t was inconsistent with the maintenance of idolatry,
yea, which appears to have resulted in their employment, under the name
of Nethinims, though in a subordinate capacity, about the sanctuary and
the temple. These had misapprehended the nature of the statute
forbidding alliance with the heathen, by supposing that it forbade a
compact even on terms of submission to the ordinances of God. Their
punishment was, that they should stand in a state of great subjection;
through the mercy of God, however, it would appear to have terminated in
good. But again, at a later period of their history, the people of
Israel were thus warned, "Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom
this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be
afraid." And to show that disobedience to this command would have led
away from the exercise of avouching the Lord himself as a Covenant God,
it is added, "Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your
fear, and let him be your dread." The spirit of these commands has
descended to New Testament times. "Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what
concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?"
The reason why the sacred writer here dissuades from associations with
the heathen, is evidently, that their worship was idolatrous, and
calculated to lead from obedience to God. And treaties, of whatever kind
with the enemies of God, that are condemned, are to be shunned as a
snare to the soul. Wherever they are forbidden, there is implied an
exhibition of the duty of adhering to His service; and even
independently of abundant evidence otherwise, that they include express
mandates to observe the exercise of vowing and swearing to Him, is
substantiated in the beautiful language of the Apostle used in
confirmation of his declaration on this subject.--"For ye are the temple
of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in
them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore,
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto
you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty."[200]

Commands, enjoining the vowing of the vow.