Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 19:14–end
Here is a statute for the preventing of frauds and perjuries; for the divine law takes care of men's rights and properties, and has made a hedge about them. Such a friend is it to human society and men's civil interest.
I. A law against frauds, Deu 19:14. 1. Here is an implicit direction given to the first planters of Canaan to fix land-marks, according to the distribution of the land to the several tribes and families by lot. Note, It is the will of God that every one should know his own, and that all good means should be used to prevent encroachments and the doing and suffering of wrong. When right is settled, care must be taken that it be not afterwards unsettled, and that, if possible, n…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 19:16
PUNISHMENT OF A FALSE WITNESS. (Deu 19:16-21)
But if convicted of perjury, it will be sufficient for his own condemnation, and his punishment shall be exactly the same as would have overtaken the object of his malignant prosecution. (See on Exo 21:23; see also Lev 24:20).
Next: Deuteronomy Chapter 20
John Gill on Deuteronomy 19:21
And thine eye shall not pity,.... The false witness when convicted; this is directed to the judges, who should not spare such an one through favour or affection, but pronounce a righteous sentence on him, and see it executed, in proportion to the crime, and that according to the law of retaliation:
but life shall go for life; in such a case where the life of a person must have gone, if the falsehood of the testimony had not been discovered, the false witness must suffer death; in other cases, where a member would have been lost, or the price of it paid for, the same penalty was to be inflicted:
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot; that is, the price of an eye an eye,…
Read the whole note in the consoleJohn Calvin on Deuteronomy 19:16–end
Deuteronomy 19:16-21
16. If a false witness rise up against any man, to testify against him that which is wrong;
16. Quum steterit testis mendax contra aliquem, ut testificetur contra eum verbum perversum:
17. Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days:
17. Tunc stabunt duo illi homines quibus est lis, coram Jehova, id est coram sacerdotibus et judicibus qui fuerint in diebus illis.
18. And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
18. Et inquirent judices diligenter, et si testis ille est…
