Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 25:13
Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
13. divers weights ] Lit. stone and stone. Most ancient weights discovered in Palestine are of stone; for specimens see PEFQ, 1892, 114; 1894, 215 ff.
Royal standards were fixed for them as early as David’s time (2Sa 14:26). With this and the next v. cp. H, Lev 19:35: Thou shalt do no wrong ( ‘awel) in judgement or with rule, stone, or measure.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
13 16. Against Divers Weights and Measures
Israel shall not use these greater (for purchases) and smaller (for sales) for he who does so is an abomination to Jehovah (Deu 25:13 f., Deu 25:16). Interpolated (for it breaks the connection between Deu 25:13 f. and Deu 25:16) is a positive command to have a single normal set of weights and measures; that thy days may be long, etc. Sg. address throughout. Parallel in H, Lev 19:35 f., also a negative command with a positive added; but a different expression of the religious motive. The laws may be quite independent; for the provocations for them were many in Israel.
Amo 8:5 describes among other commercial sins making the ephah small (for selling) and the shekel great (for weighing the purchasers’ money, etc.) and dealing falsely with false balances; Mi. Deu 6:10 declares the scant measure loathsome. To the popular piety weights and measures, like the husbandman’s methods (see on Deu 22:9-11), were of divine institution, they were Jehovah’s and his work (Pro 16:11).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Honesty in trade, as a duty to our neighbor, is emphatically enforced once more (compare Lev 19:35-36). It is noteworthy that John the Baptist puts the like duties in the forefront of his preaching (compare Luk 3:12 ff); and that the prophets (compare Eze 45:10-12; Amo 8:5; Mic 6:10-11) and the Psalms Pro 16:11; Pro 20:10, Pro 20:23, not less than the Law, especially insist on them.
Deu 25:13
Divers weights – i. e. stones of unequal weights, the lighter to sell with, the heavier to buy with. Stones were used by the Jews instead of brass or lead for their weights, as less liable to lose anything through rust or wear.
Deu 25:17-19
It was not after the spirit or mission of the Law to aim at overcoming inveterate opposition by love and by attempts at conversion (contrast Luk 9:55-56). The law taught Gods hatred of sin and of rebellion against Him by enjoining the extinction of the obstinate sinner. The Amalekites were a kindred people Gen 36:15-16; and living as they did in the peninsula of Sinai, they could not but have well known the mighty acts God had done for His people in Egypt and the Red Sea; yet they manifested from the first a persistent hostility to Israel (compare Exo 17:8, and note; Num 14:45). They provoked therefore the sentence here pronounced, which was executed at last by Saul (1Sa 15:3 ff).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. Divers weights] 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 Le 19:35-36.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The
great, either to buy with, or openly to make show of; the
small, for their private use in selling.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13-16. Thou shalt not have . . .divers weightsWeights were anciently made of stone and arefrequently used still by Eastern shopkeepers and traders, who takethem out of the bag and put them in the balance. The man who is notcheated by the trader and his bag of divers weights must be blessedwith more acuteness than most of his fellows [ROBERTS].(Compare Pro 16:11; Pro 20:10).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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.
y “lapis et lapis”, Montanus, Vatablus, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The duty of integrity in trade is once more enforced in Deu 25:13-16 (as in Lev 19:35-36). “ Stone and stone,” i.e., two kinds of stones for weighing (cf. Psa 12:3), viz., large ones for buying and small ones for selling. On the promise in Deu 25:15, see Deu 4:26; Deu 5:16; Deu 25:16, as in Deu 22:5; Deu 18:12, etc. In the concluding words, Deu 25:16, “ all that do unrighteously,” Moses sums up all breaches of the law.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Amalek to Be Destroyed. | B. C. 1451. |
13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. 14 Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. 15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. 17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; 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. 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 shalt not forget it.
