Deuteronomy 18

Chap. XVIII. Ver. 1-22. The great prophet, like unto Moses.—The modern Jews have generally applied this to Joshua, the successor of Moses, but it seems evident that it was not so understood for many years after Moses, for in the close of his life, or by Ezra, when compiling the canon of the Old Testament, it is expressly said, “There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,” &c. Moses himself also makes an important distinction at the first appointment of Joshua, in stating, that instead of immediate communication with the Lord, as Moses himself had, he was to stand before the high priest when he required counsel from God. ((Numbers 27:21).) Still farther, Moses alone was honoured in the delivery of a code of laws, and he also was the mediator of the Sinai covenant.

These circumstances all lead us to look for the great prophet here spoken of in the person of the Messiah; and both St. Peter and St. Stephen apply the prediction expressly to Jesus Christ, who is also represented as the antitype of Moses by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. ((Acts 3:22).; vii. 37. (Hebrews 7:6), &c.) Dr. Jortin, who (in his Remarks on Ecclesiastical History) has drawn a parallel between Moses and Christ in a great number of particulars, concludes with these words: “Let us search all the records of universal history, and see if we can find a man so like to Moses as Christ was, and so like to Christ as Moses was. If we cannot, then have we ‘found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write,’ to be Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.” As the Great Prophet of Israel is placed in contrast with the conjurers of the heathen, so is he also opposed to false prophets among the Jews, who in some ages were very numerous.

They are here divided into two classes, those who spake in the name of Jehovah, and those who spake in the name of other gods. Though we are not exactly in their situation, there is no people indeed, professed to believe the Scriptures, but they applied them in a way quite foreign to their meaning, and disgraceful to their sacred origin. In most instances this has been done to produce certain political effects, by exciting groundless alarms among the people; and there has always been found a party ready to encourage them, from such motives… The great mass of disciples, however, has generally been found among the lower classes and especially the weaker sex. Another class of false prophets are the astrologers, whose predictions are clothed in mystical emblems which they take care never to explain till the year after; and not then, unless some event occurs which they can mould to their own purpose.

All these pretended prophets, having no authority from above, speak presumptuously, what “the Lord hath not spoken: Israel, therefore, were not to be afraid of them, nor should we. The character of a prophet must be attested, either by miracles, or the unequivocal fulfilment of his predictions, before they can command either belief or reverence. Deeply connected with these impostures, and especially with astrology, is the notion of lucky and unlucky days, by which many simple people are intimidated from their duty, and interrupted in their labours; and it is wonderful how much this folly prevails, even in Christian countries. Those, however, who fear God, should remember, that they have nothing to fear from malignant planets, or unlucky days, but may sing with Watts, “Let all the baneful planets shed Their mingled curses round my head; Their mingled curses I despise,

Notes on the verses

Ver. 4. And if it be told thee.—On the punishment of idolatry, see ch. xiii. Ver. 6. Two witnesses, &c.—“Great weight is laid on this throughout Scripture,” says Scott; and it is matter of serious inquiry, whether in any case, “when the life of man is at stake,” one unsupported witness should be depended on. bay.. Ver. 16. Multiply horses.—(Multiplying horses for chariots of war and cavalry, or for luxury, would increase the splendour of the monarch, and form a ground of confidence distinct from a proper confidence in God, and inconsistent with it, and with considering him as the glory of Israel. Egypt abounded in horses. Besides, they might be tempted to extend their dominion by means of cavalry, and so get scattered among the surrounding idolatrous nations, and thus cease to be that distinct, separate people, which God intended they should Ver.

18. Copy the law.—(Mishneh hattorah hazzoth, “a duplicate of this law;” translated by the Septuagint, this Deuteronomy. From this version, both the Vulgate, and all the modern versions, have taken the name of this book; and from the original word, the Jews call it Mishneh. Some have supposed, that this command refers only to the Book of Deuteronomy; but it is most probable, that the whole law is intended; and if Moses, with his immense engagements, found time for compiling and writing the whole, it could not be an intolerable task imposed upon any future prince to transcribe it.]—Bagster.—Out of that which is before the priests.—That is, the autograph, or original text, kept in the tabernacle.—Dr.

Clarke. Ver. 20. He and his children.—“From hence it has been inferred, that the — in Israel was designed to be hereditary, and this is very probable.”–Dr, on earth, perhaps, so easily deluded with pretended prophecies as the English; witness the strange predictions of the maniac Chap. XVIII. Ver 6. If a Levite come, &c.—The meaning of this law seems to be, that if a priest or Levite, residing in a distant part of Canaan wished to come and devote himself to the service of the tabernacle, he should be at liberty so to do, and receive the same allowance as the rest. Ver. 8. Beside that which cometh = the sale of his patrimony.—That is, the produce arising from the sale of any private property of his fathers.

See Scott. Ver. 10. Maketh his son to pass through the fire.—See exposition and note on (Leviticus 20:2).—That useth divination—by auguries, or omens, as Balaam did, (Numbers 24:1).—An observer of times.—That is, an astrologer, predicting by the planets, &c.—An enchanter.—One who pretended to charm or enchant serpents, and divine by them. See (Psalms 58:4-5).—A witch.—The nature of witchcraft will be inquired into when we come to the history of Saul, (1 Samuel 28:3), &c. Ver. 11. A charmer.—One dealing in charms and incantations.—A consulter with familiar spirits, &c.—These were not perhaps all different characters; but their various names are here mentioned to include all pretenders to the Black art, of every description.

See Dr. Clarke. The heathen ever were, and still are observers of days and times. In Japan, they have a table of fortunate days, which every person consults on setting out upon a journey. In China, the president of the College of Mathematics points out the proper days for marriages and other business. The Hindoos mark their almanacs with lucky and unlucky days, for the like purposes; and the Mexicans are said to have been very particular in calculating the nativities of children, to ascertain their good or bad fortune. This is quite in character with Paganism; but the writer has been lately much surprised to find in London one person who was fearful to begin any undertaking on a Wednesday; and another who refused to close any bargain, because the day was — Sailors have, to a large extent, formerly regarded Friday as unlucky, but a happy change has taken er