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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 22:16-24

Here is, I. A law that he who debauched a young woman should be obliged to marry her, Exod. 22:16, 17. If she was betrothed to another, it was death to debauch her (Deut. 22:23, 24); but the law here mentioned respects her as single. But, if the father refused her to him, he was to give satisfaction in money for the injury and disgrace he had done her. This law puts an honour upon marriage and shows likewise how improper a thing it is that children should marry without their parents? consent:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:24

And my wrath shall wax hot ,.... Against those that afflict them, being so devoid of humanity, compassion, and tenderness, and so guilty of oppression and injustice, which are aggravated by the circumstances of the persons they ill treat, and therefore the more provoking to God: and I will kill you with the sword ; with the sword of death, says the Targum of Jonathan; it designs one of God's sore judgments, the sword of an enemy; the meaning is, that when such evils should become... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-31

Exodus 21:33 If a man shall open a pit. Rather, "If a man shall uncover a cistern." Cisterns, very necessary in Palestine, were usually closed by a flat-stone, or a number of planks. To obtain water from them, they had to be uncovered; but it was the duty of the man who uncovered them, to replace the covering when his wants were satisfied. Or dig a pit and not cover it . A man who was making a cistern might neglect to cover it while it was in course of construction, or even... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:21-29

Jehovah's proteges and representatives. I. JEHOVAH 'S PROTEGES ( Exodus 22:21-28 ). These are the stranger, the fatherless, the widow, and the poor generally—all of whom the Israelites are forbidden to "afflict." The ground of Jehovah's interest in them is his own character—"for I am gracious" ( Exodus 22:27 ). In him, however little they may sometimes think of it or feel it, they have a constant Friend, a great invisible Protector. They are (in the sense of Roman law)... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:22-24

Law against oppressing widows and orphans . With the stranger are naturally placed the widow and orphan; like him, weak and defenceless; like him, special objects of God's care. The negative precept here given was followed up by numerous positive enactments in favour of the widow and the orphan, which much ameliorated their sad lot. (See Exodus 23:11 ; Le Exodus 19:9 , Exodus 19:10 ; Deuteronomy 14:29 ; Deuteronomy 16:11 , Deuteronomy 16:14 ; Deuteronomy 24:19-21 ; Deuteronomy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:22-24

The treatment of the widow and the fatherless. This injunction is even more humiliating to receive than the preceding one. It was bad enough to find those who had been foreigners in Egypt oppressing foreigners among themselves, and forgetting their own sufferings and deliverances. Still the slight excuse was available that as God's mercy to Israel receded into the past, and became a mercy to a former generation rather than a present one (at least, so it might be plausibly put), it was only... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:24

I will kill you with the sword . It was, in large measure, on account of the neglect of this precept, that the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and destruction of its inhabitants, was allowed to take place ( Jeremiah 22:3-5 ). Your wives shall be widows , etc. A quasi -retaliation. They shall be exposed to the same sort of ill-usage as you have dealt out to other widows. 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

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