mh_parser/vol_split/5 - Deuteronomy/Chapter 15.xml

<div2 id="Deu.xvi" n="xvi" next="Deu.xvii" prev="Deu.xv" progress="88.42%" title="Chapter XV">
<h2 id="Deu.xvi-p0.1">D E U T E R O N O M Y</h2>
<h3 id="Deu.xvi-p0.2">CHAP. XV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Deu.xvi-p1">In this chapter Moses gives orders, I. Concerning
the release of debts, every seventh year (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.1-Deut.15.6" parsed="|Deut|15|1|15|6" passage="De 15:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>), with a caution that this should
be no hindrance to charitable lending, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.7-Deut.15.11" parsed="|Deut|15|7|15|11" passage="De 15:7-11">ver. 7-11</scripRef>. II. Concerning the release of
servants after seven years' service, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.12-Deut.15.18" parsed="|Deut|15|12|15|18" passage="De 15:12-18">ver. 12-18</scripRef>. III. Concerning the
sanctification of the firstlings of cattle to God, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.19-Deut.15.23" parsed="|Deut|15|19|15|23" passage="De 15:19-23">ver. 19</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Deu.xvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15" parsed="|Deut|15|0|0|0" passage="De 15" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.xvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.1-Deut.15.11" parsed="|Deut|15|1|15|11" passage="De 15:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.15.1-Deut.15.11">
<h4 id="Deu.xvi-p1.7">The Year of Release. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.xvi-p2">1 At the end of <i>every</i> seven years thou
shalt make a release.   2 And this <i>is</i> the manner of the
release: Every creditor that lendeth <i>ought</i> unto his
neighbour shall release <i>it;</i> he shall not exact <i>it</i> of
his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p2.1">Lord</span>'s release.   3 Of a foreigner
thou mayest exact <i>it again:</i> but <i>that</i> which is thine
with thy brother thine hand shall release;   4 Save when there
shall be no poor among you; for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p2.2">Lord</span> shall greatly bless thee in the land which
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p2.3">Lord</span> thy God giveth thee
<i>for</i> an inheritance to possess it:   5 Only if thou
carefully hearken unto the voice of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p2.4">Lord</span> thy God, to observe to do all these
commandments which I command thee this day.   6 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p2.5">Lord</span> thy God blesseth thee, as he promised
thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not
borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not
reign over thee.   7 If there be among you a poor man of one
of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p2.6">Lord</span> thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not
harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
  8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt
surely lend him sufficient for his need, <i>in that</i> which he
wanteth.   9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked
heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand;
and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him
nought; and he cry unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p2.7">Lord</span>
against thee, and it be sin unto thee.   10 Thou shalt surely
give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest
unto him: because that for this thing the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p2.8">Lord</span> thy God shall bless thee in all thy works,
and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.   11 For the
poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee,
saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy
poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xvi-p3">Here is, I. A law for the relief of poor
debtors, such (we may suppose) as were insolvent. Every seventh
year was a year of release, in which the ground rested from being
tilled and servants were discharged from their services; and, among
other acts of grace, this was one, that those who had borrowed
money, and had not been able to pay it before, should this year be
released from it; and though, if they were able, they were
afterwards bound in conscience to repay it, yet thenceforth the
creditor should never recover it by law. Many good expositors think
it only forbids the exacting of the debt in the year of release,
because, no harvest being gathered in that year, it could not be
expected that men should pay their debts then, but that afterwards
it might be sued for and recovered: so that the release did not
extinguish the debt, but only stayed the process for a time. But
others think it was a release of the debt for ever, and this seems
more probable, yet under certain limitations expressed or implied.
It is supposed (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.3" parsed="|Deut|15|3|0|0" passage="De 15:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>)
that the debtor was an Israelite (an alien could not take the
benefit of this law) and that he was poor (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.4" parsed="|Deut|15|4|0|0" passage="De 15:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), that he did not borrow for trade
or purchase, but for the subsistence of his family, and that now he
could not pay it without reducing himself to poverty and coming
under a necessity of seeking relief in other countries, which might
be his temptation to revolt from God. The law is not that the
creditor shall not receive the debt if the debtor, or his friends
for him, can pay it; but he shall not exact it by a legal process.
