Deuteronomy 14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 14

Moses in this chapter teaches them, I. To distinguish themselves from their neighbours by a singularity, 1. In their mourning, Deut. 14:1, 2. 2. In their meat, Deut. 14:3-21. II. To devote themselves unto God, and, in token of that, to give him his dues out of their estates, the yearly tithe, and that every third year, for the maintenance of their religious feasts, the Levites, and the poor, Deut. 14:22-29 read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:1-21

Moses here tells the people of Israel, I. How God had dignified them, as a peculiar people, with three distinguishing privileges, which were their honour, and figures of those spiritual blessings in heavenly things with which God has in Christ blessed us. 1. Here is election: The Lord hath chosen thee, Deut. 14:2. Not for their own merit, nor for any good works foreseen, but because he would magnify the riches of his power and grace among them. He did not choose them because they were by their... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:22-29

We have here a part of the statute concerning tithes. The productions of the ground were twice tithed, so that, putting both together, a fifth part was devoted to God out of their increase, and only four parts of five were for their own common use; and they could not but own they paid an easy rent, especially since God's part was disposed of to their own benefit and advantage. The first tithe was for the maintenance of their Levites, who taught them the good knowledge of God, and ministered to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 14

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 14 In this chapter some cautions are given against the use of some rites and ceremonies in mourning for the dead, with the reason thereof, Deuteronomy 14:1 and instructions about what are lawful to be eaten, and what not, whether of beasts, fishes, or fowl, Deuteronomy 14:3 , and concerning eating one sort of tithes both at the place God should choose, and within their own gates, Deuteronomy 14:22 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:1

Ye are the children of the Lord your God ,.... Some of them were so by the special grace of adoption, and all of them by national adoption; which was the peculiar privilege of the people of Israel, and laid them under great obligation to honour and obey the Lord their God, who stood in the relation of a father to them, and they of children to him, Malachi 1:6 . The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it "beloved children"; so the apostle calls the saints; the "dear children of God", who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:2

For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God ,.... Set apart by him from all other people, and devoted to his worship and service, and many of them were sanctified and made holy in a special and spiritual sense; and therefore should not conform to the customs of Gentiles, whether in their extravagant mourning for the dead, or in their religious services; see Deuteronomy 7:6 , and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people, above all the nations that are upon the earth ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:3

Thou shall not eat any abominable thing. That is so either in its own nature, or because forbidden by the Lord; what are such are declared in the following verses. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:4

These are the beasts which they shall eat ,.... That is, which they might lawfully eat of, which were allowed for their food; for they were not obliged to eat of them if they did not choose it: the ox, the sheep, and the goat ; which were creatures used in sacrifice, and the only ones, yet nevertheless they might be used for food if chosen. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:5

The hart, the roebuck, and the fallow deer ,.... All of the deer kind, and very agreeable food; harts were very common in the land of Canaan and parts adjacent; Aelianus says F21 Hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 56. harts are bred in the great mountains in Syria, Amanus, Lebanon, and Carmel: the roebuck, or "dorcas", from whence a good woman had her name, Acts 9:36 is spoken of by Martial F23 "Delicium parvo", &c.; Epigram. l. 13. 93. as very delicious food, and so are fallow deer;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:6-8

And every beast that parted the hoof ,.... In this and the two following verses two general rules are given, by which it might be known what beasts were fit for food and what not; one is if they parted the hoof, and the other if they chewed the cud, such might be eaten; but such that only chewed the cud, but did not divide the hoof, as the camel, hare, and coney, might not be eaten; and so if they divided the hoof, and did not chew the cud, as the swine, they were alike unlawful; See Gill on... read more

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