Teks -- Deuteronomy 25:11-19 (NET)

25:11 If two men get into a hand-to-hand fight, and the wife of one of them gets involved to help her husband against his attacker, and she reaches out her hand and grabs his genitals, 25:12 then you must cut off her hand– do not pity her. 25:13 You must not have in your bag different stone weights, a heavy and a light one. 25:14 You must not have in your house different measuring containers, a large and a small one. 25:15 You must have an accurate and correct stone weight and an accurate and correct measuring container, so that your life may be extended in the land the Lord your God is about to give you. 25:16 For anyone who acts dishonestly in these ways is abhorrent to the Lord your God.

Treatment of the Amalekites

25:17 Remember what the Amalekites did to you on your way from Egypt, 25:18 how they met you along the way and cut off all your stragglers in the rear of the march when you were exhausted and tired; they were unafraid of God. 25:19 So when the Lord your God gives you relief from all the enemies who surround you in the land he is giving you as an inheritance, you must wipe out the memory of the Amalekites from under heaven– do not forget!

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Deu 25:13 - A great and a small

The great to buy with, the small for selling.

Wesley: Deu 25:17 - Out of Egypt

Which circumstance greatly aggravates their sin, that they should do thus to a people, who had been long exercised with sore afflictions, to whom pity was due by the laws of nature and humanity, and for whose rescue God had in so glorious a manner appeared, which they could not be ignorant of. So this was barbarousness to Israel, and setting the great Jehovah at defiance.

JFB: Deu 25:13-16 - Thou shalt not have . . . divers weights

Weights were anciently made of stone and are frequently used still by Eastern shopkeepers and traders, who take them out of the bag and put them in the balance. The man who is not cheated by the trader and his bag of divers weights must be blessed with more acuteness than most of his fellows [ROBERTS]. (Compare Pro 16:11; Pro 20:10).

JFB: Deu 25:17-19 - Remember what Amalek did

This cold-blooded and dastardly atrocity is not narrated in the previous history (Exo 17:14). It was an unprovoked outrage on the laws of nature and humanity, as well as a daring defiance of that God who had so signally shown His favor towards Israel (see on 1 Samuel 15; 27. 8; 30).

Clarke: Deu 25:13 - Divers weights

Divers weights - אבן ואבן eben vaaben , a stone and a stone, because the weights were anciently made of stone, and some had two sets of stones, a light and a heavy. With the latter they bought their wares, by the former they sold them. In our own country this was once a common case; smooth, round, or oval stones were generally chosen by the simple country people for selling their wares, especially such as were sold in pounds and half pounds. And hence the term a stone weight, which is still in use, though lead or iron be the matter that is used as a counterpoise: but the name itself shows us that a stone of a certain weight was the material formerly used as a weight. See the notes on Lev 19:35, Lev 19:36.

Clarke: Deu 25:14 - Divers measures

Divers measures - Literally, an ephah and an ephah; one large, to buy thy neighbor’ s wares, another small, to sell thy own by. So there were knaves in all ages, and among all nations. See the notes on Exo 16:16, and Lev 19:35 (note).

Clarke: Deu 25:18 - Smote the hindmost of thee

Smote the hindmost of thee - See the note on Exo 17:8. It is supposed that this command had its final accomplishment in the death of Haman and his ten sons, Esther iii., vii., ix., as from this time the memory and name of Amalek was blotted out from under heaven, for through every period of their history it might be truly said, They feared not God.

Calvin: Deu 25:11 - NO PHRASE

This Law is apparently harsh, but its severity skews how very pleasing to God is modesty, whilst, on the other hand, He abominates indecency; for, if in the heat of a quarrel, when the agitation of the mind is an excuse for excesses, it was a crime thus heavily punished, for a woman to take hold of the private parts of a man who was not her husband, much less would God have her lasciviousness pardoned, if a woman were impelled by lust to do anything of the sort. Neither can we doubt but that the judges, in punishing obscenity, were bound to argue from the less to the greater. A threat is also added, lest the severity of the punishment should influence their minds to be tender and remiss ill inflicting it. It was indeed inexcusable effrontery, willfully to assail that part of the body, from the sight and touch of which all chaste women naturally recoil.