The reasons of this law are, 1. To put an honour upon the
sabbatical year: <i>Because it is called the Lord's release,</i>
<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.2" parsed="|Deut|15|2|0|0" passage="De 15:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. That was God's
year for their land, as the weekly sabbath was God's day for
themselves, their servants, and cattle; and, as by the resting of
their ground, so by the release of their debts, God would teach
them to depend upon his providence. This year of release typified
the grace of the gospel, in which is proclaimed the acceptable year
of the Lord, and by which we obtain the release of our debts, that
is, the pardon of our sins, and we are taught to forgive injuries,
as we are and hope to be forgiven of God. 2. It was to prevent the
falling of any Israelite into extreme poverty: so the margin reads
(<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.4" parsed="|Deut|15|4|0|0" passage="De 15:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), <i>To the end
there shall be no poor among you,</i> none miserably and
scandalously poor, to the reproach of their nation and religion,
the reputation of which they ought to preserve. 3. God's security
is here given by a divine promise that, whatever they lost by their
poor debtors, it should be made up to them in the blessing of God
upon all they had and did, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.4-Deut.15.6" parsed="|Deut|15|4|15|6" passage="De 15:4-6"><i>v.</i>
4-6</scripRef>. Let them take care to do their duty, and then God
would bless them with such great increase that what they might lose
by bad debts, if they generously remitted them, should not be
missed out of their stock at the year's end. Not only, <i>the Lord
shall bless thee</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.4" parsed="|Deut|15|4|0|0" passage="De 15:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>), but he <i>doth bless thee,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.6" parsed="|Deut|15|6|0|0" passage="De 15:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. It is altogether inexcusable if,
though God had given us abundance, so that we have not only enough
but to spare, yet we are rigorous and server in our demands from
our poor brethren; for our abundance should be the supply of their
wants, that at least there may not be such an inequality as is
between two extremes, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.8.14" parsed="|2Cor|8|14|0|0" passage="2Co 8:14">2 Cor. viii.
14</scripRef>. They must also consider that their land was God's
gift to them, that all their increase was the fruit of God's
blessing upon them, and therefore they were bound in duty to him to
use and dispose of their estates as he should order and direct
them. And, <i>lastly,</i> If they would remit what little sums they
had lent to their poor brethren, it is promised that they should be
able to lend great sums to their rich neighbours, <i>even to many
nations</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.6" parsed="|Deut|15|6|0|0" passage="De 15:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>),
and should be enriched by those loans. Thus the nations should
become subject to them, and dependent on them, as <i>the borrower
is servant to the lender,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Prov.22.7" parsed="|Prov|22|7|0|0" passage="Pr 22:7">Prov.
xxii. 7</scripRef>. To be able to lend, and not to have need to
borrow, we must look upon as a great mercy, and a good reason why
we should do good with what we have, lest we provoke God to turn
the scales.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xvi-p4">II. Here is a law in favour of poor
borrowers, that they might not suffer damage by the former law. Men
would be apt to argue, <i>If the case of a man be so with his
debtor</i> that if the debt be not paid before the year of release
it shall be lost, it were better not to lend. "No," says this
branch of the statute, "thou shalt not think such a thought." 1. It
is taken for granted that there would be poor among them, who would
have occasion to borrow (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.7" parsed="|Deut|15|7|0|0" passage="De 15:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>), and that there would never cease to be some such
objects of charity (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.7" parsed="|Deut|15|7|0|0" passage="De 15:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>), and that there would never cease to be some such
objects of charity (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.11" parsed="|Deut|15|11|0|0" passage="De 15:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>): <i>The poor shall never cease out of thy land,</i>
though not such as were reduced to extreme poverty, yet such as
would be behind-hand, and would have occasion to borrow; of such
poor he here speaks, and such we have always with us, so that a
charitable disposition may soon find a charitable occasion. 2. In
such a case we are here commanded to lend or give, according to our
ability and the necessity of the case: <i>Thou shalt not harden thy
heart, nor shut thy hand,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.7" parsed="|Deut|15|7|0|0" passage="De 15:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. If the hand be shut, it is a sign the heart is
hardened; for, <i>if the clouds were full of rain, they would empty
themselves,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.11.3" parsed="|Eccl|11|3|0|0" passage="Ec 11:3">Eccl. xi. 3</scripRef>.
Bowels of compassion would produce liberal distributions, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Jas.2.15-Jas.2.16" parsed="|Jas|2|15|2|16" passage="Jam 2:15,16">Jam. ii. 15, 16</scripRef>. Thou shalt not
only stretch out thy hand to him to reach him something, but thou
shalt <i>open thy hand wide unto him,</i> to <i>lend him
sufficient,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.8" parsed="|Deut|15|8|0|0" passage="De 15:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>.
