PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy
William Lindsay Alexander [1808-1884] · 519,671 words · 561 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 361
Vere. 8-12.-Linsey-woolseys. The different directions here given may be reduced to one idea, that of genuineness. The houses were to be substantial e•lificc~, not endan- gering the lives of others by defective buildings or deficient battlement~. The vineyards were to be sown with pure seed, that the plants might have a…
1,156 wordsSECTION 362The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 362
Ycrs. I-4.-Brothcrly service in daily life. In a healthy state, our souls should so overflow with love, that every neighbour should be regarded as a brother. If the esteem should not at first be reciprocated, our kindness would soften his asperity and make him a better man. lu the long run, kindness will produce kin…
1,081 wordsSECTION 363The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 363
Ver. S.-The perils of inadvertence. Thoughtlessness is the parent of much mischief. To reach a state of security and bliss, there must be life in our every part-in intellect, foresight, prudence. I. MAN IS EXPOSED TO MANY NATURAL EVILS. Although lord and interpreter of nature, nature afflicts him in many ways. She sco…
1,001 wordsSECTION 364The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 364
tho vileness of tho sin nnd the severity of the penalty, is the baseness and guilt of the man who makes tho accusation falsely. This is a climax of sins of speech, which nothin" cnn surpass. Slander of any sort is heinous sin, and slander against an intirnat~ friend is moro heinous yet; but slander against one's wife-a…
755 wordsSECTION 365The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 365
EXPOSITION. Ver. 6.-Isrnel was not to eeek, i.e. caro CHAPTER XXIII. for and use IDlll\UB to promote, the welfare C1nL RroHTS, WHO ll!AY AND 'l\'JIO MAY NOT of those nl\tions. Individuals howover of El\"TER INTO THE CONGREGATION, UN- the.,e na.tions might be naturalized in Isr~el CLEANKESS JN THE CAlllP TO BE AVOID…
934 wordsSECTION 366The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 366
word used is the plural adonim, mnste:rs. Vere. 21-23.-A vow to thn Lord, onre Tho use of this for o liumon master or lo:rrl made, wns to be religiously kept; the Lorri is peoulinr to tho Pentoteuch (cf. Gen. xxiv. woulrl require it, and to refuse or ne.,lect to 0, 51 ; xxxix. 2; xl. 1; Exod. xxi. 4, 6, 32, pay it woul…
875 wordsSECTION 367The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 367
Vers. 9-14.-Cleanliness a relt'gious duly. The Law of Moses may be regarded ae fourfold-moral, ritual, civil, and sanitary. The precepts in this paragraph nre an example of the last-named part thereof. They refer to the inculcation of cleanliness, both in camp and in person. And not only so, but to the observance ther…
721 wordsSECTION 368The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 368
Vere. 1-8.-The excluded from the congregation. Certain principles underlie these exclusions which H is worth our while to note. It will be seen that, thouc,h bar3 of this kind are done away in Christ, there was a fitness, under the theocra~y, in the exclusion of the classes specified from full participation in covenant…
773 wordsSECTION 369The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 369
'11-icked (llfal. ii. 2). How does God tum the curse Into a blessing? 1. Directly 'by tmbstit.uting a blessing for a curse, The curse is not merely not allowed to take effect for harm, but God puts a blessing in its stead. A Divine law of compensation comes into operation. 'l'he wicked is punished, and the object of hi…
974 wordsSECTION 370The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 370
The contrast between the noble severity of the Bible teaching on this subject, and the wretchedly low tone of the teaching of such writers as Bolingbroke, or even of Hume, is very noteworthy. III. CHECKS IMPOSED ON COVETOUSNESS. 1. The lender is not permitted to exact usury from his brothP,r (vers.19, 20). That the ta…
907 wordsSECTION 371The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 371
1 crs. 9-14.-A pure camp for a pure King. After insisting on purity giving power in war (ver. 9), and giving direction to men about putting away uncleanness which rnay be due to natural causes, Moses urges the precaution, because the All-seeing One walketh through the cam_p, Inspector of all their ways (ver. 14). The d…
1,150 wordsSECTION 372The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 372
Vers.17-25.-Money-making must be abo11e suspicion. We have in these verses an excellent lesson upon mercantile morality. '!'here nre too many people in this world who are not at all particular how money is made, if only it be made. "The wages of iniquity" are as welcome to them as to Balaam. But it is plain from these …
