Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 17:2

If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

2. If there be found in the midst of thee ] Deu 13:1 (2): if there arise, etc.; q.v.

within any of thy gates ] Deu 13:12 (13): one of thy cities; q.v.

doeth that which is evil, etc.] See on Deu 4:25.

in transgressing his covenant ] Jos 7:11; Jos 7:15; Jos 23:16 (all deuteron.). The same sin is in Deu 4:23 called forgetting the covenant. On covenant see Deu 4:13.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2 7. Against Worshippers of Other Gods

If such be found in any of thy gates, and their crime established, they shall be stoned (Deu 17:2-5); only at the mouth of two witnesses shall any one be put to death: so shalt thou burn out the evil from the midst of thee (Deu 17:6 f.). The evil condemned is related to those which precede it by being like them one of all the abominations to Jehovah which He hateth, Deu 12:31, and the law dealing with it naturally leads up to the three in ch. 13, with which it shows some similarities of language, along with such variations as these three show among themselves. Like them it is in the Sg. throughout.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Compare Deu 13:1 ff. Here special reference is made to the legal forms to be adopted, Deu 17:5-7. The sentence was to be carried into effect at the gates (compare Gen 19:1 note) of the town in which the crime was committed; because, as all the people were to take a part, an open space would be requisite for the execution. Note the typical and prophetical aspect of the injunction; compare Act 7:58; Heb 13:12.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Man or woman; the weakness and tenderness of that sex shall not excuse her sin, nor prevent her punishment.

In transgressing his covenant, i.e. in idolatry, as it is explained Deu 17:3, which is called a transgression of Gods covenant made with Israel, partly because it is a breach of their faith given to God, and of that law which they covenanted to keep; and principally because it is a dissolution of their matrimonial covenant with God, a renouncing of God and his worship and service, and a choosing other gods.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

2-7. If there be found among you . .. man or woman, that hath wrought wickednessThe grand objectcontemplated in choosing Israel was to preserve the knowledge andworship of the one true God; and hence idolatry of any kind, whetherof the heavenly bodies or in some grosser form, is called “atransgression of His covenant.” No rank or sex could palliatethis crime. Every reported case, even a flying rumor of theperpetration of so heinous an offense, was to be judicially examined;and if proved by the testimony of competent witnesses, the offenderwas to be taken without the gates and stoned to death, the witnessescasting the first stone at him. The object of this specialarrangement was partly to deter the witnesses from making a rashaccusation by the prominent part they had to act as executioners, andpartly to give a public assurance that the crime had met its duepunishment.

De17:8-13. THE PRIESTSAND JUDGES TODETERMINE CONTROVERSIES.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee,…. In any of their cities in the land of Canaan:

man or woman that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God: as all that is wrought is in the sight of the omniscient God; here it means not any kind of wickedness, for there is none lives without committing sin of one sort or another, all which is known to God the searcher of hearts, but such wickedness as is after described:

in transgressing his covenant; that is, his law, and particularly the first table of it, which respects divine worship, and which is in the nature of a marriage contract or covenant; which, as that is transgressed by adultery committed by either party, so the covenant between God and Israel was transgressed by idolatry, which is spiritual adultery, and going a whoring after other gods, as it follows:

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

If such a case should occur, as that a man or woman transgressed the covenant of the Lord and went after other gods and worshipped them; when it was made known, the facts were to be carefully inquired into; and if the charge were substantiated, the criminal was to be led out to the gate and stoned. On the testimony of two or three witnesses, not of one only, he was to be put to death (see at Num 35:30); and the hand of the witnesses was to be against him first to put him to death, i.e., to throw the first stones at him, and all the people were to follow. With regard to the different kinds of idolatry in Deu 17:3, see Deu 4:19. (On Deu 17:4, see Deu 13:15.) “ Bring him out to thy gates,” i.e., to one of the gates of the town in which the crime was committed. By the gates we are to understand the open space near the gates, where the judicial proceedings took place (cf. Neh 8:1, Neh 8:3; Job. Deu 29:7), the sentence itself being executed outside the town (cf. Deu 22:24; Act 7:58; Heb 13:12), just as it had been outside the camp during the journey through the wilderness (Lev 24:14; Num 15:36), to indicate the exclusion of the criminal from the congregation, and from fellowship with God. The infliction of punishment in Deu 17:5. is like that prescribed in Deu 13:10-11, for those who tempted others to idolatry; with this exception, that the testimony of more than one witness was required before the sentence could be executed, and the witnesses were to be the first to lift up their hands against the criminal to stone him, that they might thereby give a practical proof of the truth of their statement, and their own firm conviction that the condemned was deserving of death, – “a rule which would naturally lead to the supposition that no man would come forward as a witness without the fullest certainty or the greatest depravity” (Schnell, das isr. Recht).