Sometimes there is as much charity in prudent lending as in giving,
as it obliges the borrower to industry and honesty and may put him
into a way of helping himself. We are sometimes tempted to think,
when an object of charity presents itself, we may choose whether we
will give any thing or nothing, little or much; whereas it is here
an express precept (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.11" parsed="|Deut|15|11|0|0" passage="De 15:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>), <i>I command thee,</i> not only to give, but to
<i>open thy hand wide,</i> to give liberally. 3. Here is a caveat
against that objection which might arise against charitable lending
from the foregoing law for the release of debts (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.9" parsed="|Deut|15|9|0|0" passage="De 15:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>Beware that there be not a
thought,</i> a covetous ill-natured thought, <i>in thy Belial
heart, "The year of release is at hand,</i> and therefore I will
not lend what I must then be sure to lose;" lest thy poor brother,
whom thou refusest to lend to, complain to God, and it will be a
sin, a great sin, to thee. Note, (1.) The law is spiritual and lays
a restraint upon the thoughts of the heart. We mistake if we think
thoughts are free from the divine cognizance and check. (2.) That
is a wicked heart indeed that raises evil thoughts from the good
law of God, as theirs did who, because God had obliged them to the
charity of forgiving, denied the charity of giving. (3.) We must
carefully watch against all those secret suggestions which would
divert us from our duty or discourage us in it. Those that would
keep from the act of sin must keep out of their minds the very
thought of sin. (4.) When we have an occasion of charitable
lending, if we cannot trust the borrower, we must trust God, and
lend, hoping for nothing again in this world, but expecting it will
be recompensed in the resurrection of the just, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.10" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.35 Bible:Luke.14.14" parsed="|Luke|6|35|0|0;|Luke|14|14|0|0" passage="Lu 6:35,14:14">Luke vi. 35; xiv. 14</scripRef>. (5.) It is a
dreadful thing to have the cry of the poor against us, for God has
his ear open to that cry, and, in compassion to them, will be sue
to reckon with those that deal hardly with them. (6.) That which we
think is our prudence often proves sin to us; he that refused to
lend because the year of release was at hand thought he did wisely,
and that men would <i>praise him as doing well for himself,</i>
<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p4.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.49.18" parsed="|Ps|49|18|0|0" passage="Ps 49:18">Ps. xlix. 18</scripRef>. But he is
here told that he did wickedly, and that God would condemn him as
doing ill to his brother; and we are sure that the <i>judgment of
God is according to truth,</i> and that what he says is sin to us
will certainly be ruin to us if it be not repented of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xvi-p5">III. Here is a command to give cheerfully
whatever we give in charity: "<i>Thy heart shall not be grieved
when thou givest,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.10" parsed="|Deut|15|10|0|0" passage="De 15:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. Be not loth to part with thy money on so good an
account, nor think it lost; grudge not a kindness to they brother;
and distrust not the providence of God, as if thou shouldest want
that thyself which thou givest in charity; but, on the contrary,
let it be a pleasure and a satisfaction of soul to thee to think
that thou art honouring God with thy substance, doing good, making
thy brother easy, and laying up for thyself a good security for the
time to come. What thou doest do freely, for God <i>loves a
cheerful giver,</i>" <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.9.7" parsed="|2Cor|9|7|0|0" passage="2Co 9:7">2 Cor. ix.
7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xvi-p6">IV. Here is a promise of a recompence in
this life: "<i>For this thing the Lord thy God shall bless
thee.</i>" Covetous people say "Giving undoes us;" no, giving
cheerfully in charity will enrich us, it will <i>fill the barns
with plenty</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Prov.3.10" parsed="|Prov|3|10|0|0" passage="Pr 3:10">Prov. iii.
