Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:
But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.
Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God.
Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.
The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
Exodus 23 is a pivotal chapter, outlining the practical implications of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It delves into principles of justice, the importance of rest, and the consequences of obedience and disobedience, all vital for a thriving society under God's rule. This chapter serves as a guide for ethical living, reminding us that our relationship with God should permeate every aspect of our lives.
Impartial Justice and Ethical Conduct (Exodus 23:1-9)
These verses emphasize the importance of integrity and fairness in all dealings. God's people are called to be beacons of righteousness, reflecting His character in their interactions with others. This section lays down several key principles:
- Avoid False Accusations (Exodus 23:1): Spreading false reports or participating in slander is strictly forbidden. Truthfulness is paramount in maintaining a just society.
- Do Not Follow the Crowd in Wrongdoing (Exodus 23:2): Peer pressure should never lead us to compromise our moral principles. Standing for what is right, even when unpopular, is crucial.
- Justice for All, Regardless of Status (Exodus 23:3, 6): While the poor are not to be favored due to their poverty, neither should they be denied justice. Similarly, the rights of the wealthy or powerful must also be upheld. Impartiality is the cornerstone of a fair legal system. Tony Evans notes well that no one was to be treated with favoritism – not even the poor (Exodus 23:3).
- Help Your Enemy (Exodus 23:4-5): Extend kindness even to those who oppose you. If you see your enemy's animal struggling, offer assistance. This demonstrates a spirit of grace and forgiveness. This extends even to an enemy’s animal (Exodus 23:4-5).
- Reject Bribery and Oppression (Exodus 23:8-9): Bribes corrupt justice, and oppressing the vulnerable is an abomination to God. Those in positions of power must act with integrity and compassion.
These commands underscore that injustice, false accusations, bribes, and oppression are to have no place among God’s people.
Sabbaths and Festivals: Honoring God's Provision (Exodus 23:10-19)
This section highlights the importance of observing Sabbaths and festivals as reminders of God's provision and sovereignty.
- The Sabbatical Year (Exodus 23:10-11): Just as the seventh day was a day of rest, so too was the seventh year. The land was to lie fallow, allowing the poor to glean from it. This practice acknowledged God's ownership of the land and provided for the needs of the vulnerable. It served as a reminder that God owned the land; they were stewards on his behalf.
- The Weekly Sabbath (Exodus 23:12): This commandment, previously established in Exodus 20:8-11, is reiterated here, emphasizing the importance of rest for both people and animals.
- Three Annual Festivals (Exodus 23:14-17): The Israelites were to celebrate three major festivals each year:
- The Festival of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15): Held in conjunction with Passover, it commemorated the exodus from Egypt (see commentary in Exodus 12:1-20).
- The Festival of Harvest (Exodus 23:16): Also known as the "Festival of Weeks" or "Pentecost," it took place after the wheat harvest, seven weeks after the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
- The Festival of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16): Celebrated at the end of the year, it marked the completion of the harvest season.
Each festival served as a reminder of God’s provision for his people.
- A Peculiar Prohibition (Exodus 23:19): The command not to boil a young goat in its mother's milk may have been a rejection of a pagan practice that the Lord didn’t want his people to adopt.
Promise of Guidance and Victory (Exodus 23:20-33)
This section offers assurance of God's presence and power in leading Israel to the Promised Land, while also warning against the dangers of idolatry.
- God's Angelic Guide (Exodus 23:20-23): The Lord promised to send an angel to lead the Israelites and protect them on their journey. Obedience to this angel's voice was essential for success.
- Destroying False Gods (Exodus 23:24): Upon entering the land, the Israelites were to tear down the altars and sacred pillars of the pagan gods. This act symbolized their complete allegiance to the Lord.
- Blessings of Obedience (Exodus 23:25-26): If the people diligently followed God's commands, He promised to bless them with health, prosperity, and victory over their enemies.
- Gradual Conquest (Exodus 23:29-30): God promised to drive out the enemies of Israel gradually, preventing the land from becoming desolate.
- Defined Borders (Exodus 23:31): God prescribed the borders of the promised land: they would extend from the Red Sea in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, and from the wilderness in the south to the Euphrates River in the north.
- Avoid Covenants with Idolatrous Nations (Exodus 23:32-33): Making treaties with the inhabitants of the land was strictly forbidden. Their idolatrous practices would be a snare, leading Israel astray and provoking God's wrath. As Tony Evans points out, failure to drive them out of the land would result in them being a snare to the Israelites. Their idolatrous beliefs and practices would lure Israel, leading God’s people to sin.
Exodus 23 offers timeless principles for individuals and communities seeking to live in harmony with God's will. By embracing justice, honoring God's provision, and resisting the allure of idolatry, we can experience the blessings He has promised. The regulation of God’s laws is necessary if they were to enjoy God’s blessings—and that meant no compromising with their enemies and no idolatry.