1,029 wordsSECTION 373The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 373
II. Tme 0IOANTIO BIN' BE0ETB A BERIEB 011' OIOANTIO EVILS. 1. ft bPgets Callon., selfishness in posterity. God did not forget that the Moabi tes and Ammonites refused tho common necessaries of life to the Hebrews, who sought nothing more than a friendly pnssnge through their territory. Although this sin was a branch a…
775 wordsSECTION 374The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 374
Vers. 15, 16.-Sympatl1y for fhe oppressed. It is supposed that oppressive forms of slavery existed among the neighbouring nations; and it might be 11nticipatod that the oppressed would seek asylum among the people of God. 'l'he social atmosphere was to be that of healthfol freedom, which is fatal to inhuman thraldom…
732 wordsSECTION 375The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 375
because, while the end is gain, H is not solely gain; seller and buyer both obtain advantnge. I. Ou& 0ONDUOT IS TO DE IlEOULATED BY RELATIONSITTP. Kin<lly feeling is due unto nil men. We should honour man as man. Yet the conduct which is commendable to a stranger is not commendable to a father. According to the deg…
849 wordsSECTION 376The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 376
Vers. 24, 25.-Pos~eaSsion of earthly things only partial. The mode and condition of human life in this world serve a moral purpose. A material body requires material food; material food implies material possessions. The use of these affords fine scope for the development of many virtues. Without material possessions…
749 wordsSECTION 377The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 377
e.nd if she hath departed out of hie house, and of holy wedlock (ae by the former he showed he.th gone and become another man's; and his hatred of unjust divorcee) when, to en- if the latter husband hate 1,er, ancl writo hor conrage the newly married B"ainst the B bill of divorcement, o.nd give it in her cumbrances whi…
1,045 wordsSECTION 378The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 378
n common mode of seeking ROOOBB to R family, and to be put to death along with pC"Taon in hie own house or apartment him (cf. Esth. ix. 18, 14, Herod., iii. 118, nmonc: the Ambe, 1md is regarded A.s the 119; Ammian. Me.reel!., xxiii. 6; Ourtiu&, 011ly respectful mode. There would be thus Yi. 11, 20; Claudi1m, 'In Eutro…
1,005 wordsSECTION 379The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 379
Vers. 6-22.-Neighbourly love and good will to be cultivated in detail. One golden thread runs through all the varied precepts of this chapter, They are most interesting illustrations, one and all, of the spirit of humanity and of far-reriching wisdom which pervades the Mosaic Law. The followi:! 6 headings include the g…
1,264 wordsSECTION 380The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 380
Ver. 8.-Leprosy. I. A JUDGMENT TO BE DREADED. Leprosy is viewed here, as usually in Scripture: 1. .As a stroke of Divine furlgment. It was not always such (Job ii.). Nor did the stroke of Divine judgment always take this form (Uzzah, Jeroboam, Ananias, etc.). Dut it was a frequent form of punishment for sins of a theoc…
1,143 wordsSECTION 381The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 381
rn(•rcifully d<'alt with (Matt.. niii. 23-35). We cannot sufficiently admire the com- bin<'d justice nnd tenderness of these Mosaic precepts. lll. l'nonsrox rs TO DE LEFT FOR THE NEEDY. (Vers. 19-22.) These are beautiful rnlcs. 'l'he Jews were under the Law, but it was a La\\• the fulfilling of which we.s " lo"<'e.…
1,256 wordsSECTION 382The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 382
Ver. 16.-Responsi"bility not to be traniferred according to human caprice. We desire to notice this interesting direction. It is a contrast to the second commandment. There God represents himself as "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children." We see it also in the law of heredity operating in nature. But …
1,164 wordsSECTION 383The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 383
Generous treatment or the poor secures their warmest interest on our behalf. The poorest or the pour has still access to the audience-chamber of the heavenly palace. 'l'heir simple suit on our behalf will sometimes secure blessings which no arithmetic can measure. Deeds of kindness done to the indigent are done to God …
1,127 wordsSECTION 384The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 384
Yem. 14, 15.-0mitted duty ripens into curse. Thoughtlessness is a filmsy excuse for neglected duty. It is a sin to be thoughtless. One talent is buried in the earth. In proportion to the mischief produced is the punishment thereof. I. \\'E HAVE HERE .a. CASE OF OBLIGATION FULLY MATURED. 1. The rich is debtor to the…
