Bible Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:15

Deuteronomy 27:15

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

Cursed [be] the man that maketh [any] graven or molten image,.... The blessings and the form of them are not recorded, because they were not to be had from the law, and through obedience to it; and therefore there is a profound silence about them, to put men upon seeking for them elsewhere, and which are only to be had in Christ, especially spiritual ones; but we may suppose they were delivered in the same form, and respecting the same things as the curses, only just the reverse of them; as, "blessed is the man that maketh not any graven image", &c.

The order of both is given in the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; See Gill on "De 11:29". This curse respects the breach of the first table of the law, and everything included in it relating to the nature and being of God, the worship of him, and the honour of his name; to do anything contrary to which, particularly to make an image, whether graven or molten, to worship, isan abomination to the Lord; and therefore subjects a man to the curse of his law, it beingthe work of the hands of the craftsman; and therefore it must be a most stupid thing to ascribe deity to it, and worship it as such:and putteth [it] in [a] secret [place]; though it is not set in a place of public worship, or the house, so as to be seen by everyone; but in some retired place, in a secret chamber, and there worshipped, or kept to look at with pleasure; which would be a temptation, and lead on to idolatry, and therefore is forbidden, and to be guarded against: now one that committed idolatry, or anything like it, in the most secret manner, was liable to this curse; for the omniscient God, the legislator, knows what is done in the most private manner, and will resent and revenge every affront and injury to his honour and glory.

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