Éxodo 23

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

2 No seguirás á los muchos para mal hacer; ni responderás en litigio inclinándote á los más para hacer agravios;

3 Ni al pobre distinguirás en su causa.

4 Si encontrares el buey de tu enemigo ó su asno extraviado, vuelve á llevárselo

5 Si vieres el asno del que te aborrece caído debajo de su carga, ¿le dejarás entonces desamparado? Sin falta ayudarás con él á 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 presente; porque el presente ciega á los que ven, y pervierte las palabras justas.

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 allegarás su cosecha:

11 Mas el séptimo la dejarás vacante y 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 negocios, y al séptimo día holgarás, á 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 mentaréis, ni se oirá de 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 del mes de Abib; porque en él saliste de Egipto: y ninguno comparecerá vacío delante de mí:

16 También la fiesta de la siega, los primeros frutos de tus labores que hubieres sembrado en el campo; y la fiesta de la cosecha á la salida del año, cuando habrás recogido tus labores del campo.

17 Tres veces en el año parecerá todo varón tuyo delante del Señor Jehová.

18 No ofrecerás con pan leudo la sangre de mi sacrificio, ni el sebo de mi víctima quedará de la noche hasta la mañana.

19 Las primicias de los primeros frutos de tu tierra traerás á la casa de Jehová tu Dios. No guisarás el cabrito con 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 seas rebelde; porque él no perdonará vuestra rebelión: porque mi nombre está en él

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

23 Porque mi Angel irá delante de ti, y te introducirá al Amorrheo, y al Hetheo, y al Pherezeo, y al Cananeo, y al Heveo, y al Jebuseo, á los cuales yo haré destruir.

24 No te inclinarás á sus dioses, ni los servirás, ni harás como ellos hacen; antes los destruirás del todo, y quebrantarás enteramente sus estatuas.

25 Mas á Jehová 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 á 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 Hetheo, de delante de ti:

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

30 Poco á 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 la mar de Palestina, 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, no sea que te hagan pecar contra mí sirviendo á 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.