Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 23:24
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
24. Thou shalt not bow down to , nor serve them ] as Exo 20:5.
nor do after their works ] Cf. Lev 18:3.
overthrow ] properly, tear down (viz. their images).
pillars ] so RV. always, AV. sometimes wrongly images; RVm. obelisks; best, perhaps, standing-stones: Heb. mabth. The mabh (lit. something set up) was a large oblong block of stone originally, no doubt (cf. on Exo 20:24, and the writer’s note on Gen 28:18, p. 267), conceived as the abode of a numen or deity set up in or near a temple or high place, or beside an altar. Several such mabhs, or ‘standing stones,’ have been excavated recently at Gezer, Taanach, and Megiddo: at Gezer, for instance, there is a striking row of ten, and at Taanach a double row, each consisting of five (see the writer’s Modern Research as illustrating the Bible, 1908, pp. 62 5, 84). mabhs were the regular accompaniment of a Canaanite temple or other sacred place (cf. 2Ki 10:26 f., in the temple of Baal in Samaria); and during the earlier period of Israel’s history they seem to have been used freely in the worship of Jehovah as well: Moses erects twelve (ch. Exo 24:4); Hos 3:4; Hos 10:1 f. alludes to them as religious symbols of which Israel will be deprived on account of its sins; in Isa 19:19 a mabh is a symbol of Egypt’s conversion to Jehovah. Later, however, they were proscribed on account of their heathen associations: Moses is represented as having commanded the demolition of the Canaanite ‘standing-stones’ (here, Exo 34:13, Deu 7:5; Deu 12:3: cf. Mic 5:13); and their erection beside Jehovah’s altar is prohibited (Deu 16:22; Lev 26:1 H): the same view of them is also reflected in the notices by the Deuteronomic compiler in 1Ki 14:23, 2Ki 17:10. See further DB. iii. s.v. Pillar, and EB. iii. s.v. Massebah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 24. Break down their images.] matstsebotheyhem, from natsab, to stand up; pillars, anointed stones, &c., such as the baitulia. See Clarke on Ge 28:18.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thou shalt not bow down nor serve them, i.e. give them neither outward worship with thy body, nor inward with thy mind, nor follow their example in the worship of idols. Them shalt overthrow them, i.e. the people, lest thou be insnared by their counsel or example, and quite break down their images, or statues, or pillars, or any thing else erected in honour to their false gods. See Gen 28:18; 35:20.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods,…. In a way of honour to them, doing them reverence, expressing thereby an high esteem of them, trust in them, and expectation of good things from them;
nor serve them: in any kind of service in which they usually are served by their votaries; as by offering sacrifice, incense, libations, c. or by praying to them or praising of them, or in whatsoever way they are served by idolaters:
nor do after their works the works of the worshippers of idols; all those wicked works in general done by them, which should not be imitated; and those particularly relating to the service and worship of their deities:
but thou shalt overthrow them; the heathen gods; utterly destroy them, and break them to pieces, or demolish their temples, the idolatrous houses built for them, and their altars; for the word has the signification, of demolishing buildings, and razing up the very foundations of them:
and quite break down their images; or, “in breaking break down” o; utterly and entirely break them down, break them to shivers, all their statues of gold or silver, brass, wood, or stone, or of whatsoever materials they were made; none were to be spared, nor any remains of them to be seen, that they might not prove a snare to any to worship them; and hereby they were to express their detestation of idolatry, and their strict and close adherence to the true God, and the worship of him as follows.
o “confringendo confringes”, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius, “perfringendo perfringito”, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
24. Thou shalt not bow down to their gods. Moses repeats what had been before said, that the worship of God must be separated from all the superstitions of the Gentiles; for this error has been everywhere rife, that unbelievers would rather draw down God to themselves on earth, than ascend above to seek for Him. And in this sense we have said that idols are called gods; because it is impossible but that he who would represent God by wood and stone, should associate Him with corruptible matter. Experience also teaches us, that all the wicked are so attached to their idols, that they gain nothing by their subterfuge, when they allege that this is a necessary help to their ignorance. The following clause, “nor do after their works,” sufficiently proves that all corrupt worship is comprehended under the term idolatry.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Exo 23:24
. Thou shalt utterly overthrow them. I allow indeed that these supplements would partly agree with, and be applicable to, the First Commandment; but since express mention is everywhere made in them of idols, this place seems to be better suited to them. After Moses has taught what was necessary to be observed, he adds a political law about breaking down altars and overthrowing images, in order that the people may take the more diligent heed. These passages, however, differ from the foregoing; for in condemning thus far the superstitions which are vicious in themselves, God prescribed what He would have observed even to the end of the world. He now confirms that instruction by temporary enactments, that He may keep His ancient people up to their duty. For we have now-a-days no scruples in retaining the temples, which have been polluted by idols, and applying them to a better use; since we are not bound by what was added consequently ( propter consequentiam ), as they say, to the Law. I admit indeed that whatever tends to foster superstition should be removed, provided we are not too rigorously superstitious in insisting peremptorily on what is in itself indifferent. The sum amounts to this, that to shew more clearly how greatly God detests idolatry, He would have the memory of all those things abolished which had once been dedicated to idols. The second passage more fully unfolds what Moses had briefly adverted to in the first; for under the word “image,” he included all those tokens of idolatry which he afterwards enumerates, and of which he commands the whole land to be so cleared that no relics of them should remain. From the words, when ye have come into the land “to possess it,” Augustin (297) sensibly infers, that there is no command for private individuals to destroy the instruments of idolatry; but that the people are armed and furnished with this authority to take the charge of regulating the public interests, when they have obtained possession of the land. The third passage is more brief, only enumerating three kinds; the fourth adds “graven images,” ( sculptilia .) The fifth omits the groves, and puts in their place images or representations made of molten materials; and here we must observe what we have before adverted to, that the name of statue ( statuoe ) is sometimes taken in a good sense; and therefore the Jews think that what was permitted to the fathers before the Law is now forbidden. To us, however, it seems more probable, that the statues now condemned are not such as Jacob erected only as a monument, but such as they pretended to be a likeness of God. Some translate the word “titles,” (298) others “pictures,” with what propriety I leave to the judgment of my readers. He adds “ image, ” (299) a word which, though not in itself sinful, is still deservedly rejected in connection with the worship of God. Man is the image of God; for Moses uses this same word, when relating the creation of man. But to represent God by any figure, before which He is worshipped, is nothing less than to corrupt His glory, and so to metamorphose Him. By speaking of molten images, he admits neither sculptures nor pictures; but since they are generally cast in the precious metals, the people were expressly to beware of keeping gods of gold or silver for ornament.
