Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 25:12
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Then thou shall cut off her hand, etc.] Which was to be done not by the man that strove with her husband, or by any bystander, but by the civil magistrate or his order. This severity was used to deter women from such an immodest as well as injurious action, who on such an occasion are very passionate and inconsiderate. Our Lord is thought to refer to this law, (<400530>Matthew 5:30); though the Jewish writers interpret this not of actual cutting off the hand, but of paying a valuable consideration, a price put upon it; so Jarchi; and Aben Ezra compares it with the law of retaliation, “eye for eye”, (<022124>Exodus 21:24 <032420>Leviticus 24:20) (<051921>Deuteronomy 19:21); which they commonly understand of paying a price for the both, etc. lost; and who adds, if she does not redeem her hand (i.e. by a price) it must be cut off: thine eye shall not pity [her]; on account of the tenderness of her sex, or because of the plausible excuse that might be made for her action, being done hastily and in a passion, and out of affection to her husband; but these considerations were to have no place with the magistrate, who was to order the punishment inflicted, either in the strict literal sense, or by paying a sum of money.
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