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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>D E U T E R O N O M Y</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. A repetition of the laws concerning the three yearly feasts; in
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particular, that of the passover,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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That of pentecost,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:9-12">ver. 9-12</A>.
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That of tabernacles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:13-15">ver. 13-15</A>.
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And the general law concerning the people's attendance on them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:16,17">ver. 16, 17</A>.
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II. The institution of an inferior magistracy, and general rules of
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justice given to those that were called into office,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:18-20">ver. 18-20</A>.
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III. A caveat against groves and images,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:21,22">ver. 21, 22</A>.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Yearly Release.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1451.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God: for in the month of Abib the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God brought
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thee forth out of Egypt by night.
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2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy
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God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall
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choose to place his name there.
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3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt
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thou eat unleavened bread therewith, <I>even</I> the bread of
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affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in
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haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth
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out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
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4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all
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thy coast seven days; neither shall there <I>any thing</I> of the
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flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all
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night until the morning.
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5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy
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gates, which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God giveth thee:
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6 But at the place which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God shall choose to place
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his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at
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the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth
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out of Egypt.
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7 And thou shalt roast and eat <I>it</I> in the place which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go
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unto thy tents.
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8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh
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day <I>shall be</I> a solemn assembly to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God: thou shalt
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do no work <I>therein.</I>
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9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the
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seven weeks from <I>such time as</I> thou beginnest <I>to put</I> the
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sickle to the corn.
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10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God
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with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou
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shalt give <I>unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God,</I> according as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God
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hath blessed thee:
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11 And thou shalt rejoice before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God, thou, and
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thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy
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maidservant, and the Levite that <I>is</I> within thy gates, and the
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stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that <I>are</I> among
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you, in the place which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God hath chosen to place his
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name there.
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12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt:
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and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
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13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days,
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after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
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14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and
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thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the
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Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that
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<I>are</I> within thy gates.
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15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy
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God in the place which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall choose: because the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the
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works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.
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16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of
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unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of
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tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> empty:
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17 Every man <I>shall give</I> as he is able, according to the
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blessing of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God which he hath given thee.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Much of the communion between God and his people Israel was kept up,
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and a face of religion preserved in the nation, by the three yearly
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feasts, the institution of which, and the laws concerning them, we have
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several times met with already; and here they are repeated.</P>
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<P>
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I. The law of the passover, so great a solemnity that it made the whole
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month, in the midst of which it was placed, considerable: <I>Observe
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the month Abib,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Though one week only of this month was to be kept as a festival, yet
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their preparations before must be so solemn, and their reflections upon
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it and improvements of it afterwards so serious, as to amount to an
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observance of the whole month. The month of Abib, or of <I>new
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fruits,</I> as the Chaldee translates it, answers to our March (or part
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of March and part of April), and was by a special order from God, in
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remembrance of the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, made the
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<I>beginning of their year</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+12:2">Exod. xii. 2</A>),
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which before was reckoned to begin in September. This month they were
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to keep the passover, in remembrance of their being <I>brought out of
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Egypt by night,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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The Chaldee paraphrasts expound it, "Because they came out of Egypt by
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daylight," there being an express order that they should not stir out
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of their doors till morning,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+12:22">Exod. xii. 22</A>.
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One of them expounds it thus: "<I>He brought thee out of Egypt,</I> and
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did wonders <I>by night.</I>" The other, "and thou shalt eat the
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passover <I>by night.</I>" The laws concerning it are,
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1. That they must be sure to sacrifice the passover in the place that
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God should choose
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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and in no other place,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:5-7"><I>v.</I> 5-7</A>.
