Deuteronomy 25

The woman might marry again and again, if set at liberty; but she must never more return to her former husband. This restriction, while it would operate as a check to inconstancy and rashness in the husband, would prevent the shameful practice of exchanging and lending wives, which prevailed in many nations. Israel would be preserved from that national guilt which such crimes enhance: and, as far as these regulations were adhered to, some of the worst effects of divorces would in good measure be prevented.— T’. Scott. a Chap., XXV. Ver. 1—19. Punishments, &c.—In administering justice, impartiality in distinguishing between the innocent and the guilty, and proportioning punishments to crimes, is peculiarly requisite; but it is generally advisable to incline towards the side of lenity rather than that of severity, aiming at the reformation, and not the destruction of the criminal, as far as public security will admit.

Every punishment should be inflicted with solemnity, and in most cases publicly, that all the spectators may be impressed with dread, and be warned not to offend in like manner.—And though criminals must be put to shame, as well as to pain, for their warning and humiliation; yet care should be taken, if possible, that they do not appear totally vile: lest having no farther reputation to lose, they should become desperate.—Kindness is due not only to men, but even to the beasts; and every living creature which contributes to our ease, pleasure, or advantage, should receive from us such reciprocal satisfactions as it is capable of, in proportion to the benefits conferred: much more then should servants and la-

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXV. Ver. 3. Forty stripes.—To prevent excess, they gave one less than forty, as St. Paul testifies, (2 Corinthians 11:24). and this they gave by a scourge of three cords, which reduced the strokes to thirteen, and these must be given in presence of the magistrate. It were well if Christian governments showed the like humanity, both at home and abroad. _ Ver.4. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.—It is customary in Arabia, and among the Moors in Barbary, to leave cattle unmuzzled. The sheaves lie open and expanded on the threshing-floor, and the cattle continually move round on them. Hired servants were paid his hire.—Hired servants were paid to tread out the corn. The natives of Aleppo still religiously observe the ancient practice of permitting the oxen to remain unmuzzled when they separate the corn from the straw.”

—Shaw’s Travels. Russel’s Nat. Hist. of Aleppo. Ver. 9. Loose his shoe.—This law, and the ceremonies attending it, will be fully illustrated in the history of Ruth, (Deuteronomy 4)—Spit in his face.—Rather, “In his presence,” before his face. The prefix be- is used, (Joshua 21:44).; xxiii. 9. Esther ix. 2, &c. Ver. 13. Divers weights.—Hebrew, “A stone and a stone.” The original weights were doubtless stones; hence a particular weight is with us called a stone; i.e. 8 lb. It should seem that fraudulent persons bought by different weights to what they sold by. Ver. 14. Divers measures.—[An ephah and an ephah.—Aiphah was aiphah; for this was the most common measure among the Israelites, by which all the others were made and adjusted.

They are not only forbidden to use divers weights and measures, one large or heavy to buy with, and another small or light to sell with, but they were even not allowed to keep such in the house. It is observable also, that these too common, but dishonest actions, are branded as “an abomination to the Lord,” equally with idolatry and other scandalous crimes.]—Bagster. Ver. 19. Blot out the remembrance of Amalek.—This was done in the death of Haman, the Amalekite, and his ten sons. Esther vii. 10.; ix. 13, 14. For the crime of Amalek, see expos. of (Exodus 17:8-16).