Éxodo 23

1 No admitirás falso rumor. No te concertarás con el impío para ser testigo falso

2 No seguirás a los muchos para mal hacer; ni responderás en pleito inclinándote tras los muchos para hacer agravios

3 ni al pobre honrarás en su causa

4 Si encontrares el buey de tu enemigo o su asno extraviado, vuelve a llevárselo

5 Si vieres el asno del que te aborrece caído debajo de su carga, ¿le dejarás entonces desamparado? Sin falta le ayudarás a levantarlo

6 No pervertirás el derecho de tu mendigo en su pleito

7 De palabra de mentira te alejarás, y no matarás al inocente y justo; porque yo no justificaré al impío

8 No recibirás soborno; porque el soborno ciega a los que ven, y pervierte las palabras de los justos

9 Y no angustiarás al extranjero; pues vosotros sabéis cómo se halla el alma del extranjero, ya que extranjeros fuisteis en la tierra de Egipto

10 Seis años sembrarás tu tierra, y recogerás su renta

11 mas el séptimo la dejarás libre y la soltarás, para que coman los pobres de tu pueblo; y de lo que quedare comerán las bestias del campo; así harás de tu viña y de tu olivar

12 Seis días harás tus hechos, y al séptimo día reposarás, a fin que descanse tu buey y tu asno, y tome refrigerio el hijo de tu sierva, y el extranjero

13 Y en todo lo que os he dicho seréis avisados. Y nombre de otros dioses no invocaréis, ni se oirá en vuestra boca

14 Tres veces en el año me celebraréis fiesta

15 La fiesta de los ázimos guardarás: Siete días comerás los panes sin levadura, como yo te mandé, en el tiempo señalado del mes de Abib; porque en él salisteis de Egipto; y ninguno comparecerá vacío delante de mí

16 También la fiesta de la cosecha de las primicias de tus labores que hubieres sembrado en el campo; y la fiesta de recoger a la salida del año, cuando habrás recogido tus labores del campo

17 Tres veces en el año comparecerá todo varón tuyo delante del Señor DIOS

18 No sacrificarás sobre pan leudado la sangre de mi sacrificio, ni el sebo de mi cordero quedará de la noche hasta la mañana

19 Los principios de las primicias de tu tierra traerás a la Casa del SEÑOR tu Dios. No guisarás el cabrito en la leche de su madre

20 He aquí yo envío el Angel delante de ti para que te guarde en el camino, y te introduzca en el lugar que yo he preparado

21 Guárdate delante de él, y oye su voz; no le entristezcas; porque él no perdonará vuestra rebelión; porque mi Nombre está en él

22 Pero si en verdad oyeres su voz, e hicieres todo lo que yo te dijere, seré enemigo a tus enemigos, y afligiré a los que te afligieren

23 Porque mi Angel irá delante de ti, y te introducirá a la tierra del amorreo, y del heteo, y del ferezeo, y del cananeo, y del heveo, y del jebuseo, a los cuales yo haré cortar

24 No te inclinarás a sus dioses, ni los servirás, ni harás como ellos hacen; antes los destruirás del todo, y quebrarás del todo sus imágenes

25 Mas al SEÑOR vuestro Dios serviréis, y él bendecirá tu pan y tus aguas; y yo quitaré toda enfermedad de en medio de ti

26 No habrá mujer que aborte, ni estéril en tu tierra; y yo cumpliré el número de tus días

27 Yo enviaré mi terror delante de ti, y consternaré a todo pueblo donde tú entrares, y te daré la cerviz de todos tus enemigos

28 Yo enviaré la avispa delante de ti, que eche fuera al heveo, y al cananeo, y al heteo, de delante de ti

29 No los echaré de delante de ti en un año, para que no quede la tierra desierta, y se aumenten contra ti las bestias del campo

30 Poco a poco los echaré de delante de ti, hasta que te multipliques y tomes la tierra por heredad

31 Y yo pondré tu término desde el mar Bermejo hasta el mar de Filistea, y desde el desierto hasta el río; porque pondré en vuestras manos los moradores de la tierra, y tú los echarás de delante de ti

