And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
My Notes
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Nothing could be more appropriate as the commencement of the book of the covenant than these regulations for public worship. The rules for the building of altars must have been old and accepted, and…
Adam Clarke
Thou shalt not build it of hewn stone - Because they were now in a wandering state, and had as yet no fixed residence; and therefore no time should be wasted to rear costly altars, which could not be…
Moses having gone into the thick darkness, where God was, God there spoke in his hearing only, privately and without terror, all that follows hence to the end of ch. 23, which is mostly an exposition…
Cambridge Bible
tool The word (ḥéreb) commonly rendered -sword," occasionally used of other sharp instruments, Jos 5:2-3 (-knives"): in Deu 27:5 E (Jos 8:31) the word is replaced by -iron." Cf. 1Ma 4:47. The…