(Note: “He assigned this part to the witnesses, chiefly because there are so many whose tongue is so slippery, not to say good for nothing, that they would boldly strangle a man with their words, when they would not dare to touch him with one of their fingers. It was the best remedy, therefore, that could be tried for restraining such levity, to refuse to admit the testimony of any man who was not ready to execute judgment with his own hand” ( Calvin).)

(Deu 17:6), the man exposed to death, who was therefore really ipso facto already dead. “ So shalt thou put the evil away,” etc.: cf. Deu 13:6.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

Verses 2-7:

In chapter 13, Moses defines the penalty for one who would lead any in Israel into the practice of idolatry. In this text, he defines the penalty for arty person who allows himself to be led into the worship and service of any false god.

Judgment must not be based upon rumor. First, there must be a thorough judicial inquiry. At least two or three witnesses must be given testimony to corroborate the charge, Num 35:30. But if the charge of idolatry be true, there must be no favoritism shown. The guilty person must be put to death. The witnesses themselves must cast the first stones, then the “hands of all the people” must join in carrying out the judicial sentence of death by stoning.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

2. If there be found among you. The same punishment is here decreed against idolaters, to which apostates had been before condemned; and thus either transgression is declared a capital crime. Hence we gather that it is accounted before God no less weighty a sin to violate His worship by gross and impure superstitions, than openly and professedly to fall away from religion altogether. Thus in Eze 20:39, He bids farewell to the Jews, and as it were emancipates them, that they may go every one after his idols, when they are no longer contented with Him alone. Whilst God, however, is so rigid an exactor of punishment, He would not have judgment pronounced precipitately. These are tokens of severity, that a woman as well as a man is to be slain; that the whole people should unite in stoning them; that the evil should be removed from the midst of the land, lest the abomination should continue unpunished. On the other hand moderation is to be observed, since diligent inquiry is to be made, nor is sentence to be pronounced unless the matter is fully proved; and again, that the trial may be lawful, the accusation of one man is not to convict the accused. God therefore would not have the judges, under pretext of zeal, shed blood inconsiderately; but only, after mature inquiry, the criminal was to be punished in proportion to his transgression. By synecdoche he speaks of their cities under the name of “gates,” and alludes to the land having been “given” them, that they might not shew their want of gratitude to God by profaning it. He marks too the heinous nature of the offense, by calling it the “transgressing of God’s covenant;” as much as to say that all who go aside unto idols are covenant-breakers. For the thief, and the fornicator, and the drunkard, and such like transgress the Law indeed, but still are not placed in this category. In fine, it is not simple impiety which is here punished, but the perfidy whereby true religion is forsaken, after men have devoted themselves to God, and professed themselves to be of the number of His people. The repetition of the words “that man or that woman,” more fully confirms what I have said, viz., that although the weakness of the female sex may extenuate their guilt, yet must they not be pardoned in such a case as this, where God’s worship is directly violated. Although mention is only made of the sun, and moon, and stars, the same thing applies to images also; nay, inasmuch as it is baser to transfer God’s honor to dead stones or stocks, than to those constellations in which something divine shines forth, so much more detestable are they who plunge themselves into such stupidity.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

Deu. 17:2-13

2 If there be found in the midst of thee, within any of thy gates which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that doeth that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah thy God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 and hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 4 and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, then shalt thou inquire diligently; and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel, 5 then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, who hath done this evil thing, unto thy gates, even the man or the woman; and thou shalt stone them to death with stones. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee.
8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose; 9 and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days: and thou shalt inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment. 10 And thou shalt do according to the tenor of the sentence which they shall show thee from that place which Jehovah shall choose; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they shall teach thee, 11 according to the tenor of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do; thou shalt not turn aside from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before Jehovah thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 17:213

246.

Who is to prefer charges against the idolater?

247.

