Deut. 25 Judges must do justly, Deut. 25:1–2. Stripes not to exceed forty, Deut. 25:3. The threshing ox not to be muzzled, Deut. 25:4. The duty of raising seed unto a brother, Deut. 25:5–10. The punishment of an immodest woman, Deut. 25:11–12. A just weight and measure, Deut. 25:13–16.

A controversy about criminal matters, as it follows. They shall justify, i.e. acquit him from guilt and false accusations, and free him from punishment. Condemn the wicked; declare him guilty, and pass sentence of condemnation to suitable punishments upon him.

Worthy to be beaten; which the Jews say was the case of all those crimes which the law commands to be punished, without expressing the kind or degree of the punishment.

Not exceed: it seems not superstition, but prudent caution, when the Jews would not exceed thirty-nine stripes, 2 Cor. 11:24, lest through mistake or forgetfulness or eagerness they should go beyond their bounds, which they were commanded to keep, but they were not obliged to go to the utmost…

As the Gentiles used to do, having divers devices to keep them from eating when they trod out the corn, which they did in those parts and times by oxen, Hos. 10:11, either immediately by their hoofs, Isa. 28:28, Mic. 4:13, or by drawing carts or other instruments over the corn, Isa. 25:10, Isa.

Brethren; strictly so called, as is evident from Deut. 25:7, Gen. 38:8, Ruth 1:13, Matt. 22:24–25. Dwell together; either, 1. Strictly, in the same house or family; which is not probable, because the married brother may be presumed to have left his father’s house, and set up a family of his own.

In the name of his brother; shall be called and reputed his son. See Ruth 4:17. That his name be not put out of Israel; that a family be not lost. So this was a provision that the number of their families might not be diminished.

To raise up unto his brother a name; to revive his brother’s name and memory.

Speak unto him, to convince him of the duty, and persuade him to it. If he stand to it; if he obstinately refuse it.

Loose his shoe; partly as a sign of his resignation of all his right to the woman, and to her husband’s inheritance; for as the shoe was a sign of one’s power and right, Ps. 60:8, Ps.

i.e. His person, names being oft put for persons, and his posterity also. So it was a lasting blot.

Partly because of the great mischief she did to him, both to his person and posterity, and partly to deter all women from all immodest and impudent carriages, and to secure that modesty which is indeed the guardian of all the virtues, as immodesty is an inlet to all vices, as the sad experience of…

The great, either to buy with, or openly to make show of; the small, for their private use in selling.

Which circumstance greatly aggravates their sin, that they should do thus to a people, who had been long exercised with sore afflictions, to whom pity and help was due by the laws of nature and humanity, and for whose rescue God had in so glorious a manner appeared, which they could not be ignorant…

Smote the hindmost of thee; which God permitted, both for the punishment of Israel’s sins, and to harden and prepare them for the difficulties of their expedition.

Blot out the remembrance of Amalek; which was in great measure done afterward. See 1 Sam. 15:0; 1 Sam. 27:8; 1 Sam. 30:1, 1 Sam. 30:17; 1 Chron. 4:43; Esther 9:12, Esther 9:13.