491 wordsSECTION 385The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 385
justice. In the absrnce of justice, property becomes untenable, cnmmcrM vanish, s, pe110e spreads her wings for flight. "If the foundations be destroyed, what cnn the righteous do?" I. TH_E MAGIB~A:E's TEMPTATIO~. Ilumnn natnre, a~ its best, is accessible by tem~tat_1~n; an4 1t 1s well that from the e:yes of the natio…
1,251 wordsSECTION 386The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 386
EXPOSITION. times also with thorns (Jndg. viii. 7, 16); CHAPTER XXV. sometimes with whips and scorpions, i.e. LAWS RELATING TO ConronAL PUNISHMENT, scourges of cord or leather armed with sharp LETI!lATE llu.nnaGES, AND WEIGHTS Al.'D points or hard knots (l Kiugs xii. 11, 14). MEASURES. • Though the culprit was la…
452 wordsSECTION 387The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 387
thnt the nnimal might bo freo to eat of the free to do eo; but the womrm had her grnins which ile lnbour soverccl from the redress. She wo.s to bring the m:ittcr bcforn husks. '£hie prohibition, therefore, was the elders of the town, sitting as magistrates dictntocl by o regnrcl to tho rights and cln.ims at the gate, o…
1,280 wordsSECTION 388The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 388
Vers. 1-3.-Humanity to be respected in judicwl ir,fiictions.. This passage is an interesting illustration of the restraints which the Law of Moses puts on the Hebrews, as to the semi-barbarous customs of other nations. It is well known that punishment by bastinado was common among the ancient Egyptians. It would be not…
1,187 wordsSECTION 389The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 389
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1~8.-The bastinado. Professor W.R. Smitlt ('Old Testament,' p. 376) regards this law of stripes as indicating a late date for Deuteronomy. He argues from the customs of the free Bedouins. But it is perilous to reason from the customs of the Bedouins to the punishments in voguo among …
906 wordsSECTION 390The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 390
II, THE IIUMAN LABOURER 18 ENTITLED TO SHARE IN THE PROFITS OF HIS LABOURS. 'l'hcoretically, he does so every time he is paid wages. In tbo distribution of the fruits of production, tho part which the labourer gets, we !Lre told, is wages, the share of the landowner is i·ent, tbat of the capitaliMt is interest, and the…
805 wordsSECTION 391The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 391
. Ye~s. 13-16.-Jlforality ,:n ti-ade. Th? 8:ebre~ lawgiver lays just stress on honesty Ill weights and measures. 'l he general pnnc1ple 1s that of honesty in trade. Weiahts and measures connect themsch-cs intimately with the ideas of justice, rectitude ''im- partiality. ,1 ustice is represented by a figure with scale…
925 wordsSECTION 392The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 392
Vcrs. 1-3.-Earthly magistracy an argument for the heavenly. rt· is not con- ceivable that God should have taken such pains, through Moses, to secure pure administration of justice in earthly courts, unless be had established a like court of judicature in heaven. So far as the will of God is embodied in the judicial pro…
922 wordsSECTION 393The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 393
Vers. 13-16.-Religion inspires commercial life. It is certain that God displays the li,clicst interest in every department of human life. He is not only the God of the hills; he is God of the valleys also. He takes cognizance, not only of great things, but also of small. Can any man tell us what are small things? Not…
1,116 wordsSECTION 394The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 394
Vera. 1-3.-0orporal punishment. We have here directions given for the punish- ment of criminals. As the Hebrews bau no gaol system, a. properly graduated corporal punishment supplied most effectively its place. Moses here directs the judges to look carefully into the case, and to assign a certain number of stripes, whi…
1,073 wordsSECTION 395The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 395
. II. THE B!fARE BJJOUI,D BE SUFFIOIENT TO BUST~IN LIFE. Tho o:,: was expecte,l to pick up on his rounds ns much as would keep up his strength for labour. And in the same we.y, the wages of n labourer should be sufficient to sustain him in the position he occupies in society. The economic laws about the" wages' fund" a…
1,278 wordsSECTION 396The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 396
,ers. 11-16.-Honesty the best policy. We have first a law of purity, which needs no exposition, but in its holy severity (vers. 11, 12) was fitted to check all tendency to lewd practices among the women of Israel. Then Moses passes on to speak of the crime of having divers weights and measures, and the effort to mak…