Calvin: Deu 25:17 - Remember what Amalek did unto thee

17.Remember what Amalek did unto thee We have elsewhere seen how the Amalekites were the first who made a hostile attack upon the people, and endeavored to interrupt their journey; and Moses also related the sentence of God against them, the execution of which he now enjoins upon the people. God then swore that there should be perpetual war against them throughout all ages; and, that His threatening might not be frustrated, He appoints His people to take vengeance upon their great cruelty and impiety. For when the Israelites were inflicting no injury nor loss upon them, it was an act of injustice to make war upon peaceful persons proceeding, without doing any wrong, to another land. But humanity was still more grossly violated by them, inasmuch as they did not spare their own kindred, and thus cast away the feelings of nature. It is plain from Gen 36:12, that the Amalekites were the descendants of Esau; and hence it follows that they were both sprung from the same ancestor, Isaac. It is true that this command seems but little in accordance with religion, that the people should retaliate an injury done to them. I reply, that they are not stimulated to vindictive feelings in these words, but that they are commanded to punish the sins of Amalek with the same severity as those of the other nations. God appears, indeed, to influence them by private motives when He recounts the cruelty shewn by the Amalekites; but we must judge of the intention of the Legislator with reference to His nature, for we know that no angry or hateful passions can be approved by God; and hence it is easy to conclude that the command was such as the people might obey with well-regulated zeal. The first origin of the crime is specified, viz., because they “feared not God,” for this must not be taken in its ordinary meaning, but as expressing that they rebelled against God as it were deliberately. For the promise given to Abraham and Isaac could not be unknown to them; but, since Esau, the founder of their race, had fallen from the right of primogeniture, it came to pass that they attempted to bring God’s covenant to nought out of wicked and sacrilegious jealousy; and this is the reason why He unites them with the reprobate nations unto the same destruction. The word זנב , zineb, which means to crop the tail, is equivalent to making an attack on the rear, where the baggage and invalids are wont to be placed. ³⁰⁴

TSK: Deu 25:11 - to deliver her husband

to deliver her husband : Rom 3:8; 1Ti 2:9

TSK: Deu 25:12

Deu 19:13, Deu 19:21

TSK: Deu 25:13 - in thy bag // divers weights

in thy bag : Lev 19:35, Lev 19:36; Pro 11:1, Pro 16:11, Pro 20:10; Eze 45:10, Eze 45:11; Amo 8:5; Mic 6:11, Mic 6:12

divers weights : Heb. a stone and a stone, Aivenwaaiven ; because weights were anciently made of stone. Hence the expression, a stone weight, which is still in use, though the matter of which it is made be lead or iron, and the name itself shews us that a stone of a certain weight was formerly used.

TSK: Deu 25:14 - divers measures

divers measures : Heb. an ephah and an ephah, Aiphah waaiphah ; for this was the cost common measure among the Israelites, by which all the others were made and adjusted. They are not only forbidden to use divers weights and measures, one large or heavy to buy with, and another small and light to sell with, but they were not even allowed to keep such in the house. It is observable also, that these too common but dishonest actions are branded as ""an abomination to the Lord,""equally with idolatry, and other scandalous crimes. Deu 25:14

TSK: Deu 25:15 - that thy days

that thy days : Deu 4:40, Deu 5:16, Deu 5:33, Deu 6:18, Deu 11:9, Deu 17:20; Exo 20:12; Psa 34:12; Eph 6:3; 1Pe 3:10

TSK: Deu 25:16 - all that do

all that do : Deu 18:12, Deu 22:5; Pro 11:1, Pro 20:23; Amo 8:5-7; 1Co 6:9-11; 1Th 4:6; Rev 21:27

TSK: Deu 25:17

Exo 17:8-16; Num 24:20, Num 25:17, Num 25:18

TSK: Deu 25:18 - feared

feared : Neh 5:9, Neh 5:15; Psa 36:1; Pro 16:6; Rom 3:18

TSK: Deu 25:19 - when the // thou shalt

when the : Jos 23:1

thou shalt : Deu 9:14; Exo 17:14, Exo 17:16; Jos 6:3, Jos 7:12, Jos 7:22-25; 1Sa 14:48, 15:1-35, 1Sa 27:8; 1Sa 30:1-7; 1Ch 4:43; Est 3:1, Est 7:10, Est 9:7-10; Psa 83:7-17

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Deu 25:12 - Thine eye shall not pity her

Partly because of the great mischief she did to him, both to his person and posterity, and partly to deter all women from all immodest and impudent carriages, and to secure that modesty which is indeed the guardian of all the virtues, as immodesty is an inlet to all vices, as the sad experience of this degenerate age shows; and therefore it is not strange that it is so severely restrained and punished.

