Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 21

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

lying = fallen down.

Verse 3

man. Hebrew. 'ish. See App-14 .

Verse 4

rough valley = ravine, or rough gully.

eared = ploughed. Old English idiom.

strike off = behead, or break the neck.

Verse 5

the priests the sons of Levi. See note on Deuteronomy 17:9 .

word. Hebrew mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is uttered by it.

stroke = punishment. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 . Compare Deuteronomy 17:8 .

tried. Better to supply "settled", or "decided".

Verse 7

he. Compare Genesis 49:3 .

strength. Hebrew. 'avon. Homonym = strength, here and Genesis 49:3 and Job 31:25 (Authorized Version "wealth"); but = suffering, &c, in Genesis 35:18 (margin) Deuteronomy 26:14 , and Hosea 9:4 .

his. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum of Onkelos, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "his therefore".

Verse 8

Be merciful = Be propitious, or make expiation or atonement.

innocent blood. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for the guilt which shed it. See App-6 .

shall be = shall assuredly be.

Verse 9

put away, &c. See note on Deuteronomy 13:5 .

guilt of innocent blood = blood-guiltiness, blood being put for guilt. See note on Deuteronomy 21:8 .

Verse 10

hands. Hebrew text reads "hand"; but some codices, with The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, and Syriac, read "hands", as Authorized Version.

Verse 13

raiment of her captivity = mantle in which she was taken captive. "Of" = Genitive of relation (see App-17 ).

a full month. Hebrew = a moon of days. husband. Hebrew Baal, or lord. Compare first occurrence of verb, Genesis 20:3 .

Verse 14

whither she will = according to her soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 .

make merchandise. Hebrew. 'amar. In this sense, only here and Deuteronomy 24:7 .

Verse 15

If . Compare 1 Samuel 1:2 . 2 Chronicles 24:3

Verse 16

when. Hebrew in the day. See App-18 .

Verse 18

stubborn = rebellious.

rebellious = refractory.

Verse 19

the gate: i.e. the place of judgment.

Verse 20

glutton, &c. Compare Matthew 11:19 .

Verse 21

men. Hebrew, plural of ish , or 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 22

hang = hang up: i.e. after putting to death, not to put to death by hanging.

a tree = timber: i.e. a wooden stake. Compare Joshua 8:29 ; Joshua 10:26 , Joshua 10:27 . Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:13 .

Verse 23

accursed = a curse. Compare Numbers 25:4 . 2 Samuel 21:6 .

land = soil. Hebrew. 'adamah.