Deuteronomy 22

Deuteronomy 22:1

HIde thy selfe] Or, make as if thou sawest it not.

Deuteronomy 22:2

not nigh] Shewing that brotherly benevolence must be shewed not onely to them that dwell neere unto us, but also to them that are farre off: yea in this case justice and charitie must be offered to an enemy, Exodus 23:4.

Deuteronomy 22:3

with his asse] And so likewise with his Horse: for under these creatures particularly named, the cattell or creatures of other kindes are comprehended so farre as they have reference to the good or hurt of their owners.

Deuteronomy 22:5

The woman shall not] For this prohibition there may be many reasons: as, because it was against the ordinance of God, for distinction of sexes, which would make men effeminate, and women immodest; and might be occasion, or give opportunitie to some to commit sinnes against nature: and it is observed that the worst, and wickedest sort of men have been most noted for wearing the apparell of women; as Caligula, Sardanapalus, Clodius, and others.

abomination] Except in case of necessitie, as for necessary covering.

Deuteronomy 22:6

dam with the young] If God detest crueltie done to birds, how much more to man, made according to his Image? See Annot. on Leviticus 22:28.

Deuteronomy 22:8

battlements] Their houses were so built, that they might walke upon them, 2 Samuel 11:2. Matthew 10:27. and the battlements which were borders of each side, were to be so strong, that one might safely leane on them; and so high, that he might not be like to fall over them.

Deuteronomy 22:9

not sowe] The tenour of this Law is to teach the people to walke in simplicity, and not to be curious of new inventions; as also to warne them against mixtures in Religion, and manners with other nations.

defiled] Or, corrupted. Which may be understood of a ceremoniall defilement; for the neglect of a ceremoniall law caused at least a ceremoniall uncleannesse, both personall, and reall: and by these mixtures, the fruit might be physically corrupted, either by an ill temperament, or weake nourishment of them, especially if they were sowne too thick, or that the stronger seed sucked the juice from the weaker.

Deuteronomy 22:10

oxe and an asse] Which might be partly because of their unequall strength, and stature betwixt them, which might prove a pressure to the lower and weaker: but withall (if not principally) to admonish the people against unmeete mixtures, and matches of the cleane, and uncleane; the oxe was a cleane creature, the asse uncleane.

Deuteronomy 22:11

of wollen and linen] See Annot. on vers. 9. & Leviticus 19:19.

Deuteronomy 22:12

fringes] See Annot. on Numbers 15:39.

Deuteronomy 22:17

the cloth] Meaning the sheet wherein were the signs of her virginity, which are of the color of a maidens blush: yet for the clearing of her innocency the Elders (not the yonger sort) might have the view of them: for thereby (as Physicians affirme) the truth or falshood of the suspition of her former chastitie might be discerned. Vales. de sacra philos. 100: 25.

Deuteronomy 22:18

chastise him] Either by strokes, or very sharpe words at the least besides the amercement, vers. 19.

Deuteronomy 22:19

to the father] For the fault of the child redoundeth to the shame of the parents, therefore he was recompensed since he was slandered.

not put her away] If she be content to continue with him as his wife.

Deuteronomy 22:22

both of them die] In adultery there is divers times the concurrence of severall sinnes of hainous guilt: as of vowbreaking, of theft, whereby one mans seed may come to inherit another mans estate; besides the foulnesse of defiling the marriage bed with lawlesse lust; and therefore it was punished with death in both sexes without partialitie to either.

Deuteronomy 22:24

his neighbours wife] Because she was betrothed, she was a wife in right, though not in fact; for the mutuall stipulation or promise makes the marriage, not the lying together, which is but a consequence upon it, and a confirmation of it.

because she cried not] For her silence in such a case was a signe of consent.

Deuteronomy 22:26

so is this matter] By violence on the one side, and innocence on the other.

Deuteronomy 22:28

lay hold on her] This argueth violence, and enforcement, which goeth beyond inticement, and so it is a different case from that of Exo 22:16.

Deuteronomy 22:29

fiftie shekels] See Annot. on Exodus 22:17.

shall be his wife] That is, if her father give his consent to the marriage, as in the place fore-cited.

Deuteronomy 22:30

his fathers wife] He shall not lie with his stepmother, meaning thereby all other degrees are forbidden, Lev. 18. 8. and 20. 11.

discover his fathers skirt] That is, uncover or remove that covering which his father onely had power to make bare or naked.