21:1 If [one] be found a slain in the land which the LORD thy
God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, [and] it
be not known who hath slain him:
(a) This law declares how horrible murder is, seeing that
because of one man a whole country will be punished,
unless remedy is found.
21:4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer
unto a rough b valley, which is neither eared nor sown,
and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:
(b) That the blood shed of the innocent beasts in a
solitary place, might make them abhor the fact.
21:8 Be merciful, c O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou
hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people
of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
(c) This was the prayer, which the priests made in the
audience of the people.
21:12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; d and she
shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
(d) Signifying that her former life must be changed before
she could be joined to the people of God.
21:13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off
her, and shall remain in thine house, e and bewail her
father and her mother a full month: and after that thou
shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be
thy f wife.
(e) As having renounced parents and country.
(f) This was only allowed in the wars, otherwise the
Israelites could not marry strangers.
21:15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another g
hated, and they have born him children, [both] the beloved
and the hated; and [if] the firstborn son be hers that was
hated:
(g) This declares that the plurality of wives came from a
corrupt affection.
21:17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated [for] the
firstborn, by giving him a h double portion of all that
he hath: for he [is] the beginning of his strength; the
right of the firstborn [is] i his.
(h) As much as to two of the others.
(i) Unless he is unworthy, as Reuben, Jacob's son, was.
21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will
not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his k
mother, and [that], when they have chastened him, will not
hearken unto them:
(k) For it is the mother's duty also to instruct her
children.
21:21 And all the men of his city shall l stone him with
stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from
among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
(l) A death which was also appointed for blasphemers and
idolaters: so that to disobey the parents is most
horrible.
21:23 His body shall not remain m all night upon the tree, but
thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is
hanged [is] accursed of God;) that thy land be not
defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an
inheritance.
(m) For God's law is satisfied by his death, and nature
abhors cruelty.
