Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 5 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
1 The things sacrificed to the Lord must be unblemished. 2 Idolaters are to be stoned to death, being convicted by witnesses. 8 Hard controversies are to be determined by the Law which the Priests and Iudges shewed, which were in the place that the Lord should chuse. 12 The contemner of that determination must die. 14 The election and dutie of a King.
THou shalt not sacrifice unto Iehovah thy God, Oxe or Lambe, wherein is blemish, any evill thing: for that is an abomination to Iehovah thy God.
If there be found in the midst of thee, in any of thy gates, which Iehovah thy God giveth unto thee, man or woman, that hath done evill in the eyes of Iehovah thy God, in transgressing his covenant; And hath gone and served other gods, and bowed himselfe downe unto them, either to the Sunne, or to the Moone, or to any of the host of the heavens, which I have not commanded; And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and hast inquired diligently; and behold it be a truth, and the thing certaine, that this abomination is done in Israel: Then thou shalt bring forth that man, or that woman, which have done this evill thing unto thy gates, the man, or the woman, and shalt stone them with stones, and they shall die. At the mouth of two witnesses, or of three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; he shall not be put to death at the mouth of one witnesse. The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him, to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people; and thou shalt put away the evill from the midst of thee.
If a matter be too hard for thee in judgment betweene bloud and bloud, betweene plea & plea, and betweene stroke and stroke, matters of controversies within thy gates; then thou shalt arise and goe up unto the place which Iehovah thy God shall chuse. And thou shalt come unto the Priests the Levites, and unto the Iudge that shall be in those dayes; and thou shalt inquire, and they shall shew unto thee the word of judgement. And thou shalt doe according to the word which they shall shew unto thee; they of that place which Iehovah shall chuse: and thou shalt observe to doe according to all that they informe thee. According to the Law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgement which they shall say unto thee, thou shalt doe: thou shalt not decline from the word which they shall shew unto thee, to the right hand or to the left. And the man that will doe presumptuously, not to hearken unto the Priest that standeth to minister there, before Iehovah thy God, or unto the Iudge, even that man shall die; and thou shalt put away the evill from Israel. And all the people shall heare and feare, and not doe presumptuously any more.
When thou art come into the land which Iehovah thy God giveth unto thee, and shalt possesse it, and dwell therein, & shalt say, I will set over me a King, as all the nations that are round about me. Setting thou shalt set over thee a King, whom Iehovah thy God shall chuse: from among thy brethren shalt thou set over thee a King; thou maist not set over thee a man that is a forrainer, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himselfe, nor cause the people to returne to Egypt, to the end to multiply horses; for Iehovah hath said unto you, yee shall not adde to returne this way any more. Neither shall hee multiply wives to himselfe, that his heart turne not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himselfe silver and gold. And it shall be when hee sitteth upon the throne of his kingdome, that hee shall write for him-selfe the Copie of this Law in a Booke, out of that which is before the Priests, the Levites. And it shalbe with him, & he shal reade therein all the daies of his life, that he may learn to feare Iehovah his God, to keepe all the words of this Law, and these Statutes, to doe them.
That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren; and that hee turne not aside from the commandement, to the right hand or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his daies, in his kingdome, hee and his sonnes in the midst of Israel.
Annotations.