10</scripRef>) and the soul with true comfort, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.10-Isa.58.11" parsed="|Isa|58|10|58|11" passage="Isa 58:10,11">Isa. lviii. 10, 11</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.xvi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15" parsed="|Deut|15|0|0|0" passage="De 15" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.xvi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.12-Deut.15.18" parsed="|Deut|15|12|15|18" passage="De 15:12-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.15.12-Deut.15.18">
<p class="passage" id="Deu.xvi-p7">  12 <i>And</i> if thy brother, a Hebrew
man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six
years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from
thee.   13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou
shalt not let him go away empty:   14 Thou shalt furnish him
liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy
winepress: <i>of that</i> wherewith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p7.1">Lord</span> thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give
unto him.   15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a
bondman in the land of Egypt, and the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p7.2">Lord</span> thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command
thee this thing to day.   16 And it shall be, if he say unto
thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and
thine house, because he is well with thee;   17 Then thou
shalt take an awl, and thrust <i>it</i> through his ear unto the
door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy
maidservant thou shalt do likewise.   18 It shall not seem
hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he
hath been worth a double hired servant <i>to thee,</i> in serving
thee six years: and the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p7.3">Lord</span> thy God
shall bless thee in all that thou doest.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xvi-p8">Here is, I. A repetition of the law that
had been given concerning Hebrew servants who had sold themselves
for servants, or were sold by their parents through extreme
poverty, or were sold by the court of judgment for some crime
committed. The law was, 1. That they should serve but six years,
and in the seventh should go out free, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.12" parsed="|Deut|15|12|0|0" passage="De 15:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Compare <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.21.2" parsed="|Exod|21|2|0|0" passage="Ex 21:2">Exod. xxi. 2</scripRef>. And, if the year of jubilee
happened before they served out their time, that would be their
discharge. God's Israel were a free people, and must not be
compelled to perpetual slavery; thus are God's spiritual Israel
called unto liberty. 2. That if, when their six years' service had
expired, they had no mind to go out free, but would rather continue
in service, as having less care, though taking more pains, than
their masters, in this case they must lay themselves under an
obligation to serve for ever, that is, for life, by having <i>their
ears bored to the door-posts,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.16-Deut.15.17" parsed="|Deut|15|16|15|17" passage="De 15:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>. Compare <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.21.6" parsed="|Exod|21|6|0|0" passage="Ex 21:6">Exod. xxi. 6</scripRef>. If hereby a man
disgraced himself with some, as of a mean and servile spirit, that
had not a due sense of the honour and pleasure of liberty, yet, we
may suppose, with others he got reputation, as of a quiet contented
spirit, humble, and diligent, and loving, and not <i>given to
change.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xvi-p9">II. Here is an addition to this law,
requiring them to put some small stock into their servants' hands
to set up with for themselves, when they sent them out of their
service, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.13-Deut.15.14" parsed="|Deut|15|13|15|14" passage="De 15:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13,
14</scripRef>. It was to be supposed that they had nothing of their
own, and that their friends had little or nothing for them, else
they else they would have been redeemed before they were discharged
by law; they had no wages for their service, and all they got by
their labour was their masters', so that their liberty would do
them little good, having nothing to begin the world with; therefore
their masters are here commanded to furnish them liberally with
corn and cattle. No certain measure is prescribed: that is left to
the generosity of the master, who probably would have respect to
the servant's merit and necessity; but the Jewish writers say, "He
could not give less than the value of thirty shekels of silver, but
as much more as he pleased" The maid-servants, though they were not
to have their ears bored if they were disposed to stay, yet, if
they went out free, they were to have a gratuity given them; for to
this those words refer, <i>Unto thy maid-servant thou shalt do
likewise,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.17" parsed="|Deut|15|17|0|0" passage="De 15:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>.
The reasons for this are taken from the law of gratitude. They must
do it, 1. In gratitude to God, who had not only brought them out of
Egypt (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.15" parsed="|Deut|15|15|0|0" passage="De 15:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), but
brought them out greatly enriched with the spoils of the Egyptians.
Let them not send their servants out empty, for they were not sent
empty out of the house of bondage. God's tender care of us and
kindness to us oblige us to be careful of, and kind to, those that
have a dependence upon us. Thus we must <i>render according to the
benefit done unto us.</i> 2. In gratitude to their servants,
<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.18" parsed="|Deut|15|18|0|0" passage="De 15:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. "Grudge not
to give him a little out of thy abundance, for <i>he has been worth
a double hired servant unto thee.</i> The days of the hireling at
most were but three years (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.16.14" parsed="|Isa|16|14|0|0" passage="Isa 16:14">Isa. xvi.