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The passover was itself a sacrifice; hence Christ, as our passover, is
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said to be <I>sacrificed for us</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+5:7">1 Cor. v. 7</A>),
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and many other sacrifices were offered during the seven days of the
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feast
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+28:19">Num. xxviii. 19</A>,
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&c.), which are included here, for they are said to be sacrificed <I>of
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the flock and the herd,</I> whereas the passover itself was only of the
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flock, either a lamb or a kid: now no sacrifice was accepted but from
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the altar that sanctified it; it was therefore necessary that they
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should to up to the place of the altar, for, though the paschal lamb
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was entirely eaten by the owners, yet it must be killed in the court,
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the blood sprinkled, and the inwards burned upon the altar. By
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confining them to the appointed rule, from which they would have been
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apt to vary, and to introduce foolish inventions of their own, had they
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been permitted to offer these sacrifices within their own gates, from
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under the inspection of the priests. They were also hereby directed to
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have their eye up unto God in the solemnity, and the <I>desire of their
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hearts towards the remembrance of his name,</I> being appointed to
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attend where he had chosen <I>to place his name,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:2,6"><I>v.</I> 2 and 6</A>.
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But, when the solemnity was over, they might <I>turn and go unto their
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tents,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Some think that they might, if they pleased, return the very morning
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after the paschal lamb was killed and eaten, the priests and Levites
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being sufficient to carry on the rest of the week's work; but the first
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day of the seven is so far from being the day of their dispersion that
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it is expressly appointed for a <I>holy convocation</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+23:7,Nu+28:18">Lev. xxiii. 7; Num. xxviii. 18</A>);
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therefore we must take it as Jonathan's paraphrase expounds it, <I>in
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the morning after the end of the feast thou shalt go to thy cities.</I>
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And it was the practice to keep together the whole week,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+35:17">2 Chron. xxxv. 17</A>.
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2. That they must eat unleavened bread for seven days, and no leavened
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bread must be seen in all their coasts,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:3,4,8"><I>v.</I> 3, 4, 8</A>.
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The bread they were confined to is here called <I>bread of
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affliction,</I> because neither grateful to the taste nor easy of
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digestion, and therefore proper to signify the heaviness of their
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spirits in their bondage and to keep in remembrance the haste in which
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they came out, the case being so urgent that they could not stay for
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the leavening of the bread they took with them for their march. The
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Jewish writers tell us that the custom at the passover supper was that
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the master of the family broke this unleavened bread, and gave to every
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one a piece of it, saying, <I>This is</I> (that is, this signifies,
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represents, or commemorates, which explains that saying of our Saviour,
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<I>This is my body</I>) <I>the bread of affliction which your fathers
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did eat in the land of Egypt.</I> The gospel meaning of this feast of
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unleavened bread the apostle gives us,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+5:7">1 Cor. v. 7</A>.
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<I>Christ our passover being sacrificed for us,</I> and we having
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participated in the blessed fruits of that sacrifice to our comfort,
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<I>let us keep the feast</I> in a holy conversation, free from <I>the
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leaven of malice</I> towards our brethren and hypocrisy towards God,
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and <I>with the unleavened bread of sincerity</I> and love.
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<I>Lastly,</I> Observe, concerning the passover, for what end it was
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instituted: "<I>That thou mayest remember the day when thou camest
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forth out of Egypt,</I> not only on the day of the passover, or during
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the seven days of the feast, but <I>all the days of thy life</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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as a constant inducement to obedience." Thus we celebrate the memorial
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of Christ's death at certain times, that we may remember it at all
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times, as a reason why we should <I>live to him that died for us and
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rose again.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. Seven weeks after the passover the feast of pentecost was to be
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observed, concerning which they are here directed,
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1. Whence to number their seven weeks, <I>from the time thou beginnest
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to put the sickle to the corn</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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that is, from the morrow after the first day of the feast of unleavened
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bread, for on that day (though it is probable the people did not begin
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their harvest till the feast was ended) messengers were sent to reap a
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sheaf of barley, which was to be offered to God as the first-fruits,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+23:10">Lev. xxiii. 10</A>.
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Some think it implies a particular care which Providence would take of
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their land with respect to the weather, that their harvest should be
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always ripe and ready for the sickle just at the same time.