NOt sacrifice] in Greek, not offer, which is more generall: and so the Law also saith in Lev. 22. 20. see the annotations there. Oxe or Lambe] these are the greatest and the least sacrifices, under which two, all other are comprehended. The Oxe is not to be understood of a gelded beast, (which wee usually call an Oxe,) for so it became blemished, and unfit for sacrifice; but of a Bull, as the originall properly signifieth. And the Lambe (in Hebrew Se…,) implyeth the Kid also, as Exod. 12. 3, 5. blemish] in Hebrew Mum; of which the Chaldee Muma, and Greeke Momos, are derived. Whereupon Christ is called the Lambe amomos, (that is, without blemish) 1 Pet. 1. 19. It meaneth any superfluity, want, or deformity in any part, as is more largely shewed on Lev. 22. 22.—24. And it is applyed to the worke of mens hands, Iob 31. 7. evill thing] Hebr. evill word; which the Chaldee explaineth, any evill whatsoever, For though there were no visible blemish, yet other corruption might disable it, as if it were sicke, Mal. 1. 8. or the hire of an where, or price of a dog, Deut. 23. 18. or any such like. See the notes on Lev. 22. 25. a… abomination] and so farre off from being accepted at mans hand, that God pronounceth a curse on those that sacrificed unto him such corrupt things, Mal. 1. 13, 14. Hereby God rejecteth all sacrifices save of his son Christ, (who is the Lumbe without blemish, and without spot, 1 Pet. 1. 19. who through the eternall Spirit, offered himselfe without spot unto God, Heb. 9. 14.) and the sacrifices which by him, and saith in his name, are offered to God continually, Heb. 13. 15. and 11. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 5, 6.
Vers. 2. If there be found] or, When there shall be found. any of thy gates] or, one of thy gates, that is, … as the Greeke and Chaldee translate it. in transgressing] or, to transgresse his covenant. Transgression is a passing over, or passing by the way which men should walke in: wherefore that which one Evangelist expresseth thus, they transgresse the tradition of the Elders, Matth. 15. 2. another expoundeth, they walke not according to the tradi… Mark. 7 5. The like phrase is of transgressing the commandements, and the Law, Deu. 19; 13. Dan. 9. 11.
Vers. 3. other gods] which the Chaldee calleth Idols of the peoples. …ther] Hebr. and to the Sunne. Besides other fictions of their owne, the nations worshipped these creatures also: and the Israelites …ll into the same sin, Ezek. 8. 16. 2 King. 17. 26. and 21. 3. any of the host] or, all the host, that is, the starres, spheres, constellations, &c. as Esay. 34. 4. Rev. 6. 13. Ier. 8. 2. and 33. 22. But …der this name, the Angels also may be implied, Psal. 148. 2. for they are heavenly souldiers, Luk. …. 13, 15. and forbidden to be worshipped, Coloss. 2. 18. God onelyonly is to be served, Matth. 4. 10. and the host of heaven worshippeth him, Neh. 9. 6. not commanded] religious worship and service may not be performed at the pleasure or precept of men, Esay 29. 1. 3. Matth. 15. 9. but as is commanded of God: and though all idolatries in the world are not expresly and by name forbidden, yet by the generall Law they are condemned, Exo. 20. 4, 5. and it is enough that God hath not commanded them: see Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32.
Vers. 4. and hast inquired] or, then thou shalt inquire diligently: Hebr. inquire well; both to finde out the sinne, if it be committed; and not to punish any man upon uncertaine reports.
Vers. 5. unto thy gates] in Greeke, unto the gate: but the Chaldee saith, to thy citie. Of this the Hebrews write: they stone not. an Idola… but… the gate (of the citie) wherein he served (the Id….) and if it be a citie, where the most are heathans, they stone him at the doore of the Iudgement Hall. That (in Deut. 17. 5.) VNTOUNTO THY GATES, is meant the gate wherein he served (the Idoll) and not that wherein sentence (of death) was decreed against him. Maimony in Sanhedrin, c. 15. s. 2. stone them] This judgement of the particular person was greater than that of a whole citie which were killed with the sword, Deut. 13. 15. save that their goods were consumed also; this mans goods (as the Hebrewes say,) went to his heires. Of the manner of stoning, see the annotations on Lev. 24. 23.
Vers. 6. At the mouth] which the Chaldee translateth, the word, meaning the testimony of two or three. But from hence the Hebrewes gather; they must receive no testimony but from the mouth of the witnesses; it may not be from a writing of their hand. Maimony in treat. of Witnesses, ch. 3. s. 4. See the notes on Deut. 19. 15. he that is to die] or, he that dieth: the Chaldee expoundeth is; bee that is guilty (or deserveth) to be killed. of one] See this explained in Deut. 19. 15.
