Exodus 23:19-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 23:10-19

Here is, I. The institution of the sabbatical year, Exod. 23:10, 11. Every seventh year the land was to rest; they must not plough nor sow it at the beginning of the year, and then they could not expect any great harvest at the end of the year: but what the earth did produce of itself should be eaten from hand to mouth, and not laid up. Now this was designed, 1. To show what a plentiful land that was into which God was bringing them?that so numerous a people could have rich maintenance out of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 23:20-33

Three gracious promises are here made to Israel, to engage them to their duty and encourage them in it; and each of the promises has some needful precepts and cautions joined to it. I. It is here promised that they should be guided and kept in their way through the wilderness to the land of promise: Behold, I send an angel before thee (Exod. 23:20), my angel (Exod. 23:23), a created angel, say some, a minister of God's providence, employed in conducting and protecting the camp of Israel; that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 23:19

The first of the first fruits of thy land ,.... Both of the barley and wheat harvest, and of the wine and oil; yea, Jarchi says, the seventh year was obliged to first fruits; and Josephus F4 Antiqu. l. 3. c. 15. sect. 3. relates, that the Jews were so tenacious of this law, that even in the famine in the time of Claudius Caesar, the first fruits were brought to the temple, and were not meddled with: thou shall bring into the house of the Lord thy God ; to the tabernacle, during the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 23:20

Behold, I send an angel before thee ,.... Not a created angel, but the uncreated one, the Angel of God's presence, that was with the Israelites at Sinai, and in the wilderness; who saved, redeemed, bore, and carried them all the days of old, whom they rebelled against and tempted in the wilderness; as appears by all the characters after given of him, which by no means agree with a created angel: Aben Ezra observes, that some say this is the book of the law, because it is said, "my name is in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 23:21

Beware of him ,.... Of his face or countenance; observe his looks towards you in a providential way, whether frowning or smiling; observe his directions and instructions, laws and commands: and obey his voice ; hearken to what he says, and cheerfully, readily, and punctually do as he orders: provoke him not ; by unbelief, by murmurings and complaints, by unbecoming words and actions, by transgressing his commands, and acting contrary to his will: for he will not pardon your... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 23:22

But, if thou shall indeed obey his voice ,.... Or "hearkening hearken", F14 שמוע תשמע "audiendo audieris", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius, Piscator. to it attentively, listen to it, and diligently and constantly observe and obey in whatever he shall direct and order: and do all that I speak ; by him; or whatsoever he had spoke, or was about to speak; for as yet all the laws and statutes were not delivered, especially those of the ceremonial kind: then I will be an enemy unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 23:23

For mine Angel shall go before thee ,.... The same as before described: and bring thee in unto the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite ; six nations are only mentioned, though there were seven; the Girgashites are omitted, though added in the Septuagint version; and this omission of them might be, either because they were swallowed up by one or other of the other nations, particularly the Amorites, who were the most powerful;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 23:24

Thou shalt not bow down to their gods ,.... In a way of honour to them, doing them reverence, expressing thereby an high esteem of them, trust in them, and expectation of good things from them: nor serve them : in any kind of service in which they usually are served by their votaries; as by offering sacrifice, incense, libations, &c.; or by praying to them or praising of them, or in whatsoever way they are served by idolaters: nor do after their works ; the works of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 23:25

And ye shall serve the Lord your God ,.... And him only, who had brought them out of Egypt, and done so many great and good things for them at the Red sea, and now in the wilderness; by which he appeared to be the true Jehovah, the one and only living God, and to be their God in covenant, who had promised them much, and had performed it; and therefore was in a special and peculiar manner their God, and they were under the highest obligations to serve and worship him in the way and manner he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 23:26

There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren in the land ,.... There shall be no abortions or miscarriages, nor sterility or barrenness, either among the Israelites, or their cattle of every kind, so that there should be a great increase, both of men and beasts: the number of thy days I will fulfil ; which was fixed for each of them, in his eternal purposes and decrees; or what, according to the temperament of their bodies and the course of nature, which, humanly speaking, it... read more

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