Bible Commentaries

congregation = assembly.

Moabite. Hebrew, masculine. Therefore not excluding Ruth the Moabitess. Matthew 1:5. Compare Ruth 1:14-16.

they hired. Compare Numbers 22:5. Jude 1:11.

Mesopotamia. Hebrew = Aram-Naharaim, i.e. "Syria of the two rivers".

Thou. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum of Onkelos, Syriac, Vulgate, read "But thou".

thy brother. The posterity of Esau. Genesis 25:25-30. Obadiah 1:10, Obadiah 1:12.

shall enter into the congregation, &c. The Massorah (App-30) quotes the Babylonian Codex, which reads "shall enter unto you in the assembly of Jehovah", by reading lakem, "unto you" instead of the second lakem which the Revised Version ignores, and the Authorized Version paraphrases. The present Hebrew text reads "shall enter unto them", which can only mean unto the Edomite and Egyptian, which is incongruous. The reading of the Babylonian Codex makes all clear

wicked. See App-44.

wash himself with water. See note on Leviticus 14:9.

paddle = blade.

weapon = staff.

wilt ease. Hebrew sit down. Beautiful Euphemy (App-6), when dealing with physical uncleanness, but plain speaking when dealing with moral uncleanness.

walketh. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. Compare Genesis 3:8. Leviticus 26:12.

camp. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "camps".

holy = separated. See note on Exodus 3:5.

whore = sodomitess. Hebrew means one consecrated as such in connection with heathen worship. Hence her name kedeshah, a separated one. Compare 1 Kings 14:24; 1 Kings 15:12; 1 Kings 22:46. Job 36:14 ("unclean" = temple women). Hosea 4:14. The Laws of Khammurabi refer to these (181, 187, 192).

sodomite. First occurrence. See above note.

whore = a prostitute. Hebrew. zonah, different from Deuteronomy 23:17.

dog. Hebrew. keleb; but here, probably = priest (of the above orgies), same as Arabic kaleb.

usury. Compare Exodus 22:25. Leviticus 25:35-37.

vow a vow. Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6) make a solemn vow. Compare Numbers 30:2.

sin. See App-44.

at thine own pleasure = as thy soul [desireth], Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

standing corn. Compare Matthew 12:1.