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:
But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.
Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God.
Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.
The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
Exodus 23 is a pivotal chapter, outlining the practical implications of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It delves into principles of justice, the importance of rest, and the consequences of obedience and disobedience, all vital for a thriving society under God's rule. This chapter serves as a guide for ethical living, reminding us that our relationship with God should permeate every aspect of our lives.
Impartial Justice and Ethical Conduct (Exodus 23:1-9)
These verses emphasize the importance of integrity and fairness in all dealings. God's people are called to be beacons of righteousness, reflecting His character in their interactions with others. This section lays down several key principles:
- Avoid False Accusations (Exodus 23:1): Spreading false reports or participating in slander is strictly forbidden. Truthfulness is paramount in maintaining a just society.
- Do Not Follow the Crowd in Wrongdoing (Exodus 23:2): Peer pressure should never lead us to compromise our moral principles. Standing for what is right, even when unpopular, is crucial.
- Justice for All, Regardless of Status (Exodus 23:3, 6): While the poor are not to be favored due to their poverty, neither should they be denied justice. Similarly, the rights of the wealthy or powerful must also be upheld. Impartiality is the cornerstone of a fair legal system. Tony Evans notes well that no one was to be treated with favoritism – not even the poor (Exodus 23:3).
- Help Your Enemy (Exodus 23:4-5): Extend kindness even to those who oppose you. If you see your enemy's animal struggling, offer assistance. This demonstrates a spirit of grace and forgiveness. This extends even to an enemy’s animal (Exodus 23:4-5).
- Reject Bribery and Oppression (Exodus 23:8-9): Bribes corrupt justice, and oppressing the vulnerable is an abomination to God. Those in positions of power must act with integrity and compassion.
These commands underscore that injustice, false accusations, bribes, and oppression are to have no place among God’s people.
Sabbaths and Festivals: Honoring God's Provision (Exodus 23:10-19)
This section highlights the importance of observing Sabbaths and festivals as reminders of God's provision and sovereignty.
- The Sabbatical Year (Exodus 23:10-11): Just as the seventh day was a day of rest, so too was the seventh year. The land was to lie fallow, allowing the poor to glean from it. This practice acknowledged God's ownership of the land and provided for the needs of the vulnerable. It served as a reminder that God owned the land; they were stewards on his behalf.
- The Weekly Sabbath (Exodus 23:12): This commandment, previously established in Exodus 20:8-11, is reiterated here, emphasizing the importance of rest for both people and animals.
- Three Annual Festivals (Exodus 23:14-17): The Israelites were to celebrate three major festivals each year:
- The Festival of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15): Held in conjunction with Passover, it commemorated the exodus from Egypt (see commentary in Exodus 12:1-20).
- The Festival of Harvest (Exodus 23:16): Also known as the "Festival of Weeks" or "Pentecost," it took place after the wheat harvest, seven weeks after the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
- The Festival of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16): Celebrated at the end of the year, it marked the completion of the harvest season.
Each festival served as a reminder of God’s provision for his people.
- A Peculiar Prohibition (Exodus 23:19): The command not to boil a young goat in its mother's milk may have been a rejection of a pagan practice that the Lord didn’t want his people to adopt.
Promise of Guidance and Victory (Exodus 23:20-33)
This section offers assurance of God's presence and power in leading Israel to the Promised Land, while also warning against the dangers of idolatry.
- God's Angelic Guide (Exodus 23:20-23): The Lord promised to send an angel to lead the Israelites and protect them on their journey. Obedience to this angel's voice was essential for success.
- Destroying False Gods (Exodus 23:24): Upon entering the land, the Israelites were to tear down the altars and sacred pillars of the pagan gods. This act symbolized their complete allegiance to the Lord.
- Blessings of Obedience (Exodus 23:25-26): If the people diligently followed God's commands, He promised to bless them with health, prosperity, and victory over their enemies.
- Gradual Conquest (Exodus 23:29-30): God promised to drive out the enemies of Israel gradually, preventing the land from becoming desolate.
- Defined Borders (Exodus 23:31): God prescribed the borders of the promised land: they would extend from the Red Sea in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, and from the wilderness in the south to the Euphrates River in the north.
- Avoid Covenants with Idolatrous Nations (Exodus 23:32-33): Making treaties with the inhabitants of the land was strictly forbidden. Their idolatrous practices would be a snare, leading Israel astray and provoking God's wrath. As Tony Evans points out, failure to drive them out of the land would result in them being a snare to the Israelites. Their idolatrous beliefs and practices would lure Israel, leading God’s people to sin.
Exodus 23 offers timeless principles for individuals and communities seeking to live in harmony with God's will. By embracing justice, honoring God's provision, and resisting the allure of idolatry, we can experience the blessings He has promised. The regulation of God’s laws is necessary if they were to enjoy God’s blessings—and that meant no compromising with their enemies and no idolatry.