Thine eye shall not pity her which thou wilt be very apt to do, because of the infirmity of her sex, and the urgency of the occasion, this being done for the necessary preservation of her husband.

Poole: Deu 25:13 - great

The

great either to buy with, or openly to make show of; the

small for their private use in selling.

Poole: Deu 25:17

Which circumstance greatly aggravates their sin, that they should do thus to a people, who had been long exercised with sore afflictions, to whom pity and help was due by the laws of nature and humanity, and for whose rescue God had in so glorious a manner appeared, which they could not be ignorant of. So this was barbarousness to Israel, and setting the great Jehovah at defiance.

Poole: Deu 25:18 - Smote the hindmost of thee

Smote the hindmost of thee which God permitted, both for the punishment of Israel’ s sins, and to harden and prepare them for the difficulties of their expedition.

Poole: Deu 25:19 - Blot out the remembrance of Amalek

Blot out the remembrance of Amalek which was in great measure done afterward. See 1Sa 15 27:8 30:1,17 1Ch 4:43 Est 9:12,13 .

Haydock: Deu 25:12 - In her regard

In her regard: words supplied also by the Septuagint conformably to the context. (Calmet) ---

The indecency and impudence of the woman, left her no excuse; (Haydock) though the Rabbins falsely maintain, that she might transgress this law in case of necessity, and might cut off the hand of her husband's antagonist. (Grotius) (Calmet) ---

She would thus put the man in danger of having no posterity. (Menochius) ---

If even the imminent danger of her husband would not authorize her to act in this manner, when the person was stripped to fight, how severely will God punish all wanton liberties!

Haydock: Deu 25:16 - Injustice

Injustice. Proverbs xx. 10. To have a greater weight for buying and a less one for selling, is the way to grow rich here, or to obtain the mammon of iniquity; though, when such mean practices are detected, the man who cheats often loses more than he had gained; and at any rate, must either make restitution, if possible, or receive the wages of his unjust labour and craft in the world to come. (Haydock)

Haydock: Deu 25:17 - Amalec

Amalec. This order for destroying the Amalecites, in the mystical sense, sheweth how hateful they are to God, and what punishments they are to look for from his justice, who attack and discourage his servants when they are but just come out, as it were, of the Egypt of this wicked world, and being yet weak and faint-hearted, are but beginning their journey to the land of promise.

Haydock: Deu 25:18 - God

God. This circumstance is not mentioned, Exodus xvii. 14.

Gill: Deu 25:11 - When men strive together, one with another // and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him // and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets

When men strive together, one with another,.... Quarrel with one another, and come to blows, and strive for mastery, which shall beat, and be the best man:

and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him; perceiving that his antagonist has more skill or strength, or both, for fighting, and is an more than a match for her husband, who is like to be much bruised and hurt; wherefore, to save him out of the hands of the smiter, she goes up to them to part them, or take her husband's side:

and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets; or privy parts; in Hebrew his "shameful" parts ^x, which through shame are hidden, and modesty forbids to express in proper terms; and such is the purity of the Hebrew language, that no obscene words are used in it; for which reason, among others, it is called the holy tongue. This immodest action was done partly out of affection to her husband, to oblige his antagonist to let go his hold of him; and partly out of malice and revenge to him, to spoil him, and make him unfit for generation, and therefore was to be severely punished, as follows.

Gill: Deu 25:12 - Then thou shall cut off her hand // thine eye shall not pity her

Then thou shall cut off her hand,.... Which was to be done not by the man that strove with her husband, or by any bystander, but by the civil magistrate or his order. This severity was used to deter women from such an immodest as well as injurious action, who on such an occasion are very passionate and inconsiderate. Our Lord is thought to refer to this law, Mat 5:30; though the Jewish writers interpret this not of actual cutting off the hand, but of paying a valuable consideration, a price put upon it; so Jarchi; and Aben Ezra compares it with the law of retaliation, "eye for eye", Exo 21:24; which they commonly understand of paying a price for the both, &c. lost; and who adds, if she does not redeem her hand (i.e. by a price) it must be cut off:

thine eye shall not pity her; on account of the tenderness of her sex, or because of the plausible excuse that might be made for her action, being done hastily and in a passion, and out of affection to her husband; but these considerations were to have no place with the magistrate, who was to order the punishment inflicted, either in the strict literal sense, or by paying a sum of money.

