Exodus 23

1 non suscipies vocem mendacii nec iunges manum tuam ut pro impio dicas falsum testimonium

2 non sequeris turbam ad faciendum malum nec in iudicio plurimorum adquiesces sententiae ut a vero devies

3 pauperis quoque non misereberis in negotio

4 si occurreris bovi inimici tui aut asino erranti reduc ad eu

5 si videris asinum odientis te iacere sub onere non pertransibis sed sublevabis cum eo

6 non declinabis in iudicio pauperis

7 mendacium fugies insontem et iustum non occides quia aversor impium

8 nec accipias munera quae excaecant etiam prudentes et subvertunt verba iustorum

9 peregrino molestus non eris scitis enim advenarum animas quia et ipsi peregrini fuistis in terra Aegypti

10 sex annis seminabis terram tuam et congregabis fruges eius

11 anno autem septimo dimittes eam et requiescere facies ut comedant pauperes populi tui et quicquid reliqui fuerit edant bestiae agri ita facies in vinea et in oliveto tuo

12 sex diebus operaberis septima die cessabis ut requiescat bos et asinus tuus et refrigeretur filius ancillae tuae et advena

13 omnia quae dixi vobis custodite et per nomen externorum deorum non iurabitis neque audietur ex ore vestro

14 tribus vicibus per singulos annos mihi festa celebrabiti

15 sollemnitatem azymorum custodies septem diebus comedes azyma sicut praecepi tibi tempore mensis novorum quando egressus es de Aegypto non apparebis in conspectu meo vacuus

16 et sollemnitatem messis primitivorum operis tui quaecumque serueris in agro sollemnitatem quoque in exitu anni quando congregaveris omnes fruges tuas de agro

17 ter in anno apparebit omne masculinum tuum coram Domino Deo

18 non immolabis super fermento sanguinem victimae meae nec remanebit adeps sollemnitatis meae usque mane

19 primitias frugum terrae tuae deferes in domum Domini Dei tui nec coques hedum in lacte matris sua

20 ecce ego mittam angelum meum qui praecedat te et custodiat in via et introducat ad locum quem paravi

21 observa eum et audi vocem eius nec contemnendum putes quia non dimittet cum peccaveritis et est nomen meum in ill

22 quod si audieris vocem eius et feceris omnia quae loquor inimicus ero inimicis tuis et adfligam adfligentes te

23 praecedetque te angelus meus et introducet te ad Amorreum et Hettheum et Ferezeum Chananeumque et Eveum et Iebuseum quos ego contribo

24 non adorabis deos eorum nec coles eos non facies opera eorum sed destrues eos et confringes statuas eorum

25 servietisque Domino Deo vestro ut benedicam panibus tuis et aquis et auferam infirmitatem de medio tui

26 non erit infecunda nec sterilis in terra tua numerum dierum tuorum implebo

27 terrorem meum mittam in praecursum tuum et occidam omnem populum ad quem ingredieris cunctorumque inimicorum tuorum coram te terga vertam

28 emittens crabrones prius qui fugabunt Eveum et Chananeum et Hettheum antequam introeas

29 non eiciam eos a facie tua anno uno ne terra in solitudinem redigatur et crescant contra te bestiae

30 paulatim expellam eos de conspectu tuo donec augearis et possideas terram

31 ponam autem terminos tuos a mari Rubro usque ad mare Palestinorum et a deserto usque ad Fluvium tradam manibus vestris habitatores terrae et eiciam eos de conspectu vestro

32 non inibis cum eis foedus nec cum diis eorum

33 non habitent in terra tua ne forte peccare te faciant in me si servieris diis eorum quod tibi certo erit in scandalum

Exodus 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

Laws against falsehood and injustice. (1-9) The year of rest, The sabbath, The three festivals. (10-19) God promises to conduct the Israelites to Canaan. (20-33)

Verses 1-9 In the law of Moses are very plain marks of sound moral feeling, and of true political wisdom. Every thing in it is suited to the desired and avowed object, the worship of one only God, and the separation of Israel from the pagan world. Neither parties, friends, witnesses, nor common opinions, must move us to lessen great faults, to aggravate small ones, excuse offenders, accuse the innocent, or misrepresent any thing.

Verses 10-19 Every seventh year the land was to rest. They must not plough or sow it; what the earth produced of itself, should be eaten, and not laid up. This law seems to have been intended to teach dependence on Providence, and God's faithfulness in sending the larger increase while they kept his appointments. It was also typical of the heavenly rest, when all earthly labours, cares, and interests shall cease for ever. All respect to the gods of the heathen is strictly forbidden. Since idolatry was a sin to which the Israelites leaned, they must blot out the remembrance of the gods of the heathen. Solemn religious attendance on God, in the place which he should choose, is strictly required. They must come together before the Lord. What a good Master do we serve, who has made it our duty to rejoice before him! Let us devote with pleasure to the service of God that portion of our time which he requires, and count his sabbaths and ordinances to be a feast unto our souls. They were not to come empty-handed; so now, we must not come to worship God empty-hearted; our souls must be filled with holy desires toward him, and dedications of ourselves to him; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Verses 20-33 It is here promised that they should be guided and kept in their way through the wilderness to the land of promise, Behold, I send an angel before thee, mine angel. The precept joined with this promise is, that they be obedient to this angel whom God would send before them. Christ is the Angel of Jehovah; ( 1 Corinthians. 10:9 ) a comfortable settlement in the land of Canaan. How reasonable are the conditions of this promise; that they should serve the only true God; not the gods of the nations, which are no gods at all. How rich are the particulars of this promise! The comfort of their food, the continuance of their health, the increase of their wealth, the prolonging their lives to old age. Thus hath godliness the promise of the life that now is. It is promised that they should subdue their enemies. Hosts of hornets made way for the hosts of Israel; such mean creatures can God use for chastising his people's enemies. In real kindness to the church, its enemies are subdued by little and little; thus we are kept on our guard, and in continual dependence on God. Corruptions are driven out of the hearts of God's people, not all at once, but by little and little. The precept with this promise is, that they should not make friendship with idolaters. Those that would keep from bad courses, must keep from bad company. It is dangerous to live in a bad neighbourhood; others' sins will be our snares. Our greatest danger is from those who would make us sin against God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 23

This chapter contains several laws, chiefly judicial, relating to the civil polity of Israel, as concerning witness borne and judgment made of cases in courts of judicature, without any respect to poor or rich, and without the influence of a bribe, Ex 23:1-3,6-8, concerning doing good to an enemy in case any of his cattle go astray, or fall under their burden, Ex 23:4,5, and of the oppression of a stranger, Ex 23:9, and then follow others concerning the sabbath of the seventh year, and of the seventh day, with a caution against the use of the names of idols, Ex 23:10-13, next are laws concerning the appearance of all their males at the three feasts, Ex 23:14-17, and concerning the slaying of the sacrifice of the passover, and bringing the first of the firstfruits of the land, Ex 23:18,19 and then a promise is made of sending an angel to them to bring them into the land of Canaan, where they should carefully avoid all idolatry, and show a just indignation against it, and serve the Lord, and then it would be well with them, Ex 23:20-26, and particularly it is promised, that the Lord would send his fear, and his hornets, before them, to destroy the inhabitants of the land, and drive out the rest by little and little, until they should possess the utmost borders of it, which are fixed, Ex 23:27-31, and the chapter is concluded with a direction not to make a covenant with these people, or their gods, nor suffer them to dwell among them, lest they should be a snare unto them, Ex 23:32,33.