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2. How they were to keep this feast.
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(1.) They must <I>bring an offering unto God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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It is here called a <I>tribute of a free-will-offering.</I> It was
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required of them as a tribute to their Sovereign Lord and owner, under
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whom they held all they had; and yet because the law did not determine
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the <I>quantum,</I> but it was left to every man's generosity to bring
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what he chose, and whatever he brought he must give cheerfully, it is
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therefore called a <I>free-will offering.</I> It was a grateful
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acknowledgment of the goodness of God to them in the mercies of these
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corn-harvests now finished, and therefore must be <I>according as God
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had blessed them.</I> Where God sows plentifully he expects to reap
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accordingly.
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(2.) They must rejoice before God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Holy joy is the heart and soul of thankful praises, which are as the
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language and expression of holy joy. They must rejoice in their
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receivings from God, and in their returns of service and sacrifice to
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him; our duty must be our delight as well as our enjoyments. They must
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have their very servants to rejoice with them, "for remember
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>)
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that <I>thou wast a bond-man,</I> and wouldest have been very thankful
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if thy taskmasters would have given thee some time and cause for
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rejoicing; and thy God did bring thee out to keep a feast with
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gladness; therefore be pleasant with thy servants, and make them easy."
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And, it should seem, those general words, <I>thou shalt observe and do
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these statutes,</I> are added here for a particular reason, because
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this feast was kept in remembrance of the giving of the law upon Mount
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Sinai, fifty days after they came out of Egypt; now the best way of
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expressing our thankfulness to God for his favour to us in giving us
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his law is to <I>observe and do according to the precepts</I> of
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it.</P>
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<P>
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III. They must keep the feast of tabernacles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:13-15"><I>v.</I> 13-15</A>.
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Here is no repetition of the law concerning the sacrifices that were to
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be offered in great abundance at this feast (which we had at large,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+29:12">Num. xxix. 12</A>,
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&c.), because the care of these belonged to the priests and Levites,
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who had not so much need of a repetition as the people had, and because
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the spiritual part of the service, which consisted in holy joy, was
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most pleasing to God, and was to be the perpetual duty of a gospel
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conversation, of which this feast was typical. Observe what stress is
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laid upon it here: <I>Thou shalt rejoice in thy feast</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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<I>and, because the Lord shall bless thee, thou shalt surely
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rejoice,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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Note,
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1. It is the will of God that his people should be a cheerful people.
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If those that were under the law must rejoice before God, much more
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must we that are under the grace of the gospel, which makes it our
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duty, not only as here to rejoice in our feasts, but to <I>rejoice
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evermore, to rejoice in the Lord always.</I>
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2. When we rejoice in God ourselves we should do what we can to assist
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others also to rejoice in him, by comforting the mourners and supplying
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the necessitous, that even <I>the stranger, the fatherless, and the
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widow may rejoice with us.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+29:13">Job xxix. 13</A>.
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3. We must rejoice in God, not only because of what we have received
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and are receiving from him daily, but because of what he has promised,
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and we expect to receive yet further from him: because <I>he shall
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bless thee,</I> therefore <I>thou shalt rejoice.</I> Those that make
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God their joy may <I>rejoice in hope,</I> for he is faithful that has
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promised.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The laws concerning the three solemn feasts are summed up
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>),
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as often before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+23:16,34:23">Exod. xxiii. 16, 17; xxxiv. 23</A>.
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The general commands concerning them are,
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1. That all the males must then make their personal appearance before
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God, that by their frequent meeting to worship God, at the same place,
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and by the same rule, they might be kept faithful and constant to that
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holy religion which was established among them.
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2. That none must appear before God empty, but every man must bring
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some offering or other, in token of a dependence upon God and gratitude
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to him. And God was not unreasonable in his demands; let every man but
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give as he was able, and no more was expected. The same is still the
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rule of charity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+16:2">1 Cor. xvi. 2</A>.