1,203 wordsSECTION 397The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 397
Yer. 8.-The priest that shall be in those xvi ii. 12, etc.); b11t of those a portion wna dllyi;: 11nt thC' hig-h priC'Bt,, but the priPste to be taken for this specin\ service; nnd or enll!',·ti,Pi)·, nr the indiddulll priC'st whore thllt n feast wns to bo mndc. f"unetion it wns to officinte on tho oreasion. Vera. 12…
1,012 wordsSECTION 398The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 398
touch wlmt wns ho.llowecl (Lov. xxii. 2::1). Ver. 15.-(Cf. Ion. !xiii. 15; lxvi. I.) Nor given ought thereof for the dead; i.e. Vere. lG-19.-Moses winds up his rirlrlrcs~ on nccount or tho clencl; ho l,nd not sent by a solemn admonition to the people to nny pnrt of it to where there was one dencl, according to the cust…
902 wordsSECTION 399The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 399
wc1t1ld be dC1ubly blessed, as, o"'er and above the temporal mercies themselves, they "·0n!J sh~re the benediction of him who ga"'e them all things richly to enjoy. Good Jl1shop ,, ordswortb remarks tha.t this passage exhorts to harvest tbankso-ivin"S in the Christian Clrnrch. Such services are undoubtedly fully in …
894 wordsSECTION 400The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 400
have nlready pointed out, it may yielcl a pure delight. For: 1. It will be enjoyerl as the gift of One who is our redeeming God, in covenant relation to us, and with wh~,n we are at peace. 2. It will be enjoyed with a sense of rectitude which only those can have who he.ve been severely right in the regulation of their …
877 wordsSECTION 401The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 401
1 Y.i:ini!"s Yiii. 35, 36, '' If they pray towards this place, and confess thy Name, and turn f,·c,m tl,,,fr sin . . . then hear thou," etc. In the Dook of Proverbs the same truth ie rcpeat,•clly taught (xi. 20; xv. 8, 29; xxi. 13, 27). True penitence and integrity of will nre necessary condit.ions of 11ppropriate pray…
902 wordsSECTION 402The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 402
tho people of their solemn vows, nncl lo repeat In their hearing the snm anrl. substance of that code which wns to regulnte their personal life, their religious Rervicc, and their judicial procedure, Having done this, he closes with a brief but very earnest appeal to the people's heart nnd conscience. In it there is…
1,093 wordsSECTION 403The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 403
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Yers.1-11.-Tlie presentation of thefirsifi-uits. This interesting ceremony: 1. Re- minded the individual that the land and its fruits were God's. 2. Required from him a devout ackuowledgment of the fact, with a gift in which the acknowleugment was suitably embodied. 3. Threw him back on th…
1,064 wordsSECTION 404The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 404
V ers. 12-15.-" A good conscience toward God." This solemn avowal, ordained to be made at the completion of the round of tithe obligations, was a wise safeguard against unpunctuality and neglect. The subject suggested is--The importance of self-examina- tion in respect of the fulfilment of duties of religion. I. SELF-…
1,110 wordsSECTION 405The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 405
I. MAN IB THE onJECT OF Goo's LAVISH GENEROSITY, Everything round the Hebrew in his homo rorninded him of the exuberant kindness of his God. The land which he possessed was land which Jehovah had riven him. The temple was the place which Jehovah hnd chosen" to pince his Name there." The priest was God's gift. The corn …
1,217 wordsSECTION 406The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 406
,ers. 16-19.-The spiritual creation. In the creation of the material world," God spake, and it we.s done." But in dealing with rebellious men, obedience does not spontaneously follow on command. God bas called into exi3tence a. substance that cannot arbitrarily be controlled-a human will. Therefore, to gain loyal respo…
906 wordsSECTION 407The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 407
Vers. 1-11.-The dedication of thejfrstjruits. •A beautiful religious service is here associated with the dedication of the firstfruits. It was to be an act of worship. There was to be the appearance before the priest, the a.cknowledgment of God's great bounty to the forefathers as well a.s to the worshipper himself, th…
1,046 wordsSECTION 408The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 408
mntion of the Low when they should it was borrnwed by the HP,hrcws. It baa havu entered Canonn. Those instructions been suggested by KenuicQtt that tho Moses gives in conjunction with the elders writing was to be in relievo, and that Urn spaces between the letters were fille<l 11 p hy of Isro.el, who are nssoci11t,,d …
