Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Theological treatise · Chapter 23 · Analysis – Questions
1. The Method and Argument.
THere are two parts of this Chapter. 1. Certaine lawes are propounded: first, Civill, to vers. 10. then Ecclesiasticall, from thence to vers. 19. 2. Then followeth a generall exhortation to obedience to Gods Commandements, thence to the end of the Chapter. The Civill lawes are of two sorts, either generall, concerning all sorts of men, to vers. 6. or speciall, touching the office of Judges, vers. 6. to 10. The generall likewise are either of particular politicke duties, namely these foure: 1. Not to receive a false rumour. 2. Not to be a false witnesse. 3. Not to follow a multitude to pervert the truth. 4. Not to be partiall in an unjust commiseration toward the poore in his cause, vers. 3. either of the generall duties of charitie, as what is to be done toward ones enemies oxe or asse, being found going astray, or lying under his burthen, vers. 4, 5.
The speciall lawes concerning a Judge, are these: 1. Not to overthrow a poore mans right, vers. 6. 2. Not to heare a false matter. 3. Not to condemne the innocent, vers. 7. 4. Not to receive rewards, vers. 8. nor to oppresse strangers, vers. 9.
The Ecclesiasticall lawes follow of two sorts. 1. Concerning the festivall times: 1. Of the yeare of rest, vers. 10▪ 1. 2. Of the day of rest, vers. 12. 3. Of the three feasts of the yeare, to vers. 17. 2. Then follow certaine lawes belonging to the service of God: 1. Of their appearing before God: 2. Of leavened bread: 3. Of the fat of the sacrifices: 4. Of the first fruits: 5. Of not …thing the kid in the dammes milke, to vers. 19.
The second part containeth an exhortation to obedience. 1. Concerning their state present, that they should be obedient to the Angell which conducted them, which was Christ Jesus, with two reasons thereof: 1. From the feare of those judgements, and revenge which the Angell should otherwise take of them, vers▪ 21. 2. From the benefits, which he should procure for them, if they did obey, vers. 22.23.
2. Then he sheweth how they should walke in the service of God afterward, when they were come into the land of Canaan; and root out all Idolatrie, vers. 24. which exhortation is strengthened with divers promises: 1. Of plentie: 2. Of health: 3. Of fruitfull …. 4. Of the casting out of their enemies before them, with the meanes whereby, vers. 28. and the manner how, by little and little, vers. 29, 30. 5. Of the dilating of their borders, vers. 31. with removing two impediments thereof, the making of covenant with the Canaanites, and suffering of them to dwell among them.
2. The divers readings.
Vers. 1. Thou shalt not carrie a false report. I.A. better than, thou shalt not receive. L.S.V.G.P.G. nasha, I. A. B.signifieth the first rather here, because in that sense, as well the author as reporter of a false tale is here reproved: as, Thou shalt not have to doe with any false report. B.
Vers. 2. Thou shalt not follow the mightie. I. So Oleaster: better than, the many or the multitude. I.B. G. cum caeter. rabbius, signifieth both the mightie, and many: the first rather, because of the opposite part in the next verse, dal, the poore, which is set against the mightie.
Vers. 5. Thou shalt put it downe with it. I. better than, wilt thou leave it with him? I.V. A. with an interrogation: for lawes use not to be set forth interrogatively: or thou shalt helpe him up with it. B. G. cum c…ter. the word ghazab, signifieth to leave, lay aside, not to helpe: so also Oleaster. See the question following upon this verse.
Vers. 8. Gifts blind the seeing. B.V.A.P.I.S. better than, the wise. L.C.G. the word is, pikechim, I.B. cum cater.the seeing, that is, the wise; that is the sense, but not the interpretation.
Vers. 24. Thou shalt not bow thee downe to their gods. I. A. P. better than, bow downe to, &c. I.A.P.for the verbe is in hithpael, or than, thou shalt not worship their gods, or idols. V.L. cum cater. for shacah, signifieth to bow downe, and the preposition, …. lamed, signifieth to.