Why not punish a man with only one witness? Supposing the idolator was sincere in his worship; was he yet to be put to death?

248.

What is meant by the expression blood and blood, plea and plea, stroke and stroke?

249.

What is involved in the terrible sin of presumption? Is not this a present-day problem? Discuss.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 17:213

2 If there is found among you, within any of your towns which the Lord your God gives you, a man or woman who does what is wicked in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant,
3 Who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or moon or any of the host of the heavens, which I have forbidden,
4 And it is told that you hear of it; then inquire diligently, and if it is certainly true that such an abomination has been committed in Israel,
5 Then you shall bring forth to your towns gates that man or woman who has done that wicked thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death.
6 On the evidence of two or three witnesses, he who is worthy of death shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
7 The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from among you.
8 If there arise a matter too hard for you in judgment, between one kind of bloodshed and another, between one legality and another, between one kind of assault and another, matters of controversy within your towns, then arise and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses,
9 And you shall come to the Levitical priests, and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall make clear to you the decision.
10 And you shall do according to the decision which they declare to you from that place which the Lord chooses, and you shall be watchful to do according to all that they tell you;
11 According to the decision of the law which they shall teach you, and the judgment which they shall announce to you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the verdict they give you, either to the right hand or the left.
12 The man who does presumptuously, and will not listen to the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or to the judge, that man shall die; so you shall purge the evil from Israel.
13 And all the people shall hear, and (reverently) fear, and not act presumptuously again.

COMMENT 17:213

We have included this passage with the section above because of its obvious similarity and because it treats the same subject. God had said to have no other gods before (besides) me nor to make any graven image (Deu. 5:7-10). He had also strictly forbidden the worship of any creature, star, planet, etc. (Deu. 4:15-19 and notes). Here it will be seen that the same method of procedure was to follow the punishment of transgressors as we have just noted in chapter 13. One witness was not enough for the death sentence, (Cf. Num. 35:30) and the witnesses had to have reputations for reliability (Deu. 19:15-21). (Naboth, for example, had two base fellows witness against him, 1Ki. 21:10; 1Ki. 21:13). In matters of discipline in the New Testament church, two or more witnesses are also required (Mat. 18:15-18).

IF THERE ARISE A MATTER TOO HARD FOR THEE IN JUDGMENT (Deu. 17:8)See also Deu. 1:9-18, Deu. 19:16-19, Deu. 25:1-3, and also Exo. 18:13-26. The passages in Exodus 18 and Deuteronomy 1 (which speak of the same instance) do not specify that the judges themselves had to be priests or Levites. In fact, the Exodus passage seems definitely to specify that Moses choices for these officers were not limited to one tribe: And Moses chose able men out of all Israel . . . and they judged the people . . . Furthermore, Deu. 17:9; Deu. 19:17 seem to carefully distinguish between the priests (who of course were always Levites) and the Judges, who might have been from any tribe of Israel.

AND THOU SHALT COME UNTO THE PRIESTS THE LEVITES, AND UNTO THE JUDGE (Deu. 17:9)In all such cases [Cf. Deu. 17:8] recourse was to be had to the court at the sanctuaryto the priests the Levites, i.e. the priests who were of the tribe of Levi, and the judge presiding therethe lay judge associated with the high priest as president . . . (Pulpit Com.)

AND THOU SHALT DO ACCORDING TO THE TENOR OF THE SENTENCE (Deu. 17:10)Cf. Deu. 17:12, which enacts the death penalty for THE MAN THAT DOETH PRESUMPTUOUSLY in not obeying the judge and the priest. The Hebrew word zid is defined by Baumgartners Lexicon as insolent, presumptuous, . . . boundless insolence and by Gesenius, swelling, pride; as joined with insolence and arrogance [here], haughtiness. It ought to be seen from all this that this judicial method was not intended as any kangaroo court by God! The decisions made by these appointed men were to be listened to and obeyed.

Much, of course, is left unsaid in these verses which could perhaps be profitably discussed. For example, to what extent did God personally and miraculously guide these judges and priests? Did the priests employ the Urim and Thummim in making such judgments?

In the theocracy Israel was under, there was little distinction between ecclesiastical and civil cases. The priests no doubt specialized as expounders and judges of cases involving the law, but the lay judges were not added to the court, to be judges of the facts in distinction from the law in the case.

