John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Ye shall have no idols, or graven image , etc.] Some of the Jewish writers, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra, think this law against idolatry is mentioned on account of the Israelite sold to a stranger, spoken of in the latter part of the preceding chapter, lest he should be drawn into idolatry; (see Gill on “ Leviticus 25:48”); but this is rather mentioned as being a principal law, respecting the honour and glory of God, and the foundation of all religion and godliness, and the breach of it a capital crime, and which led on to other sins, and exposed to the displeasure and resentment of God, and brought on all the calamities after mentioned in this chapter. “Idols” here signify “things of nought”, as an idol is nothing in the world, ( Corinthians 8:4); and a “graven image”, any likeness of man or beast cut out of wood, or stone; and may include any molten image of gold, silver, or brass, and then engraven with a tool, as the golden calf was, ( Exodus 32:4): neither rear you up a standing image ; or pillar f901 ; an heap of rude stones, set up pillar, not bearing the likeness of any creature; otherwise graven and molten images were standing ones, but these were statues without any figure; such as the Arabians used to worship; the god Mars, worshipped in Arabia Petraea, was no other than a black stone four square, unformed, four feet high, and two broad, and was placed on a basis of gold f902 ; neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone in your land, to bow down unto ; any “figured stone”, as the Targum and Aben Ezra interpret it, which had figures and representations of creatures cut in it, in order to bow down unto and worship: the word has the signification of covering, as they cover a floor with a pavement of stones: for I [am] the Lord your God ; who is the alone object of religious worship and adoration.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - This chapter contains a general enforcement of all the laws given by Moses; by promises of reward in case of obedience, on the one hand; an threatenings of punishment for disobedience, on the other. While Israe maintained a national regard to God's worship, sabbaths, and sanctuary and did not turn aside to idolatry, the Lord engaged to continue to them temporal mercies and religious advantages. These great an precious promises, though they relate chiefly to the life which now is were typical of the spiritual blessings made sure by the covenant of grace to all believers, through Christ. 1. Plenty and abundance of the fruits of the earth. Every good and perfect gift must be expected from above, from the Father of lights. 2. Peace under the Divine protection Those dwell in safety, that dwell in God. 3. Victory and success in their wars. It is all one with the Lord to save by many or by few. 4 The increase of their people. The gospel church shall be fruitful. 5 The favour of God, which is the fountain of all Good. 6. Tokens of his presence in and by his ordinances. The way to have God's ordinance fixed among us, is to cleave closely to them. 7. The grace of the covenant. All covenant blessings are summed up in the covenan relation, I will be your God, and ye shall be my people; and they ar all grounded upon their redemption. Having purchased them, God woul own them, and never cast them off till they cast him off. (Le 26:14-39)
Original Hebrew לא3808 תעשׂו6213 לכם אלילם457 ופסל6459 ומצבה4676 לא3808 תקימו6965 לכם ואבן68 משׂכית4906 לא3808 תתנו5414 בארצכם776 להשׁתחות7812 עליה5921 כי3588 אני589 יהוה3068 אלהיכם׃430
