Exodus 23:1
"You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
You shall not spread
The phrase "You shall not spread" is a direct command, emphasizing the active role individuals play in the dissemination of information. The Hebrew root for "spread" is "nasa," which can mean to lift, carry, or bear. This implies a responsibility not to carry or lift up falsehoods. In a historical context, oral communication was the primary means of spreading news, and thus, the integrity of the community relied heavily on truthful speech. This command underscores the importance of personal integrity and the power of words to build or destroy.

a false report
The term "false report" in Hebrew is "shema shav," where "shema" means report or rumor, and "shav" means falsehood or emptiness. This phrase warns against the dissemination of untruths, which can lead to injustice and harm. In the ancient Near Eastern context, false reports could lead to wrongful punishment or social unrest. Theologically, this aligns with the broader biblical theme of truth as a reflection of God's character, who is described as a God of truth (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Do not join
"Do not join" is a call to separate oneself from sinful actions and influences. The Hebrew word "chabar" means to associate or be in league with. This phrase suggests a conscious decision to avoid complicity in wrongdoing. Historically, this reflects the communal nature of ancient Israelite society, where individual actions could impact the entire community. It is a reminder of the call to holiness and the pursuit of righteousness.

the wicked
The term "wicked" is translated from the Hebrew word "rasha," which refers to those who are guilty or morally wrong. In the biblical context, the wicked are often contrasted with the righteous, and their actions are seen as contrary to God's law. This phrase serves as a warning against aligning oneself with those who oppose God's standards, emphasizing the importance of moral discernment and the pursuit of justice.

by being a malicious witness
The phrase "malicious witness" comes from the Hebrew "ed chamas," where "ed" means witness and "chamas" means violence or wrong. This highlights the destructive power of false testimony, which can lead to violence and injustice. In the legal systems of the ancient world, witnesses played a crucial role in determining outcomes, and thus, honesty was paramount. This commandment reflects God's desire for justice and truth in human interactions, encouraging believers to uphold these values in their own lives.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
- The leader of the Israelites who received the laws from God on Mount Sinai, including this commandment.

2. Israelites
- The people to whom the laws were given, as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land.

3. Mount Sinai
- The place where God delivered the Ten Commandments and other laws to Moses.

4. God
- The divine lawgiver who establishes moral and ethical standards for His people.

5. Wicked Witnesses
- Individuals who bear false testimony, which this commandment warns against.
Teaching Points
Integrity in Speech
As followers of Christ, we are called to uphold truth and integrity in all our communications. Spreading false reports damages relationships and dishonors God.

Avoiding Gossip
Gossip can be a form of spreading false reports. We must be vigilant in avoiding conversations that could harm others or distort the truth.

Witnessing with Righteousness
When called to testify or share information, ensure that your words are truthful and just, reflecting God's righteousness.

Discernment in Listening
Be discerning about the information you receive. Verify facts before accepting or passing them on to others.

Community Impact
Recognize the impact of your words on the community. False reports can sow discord and division, contrary to the unity God desires for His people.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the command in Exodus 23:1 challenge us to reflect on our daily conversations and the information we share?

2. In what ways can we guard against becoming a "malicious witness" in our personal and professional lives?

3. How do the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament reinforce the commandment found in Exodus 23:1?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that we are not contributing to gossip or false reports within our communities?

5. How can we encourage others to uphold truth and integrity in their speech, based on the principles found in Exodus 23:1 and related scriptures?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 6:16-19
This passage lists things the Lord hates, including a false witness who pours out lies, connecting to the prohibition against spreading false reports.

Matthew 5:37
Jesus teaches about letting your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No,' emphasizing honesty and integrity in speech.

James 3:5-6
Discusses the power of the tongue and the potential for great harm through speech, relating to the spreading of false reports.

Leviticus 19:16
Reinforces the command not to go about as a slanderer among your people, similar to the prohibition in Exodus 23:1.

