Deuteronomy 24

Deuteronomy 24:1

Six days - Namely, besides the first day, on which the passover was killed.

Deuteronomy 24:2

To put the sickle - That is, to reap thy corn, thy barley, when the first - fruits were offered.

Deuteronomy 24:3

Of weeks - Of pentecost. Thou shalt give - Over and besides what was appointed.

Deuteronomy 24:10

Thou shalt rejoice - In God and the effects of his favour, praising him with a glad heart.

Deuteronomy 24:11

Judges - Chief magistrates to examine and determine causes and differences. Officers - Who were subordinate to the other to bring causes and persons before him, to acquaint people with the sentence of the judges, and to execute their sentence. Thy gates - Thy cities, which he here calls gates, because there were seats of judgment set. Pursuant to this law, in every town which contained above an hundred and twenty families, there was a court of twenty three judges; in the smaller towns, a court of three judges.

Deuteronomy 24:12

Wrest judgment - Not give an unjust sentence. A gift doth blind the eyes - Biasseth his mind, that he cannot discern between right and wrong. The words - That is the sentence, of those judges who are used to do righteous things, it makes them give wrong judgment.

Deuteronomy 24:13

That which is altogether just - Heb. righteousness, righteousness, that is, nothing but righteousness in all causes and times, and to all persons equally.

Deuteronomy 24:14

Thou shalt not plant - Because this was the practice of idolaters, and might be an occasion of reviving idolatry.

Deuteronomy 24:17

Bullock or sheep - Either greater or smaller sacrifices, all being comprehended under the two most eminent kinds.

Deuteronomy 24:18

ln transressing his covenant - That is, in idolatry, as it is explained Deuteronomy 17:3, which is called a transgression of God’s covenant made with Israel, both because it is a breach of their faith given to God and of that law which they covenanted to keep; and because it is a dissolution of that matrimonial covenant with God, a renouncing of God and his worship, and a chusing other Gods.

Deuteronomy 24:19

The host of heaven - Those glorious creatures, which are to be admired as the wonderful works of God, but not to be set up in God’s stead. By condemning the most specious of all idolaters, he intimates, how absurd a thing it is to worship stocks and stones, the works of men’s hands. I have not commanded - That is, I have forbidden. Such negative expressions are emphatical.

Deuteronomy 24:22

Witnesses - Namely, credible and competent witnesses. The Jews rejected the testimonies of children, women, servants, familiar friends or enemies, persons of dissolute lives or evil fame.