The like is spoken of the rich, in Leviticus 19. 15. Thou shalt not countenance the face of the great man. It teacheth to doe right in all causes, without re∣spect of poore or rich.
Vers. 4. asse] and so any other beast, or garment, [unspec 4] or lost thing, as Moses after explaineth, Deut. 22. 1. 2. 3. God hereby teaching every man, not to looke on his owne things onely, but also on the things of other men, Phil. 2. 4. and to love and doe good un∣to his enemie, Luke 6. 27. returning returne] that is, in any case returne and restore him: if the owner be not neere, or not knowne, it is to bee kept till inquirie be made after it, Deut. 22. 2. Also the Hebrew Doctors say, Who so findeth a lost thing, which he is bound to restore, he is bound to cry the same, and to make it knowne and say, Who so hath lost such a kind of thing, let him come and give the signes of it, and he shall receive it, &c. Maimony, in treat. of Rob∣berie, and of losse, ch. 13. sect. 1.
Vers. 5. his burden] or, falne by any other occa∣sion; and this Law concerneth all other beasts, as [unspec 5] well as the Asse: see Deut. 22. 4. and wouldest forbeare to helpe him up] or, then thou shalt cease from forsaking him, that is, shalt cease and leave off all ill will, and looke that thou forsake him not. The Greeke translateth, thou shalt not passe by the same. helping helpeup] that is, in any wise helpe up. Or, thou shalt leaving leave (thy owne businesse to be) with him. But the former translation seem∣eth most fit: for so the Greeke version saith, thou shalt not passe by the same, but shalt raise up the same together with him. And so Moses repeating this Law explaineth it, in Deut. 22. 4. thou shalt raising raise up with him. Likewise this Hebrew word A∣zab, which commonly signifieth to Leave, or For∣sake, hath (as some other words) a contrary signi∣fication; to Fortifie, repaire, or helpe up with a thing, as Nehem. 3. 8. and 4. 2. The Chaldee joyneth both senses thus; leaving thou shalt leave that which is in thy heart against him, and shalt helpe up with him.
Vers. 6. of thy poore] that is, thy poore neighbor: [unspec 6] implying also the stranger, the fatherlesse and the wi∣dow: whose judgement they that wrest (or turne aside) are cursed, Deut. 27. 19.
Vers. 7. word of falshood] that is, false word, or false matter. The Chaldee saith, idle words: the Greek [unspec 7] every unjust word. From hence the Iewes have a rule: A Iudge that knoweth of his fellow, that he is a violent extortioner, or a wicked man, it is unlawfull to be joyned in society with him, as it is written, FROM A WORD OF FALSHOOD, THOV SHALT BE FARRE. And so they in Ierusalem that had a cleere conscience were wont to doe: they sate not in judgement, untill they knew with whom they should sit, nor sealed any writing untill they knew who should seale it with them, &c. Maimony in Sanhedr. c. 22. sect. 10. not justifie] but will condemne the wicked, though he be the Iudge himselfe. See Rom. 2. 1. 2. 3. So, not to hold guiltlesse. Exod. 20. 7. meaneth, to damne and punish as guiltie. This which is spoken of God: is also an example for us: there∣fore the Greeke changeth the person, and saith; and thou shalt not justifie the wicked, for gifts sake.
Vers. 8. gift] or bribe; for fire shall consume the Ta∣bernacles [unspec 8] of bribery, Iob 15. 34. And the Iew Doc∣tors explaine it thus: Thou shalt take no gift, and I need not say, for to pervert judgement: but although it be to acquit the innocent, or to condemne the guilty, it is unlawfull, and a transgression: for loe it is a gene∣rall rule, Cursed is he that taketh a gift. And hee is bound to restore againe the gift, &c. And whatsoever Iudge taketh his reward for judging, his judgments are frustrate. Maimony in Sanhedrin, ch. 23. sect. 1. 5. take none] neither give any, Act. 24. 27. So also the Hebrew Doctors teach from that Law, Thou shalt not put a stumbling blocke before the blind, Levit. 19. 14. Moreover they say, Whatsoever Iudge giveth a bribe, to get an office, it is unlawfull to stand before him (in judgement.) And our wisemen have commanded to set him at nought, and to despise him, Maimony in Sanhedrin, ch. 3. S. 9. open-eyed] the Greeke translateth, the eyes of those that see: and the Chaldee, the eyes of the wise; which words Mo∣ses also useth, in Deut. 16. 19. And Solomon saith, a gift destroyeth the heart, Eccles. 7. 7. but he that ha∣teth gifts shall live, Prov. 15. 27. will pervert] example in Samuels sonnes, who tooke bribes, and perverted judgement, 1 Sam. 8. 3. For a gift, whither∣soever it turneth, it prospereth, Prov. 17. 8. and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts, Prov. 19. 6. Such therefore as receive them are counted wic∣ked and companions of theeves, Proverbs 17. 23. Esay 1. 23.
Vers. 9. the soule] that is, the affection or heart. See [unspec 9] the like precept in Exod. 22. 21. Deut. 10. 19.
Vers. 10. thy land] the land of Canaan, which [unspec 10] God would give to Israel, Levit. 25. 2. Neither did the Iewes hold themselves bound to keepe this Law in other countries, Maimony treat. of Inter∣mission and Iubilee, ch. 4. S. 25.
Vers. 11. the seventh] every seventh yeere: which was to bee a Sabbath yeere; as every seventh day was a Sabbath day: therefore repeating this Law, he calleth it a Sabbath of sabbatisme (or of rest) to the land, a Sabbath to Iehovah, Levit. 25. 4. As the Sab∣bath day signified that they themselves were the Lords, and therefore they ceased from their owne works, to doe the Lords: so the Sabbath yeere was to signifie, that both they and their land was the Lords, Levit. 25. 23. let it rest] or, intermit it, let it be free from manuring: as the Gr. translateth, make a remission. They might neither sow their fields, nor prune their vineyards, nor reape the corne, nor gather the vintage, &c. Lev. 25. 4. 5. The Hebrew canons explaine it thus, that they might neither dig nor plough the ground, nor gather out the stones, nor dung it; neither graffe nor plant any trees save such as bare no fruit; nor cut off the knobs of trees, nor brush off the leaves, or withered boughes, nor binde up the branches, nor make a smoke to kill: he wermes, nor any the like thing pertaining to husbandry. Maimony, treat. of the Intermission and Iubilee, ch. 1. If any said, What shall wee eat the seventh yeere? behold, wee may not sewe nor gather in our revenue. The Lord promised, I will command my blessing upon you in the sixt yeere, and it shall bring forth fruit for three yeeres, Levit. 25. 20. 21. God would by this Sabbath yeere, call his people from