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Those that give to their power shall be accepted, but those that give
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beyond their power are accounted worthy of double honour
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+8:3">2 Cor. viii. 3</A>),
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as the poor widow that gave <I>all she had,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:4">Luke xxi. 4</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="De16_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="De16_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="De16_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="De16_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="De16_22"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates,
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which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and
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they shall judge the people with just judgment.
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19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect
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persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of
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the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
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20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou
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mayest live, and inherit the land which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God giveth
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thee.
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21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the
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altar of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
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22 Neither shalt thou set thee up <I>any</I> image; which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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thy God hateth.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. Care taken for the due administration of justice among them, that
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controversies might be determined, matters in variance adjusted, the
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injured redressed, and the injurious punished. While they were encamped
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in the wilderness, they had <I>judges and officers</I> according to
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their numbers, rulers of thousands and hundreds,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:25">Exod. xvii. 25</A>.
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When they came to Canaan, they must have them according to their towns
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and cities, in all their gates; for the courts of judgment sat in the
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gates. Now,
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1. Here is a commission given to these inferior magistrates: "Judges
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to try and pass sentence, and officers to execute their sentences,
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|
shalt thou make thee." However the persons were pitched upon, whether
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|
by the nomination of their sovereign or by the election of the people,
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|
<I>the power were ordained of God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+13:1">Rom. xiii. 1</A>.
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And it was a great mercy to the people thus to have justice brought to
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their doors, that it might be more expeditious and less expensive, a
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blessing which we of this nation ought to be very thankful for.
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|
Pursuant to this law, besides the great sanhedrim that sat at the
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sanctuary, consisting of seventy elders and a president, there was in
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|
the larger cities, such as had in them above 120 families, a court of
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|
twenty-three judges, in the smaller cities a court of three judges. See
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this law revived by Jehoshaphat,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+19:5,8">2 Chron. xix. 5, 8</A>.
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|
2. Here is a command given to these magistrates to do justice in the
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|
execution of the trust reposed in them. Better not judge at all than
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|
not judge with just judgment, according to the direction of the law and
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|
the evidence of the fact.
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(1.) The judges are here cautioned not to do wrong to any
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
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nor to take any gifts, which would tempt them to do wrong. This law had
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|
been given before,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+23:8">Exod. xxiii. 8</A>.
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(2.) They are charged to do justice to all: "<I>That which is
|
|
altogether just shalt thou follow,</I>
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
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|
Adhere to the principles of justice, act by the rules of justice,
|
|
countenance the demands of justice, imitate the patterns of justice,
|
|
and pursue with resolution that which appears to be just. <I>Justice,
|
|
justice, shalt thou follow.</I>" This is that which the magistrate is
|
|
to have in his eye, on this he must be intent, and to this all personal
|
|
regards must be sacrificed, to do <I>right to all</I> and <I>wrong to
|
|
none.</I></P>
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<P>
|
|
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|
II. Care taken for the preventing of all conformity to the idolatrous
|
|
customs of the heathen,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:21,22"><I>v.</I> 21, 22</A>.
|
|
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|
They must not only not join with the idolaters in their worships, not
|
|
visit their groves, nor bow before the images which they had set up,
|
|
but,
|
|
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|
1. They must not plant a grove, nor so much as a tree, near God's
|
|
altar lest they should make it look like the altars of the false gods.
|
|
They made groves the places of their worship either to make it secret
|
|
(but that which is true and good desires the light rather), or to make
|
|
it solemn, but the worship of the true God has enough in itself to make
|
|
it so and needs not the advantage of such a circumstance.
|
|
|
|
2. They must not set up any image, statue, or pillar, to the honour of
|
|
God, for it is a thing which the Lord hates; nothing belies or
|
|
reproaches him more, or tends more to corrupt and debauch the minds of
|
|
men, than representing and worshipping by an image that God who is an
|
|
infinite and eternal Spirit.</P>
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