Exodus 22:18-20
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:18
Law against witchcraft . Witchcraft was professedly a league with powers in rebellion against God. How far it was delusion, how far imposture, how far a real conspiracy with the powers of evil, cannot now be known. Let the most rationalistic view be taken, and still there was in the practice an absolute renunciation of religion, and of the authority of Jehovah. Wizards (Le 19:31) and witches were, therefore, under the Jewish theocracy, like idolaters and blasphemers, to be put to death. read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:19
Law against unnatural crime . The abomination here mentioned is said to have prevailed in Egypt, and even to have formed part of the Egyptian religion. Though regarded by the Greeks and Romans as disgusting and contemptible, it does not seem to have been made a crime by any of their legislators. It was, however, condemned by the Gentoo laws and by the laws of Menu (11.17). read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:20
Law against sacrificing to false gods. Sacrifice was the chief act of worship; and to sacrifice to a false god was to renounce the true God. Under a theocracy this was rebellion, and rightly punished with temporal death. In ordinary states it would be no civil offence, and would be left to the final judgment of the Almighty. Utterly destroyed . Literally, "devoted;" but with the meaning of "devoted to destruction." read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 22:18
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live - See the marginal references. and Leviticus 20:27. The witch is here named to represent the class. This is the earliest denunciation of witchcraft in the law. In every form of witchcraft there is an appeal to a power not acting in subordination to the divine law. From all such notions and tendencies true worship is designed to deliver us. The practice of witchcraft was therefore an act of rebellion against Yahweh, and, as such, was a capital crime. The... read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 22:20
This was probably an old formula, the sense of which, on its ethical side, is comprised in the first and second commandments.Shall be utterly destroyed - The Hebrew word here used is חרם châram (i. e. devoted). See Leviticus 27:28. read more
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 22:18
Exodus 22:18. Witchcraft not only gives that honour to the devil which is due to God alone, but bids defiance to the divine providence, wages war with God’s government, puts his work into the devil’s hand, expecting him to do good and evil. By our law, consulting, covenanting with, invocating, or employing any evil spirit to any intent whatever, and exercising any enchantment, charm, or sorcery, whereby hurt shall be done to any person, is made felony, without benefit of clergy; also... read more
Donald C. Fleming
Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:18-31
Miscellaneous matters (22:18-23:19)Israelite law prohibited pagan customs and religious practices that threatened the nation’s spiritual life. The penalty for such offences was usually death (18-20). The Israelite people were to remember their own bitter experiences in Egypt and show mercy to the disadvantaged. The law against charging interest on a loan was designed to encourage the rich to help the poor instead of exploiting them (21-27). (For the contrast between lending that is greedy... read more
E.W. Bullinger
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 22:18
witch or spiritist . Medium to or from, from root to mutter, as to some demon. Compare Leviticus 19:26 , Leviticus 19:31 ; Leviticus 20:27 . Deuteronomy 18:9-14 . This enactment shows the reality of intercourse with evil spirits (angels) and demons. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:16-28
The severity and the tenderness of God. The miscellaneous laws thrown together, without any clear logical sequence or indeed any manifest connection, in the latter part of this chapter, may, generally speaking, be grouped under the two heads of instances of the Divine severity, and instances of the Divine tenderness. Here, as in so many places, "mercy and truth meet together—righteousness and peace kiss each other." God is as merciful to the weak and helpless as severe towards the bold and... read more