Gill: Deu 25:13 - Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights // a great and a small

Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights,.... Or, "a stone and a stone" ^y; it being usual, in those times and countries, to have their weights of stone, as it was formerly with us here; we still say, that such a commodity is worth so much per stone, a stone being of such a weight; now these were not to be different:

a great and a small; great weights, to buy with them, and small weights, to sell with them, as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it.

Gill: Deu 25:14 - Thou shall not have in thine house divers, measures // a great and a small

Thou shall not have in thine house divers, measures,.... Or, "an ephah and an ephah"; which was one sort of measure in use with the Jews, and held above a bushel; and is put for all others, which should be alike, and not

a great and a small; one to buy with, and another to sell by, as before observed; which would be to cheat both seller and buyer in their turns; see Amo 8:5.

Gill: Deu 25:15 - But thou shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shall thou have // that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee

But thou shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shall thou have,.... That is, full weights, and full measures; and such as are alike, and everywhere used, according to the standard of the country; See Gill on Lev 19:36,

that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee; long life was always reckoned a blessing, and is frequently promised to, obedience, and particularly long life in the land of Canaan; which was a most delightful and fruitful land, and which a man might wish to live long in; deceitful men, are threatened with not living half their days, and such may they be said to be that use false weights and measures, Psa 55:23.

Gill: Deu 25:16 - For all that do such things // and all that do unrighteously // are an abomination unto the Lord thy God

For all that do such things,.... Keep, different weights and measures, and make use of them to defraud their neighbours in buying and selling:

and all that do unrighteously; what is not just and right between man and man, in any other instance whatever:

are an abomination unto the Lord thy God; both they and their actions; he is a righteous God, and loves righteousness, and hates injustice of every kind.

Gill: Deu 25:17 - Remember what Amalek did unto thee // by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt

Remember what Amalek did unto thee,.... The Amalekites, how they came out against them, and fought with them at Rephidim, Exo 17:8,

by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; which was an aggravation of their cruel and inhuman action, that they not only came out against them unprovoked, were the aggressors, and fell upon them as they were travelling on the road, but when they were just come out of Egypt, where they had been in hard bondage, and their spirits broken, and they not used to war; and so took them at all these disadvantages, a people that had not in the least injured them.

Gill: Deu 25:18 - How he met thee by the way // and smote the hindmost of thee // even all that were feeble behind thee // when thou wast faint and weary // and he feared not God

How he met thee by the way,.... Not with necessary provisions, food and drink, which would have been but a piece of kindness and humanity to travellers; but met them sword in hand, in order to stop their journey, and make them captives, at least to harass and distress them:

and smote the hindmost of thee; came upon them in a sly cowardly manner, and attacked their rear:

even all that were feeble behind thee: women and children, and such men as were weak, sickly, labouring under some disorder, and so lagged behind, and could not keep up with the rest; on these Amalek first fell, and began his attack here:

when thou wast faint and weary; with travelling, and the more so for want of water, which was their case at Rephidim, when Amalek came out against them; which is another aggravation of their unkind usage of them they were not to forget:

and he feared not God; who was then in the pillar of cloud and fire with Israel, which phenomenon Amalek might see, and yet did not fear; and who had done such wonders for Israel in Egypt, and had brought them from thence, and had drowned Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, of which doubtless Amalek had heard, and yet feared not the Lord, who had done such great things.

Gill: Deu 25:19 - Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about // in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it // that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven // thou shall not forget it

Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about,.... Not only when they had subdued the Canaanites, and got possession of their land, but when they were clear and free from all their neighbouring nations, Moabites, Midianites, Edomites, Ammonites, and Philistines; wherefore it may be observed, that this did not take place, as not immediately after the conquest of Canaan, so neither in the times of the judges, when they were harassed frequently by their neighbours, and not until the times of Saul, the first king of Israel:

in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it; the sense is, when they were in the full possession of the land given them by the Lord, as an inheritance to be enjoyed by them and theirs; and were at an entire rest from all enemies, and so had their hands at liberty to employ against Amalek:

that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven: that is, utterly destroy them, so that there should be none left of them any where, to put in mind that there ever were such a people on earth; men, women, children, cattle of all sorts, were to be destroyed, and nothing left that belonged unto them; that it might not be said this beast was Amalek's, as Jarchi, and to the same purpose Aben Ezra; see the order for this renewed, and the accomplishment of it, at least in part, 1Sa 15:2, &c.

thou shall not forget it; neither the unkindness of Amalek, nor this order to destroy him. The Targum of Jonathan adds,"and even in the days of the King Messiah it shall not be forgotten.''