Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Exodus
Book: Exodus
Chapter: 23
Overview:
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)
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.
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.
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;
this is plainly taught
By St.
Paul, 1Co 10:9. They should have
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.