Lev 17:7, 20:5-6, Num 15:39, Deu 31:16, Judg 2:17, Psa 73:27, Jer 3:9 | TSK | STEP | unto devils. devils.{Seirim,} properly signifies hairy or hairy ones; and hence is used not only for he-goats, but also for some fabulous beings or sylvan gods, to whom was ascribed the form of goats. Maimonides says that the Zabian idolaters worshipped demons under the form of goats; and that this custom being spread among other nations, gave occasion to this precept. He-goats, however, are probably intended here, which were objects of divine honour among the Egyptians under the name of honour among the Egyptians under the name of Mendes. Herodotus says that all goats were worshipped in Egypt; but particularly he-goats. From these seem to have sprung Pan, Silenus, and the innumerable herd of those imaginary beings, fauns, satyrs, dryads, etc., all woodland gods, and held in veneration by the Greeks and Romans. gone a whoring.Though this phrase is equivalent, in Scripture, to that of committing idolatry, yet it is to be taken sometimes in a literal sense. Baalpeor and Ashtaroth were worshipped with obscene rite; and public prostitution formed a great part of the worship among the Egyptians, Moabites, Canaanites, Greeks, and Romans.

Leviticus 17:7

unto devils.

De 32:17; 2Ch 11:15; Ps 106:37; Joh 12:31; 14:30; 1Co 10:20

devils.{Seirim,} properly signifies hairy or hairy ones; and hence is used not only for he-goats, but also for some fabulous beings or sylvan gods, to whom was ascribed the form of goats. Maimonides says that the Zabian idolaters worshipped demons under the form of goats; and that this custom being spread among other nations, gave occasion to this precept. He-goats, however, are probably intended here, which were objects of divine honour among the Egyptians under the name of honour among the Egyptians under the name of Mendes. Herodotus says that all goats were worshipped in Egypt; but particularly he-goats. From these seem to have sprung Pan, Silenus, and the innumerable herd of those imaginary beings, fauns, satyrs, dryads, etc., all woodland gods, and held in veneration by the Greeks and Romans.

gone a whoring.Though this phrase is equivalent, in Scripture, to that of committing idolatry, yet it is to be taken sometimes in a literal sense. Baalpeor and Ashtaroth were worshipped with obscene rite; and public prostitution formed a great part of the worship among the Egyptians, Moabites, Canaanites, Greeks, and Romans.

20:5; Ex 34:15; De 31:16; Jer 3:1; Eze 23:8; Re 17:1-5

Leviticus 20:5-6

I will.

17:10

against his.

Ex 20:5; Jer 32:28-35,39

whoring.

17:7; Ps 106:39; Jer 3:2; Ho 2:5,13

familiar.

27; 19:26,31; De 18:10-14; Isa 8:19

go.

Ex 34:15,16; Nu 15:39; Ps 73:27; Eze 6:9; Ho 4:12

cut him.

1Ch 10:13,14In the days of Moses, superstition was almost the {sensus communis} of the human race, which then made severe punishment necessary: by means of the Christian dispensation such errors are now exploded, the cultivation of philosophy and natural history having harmonised and contributed their feebler share of light, so that we no longer have to deplore mischiefs occasioned by the silly curiosity attempting to unfold future events.

Numbers 15:39

remember.

Ex 13:9; De 6:6-9; 11:18-21,28-32; Pr 3:1

ye seek not.

De 29:19; Job 31:7; Pr 28:26; Ec 11:9; Jer 9:14; Eze 6:9

go a whoring.

Ex 34:15,16; Ps 73:27; 106:39; Ho 2:2; Jas 4:4

Deuteronomy 31:16

thou shalt.

Ge 25:8; 2Sa 7:12; Isa 57:2; Ac 13:36

sleep. Heb. lie down.{Shochaiv,} "lying down:" it signifies to rest, take rest in sleep, and metaphorically, to die. Though much stress cannot be safely laid upon this expression to prove the immortality of the soul, or that the people, in the time of Moses, had a distinct notion of its separate existence; yet is was understood in this sense by Jonathan, who paraphrases the words thus: "Thou shalt lie down in the dust with thy fathers; and thy soul {nishmatoch) shall be laid up in the treasury of the life to come, with thy fathers."

Job 20:11

and go a.

Ex 32:6; 34:15; Le 20:3-6; Jud 2:17-20; Ps 73:27; 106:39

Isa 57:3-8; Jer 3:1-3; Eze 16:15,25-36; 23:5-8,9-21; Ho 2:2-5

Re 17:2-5; 19:2

forsake me.

32:15; Jud 2:12; 10:6,13; Jer 2:11-13

break my.

Le 26:15; Jud 2:20; Jer 31:32