32 No harás alianza con ellos, ni con sus dioses

33 En tu tierra no habitarán, para que por ventura no te hagan pecar contra mí sirviendo a sus dioses; porque te será de tropiezo

Éxodo 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

Laws against falsehood and injustice. (1-9) The year of rest, The sabbath, The three festivals. (10-19) God promises to conduct the Israelites to Canaan. (20-33)

Verses 1-9 In the law of Moses are very plain marks of sound moral feeling, and of true political wisdom. Every thing in it is suited to the desired and avowed object, the worship of one only God, and the separation of Israel from the pagan world. Neither parties, friends, witnesses, nor common opinions, must move us to lessen great faults, to aggravate small ones, excuse offenders, accuse the innocent, or misrepresent any thing.

Verses 10-19 Every seventh year the land was to rest. They must not plough or sow it; what the earth produced of itself, should be eaten, and not laid up. This law seems to have been intended to teach dependence on Providence, and God's faithfulness in sending the larger increase while they kept his appointments. It was also typical of the heavenly rest, when all earthly labours, cares, and interests shall cease for ever. All respect to the gods of the heathen is strictly forbidden. Since idolatry was a sin to which the Israelites leaned, they must blot out the remembrance of the gods of the heathen. Solemn religious attendance on God, in the place which he should choose, is strictly required. They must come together before the Lord. What a good Master do we serve, who has made it our duty to rejoice before him! Let us devote with pleasure to the service of God that portion of our time which he requires, and count his sabbaths and ordinances to be a feast unto our souls. They were not to come empty-handed; so now, we must not come to worship God empty-hearted; our souls must be filled with holy desires toward him, and dedications of ourselves to him; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Verses 20-33 It is here promised that they should be guided and kept in their way through the wilderness to the land of promise, Behold, I send an angel before thee, mine angel. The precept joined with this promise is, that they be obedient to this angel whom God would send before them. Christ is the Angel of Jehovah; ( 1 Corinthians. 10:9 ) a comfortable settlement in the land of Canaan. How reasonable are the conditions of this promise; that they should serve the only true God; not the gods of the nations, which are no gods at all. How rich are the particulars of this promise! The comfort of their food, the continuance of their health, the increase of their wealth, the prolonging their lives to old age. Thus hath godliness the promise of the life that now is. It is promised that they should subdue their enemies. Hosts of hornets made way for the hosts of Israel; such mean creatures can God use for chastising his people's enemies. In real kindness to the church, its enemies are subdued by little and little; thus we are kept on our guard, and in continual dependence on God. Corruptions are driven out of the hearts of God's people, not all at once, but by little and little. The precept with this promise is, that they should not make friendship with idolaters. Those that would keep from bad courses, must keep from bad company. It is dangerous to live in a bad neighbourhood; others' sins will be our snares. Our greatest danger is from those who would make us sin against God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 23

This chapter contains several laws, chiefly judicial, relating to the civil polity of Israel, as concerning witness borne and judgment made of cases in courts of judicature, without any respect to poor or rich, and without the influence of a bribe, Ex 23:1-3,6-8, concerning doing good to an enemy in case any of his cattle go astray, or fall under their burden, Ex 23:4,5, and of the oppression of a stranger, Ex 23:9, and then follow others concerning the sabbath of the seventh year, and of the seventh day, with a caution against the use of the names of idols, Ex 23:10-13, next are laws concerning the appearance of all their males at the three feasts, Ex 23:14-17, and concerning the slaying of the sacrifice of the passover, and bringing the first of the firstfruits of the land, Ex 23:18,19 and then a promise is made of sending an angel to them to bring them into the land of Canaan, where they should carefully avoid all idolatry, and show a just indignation against it, and serve the Lord, and then it would be well with them, Ex 23:20-26, and particularly it is promised, that the Lord would send his fear, and his hornets, before them, to destroy the inhabitants of the land, and drive out the rest by little and little, until they should possess the utmost borders of it, which are fixed, Ex 23:27-31, and the chapter is concluded with a direction not to make a covenant with these people, or their gods, nor suffer them to dwell among them, lest they should be a snare unto them, Ex 23:32,33.