Vers. 7. and thou shalt put away the evill] If this phrase, see Deut. 13. 5. the Greeke translateth, & put ye away (or, take away) from among your selves that wicked (person:) which very words Paul useth in 1 Cor. 5. 13. when he commandeth a wicked man to be cast out of the Church.
Vers. 8. a matter] Hebr. a word. too hand▪ or, marvellous, as being hidden from thy knowledge, that thou (O Iudge) canst not know, or determine it. The Greeke translateth, be impossible: the Ghaldee, separated from thee. It is spoken of things that are hidden, and so too hard and unpossible for one either to know, or to doe See Gen. 18. 14. Ier. 32. 17, 27. Zach. 8. 6. Deut. …0. 11. bloud and bloud] Hebr. bloud to bloud: which phrase noteth a respect of one thing to another, when they are compared. By bloud may be understood murder, of which the Iudges may be doubtfull and unable to finde out whether it were wilfull, which deserved death; or unwilling, for which exile into the cities of refuge was appointed, Num. 35. 16, 23, 24, &c. Bloud and bloud, is by some referred to those lawes mentioned in Levit. 15. 19, and Deut. 22. 17. plea] or, judgement and judgement and judgement, cause, as in 1 King. 3. 16, 17.—28. stroke and stroke] or, plague and …lague: which the Chaldee translateth, plague of leprosie, and plague of leprosie: wherein …here might be difficulties, that the Priests could non easily judge: see Levig 13. and 14. chapters. But by plague or stroke may also be meant strokes and wounds that one man gave unto another. matters] or, words of strikes, that is, of disagreement among the Iudges, th… they could not accord in the sentence of judgement, because of some doubts & difficulties. So the Chaldee translateth it, words (or mat…) of division of judgement. Iehosaphat explaineth it thus, betweene bloud and betweene Law & Commandement, Statutes & Iudgements, 2 Chr. 19. … to implying all difficulties about any part of the Law whatsoever. thy gates] in the Greek and Childee, thyrities. then thou] Hebr. and thou shalt arise; speaking to the Iudge or Iudges, which found the causes too hard for them in judgement: so it is written of the Iudges, the hard matter they brought unto Moses, and every small matter they judged themselves, Exod. 18. 26. shall chuse] to put his name, and to dwell there; see …. 2. 5. This place afterward was Ierusalem, as it is said, Moreover, in Ierusalem did Iehosaphat set of the Levites, and of the Priests, and of the chiefe of the fathers of Israel, for the judgement of the LORD, & for …, &c. 2 Chr. 19. 8, 9. 10. And there were se… thrones of judgment; Ps. 122. 5.
Vers. 9. and unto the judge] by and is meant or, as is opened in vers …. or unto the Iudge: by the iudge is understood the high conncell or Senate of Iudges, which were of the chiefe (or heads) of the fathers of Israel, 2 Chron. 19. 8. as they who here are called Priests, are in v. 12. called the Priest: and in 1 Chr. 4. 42. many captaines are in the Hebrew called an Head. And as among the Priests one was chiefe, so among the Iudges one was Prince or Ruler, 2 Chro. 19. 11. The Hebrew records say, When any doubt arose in any case, to any one of Israel, he asked of the Iudgement hall (or Synedrion) that was in his citie; if they knew, they told it him: if not, then he that enquired, together with the Synedrion, or with the messengers thereof, went up to Ierusalem, & enquired of the Synedrion that was in the mountaine of the Temple; if they knew, they … him; if not, then they all came to the Synedrion that was at the dvore of the Court-yard (of the Temple:) if they knew, they told it them, and if not, they all came to the Chamber of hewen (stone) to the great Synedrion, and enquired, &c. Maim. tom. 4. treat. of Rebells, c. 1. s. 4. Of the thre… Synedrions in Ierusalem, see the Annotations on Num. 11. 16. that shall be in those dayes] From hence the Hebrewes gather, that if the high Synedrion had judged and determined of a matter, as … right in their eyes, & after them another Synedrom rose up, which upon reasons seeming good unto them, disanulled the former sentence; then it was disanulled, and judgement passed according as seemed good unto these latter: Thou art not bound (say they) to walk save after the Synedrion (or Iudges) that are in: thy generation (the time wherin thou livest;) Maim. in Rebels, c. 2. s. 1. the word of judgement] that is, the matter or sentence of judgement: which was to be according to the Law of God, vers. 11. as it is said of the Priests, And in controversie, they shall stand in judgement; and they shall judge it according to my judgements, Ezek. 44. 24. Whereupon it was also said unto the Iudges, Yee shall warne them that they trespasse not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren, 2 Chron. 19. 10.
