Deuteronomy 25:16

For all that do such things,.... Keep, different weights and measures, and make use of them to defraud their neighbours in buying and selling: and all that do unrighteously; what is not just and right between man and man, in any other instance whatever: are an abomination unto the Lord thy God; both they and their actions; he is a righteous God, and loves righteousness, and hates injustice of every kind.

Honesty in trade, as a duty to our neighbor, is emphatically enforced once more (compare Leviticus 19:35-36 ). It is noteworthy that John the Baptist puts the like duties in the forefront of his preaching (compare Luke 3:12 ff); and that "the prophets" (compare Ezekiel 45:10-12 ; Amos 8:5 ; Micah 6:10-11 ) and "the Psalms" Proverbs 16:11 ; Proverbs 20:10 , Proverbs 20:23 , not less than "the Law," especially insist on them. Deuteronomy 25:13 Divers weights - i. e. stones of unequal weights, the lighter to sell with, the heavier to buy with. Stones were used by the Jews instead of brass or lead for their weights, as less liable to lose anything through rust or wear.

13-16. Thou shalt not have … divers weights—Weights were anciently made of stone and are frequently used still by Eastern shopkeepers and traders, who take them out of the bag and put them in the balance. The man who is not cheated by the trader and his bag of divers weights must be blessed with more acuteness than most of his fellows [Roberts]. (Compare Pr 16:11; 20:10).

16 . everyone that doeth these things , etc.] Exactly as in Deuteronomy 18:12 , Deuteronomy 22:5 . On abomination , see Deuteronomy 7:25 ; here the ethical (not ritual) meaning is clear. every one that doeth injustice ] Heb. ‘awel (perhaps lit. delinquency ). Not elsewhere in D (but in the Song, Deuteronomy 32:4 ), once in Jeremiah 2:5 , and in H, Leviticus 19:15 ; Leviticus 19:35 , and Ezek. and later writings. The clause seems to be an addition.

The duty of integrity in trade is once more enforced in Deuteronomy 25:13-16 (as in Leviticus 19:35-36 ). "Stone and stone," i.e., two kinds of stones for weighing (cf. Psalm 12:3 ), viz., large ones for buying and small ones for selling. On the promise in Deuteronomy 25:15 , see Deuteronomy 4:26 ; Deuteronomy 5:16 ; Deuteronomy 25:16 , as in Deuteronomy 22:5 ; Deuteronomy 18:12 , etc. In the concluding words, Deuteronomy 25:16 , "all that do unrighteously," Moses sums up all breaches of the law.

The duty of integrity in trade is once more enforced in Deuteronomy 25:13-16 (as in Leviticus 19:35-36 ). "Stone and stone," i.e., two kinds of stones for weighing (cf. Psalm 12:3 ), viz., large ones for buying and small ones for selling. On the promise in Deuteronomy 25:15 , see Deuteronomy 4:26 ; Deuteronomy 5:16 ; Deuteronomy 25:16 , as in Deuteronomy 22:5 ; Deuteronomy 18:12 , etc. In the concluding words, Deuteronomy 25:16 , "all that do unrighteously," Moses sums up all breaches of the law.