Ephesians 4:25
Encourages believers to put away falsehood and speak truthfully to their neighbors, aligning with the call to avoid false reports.
Description of CalumnyA. Tooke.Exodus 23:1
Description of SlanderMassillon.Exodus 23:1
Envious SlanderBacon.Exodus 23:1
False InsinuationsExodus 23:1
False ReportsExodus 23:1
How to Avoid SlanderExodus 23:1
Listening to SlanderLeighton., Bishop Hall.Exodus 23:1
Slander Characterized, Prohibited, and PunishedJ. W. Burn.Exodus 23:1
Slander ReprovedExodus 23:1
The Duties of WitnessesJ. W. Burn.Exodus 23:1
The Progress of SlanderJ. Spencer.Exodus 23:1
Seeking the Things Which Make for JusticeD. Young Exodus 23:1-9
Doing Justice and Loving MercyJ. Orr Exodus 23:1-10
People
Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Jebusites, Moses, Perizzites
Places
Euphrates River, Mount Sinai, Red Sea, Sea of the Philistines
Topics
FALSE, Agreement, Bear, Evil-doers, Extend, Further, Hands, Join, Lift, Malicious, Raise, Report, Reports, Spread, Statement, Unrighteous, Utter, Vain, Violent, Wicked, Witness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 23:1

     1461   truth, nature of
     5202   accusation, false
     5868   gossip
     5951   slander
     8716   dishonesty, examples
     8751   false witness

Exodus 23:1-2

     5625   witnesses, false

Exodus 23:1-3

     5270   court
     5383   lawsuits
     5440   perjury

Exodus 23:1-9

     5361   justice, human

Library
The Feast of Ingathering in the End of the Year
'And the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labours, which them hast sown In thy field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.' --EXODUS xxiii. 16. The Israelites seem to have had a double beginning of the year--one in spring, one at the close of harvest; or it may only be that here the year is regarded from the natural point of view--a farmer's year. This feast was at the gathering in of the fruits, which was
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Wesley Clothes French Prisoners
Monday, October 1 (Bristol).--All my leisure time, during my stay at Bristol, I employed in finishing the fourth volume of "Discourses"; probably the last which I shall publish. Monday, 15--l walked up to Knowle, a mile from Bristol, to see the French prisoners. About eleven hundred of them, we are informed, were confined in that little place, without anything to lie on but a little dirty straw, or anything to cover them but a few foul thin rags, either by day or night, so that they died like rotten
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Wonderful.
Isaiah ix:6. HIS name shall be called "Wonderful" (Isaiah ix:6). And long before Isaiah had uttered this divine prediction the angel of the Lord had announced his name to be Wonderful. As such He appeared to Manoah. And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor. And the angel of Jehovah said unto Him "why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Wonderful" (margin, Judges xiii:17-18). This angel of Jehovah, the Person who
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Lord's Prayer.
(Jerusalem. Thursday Night.) ^D John XVII. ^d 1 These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven [the action marked the turning of his thoughts from the disciples to the Father], he said, Father, the hour is come [see pp. 116, 440]; glorify thy Son, that the son may glorify thee: 2 even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. [The Son here prays for his glorification, viz.: resurrection, ascension, coronation, etc.,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Parable of the Good Samaritan.
(Probably Judæa.) ^C Luke X. 25-37. ^c 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? [For the term lawyer see pp. 313, 314, The lawyer wished to make trial of the skill of Jesus in solving the intricate and difficult question as to how to obtain salvation. Jesus was probably teaching in some house or courtyard, and his habit of giving local color to his parables suggests that he was probably in or near Bethany, through
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Second Series of Parables - the Two Parables of Him who is Neighbour to Us: the First, Concerning the Love That, Unasked, Gives in Our
THE period between Christ's return from the Feast of the Dedication' and His last entry into Jerusalem, may be arranged into two parts, divided by the brief visit to Bethany for the purpose of raising Lazarus from the dead. Even if it were possible, with any certainty, chronologically to arrange the events of each of these periods, the variety and briefness of what is recorded would prevent our closely following them in this narrative. Accordingly, we prefer grouping them together as the Parables
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Love in the Old Covenant.
"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another."-- John xiii. 34. In connection with the Holy Spirit's work of shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts, the question arises: What is the meaning of Christ's word, "A new commandment I give unto you"? How can He designate this natural injunction, "To love one another," a new commandment? This offers no difficulty to those who entertain the erroneous view that during His ministry on earth Christ established a new and higher religion,
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
Eighteen and a half centuries ago, and the land which now lies desolate--its bare, grey hills looking into ill-tilled or neglected valleys, its timber cut down, its olive- and vine-clad terraces crumbled into dust, its villages stricken with poverty and squalor, its thoroughfares insecure and deserted, its native population well-nigh gone, and with them its industry, wealth, and strength--presented a scene of beauty, richness, and busy life almost unsurpassed in the then known world. The Rabbis never
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Exhortations to those who are Called
IF, after searching you find that you are effectually called, I have three exhortations to you. 1. Admire and adore God's free grace in calling you -- that God should pass over so many, that He should pass by the wise and noble, and that the lot of free grace should fall upon you! That He should take you out of a state of vassalage, from grinding the devil's mill, and should set you above the princes of the earth, and call you to inherit the throne of glory! Fall upon your knees, break forth into
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

