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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:9-14

One would not think there had been so much need as it seems there was to arm the people of Israel against the infection of the idolatrous customs of the Canaanites. Was it possible that a people so blessed with divine institutions should ever admit the brutish and barbarous inventions of men and devils? Were they in any danger of making those their tutors and directors in religion whom God had made their captives and tributaries? It seems they were in danger, and therefore, after many similar... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:9

When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee ,.... The land of Canaan, often thus described, to express the goodness of God in bestowing it on them, as a mere favour of his, without any desert of theirs; and so typical of the heavenly Canaan, or eternal life, which is the free gift of God through Christ: thou shall not learn to do after the abominations of these nations ; the seven nations which before inhabited it; they might learn, as Jarchi observes, to know how... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:10

There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire ,.... To Moloch, which was a sort of lustration by fire, two fires being made, and the child led by a priest between them, and which was an initiation of him into the religion of that deity, and devoting him to it; so Jarchi says, this is the service of Moloch, making piles of fire here and there (on this side and on that), and causing (the children) to pass between them both. Besides this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:11

Or a charmer ,.... That pretends to cure diseases by charms, or a charmer of serpents; according to Jarchi, one that gathers together serpents and scorpions, and other animals, into one place; with which agree the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem,"which bind serpents and scorpions, and all kind of creeping things;'but, according to Aben Ezra, one that says certain words to gather demons together: or a consulter with familiar spirits ; or the inquirer of "Ob", or the bottle, which the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:12

For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord ,.... Not that do all these things, but whoever does any of them, as Jarchi notes; all such persons that use such unlawful methods, or any of them, to gain knowledge; and likewise all those that consult them, and make use of them; and especially it must be very abominable in the people of Israel to encourage such persons and practices, who had the knowledge of the true God, and him to consult on all occasions; had his law and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:13

Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. Sincerely serve and worship him, faithfully adhere to his word, laws, statutes, and ordinances, and walk uprightly before him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:14

For those nations which thou shall possess hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners ,.... Such as are before mentioned, and did as they directed them: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do ; or, "but thou not so" F13 ואתה לא כן "et tu non sic", Montanus. thou shouldest not do so, not hearken to such persons, but to the Lord thy God, and to his law and testimony; nor art thou left to the deception of such persons: the Lord thy God... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:10

To pass through the fire - Probably in the way of consecration to Molech, or some other deity. It is not likely that their being burnt to death is here intended. See on Leviticus 18:21 ; (note). Divination - קסמים קסם kosem kesamim , one who endeavors to find out futurity by auguries, using lots, etc. Observer of times - מעונן meonen , one who pretends to foretell future events by present occurrences, and who predicts great political or physical changes from the aspects of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:11

A charmer - חבר חבר chober chaber , one who uses spells; a peculiar conjunction, as the term implies, of words, or things, tying knots, etc., for the purposes of divination. This was a custom among the heathen, as we learn from the following verses: - Necte Tribus Nodis ternos, Amarylli, colores: Necte, Amarylli, modo; et Veneris, dic, vincula necto read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:9

Verse 9 9.When thou art come. It is too well known from experience how eagerly the human race lays hold of bad examples, and how prone it is to imitate them. Especially those who come into a foreign land, accustom themselves readily to its manners and customs. This is the reason why God expressly commands the Israelites to beware, lest, when they come into the land of Canaan, they should catch any infection from its inhabitants. The doctrine, indeed, is universal in its application; but there... read more

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