It is debatable whether the judges to whom Israel came for judgment during that era of history known as the Period of Judges (Jdg. 2:16-19; Jdg. 3:10; Jdg. 4:4-5; Jdg. 10:2, etc.) represent the judge that shall be in those days (Deu. 17:9). If so, they took on far different responsibilities than anything mentioned here, for they were chiefly military men raised up to deliver Israel from his enemiesa task never assigned to these judges.

Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

Deu. 17:2-7. EVERY IDOLATER TO BE STONED.

(2) If there be found . . . man or woman.This section differs slightly from the third section of Deuteronomy 13. The penalty there is directed against the teachers of idolatry, whether prophets, private individuals, or communities in Israel. Here the penalty of death is enacted for every individual, man or woman, found guilty of worshipping any other god but Jehovah. We find traces of this law in the covenant made in the reign of Asa (2Ch. 15:13), that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

(3) Either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven.The oldest and simplest, and apparently most innocent form of idolatry. If this was punishable with death, obviously no grosser form of idolatry could be spared. The Book of Job, which knows no other idolatry, admits this to be a denial of the God that is above (Job. 31:26-28).

(6) He that is worthy of death.Literally, he that dieth.

(7) The hands of the witnesses . . . first.A great safeguard against false testimony.

Put . . . away.Literally, consume. The primary meaning of the word is burn. Taberah, burning, is a derivative.

The evil.The Greek version renders this the wicked man, and the sentence is taken up in this form in 1Co. 5:13, and ye shall put away from among you that wicked person. The phrase is of frequent occurrence in Deuteronomy, and if we are to understand that in all places where it occurs the evil is to be under. stood of an individual, and to be taken in the masculine gender, the fact seems to deserve notice in considering the phrase deliver us from evil in the Lords Prayer. There is really no such thing as wickedness in the world apart from some wicked being or person. We are also reminded of the famous argument of St. Augustine, that evil has no existence except as a corruption of good, or a creatures perverted will.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Anyone Found Worshipping Other Gods Was To Be Stoned To Death, But Only After Careful Enquiry ( Deu 17:2-7 ).

The reference to the abominations of Asherah, Pillar and blemished offerings leads on the thought of all idolatry. The worshipping of other gods was a capital offence, but it was necessary that the charge was proved to be genuinely true. Charging people with blasphemy on false grounds has been the curse of religion throughout history and is sadly often the result of a deeply religious bent. The Pharisees and Sadducees did it to Jesus. It is equally to be condemned between denominations, although it is right that genuine blasphemy be so condemned. The point here is that it must first be genuinely proved. Then it would result in the death penalty.

Analysis in the words of Moses:

a If there be found in the midst of you, within any of your gates which Yahweh your God gives you, man or woman who does that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God, in transgressing his covenant and has gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded (Deu 17:2-3).

b And it be told you, and you have heard of it, then shall you enquire diligently, and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel (Deu 17:4).

b Then shall you bring forth that man or that woman, who has done this evil thing, to your gates, even the man or the woman, and you shall stone them to death with stones (Deu 17:5).

a At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hand of the witnesses shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. So you will put away the evil from the midst of you (Deu 17:6-7).

Note that in ‘a’ the person is found within their gates transgressing the covenant and doing evil in the eyes of Yahweh their God by worshipping other gods, (thus what they have done has been witnessed), then at the mouths of at least two witnesses they must be put to death, the witnesses throwing the first stones, followed by the people. This common action will remove the evil from among them. In ‘b’ the enquiry must be detailed and fair, but if the thing is certain, then in the parallel they must be brought to their gates and stoned to death.

Deu 17:2-3

‘ If there be found in the midst of you, within any of your gates which Yahweh your God gives you, man or woman who does that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded,’

What had been previously mentioned brought home the dangers of idolatry, and in the context of words about establishing justice he now illustrated the approach that must be taken in all legal decisions by using idolatry as an example, while at the same time again condemning it absolutely.

Suppose there was found among them, within the cities that ‘Yahweh had given them’, (cities therefore holy to Him as the camp had been), a man or woman who did evil in the sight of Yahweh and who was transgressing His covenant by ‘going and serving other gods, and worshipping them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded’.

The thought is of someone engaged in false worship, but this time they had gone the whole way. They had deserted Yahweh and were serving other gods and worshipping them. This included the worship of images and idols, and the worship of sun or moon or stars.

