this passage; nor did they think him guilty of perjury who called only creatures to witness in his oath, however falsely he might swear. See Samuel Petit,1 Variae Lectiones, ch. xvi. The following decree of the Jews is to be found in Elle Schemoth Rabba,2 section 44, As heaven and earth shall pass away, so shall the oath pass away ichich calls them to witness. There is clearly, however, a prohibition, whilst the prevalent3 abuse of oaths is forbidden, and their true use restored. Many of the ancient Christians received this command simply and literally, and so much the more readily declined the heathen oaths which they were commanded to take. See however, Rev. x. 6 ; Jer. xxiii. 8 ; Is. xlv. 23, the last of which passages refers to Christian times. On the contrary, there is now-a-days a great danger lest a very small proportion of the number that are made be true, and of the true a very small proportion neces sary, and of those that are necessary a very small proportion free, fruitful, holy, and joyful. Many are employed for show, for calumny, for silencing just suspicions. — sv, l>y) That which is sworn by is offered in pledge : it should therefore be in the power of him who swears. He who swears wrongly (ver. 34, 36) is guilty of sacrilege. Therefore, in this sense a man ought not to swear by God, because, in case of his swearing falsely, he pledges himself to renounce God. This, however, it is not in his power to do. But we must swear in that manner which is sanctioned in the Divine law itself, so that our oath should be an invocation of the Divine name. Even the customary formula, So help me God, is not to be taken in the former but in the latter sense, so that the emphasis should fall upon the word GOD. This interpreta tion is at any rate favourable to him who swears, and makes the matter rather easier. — r& ovpavjj, by heaven) How much greater is their sin wrho swear by God Himself! — Spovcx;, throne) How great is the majesty of God ! God is not enclosed by heaven, but His glory is especially manifested there.
1 A celebrated scholar, born at Nismes in 1594, studied at Geneva, raised at an early age to the Professorship of Theology and of Greek and Hebrew in that city. Died 1645. A man of vast and profound erudition. — (I. B.)
2 i.e. " Mystical Commentary on Exodus," a rabbinical work in high esti mation among the Jews. — (I. B.)
3 " Grassatus," a word used of a fiercely raging epidemic. — (I. B.)