Vers. 10. according to the word] or, according to the sentence of the word: Hebr. the mouth of the word: so in v. 11. all that they informe thee] or, all that they teach thee, to w…t, agreeable to Gods Law, as before is shewed, from Ezek. 44. 24. And in this sense, Christ said to the people of the Scribes and Pharisees sitting in Moses seat; All whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and doe, Matth. 23. 2, 3. which he meaneth not of their owne traditions, but of their doctrine according to Moses; for when they taught for doctrines the commandements of men, hee both reproved them himselfe, and willed his Disciples to let them alone, as blinde leaders of the blinde, Matth. 15. 1, 2,—14, and charged them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadduces, that is, their doctrine, Matt. 16. 6, 12. Here therefore the Hebrew Doctors have stumbled at the Law, whiles from this Scripture they would establish not onelyonly the written Law of God, but the Law by word of mouth, (or, by tradition) the foundation whereof they make the high Synedrion which was in Ierusalem: from whose judgement they held it not lawfull to decline. Maimony in Rebels, c. 1.
Vers. 11. According to the Law] or, According to the mouth (that is, the sentence, doctrine or commandement) of the Law. not decline from the word] or, not turne aside from. The commandement to doc, & the prohibition not to decline, joyned together in this Law, doe shew the weight thereof: the naming of the Law, Iudgement & Word, which the Priests and Iudges should teach, sheweth the rule of right judgement to be given of God in his Law, Ios. 1. 7. Deut. 5. 32, 33. Ezek. 44. 24. from which when the Priests departed, the Lord made them contemptible and base before all the people, Mal. 2. 7, 8, 9.
Vers. 12. the man that will doe presumptuously] or, in presumption, proudly; as the Greeke translateth, in pride; the Chaldee, in wickednesse. It is opposed unto ignorance and errour, Exod. 21. 13, 14. By the man here here to be meant either private person, or inferiour Iudge, that proudly disobeyed the sentence of the highest Councell; but the Hebrewes referre it chiefly to the Rebellious Elder, or Iudge: and whereas they brought their owne traditions (or law by word of mouth) within the compasse of the Law to be taught, (as is noted on vers. 10.) they except the Sadduces which had beene from their youth trained up in their fathers opinions, and never received the traditions of the Pharisees; that such were not to dye by this Law, for not obeying the doctrine which the high Court taught by tradition: as also from this word will doe, they teach that the rebellious Elder was not guilty of death, for holding in judgment contrary to the decree of the high Synedrion, or for teaching others so to hold, unlesse hee teach them to do the thing, or doe it himselfe. Yet though he were free from death, the Magistrates might beat him, or otherwise punish him. Maim. in Rebel. c. 3. s. 1. &c. the Priest] that is, the Priests. as in v. 9. for, by their mouth every controversie, and every stroke was to bee tried, Deut. 21. 5. standeth to minister] so in Ezek. 44. 24. in controversie they shall stand in judgment: see the notes on Deut. 10. 8. there before Iehovah] or, there unto Iehovah, as in Deut. 21. 5. the Greeke translateth, in the name of the Lord. or unto the Iudge] that is, the Iudges, as is noted on v. 9. And by this disjunctive or, the Iudges are distinguished from the Priests forementioned. shall die] the manner of his death, the Hebrewes say, was strangling; and they that put him to death were the chiefe Iudges. When witnesses come (and testifie) that he hath done according to his teaching, or, that hee hath taught others to doe it, they determine his sentence of death, in the judgment hall that is in his Citie, and take him and carrie him up from thence to Ierusalem. And they put him not to death in the Iudgment hall that is in his citie, &c. but carrie him up to the high Synedrion in Ierusalem, and keepe him untill the feast, and strangle him at the feast, as it is said, and all the people shall heare and feare, &c. Maimony in Rebels, o. 3. s. 8. See also the notes on Deut. 13. 11. the evill] the evill doer, as the Childee explaineth it, agreeable also to the Greeke: see Deut. 13. 5.
