if they had not had liberty given the…
The Right of the Firstborn. (b. c. 1451.)
THE RIGHT OF THE FIRSTBORN. (B. C. 1451.) This law restrains men from disinheriting their eldest sons out of mere caprice, and without just provocation. I. The case here put (Deuteronomy 21:15) is very instructive. 1. I…
Punishment of a Rebellious Son; Burial of Malefactors. (b. c. 1451.)
PUNISHMENT OF A REBELLIOUS SON; BURIAL OF MALEFACTORS. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A law for the punishing of a rebellious son. Having in the former law provided that parents should not deprive their children of their rig…