1,003 wordsSECTION 409The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 409
lishment of the covenant at Sinai, followed the latter had by his sin forfeited his birth- 1,,. the st.ntutory festi\"e entertninment (cf. right (Gen. xlix. 4). Exod. xxiY. 5). Ver. 13.-Theae shall lltand upon mount Yer. S.-The injunction to write the :t!lw Ebal to ourae; Ii ternlly, These shall stand on the stones is…
1,031 wordsSECTION 410The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 410
I. 'l'HEY SHOW SOMETHING THAT WAS ORDERED TO BE, viz. that the Law of God was to be written very plainly, as the permanent, standard expression of right, to which the people might appeal. It was not to be left to a floating tradition. To no such risks would God expose his teaching. There was no priesthood in Israel whi…
899 wordsSECTION 411The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 411
, ers. 1-8.-The stones on Ebal. This chapter is significant, as letting in light on the design of the Law, and on the nature of the Jewish covenant. We see from it: 1. That the Law could not give life. 2. 'l'hat it was not designed to give life. 3. That its real aim was to con'l"ince of sin, and so to shut men up to …
595 wordsSECTION 412The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 412
wh~n it drowns other th?ughts in adm!ration of the finish, injuring worship by that wl11ch draws away the mmd from worship. 3. 'lhe burnt offerings and peace offerin~s testified-the one to the entire consecration of heart and life which is the condition ~f acceptable service; the other, to the peace and fellowship with…
810 wordsSECTION 413The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 413
the curse on slaying another for reward, which may include perjury (ver. 26); while wrs. 18, HI may be ,·icwed 11.s forbidding breaches of the law of love generally. 2, 7'hat the sins against which the curses are directed are m.ostly secret sins. The Law sea.rches the heart. 3. Thut the usual care is sh:iwn for the int…
868 wordsSECTION 414The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 414
henrts. As soon as God had begun to fulfil his part of the covenant man must fulfil his. 'fho people wero to writo " 11111" the precepts; for not one ~f them however minute, w~s needless. What was sufficiently important for God to reveal, ,~c may be sure wns 1rnportnnt enough for man to preserve. These stones, when ins…
859 wordsSECTION 415The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 415
J, MEN ARE RULED BY A SYSTEM OF RF.WARDS AND PUNISHMENTS. Notwithst:mding tl,c de,·clopment. of the bumnn mind, nnd the progress of civilization since Moses' day, human 11ature is still in its minority, still in a state of childhood. \Ve do not yet seo into the interior nature of spiritual realities. \Ve do not see …
814 wordsSECTION 416The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 416
n L11w-nbiding people. In connection with this <lisplay of thn Law, there was to be an altar erected, on which burnt offerings and peace offerings were to be presented, an,1 the people wero to realize, ns they had never before done, that they have "become the pe<Jplc of the ,Lord their God." The following ideas are, am…
1,018 wordsSECTION 417The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 417
takings, whether in peace or in we.r, at CHAPTEil XXVIIL home or abroad. Basket e.nd thy store ; THE Du:SS!NG AND THE CunsE. rather, b<LBket and kneading-trough (see Having enjoined the proclamations of the Exod. viii. 3 ; xii. 34) ; " the basket" repre- senting the store in which the fruits of blessing and ihe cur…
602 wordsSECTION 418The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 418
teo118 in goods; literally, shall make thee to of the received text, and there is no reas,m al,oundfor good; i.e. shall not only give thee why it should be departed from, more nbunclo.nce, but co.nee it to redouncl to thy especially as drought is threatened in the folicity. verse tho.t follows. Blasting and with mil- …
961 wordsSECTION 419The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 419
Rom. 1.i. 25; 2 Cor. iv. 4). Thou ahe.lt Latin writer~ (Pliny, 'Nat. Hist.,' xvi!. 47: grope (cf. Isn. lix. 10). Thus afflicted in ~ato, ' De Re Rust.,' o. 95; Plnut., ' Cietell.,' hody nnd mind, their stnte should be one ~v. ~), th? f£ ''.~ f,t, of the Greeks (Dochnrt, only of oppression and oa.lamity, with no Hier…
974 wordsSECTION 420The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 420
aquila .(ca_glo), is sometimes uscc! for a fogion Ver. 62.-(Cf. oh. iv. 27; x. 22; Noh. (Oms., H1sp., 30; er. Mn.tt. xx1v. 28). ix. 23.) Ver. 50.-A nation of fieroe countenance; Ver. G3.-(Of. eh. xxx. 9; Jrr. uxii. 11.) literolly, firm or hard of face; !-o, obdurate Ho, whose joy it had been to rlo them good, and doto…
908 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.