“Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call you and you eat of his sacrifice;
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 15. Covenant. The same word occurs here, as (verse 12,) in Hebrew and Septuagint Bible.—It relates chiefly to contracts of marriage, which God forbids the faithful to enter into with the Chanaanites, and with other idolatrous nations, lest they should follow their example. Solomon is reprehended for transgressing this law, (3 Kennicott. 11:1,) and such marriages are called abominations. 1 Ezra 9:1 10:2, 10. Joseph. But if any of those people became converts, the reason of the prohibition ceased. Hence a captive woman might be married, (Deuteronomy 21:11,) and Salmon took Rahab to wife. If Samson and Esther married with heathens, it might be done by God’s dispensation, for weighty reasons. Tirinus.—Fornication. On account of the dissolute behaviour of those idolater, their worship is often condemned under this name, Jeremiah 2 and 3. Ezekiel 16. Calmet.—Sacrificed, and thus thou be drawn into a participation in his guilt. The other laws are here repeated from Calmet. 23. Menochius.