(297) “ Hostes nos dicunt idolorum suorum. Sic praestet Deus, et det omnia in potestate, quomodo dedit quod fractum est. Hoc enim dicimus caritati vestrae, ne faciatis ista, quando in porestate vestra non est, ut faciatis illud. Pravorum hominum est, furiosorum Circumcellionum, et ubi potestatem non habent saevire, et velle mort properant sine causa. Audistis quae vobis legimus, omnes qui nuper in Mappalibus adfuistis. ‘Cum data vobis fuerit terra in potestatem (prius ait in potestatem, et sic dixit quae facienda sunt;) aras eorum, inquit, destruetis, lucos eorum comminuetis, et omnes titulos eorum confringetis.’ (Deu 7:1, and Deu 12:9.) Cum acceperitis potestatem, hoc facite. Ubi nobis non est data potestas, non facimus; ubi data est, non praetermittimus,” etc. — Aug. Serm. 62 (Opp. Edit. Bened. T.v.p. 364.)
(298) Num 33:52, משכיתם A.V., their pictures.
(299) צלמי , tsalemey — “ metallic talismanical figures, made under certain constellations, and supposed, in consequence, to be possessed of some extraordinary influences and virtues.” — Ad. Clarke, in loco.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(24) Nor do after their works.The Canaanitish nations were not merely idolaters, they were corrupt, profligate, and depraved. All the abominations mentioned in Lev. 18:6-23 were practised widely among them before they were dispossessed of their territory (Lev. 18:24-30). No doubt the idolatry and the profligacy were closely connected, as among idolatrous nations generally; but it was for their profligacy rather than their idolatry that they were driven out. Thus it was necessary to warn Israel against both.
Thou shalt . . . quite break down their images.Conquerors generally preserved the idols of the conquered nations as trophies of victory; to do so was forbidden to the Israelites. Idolatry had such a powerful and subtle attraction for them, that there was danger of their being seduced into it unless the entire apparatus of the idol-worship were destroyed and made away with. Hence the present injunctions, and others similar to them. (Comp. Exo. 34:13; Deu. 7:5; &c.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. Utterly overthrow them Not only are the first and second commandments of the decalogue here virtually repeated, but the further command is given to destroy idolatry by iconoclastic violence .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Deu_12:2-3; Deu_12:31-32 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Ver. 24. Thou shalt utterly overthrow them. ] As Henry VIII began here to do in demolishing the monasteries, and saying, Corvorum nidos esse penitus disturbandos ne iterum ad habitandum convolent. This Saunders relates and discusses. a
a Schism. Angl., lib. i.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
images = sacred pillars or statues. Exo 24:4; Exo 34:13. See note on Ex. 26.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
shalt not: Exo 20:5
do after: Lev 18:3, Lev 18:26-30, Deu 12:30, Deu 12:31, 2Ch 33:2, 2Ch 33:9, Psa 101:3, Psa 106:35-38, Eze 16:47
overthrow: Exo 32:20, Exo 34:13, Exo 34:14, Num 33:52, Deu 7:5, Deu 7:25, Deu 7:26, Deu 12:3, 2Ch 34:3-7
Reciprocal: Lev 26:1 – Ye shall Num 25:2 – bowed Deu 12:2 – utterly Deu 13:15 – destroying it utterly Jos 24:15 – or the gods 2Ki 23:14 – he brake 2Ch 31:1 – brake 2Ch 34:4 – brake down
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt {n} utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
(n) God commands his own to not only not worship idols, but to destroy them.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Moses stressed the worship of the true God as opposed to the idols of Canaan again. Note the repeated emphasis on obedience and worship also in Exo 23:20-26. [Note: On the promise that God would give the Israelites good health, see my comments on 15:26.]