Vers. 14. and shalt say] that is, if thou shalt say, I will set over mee a King: Thus God, who had set Iudges over his people, permitteth them also to have a king, if they saw it so meet, and would; and should doe this thing after an holy and orderly manner. But when they sought it amisse, it displeased the Lord, 1 Sam. 8. 5, 6, 7. and 12. 12, 17, 19. Then God gave them a king in his anger, and took him away in his wrath, Hos. 13. 11.
Vers. 15. Setting thou shalt set] that is, thou shalt in any wise set: thus bindeth hee them to doe this during, according to the rules here given, both for the good of their Common-wealth and Church, and for a figure of Christ, to whom the kingdome of Israel did belong, Esay 32. 1. Zach. 9. 9. Luk. 1. …, 32, 33. thy God shall chuse] either by the manistery of his Prophets, as by Samuel hee anointed Saul, 1 Sam. 10. 1. and David, 1 Sam. 16. 1. by Ahijah, he chose Ieroboam, 1 King. 11. 29, 31, 35. or by other meanes, as by Vrim and Thum…, by Lot, or the like. thy brethren] in this Christ was figured, as also in his other functions of …phesie and Priesthood; for so it is written, Ie… thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the middest of thee, of thy brethren, Deut. 18. 15. And, in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that be might bee a mercifull and faithfull high Priest, &c. Heb. 2. 17.
Vers. 16. not multiply horses] not get him many horses, lest hee should put confidence in worldly strength, whereof horses were the principall, as appeareth by Psal. 20. 8. Deut. 20. 1. Prov. 21. 31. to Egypt] in which land were many horses, which they accounted the strength of their countrey, 2 Chron. 1. 16. and 9. 28. whereupon it is said, Woe to them that goe downe to Egypt for helpe, and stay on horses, &c. Esay 31. 1. not adde to returne] that is, not againe returne, either for the cause aforesaid, or for to dwell there, because of their great idolatries, and other sinnes, whereby Gods people might be corrupted. So Ieremy from the Lord disswaded the Iewes from going into Egypt, Ier. 42. 10, 14, 16, 17, &c. The Hebrewes say, It is lawfull to dwell in all the world, save in the land of Egypt: but it is lawfull to returne to the land of Egypt for mer chandise, &c. Maim. treat. of Kings, ch. 5. s. 7, 8.
Vers. 17. multiply wives] take many wives; the Hebrews, and some Christians understand this prohibition of exceeding many, as Solomon had seven hundred, 1 King. 11. 3. and not that moe wives than one are here forbidden. But howsoever God bare with the Kings, Patriarkes, and other men that had moe wives than one, and that this custome prevailed, yet from the beginning it was not so, when he made but two to be one flesh, Gen. 2. 24. Mat. 19. 5. Mal. 2. 14, 15. that his heart turne not away] or, neither shall his heart turne away, to wit, from the Lord, unto the pleasures of life, or unto other gods, by meanes of many wives: as of Solomon it is said, His wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, 1 King. 11. 4. Although his mother taught him better, saying, Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy waies to that which destroyeth Kings, Prov. 31. 1, 3. greatly multiply] or, vehemently (exceedingly) multiply silver and gold: which is another meane whereby the heart may be withdrawne from God; for when men be rich and full, they are in danger to denie and say, Who is the Lord? Prov. 30. 8, 9. and they cannot serve God and Mammon, Matt. 6. 24. the care of this world, and the doceitfulnesse of riches choke the word of God, Matt. 13. 22. and they that will bee rich fall into tentation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts, which drowne men in destruction and perdition, 1 Tim. 6. 9.
