Exodus 23:1

“Thou shalt not raise a false report, etc.] Of a neighbour, or of any man whatever, either secretly by private slanders, whispers, backbiting and tale bearing, by innuendos, detracting from his good name and credit, suggesting things false and wicked concerning him; or publicly in a court of judicature, bringing a false accusation, laying a false charge, and bearing a false testimony against him: or “thou shall not receive a false report” f715; if there were not so many, that say, Report, and we will report it, that are ready to receive every ill thing of their neighbours, there would not be so many that would raise such ill things of them; everything of this kind should be discountenanced,…”

“LAWS CONCERNING SLANDER, &c. (Exo. 23:1-33) put not thine hand--join not hands.”

“These four commands, addressed to the conscience, are illustrations of the ninth commandment, mainly in reference to the giving of evidence in legal causes. Compare 1 Kings 21:10; Acts 6:11. Exodus 23:2 This verse might be more strictly rendered, “Thou shalt not follow the many to evil; neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause so as to incline after the many to pervert justice.” Exodus 23:3 Countenance - Rather, show partiality to a man’s cause because he is poor (compare Leviticus 19:15). These four commands, addressed to the conscience, are illustrations of the ninth commandment, mainly in reference to the giving of evidence in legal causes. Compare 1 Kings 21:10; Acts 6:11. return to…”

“Thou shalt not raise, the margin reads, Thou shalt not receive a false report, for sometimes the receiver in this case is as bad as the thief; and a backbiting tongue would not do so much mischief, if it were not countenanced. Sometimes we cannot avoid hearing a false report, but we must not receive it, we must not hear it with pleasure, nor easily give credit to it. Exodus 23:2”

“23:1-9 This call for justice includes a miscellaneous list of covenant requirements, most of which have to do with fairness and integrity. 23:1-3 It is necessary to give true witness, even under the pressure of evil people (23:1), the crowd (23:2), or misguided motives (23:3, 7-8).”

“shalt not: Exo 23:7, Exo 20:16; Lev 19:16; Sa2 16:3, Sa2 19:27; Psa 15:3, Psa 101:5, Psa 120:3; Pro 10:18, Pro 17:4, Pro 25:23; Jer 20:10; Mat 28:14, Mat 28:15; Rom 3:8 raise: or, receive an unrighteous witness: Deu 5:20, Deu 19:16-21; Kg1 21:10-13; Psa 27:12, Psa 35:11; Pro 6:19, Pro 12:17; Pro 19:5, Pro 19:9, Pro 19:28, Pro 21:28, Pro 24:28, Pro 25:18; Mat 19:18, Mat 26:59-61; Luk 3:14, Luk 19:8; Act 6:11-13; Eph 4:25; Ti2 3:3; Pe1 3:16; Rev 12:10 Exodus 23:2”

“Lastly, no one was to violate another's rights. - Exo 23:1. "Thou shalt not raise (bring out) an empty report." שׁוא שׁמע, a report that has no foundation, and, as the context shows, does injury to another, charges him with wrongdoing, and involves him in legal proceedings. "Put not thine hand with a wicked man (do not offer him thy hand, or render him assistance), to be a witness of violence." This clause is unquestionably connected with the preceding one, and implies that raising a false report furnishes the wicked man with a pretext for bringing the man, who is suspected of crime on account of this false report, before a court of law; in consequence of which the originator or propagator…”