Here is, I. A law against deceitful weights and measures: they must not only not use them, but they must not have them, not have them in the bag, not have them in the house (Deu 25:13; Deu 25:14); for, if they had them, they would be strongly tempted to use them. They must not have a great weight and measure to buy by and a small one to sell by, for that was to cheat both ways, when either was bad enough; as we read of those that made the ephah small, in which they measured the corn they sold, and the shekel great, by which they weighed the money they received for it, Amos viii. 5. But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, v. 15. That which is the rule of justice must itself be just; if that be otherwise, it is a constant cheat. This had been taken care of before, Lev 19:35; Lev 19:36. This law is enforced with two very good reasons:– 1. That justice and equity will bring down upon us the blessing of God. The way to have our days lengthened, and to prosper, is to be just and fair in all our dealings Honesty is the best policy. 2. That fraud and injustice will expose us to the curse of God, v. 16. Not only unrighteousness itself, but all that do unrighteously, are an abomination to the Lord. And miserable is that man who is abhorred by his Maker. How hateful, particularly, all the arts of deceit are to God, Solomon several times observes, Pro 11:1; Pro 20:10; Pro 20:23; and the apostle tells us that the Lord is the avenger of all such as overreach and defraud in any matter, 1 Thess. iv. 6.
II. A law for the rooting out of Amalek. Here is a just weight and a just measure, that, as Amalek had measured to Israel, so it should be measure to Amalek again.
1. The mischief Amalek did to Israel must be here remembered, Deu 25:17; Deu 25:18. When it was first done it was ordered to be recorded (Exod. xvii. 14-16), and here the remembrance of it is ordered to be preserved, not in personal revenge (for that generation which suffered by the Amalekites was gone, so that those who now lived, and their posterity, could not have any personal resentment of the injury), but in a zeal for the glory of God (which was insulted by the Amalekites), that throne of the Lord against which the hand of Amalek was stretched out. The carriage of the Amalekites towards Israel is here represented, (1.) As very base and disingenuous. They had no occasion at all to quarrel with Israel, nor did they give them any notice, by a manifesto or declaration of war; but took them at an advantage, when they had just come out of the house of bondage, and, for aught that appeared to them, were only going to sacrifice to God in the wilderness. (2.) As very barbarous and cruel; for they smote those that were more feeble, whom they should have succoured. The greatest cowards are commonly the most cruel; while those that have the courage of a man will have the compassion of a man. (3.) As very impious and profane: they feared not God. If they had had any reverence for the majesty of the God of Israel, which they saw a token of in the cloud, or any dread of his wrath, which they lately heard of the power of over Pharaoh, they durst not have made this assault upon Israel. Well, here was the ground of the quarrel: and it shows how God takes what is done against his people as done against himself, and that he will particularly reckon with those that discourage and hinder young beginners in religion, that (as Satan’s agents) set upon the weak and feeble, either to divert them or to disquiet them, and offend his little ones.
2. This mischief must in due time be revenged, v. 19. When their wars were finished, by which they were to settle their kingdom and enlarge their coast, then they must make war upon Amalek (v. 19), not merely to chase them, but to consume them, to blot out the remembrance of Amalek. It was an instance of God’s patience that he deferred the vengeance so long, which should have led the Amalekites to repentance; yet an instance of fearful retribution that the posterity of Amalek, so long after, were destroyed for the mischief done by their ancestors to the Israel of God, that all the world might see, and say, that he who toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye. It was nearly 400 years after this that Saul was ordered to put this sentence in execution (1 Sam. xv.), and was rejected of God because he did not do it effectually, but spared some of that devoted nation, in contempt, not only of the particular orders he received from Samuel, but of this general command here given by Moses, which he could not be ignorant of. David afterwards made some destruction of them; and the Simeonites, in Hezekiah’s time, smote the rest that remained (1 Chron. iv. 43); for when God judges he will overcome.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 13-16:
The Law demanded scrupulous honesty, in all business transactions. A man must not have two standards of weights and measures, one great for buying, and one small for selling. All weights and measures were to be exact and correct, see Lev 19:35-37; Pro 11:1; Pro 16:11; Pro 20:1; Pro 20:23.
Honesty in business dealings was a condition of length of days and peaceful possession of one’s inheritance.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(20) JUST WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (Deu. 25:13-16)
13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag diverse weights, a great and a small. 14 Thou shalt not have in thy house diverse measures, a great and a small. 15 A perfect and just weight shalt thou have; a perfect and just measure shalt thou have; that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. 16 For all that do such things, even all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 25:1316
446.
There seems to have been a bureau of weights and measures long ago. How was it determined if a weight was too great or small?
447.
