Exodus 23

Exodus 23:1-9

Contains. 1. Some laws of universal obligation against bearing false witness, vol. 1. and giving false judgment, ver. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8. The of doing good to our enemies, ver. 4, 5, and not oppressing strangers, ver. 9. 2. Some laws perish to the Jews: The folketical years, ver. 10, 11. the three annual feasts, ver. 12-17. with some laws pertaining thereto. 3. Promises to them, if shedient, ver. 20-24. That he would prefer all they had, ver. 25, 26. That he would put them in possession of Canaan, ver. 27-31. But they must not mingle themselves with the nations, ver. 32, 33. 1. THOU shalt not raise a false report: put not to the hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2. ¶ Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause, to do cline after many, to wrest judgment: 3. ¶ Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. 4. ¶ If thou meet thine enemies or or hid as going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5. ¶ If thou see the as of him that hateth thee, lying under his burden, and wouldst forbear to help him; thou shalt surely help him. 6. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. 7. Keep thee far from a false matter: and the innocent and righteous say thou not: for I will me justify the wicked. 8. ¶ And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wife, and persevereth the words of the righteous. 9. ¶ Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. We have here sundry laws of universal obligation. 1. Against false accusations: not only by perjury, in a court of judicature, but by every scandal propagated in common convention. Now, To speak evil of any man behind his back, or to hear it, without vindicating the injured and the absent, is to be guilty of a great act of injustice, as well as unchariableness. 2. Every judge must act from conscience, and not be influenced by any consideration of the might or multitude of those who may be against him. It is generally bad following the multitude: they who are going with the crowd, infallibly perish. 3. No jury for a poor man, must prevent the execution of justice against him. 4. Kindesth must be flown to remake, in helping their beall when fallen, or bringing it back, if gone afray. Now, To hear, and he kind to those who hate us, is no new commandment. 5. The poor must have justice done them, v. 6. Is it enough to be poor, they ought not to be oppressed too. 6. All approach to injustice must be guarded against, v. 7. They who would keep from evil, must abstain from the appearance of it. 7. No bribe must be taken; justice must be administered freely, as well as impartially. 8. The stranger must not be oppressed: this is enforced upon them, from their having experienced the disadvantages forth labour under, in Egypt. Similarity of distresses should reach us compassion. Hand ignoresa male, &c. S. 1 10. And