Vers. 18. when he sitteth upon the throne] that is, when he is King: see the notes on Exod. 11. 5. the copie of this Law] the Greeke translateth it, this Deuteronomie. The Hebrewes have recorded thus; When the King sitteth upon the throne of his kingdome, hee is to write him the booke of the Law for himselfe, over and beside the booke which is left him of his fathers, &c. If his fathers have lest him none or, if that be lost, he is to write him two bookes of the Law; the one he is to reserve in his house, for so he is commanded, as every one of Israel; the other is not to depart from before him. If he goe out to war, it (goeth) with him; if he fit in iudgment, it is to be with him, &c. Maimony treat. of Kings, c. 3. s. 1. before the Priests] the originall booke of the Law was kept in the Sanctuary, as appeareth by Deut. 31. 26. 2 King. 22. 8. out of that was the Kings copie to be written, that it might be perfect.
Vers. 19. it shall be with him] in all places whither hee went, hee caried this copie of the Law with him, as before is noted: So God said unto Iosua, This booke of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, &c. Ios. 1. 8. Thus David did, as appeareth by Psal. 119. 16, 24, 97, 98, 99 &c. learne to feare] under this name feare, notonely the inward reverence, but the outward worship and service of God is also implied, even all true Religion: as that which is written, their feare towards …ee is taught by the precept of men, Esay 29. 13. is expounded by our Saviour, In vainè they worship mee, teaching doctrines the precepts of men, Matt. 15. 9.
Vers. 20. not lifted up above his brethren] because the honour of the King was great, and all were to obey him in the Lord, Ios. 1. 16, 17, 18. Eccles. 8. 2, 3, 4. Rom. 13. 1. therefore hee is warned to shunne pride, and loftinesse of heart; whereupon David said, Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eies lofty, &c. Psal. 131. 1, 2. The contrary was found in Nebuchadnezzar, to whom the most high God gave a kingdome, and majestie, and glory, and honour …but when his heart was lifted up, and his minde hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they tooke his glory from him, Dan. 5. 18, 20. The Hebrewes say, As the Scripture giveth great honour to the King, and every one is bound to honour him; so it commandeth him, that his heart be humble within him, and wounded, as it is said (in Psal. 109. 22.) My heart is wounded within mee. And he may not carry himselfe with pride of heart in Israel, more than is meet, Deut. 17. 20. but must be gratious and pittifull, both to little and great; and goe out, and come in for their pleasure & for their good, and have regard of the honour of the smallest. And when he speaketh unto all the congregation in generall words, hee should speake gently, as it is said (by David in 1 Chron. 28. 2.) Heare mee my brethren, and my people. It is also said (in 1 King. 12. 7.) If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, &c. And hee must alwaies use exceeding meekenesse: wee have had none greater than our master Moses, yet he said, And what are wee? your murmurings are not against us (Exod. 16. 8.) And he bare their cumbrance, and their burden, and their murmurings, and their indignation, as a nursing father beareth the snoking child (Num. 11. 12.) The Scripture calleth him a Shepherd to feed Iacob his servant: and the manner of a shepherd is expressed (in Esay 40. 11.) Hee shall feed his flocke like a shepherd, bee shall gather the lambs with his arme, and carrie them in his bosome, &c. Maim. treat. of Kings, chap. 2. sect. 6.