Proverbs has much to say about this. Pro. 11:1; Pro. 16:11; Pro. 20:10; Proverbs 23.
448.
How does the length of Israels stay in the land relate to honest business transactions?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 25:1316
13 You shall not have in your bag true and false weights, a large and a small.
14 You shall not have in your house true and false measures, a large and a small.
15 But you shall have a perfect and just weight, and a perfect and just measure; that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.
16 For all who do such things, and all who do unrighteously, are an abomination to the Lord your God.
COMMENT 25:1316
See also Lev. 19:35-37, Mic. 6:11. A number of Proverbs (Pro. 11:1, Pro. 16:10, Pro. 20:10; Pro. 20:23) refer to the justice of this lawand the wickedness of being deceptive or deceitful in this all-important matter in the business world.
They must not only not use them [diverse weights], but they must not have them; not have them in the bag, not have them in the house; for if they had them they would be strongly tempted to use them. They must not have a great weight and measure to buy by and a small one to sell by, for that was to cheat both ways, when either was bad enough; as we read of those that made the epbah small, in which they measured the corn [grain] they sold, and the shekel great, by which they weighed the money they received for it (Amo. 8:5). (Butlers Bible Work).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Deu. 25:13-16. JUST WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
So Lev. 19:35-36. Among the laws of moral holiness comes the law of just weights and measures.
(16) An abomination unto the Lord.So in Pro. 11:1, a false balance is abomination to the Lord. (See also Amo. 8:4-8.) The protection of the poor is the chief practical end in this; rich men can take care of themselves. Poor men are doubly robbed by short weight and measure, because they cannot protect themselves against it. The injustice tends to perpetuate their poverty.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
THE DUTY OF UPRIGHT DEALING ENJOINED, Deu 25:13-19.
13. Divers weights The Hebrew reads, a stone and a stone. The use of stones for weights was common. On the subject of honesty in weights and measures see Lev 19:35-36.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 13. Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights In the margin of our Bibles, a stone and a stone: so, a heart and a heart, meaneth a double and deceitful heart; 1Ch 12:33. The same mode of expression is used in the 14th verse. This law teaches them to be so far from practising deceit, that they were not even to retain the instruments of it; not to have a great weight to buy with, and a small one to sell with: a method of cheating, it is to be feared, but too common in our days. See on Lev 19:35.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
It were much to be wished that these precepts were kept in view by all persons concerned in trade.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 25:13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
Ver. 13. Divers weights, a great and a small. ] As they have that weigh not out a whole seventh day to God, who hath given men six whole days to labour in; these sell by one measure and buy by another. It was an error, doubtless, for want of due light and better information, in that pious prince, Edward VI, to give order to his council, that upon Sundays they should attend public affairs of the realm, despatch answers to letters, and make full despatches of all things concluded in the week before; provided that they be present at common prayer. a
a Life of Edw. VI, by Sir J. Heywood, p. 147.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 25:13-16
13You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. 14You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. 15You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 16For everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD your God.
Deu 25:13 differing weights Literally a stone and a stone, one size to buy with, one size to sell with (cf. Psalms 11; Psalms 1; Psa 16:11). Fairness and honesty among covenant brothers was crucial.
SPECIAL TOPIC: Ancient near Eastern Weights and Volumes (Metrology)
Deu 25:15 that your days may be prolonged in the land This is a societal promise of longevity (cf. Deu 4:40; Deu 5:16; Deu 5:33; Deu 6:2; Deu 11:9; Deu 22:7; Deu 25:15; Deu 30:18; Deu 32:47).
Deu 25:16 anyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD Blessings and curses are related to covenant obedience (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-29).
abomination See Special Topic: Abomination .
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
divers weights. Hebrew a stone and a stone. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for any weight. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
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.
Reciprocal: Exo 20:15 – General Lev 19:15 – General Deu 16:20 – That which Mic 6:10 – and 1Co 6:9 – unrighteous 1Th 4:6 – go
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 25:13. Divers weights, great and small The great to buy with, the small for selling. This law taught them to be so far from practising deceit, that they were not even to have the instruments of it by them. Would to God that there was no need to enforce the same law in our days!
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dishonest weights and measures 25:13-16
The Israelites were to use the same weights and measures for both buying and selling to ensure fairness in business (Deu 25:13-16).