14</scripRef>), but he has served thee six years, and, unlike the
hired servant, without any wages." Masters and landlords ought to
consider what need they have of, and what ease and advantage they
have by, their servants and tenants, and should not only be just
but kind to them. To these reasons it is added, as before in this
chapter (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.4 Bible:Deut.15.6 Bible:Deut.15.10" parsed="|Deut|15|4|0|0;|Deut|15|6|0|0;|Deut|15|10|0|0" passage="De 15:4,6,10"><i>v.</i> 4, 6,
10</scripRef>), <i>The Lord thy God shall bless thee.</i> Then we
may expect family blessings, the springs of family-prosperity, when
we make conscience of our duty to our family-relations.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.xvi-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15" parsed="|Deut|15|0|0|0" passage="De 15" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.xvi-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.19-Deut.15.23" parsed="|Deut|15|19|15|23" passage="De 15:19-23" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.15.19-Deut.15.23">
<p class="passage" id="Deu.xvi-p10">19 All the firstling males that come of thy herd
and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p10.1">Lord</span> thy God: thou shalt do no work with the
firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.
  20 Thou shalt eat <i>it</i> before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p10.2">Lord</span> thy God year by year in the place which the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p10.3">Lord</span> shall choose, thou and thy
household.   21 And if there be <i>any</i> blemish therein,
<i>as if it be</i> lame, or blind, <i>or have</i> any ill blemish,
thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xvi-p10.4">Lord</span> thy God.   22 Thou shalt eat it within
thy gates: the unclean and the clean <i>person shall eat it</i>
alike, as the roebuck, and as the hart.   23 Only thou shalt
not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as
water.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xvi-p11">Here is, 1. A repetition of the law
concerning the firstlings of their cattle, that, if they were
males, they were to be <i>sanctified to the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.19" parsed="|Deut|15|19|0|0" passage="De 15:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), in remembrance of, and
in thankfulness for, the sparing of the first-born of Israel, when
the first-born of the Egyptians, both of man and beast, were slain
by the destroying angel (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.13.2 Bible:Exod.13.15" parsed="|Exod|13|2|0|0;|Exod|13|15|0|0" passage="Ex 13:2,15">Exod. xiii.
2, 15</scripRef>); on the eighth day it was to be given to God (
<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.22.30" parsed="|Exod|22|30|0|0" passage="Ex 22:30">Exod. xxii. 30</scripRef>), and to be
divided between the priest and the altar, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.18.17-Num.18.18" parsed="|Num|18|17|18|18" passage="Nu 18:17,18">Num. xviii. 17, 18</scripRef>. 2. An addition to that
law, for the further explication of it, directing them what to do
with the firstlings, (1.) That were females: "Thou shalt <i>do no
work with the</i> female <i>firstlings of the cow,</i> nor shear
those of the sheep" (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.19" parsed="|Deut|15|19|0|0" passage="De 15:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>); of them the learned bishop Patrick understands it.
Though the female firstlings were not so entirely sanctified to God
as the males, nor so early as at eight days old, yet they were not
to be converted by the owners to their own use as the other cattle,
but must be offered to God as peace-offerings, or used in a
religious feast, at the year's end, <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.20" parsed="|Deut|15|20|0|0" passage="De 15:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. <i>Thou shalt eat it before the
Lord thy God,</i> as directed <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.12.18" parsed="|Deut|12|18|0|0" passage="De 12:18"><i>ch.</i> xii. 18</scripRef>. (2.) But what must they
do with that which was blemished, ill-blemished? <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.21" parsed="|Deut|15|21|0|0" passage="De 15:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. Were it male or female, it must
not be brought near the sanctuary, nor used either for sacrifice or
for holy feasting, for it would not be fit to honour God with, nor
to typify Christ, who is a <i>Lamb without blemish;</i> yet it must
not be reared, but killed and eaten at their own houses as common
food (<scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.22" parsed="|Deut|15|22|0|0" passage="De 15:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), only
they must be sure <i>not to eat it with the blood,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xvi-p11.10" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.23" parsed="|Deut|15|23|0|0" passage="De 15:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. The frequent repetition
of this caution intimates what need the people had of it, and what
stress God laid upon it. What a mercy it is that we are not under
this yoke! We are not dieted as they were; we make no difference
between a first calf, or lamb, and the rest that follow. Let us
therefore realize the gospel meaning of this law, devoting
ourselves and the first of our time and strength to God, as a kind
of first-fruits of his creatures, and using all our comforts and
enjoyments to his praise and under the direction of his law, as we
have them all by his gift.</p>
</div></div2>