The worship of the sun was unquestionably practised in Canaan, for at least one city was named ‘the house of Shemesh’ (Bethshemesh), while in Egypt Ra or Aten were sun gods who were seen as profoundly affecting things day by day (and in unseen battles at night). It is probable that Abraham’s father was a moon-worshipper, for Haran was a centre of moon-worship, and in Egypt Thoth was at one time a moon god. In Canaan Yerah was the moon god, possibly worshipped at ‘Yeri-cho’ (Jericho). The term ‘host of heaven’ was well known in Israel (see 1Ki 22:19; compare Deu 33:2) and the concept as old as, and older than, Gen 32:2. It originally referred to heavenly beings. But every night men around the world would look up and see the stars, and various aspects of them would be worshipped, which was why in some places learned men tracked their movements. So recognition of them as Yahweh’s hosts, an easy step to make, could easily turn to worship of them as the host of heaven. Gen 1:16 with its ‘and made the stars also’ would appear to have been a deliberate attempt to play the stars down. Worship of sun, moon and stars goes back into the mists of time. They had a fascination for men and were mysteries that drew men’s veneration.

By so worshipping they would have broken the covenant and done what Yahweh had not commanded. Indeed He had commanded that they should not do it. They must therefore face the judgment of His justices and officials.

Deu 17:4-5

‘ And it be told you, and you have heard of it, then shall you enquire diligently, and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel, then shall you bring forth that man or that woman, who has done this evil thing, to your gates, even the man or the woman, and you shall stone them to death with stones.’

But when they heard of such a thing happening they must make diligent enquiry. We can compare this with Deu 13:14. We need hardly doubt that Moses intended them to see this as a pattern which should be followed in all cases to be brought before the justices. And it was only if the matter was true and the thing certain that they were to proceed.

“Such abomination was wrought in Israel.” Although it was only given as an example, that did not lessen the crime. He had chosen the worst possible case to use as his illustration of justice. False worship struck at the very root of the covenant. It replaced Yahweh as Supreme. It was totally unacceptable. It was something that Yahweh was against with all His being. It was ‘abominable’. And yet even that must be subject to fair trial.

On the case being proved, the man or woman who had done this evil was to be brought forth to the gates, to the place of justice, and once the case was satisfactorily proved, the man or woman was to be stoned to death with stones, the first stones being thrown by the witnesses. Stoning was always the penalty for this crime in Israel, for it prevented anyone having to touch those who had been defiled.

In the wilderness the stoning had to take place ‘outside the camp’, but this would not now be possible. The equivalent of the camp was the whole of the land of Israel, and to take them to the borders of the land would have been impractical. But the gate of the city was the equivalent. The person had been brought out from where the people dwelt and was executed at the place of sentence, away from the sphere of their living accommodation.

Deu 17:6-7

‘ At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hand of the witnesses shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. So you will put away the evil from the midst of you.’

But this must not be done at the hand of only one witness (compare Num 35:30). There must be at least two or three witnesses. Then the hand of the witnesses were to throw the first stones, something which if they had spoken truly they would not hesitate to do, after which all the people were to take part. As all would have been affected by it so must all be involved in the punishment. So care was taken against false accusations, and against mob rule. But the finally important thing was that the evil would be put away from among them.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Ver. 2. Hath wrought wickedness By wickedness, is here meant idolatry, which was eminently transgressing the covenant; a principal part of which, and that whereupon the whole depended, was, that they should have no other gods but Jehovah, Exo 20:22-23. See notes on chap. 13:

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Observe, how tenacious the LORD GOD was of his people’s faithfulness, and how exemplary the punishment of idolatry. Oh! that many in the present hour, who are tempting the Israel of GOD by apostacy, would lay this to heart. 2Ti 3:6 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Deu 17:2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

Ver. 2. That hath wrought wickedness. ] Idolatry is wickedness with a witness. Such was the venom of the Israelitish idolatry, that the brazen serpent stung worse than the fiery. Oh that the Lord, as he hath “revealed” that wicked one, so that he would at length “consume him with the spirit of his mouth,” 2Th 2:8 and dung his vineyard with the dead carcass of that wild boar of the forest! He can as easily blast an oak as trample a mushroom. Fiat, fiat.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)