In the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles.
(October, a.d. 29.) ^D John VII. 11-52. ^d 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? [It was now eighteen months since Jesus had visited Jerusalem, at which time he had healed the impotent man at Bethesda. His fame and prolonged obscurity made his enemies anxious for him to again expose himself in their midst. John here used the word "Jews" as a designation for the Jerusalemites, who, as enemies of Christ, were to be distinguished from the multitudes who were in doubt
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Concerning Justification.
Concerning Justification. As many as resist not this light, but receive the same, it becomes in them an holy, pure, and spiritual birth, bringing forth holiness, righteousness, purity, and all those other blessed fruits which are acceptable to God: by which holy birth, to wit, Jesus Christ formed within us, and working his works in us, as we are sanctified, so are we justified in the sight of God, according to the apostle's words; But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and Ungodly Men.
Scriptures Showing The Sin And Danger Of Joining With Wicked And Ungodly Men. When the Lord is punishing such a people against whom he hath a controversy, and a notable controversy, every one that is found shall be thrust through: and every one joined with them shall fall, Isa. xiii. 15. They partake in their judgment, not only because in a common calamity all shares, (as in Ezek. xxi. 3.) but chiefly because joined with and partakers with these whom God is pursuing; even as the strangers that join
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, when Error Prevaileth, and the Spirit of Error Carrieth Many Away.
There is a time when the spirit of error is going abroad, and truth is questioned, and many are led away with delusions. For Satan can change himself into an angel of light, and make many great and fairlike pretensions to holiness, and under that pretext usher in untruths, and gain the consent of many unto them; so that in such a time of temptation many are stolen off their feet, and made to depart from the right ways of God, and to embrace error and delusions instead of truth. Now the question is,
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

A Discourse of Mercifulness
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 These verses, like the stairs of Solomon's temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are now mounting up a step higher. Blessed are the merciful . . '. There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live. It is reported in the life of Chrysostom that he preached much on this subject of mercifulness, and for his much pressing Christians to mercy, he was called of many, the alms-preacher,
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Best Things Work for Good to the Godly
WE shall consider, first, what things work for good to the godly; and here we shall show that both the best things and the worst things work for their good. We begin with the best things. 1. God's attributes work for good to the godly. (1). God's power works for good. It is a glorious power (Col. i. 11), and it is engaged for the good of the elect. God's power works for good, in supporting us in trouble. "Underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut. xxxiii. 27). What upheld Daniel in the lion's den?
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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