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Oaths.

From: The New Topical Textbook

By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 11

The lawful purpose of, explained. Heb. 6:16¹⁶For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. (Hebrews 6:16).

Antiquity of. Gen. 14:22²²And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, (Genesis 14:22). Gen. 24:3, 8³And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: (Genesis 24:3)
⁸And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. (Genesis 24:8).

USED FOR

Confirming covenants. Gen. 26:28²⁸And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; (Genesis 26:28). Gen. 31:44, 53⁴⁴Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. (Genesis 31:44)
⁵³The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. (Genesis 31:53). 1 Sam. 20:16, 17¹⁶So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies. ¹⁷And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. (1 Samuel 20:16‑17).

Deciding controversies in courts of law. Ex. 22:11¹¹Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good. (Exodus 22:11). Num. 5:19¹⁹And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: (Numbers 5:19). 1 Kin. 8:31.

Pledging allegiance to sovereigns. 2 Kin. 11:4. Ecc. 8:2.

Binding to performance of sacred duties. Num. 30:2²If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:2). 2 Chr. 15: 14, 15. Neh. 10:29²⁹They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; (Nehemiah 10:29). Psa. 132:2²How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; (Psalm 132:2).

Binding to performance of am, particular act. Gen. 24:3³And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: (Genesis 24:3), Gen. 50:25²⁵And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. (Genesis 50:25). Josh. 2:12¹²Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: (Joshua 2:12).

Judicial form of administering. 1 Kin. 22:16. Matt. 26:63⁶³But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. (Matthew 26:63).

Often accompanied by raising up the hand. Gen. 14:22²²And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, (Genesis 14:22). Dan. 12:7⁷And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7). Rev. 10:5, 6⁵And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, ⁶And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: (Revelation 10:5‑6).

Often accompanied by placing the hand under the thigh of the person sworn to. Gen. 24:2, 9²And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: (Genesis 24:2)
⁹And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. (Genesis 24:9). Gen. 47:29²⁹And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: (Genesis 47:29).

To be taken in fear and reverence. Ecc. 9:2.

THE JEWS

Forbidden to take, in name of idols. Josh. 23:7⁷That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: (Joshua 23:7).

Forbidden to take in the name of any created thing. Matt. 5:34-36³⁴But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: ³⁵Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. (Matthew 5:34‑36). James 5:12¹²But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. (James 5:12).

Forbidden to take false. Lev. 6:3³Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: (Leviticus 6:3). Zech. 8:17¹⁷And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord. (Zechariah 8:17).

Forbidden to take rash, or unholy. Lev. 5:4⁴Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. (Leviticus 5:4).

To use God's name alone in. Deu. 6:13. Deut. 10:20²⁰Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. (Deuteronomy 10:20). Isa. 65:16¹⁶That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. (Isaiah 65:16).

To take, in truth, judgment, &c. Jer. 4:2²And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. (Jeremiah 4:2).

Generally respected the obligation of. Josh. 9:19, 20¹⁹But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. ²⁰This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. (Joshua 9:19‑20). 2 Sam. 21:7⁷But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. (2 Samuel 21:7). Psa. 15:4⁴In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. (Psalm 15:4). Matt. 14:9⁹And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. (Matthew 14:9).

Fell into many errors respecting. Matt. 23:16-22¹⁶Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! ¹⁷Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? ¹⁸And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. ¹⁹Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? ²⁰Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. ²¹And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. ²²And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. (Matthew 23:16‑22).

Often guilty of rashly taking. Judg. 21:7⁷How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them of our daughters to wives? (Judges 21:7). Matt. 14:7⁷Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. (Matthew 14:7). Matt. 26:72⁷²And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. (Matthew 26:72).

Often guilty of falsely taking. Lev. 6:3³Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: (Leviticus 6:3). Jer. 5:2²And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely. (Jeremiah 5:2). Jer. 7:9⁹Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; (Jeremiah 7:9).

Condemned for false. Zech. 5:4⁴I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. (Zechariah 5:4). Mal. 3:5⁵And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:5).

Condemned for profane. Jer. 23:10¹⁰For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. (Jeremiah 23:10). Hos. 4:2²By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. (Hosea 4:2).

INSTANCES OF RASH, &C.;

Joshua, &c. Josh. 9:15, 16¹⁵And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. ¹⁶And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them. (Joshua 9:15‑16).

Jephthah. Judg. 11:30-36³⁰And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, ³¹Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. ³²So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands. ³³And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. ³⁴And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. ³⁵And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back. ³⁶And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. (Judges 11:30‑36).

Saul. 1 Sam. 14:27, 44²⁷But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. (1 Samuel 14:27)
⁴⁴And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. (1 Samuel 14:44).

Herod. Matt. 14:7-9⁷Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. ⁸And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. ⁹And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. (Matthew 14:7‑9).

The Jews who sought to kill Paul. Acts 23:21²¹But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. (Acts 23:21).

Custom of swearing by the life of the king. Gen. 42:15, 16¹⁵Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. ¹⁶Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. (Genesis 42:15‑16).

EXPRESSIONS USED AS;

By the fear of Isaac. Gen. 31:53⁵³The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. (Genesis 31:53).

As the Lord liveth. Judg. 8:19¹⁹And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. (Judges 8:19). Ruth 3:13¹³Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning. (Ruth 3:13).

The Lord do so to me, and more also. Ruth 1:17¹⁷Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:17).

God do so to thee, and more also. 1 Sam. 3:17¹⁷And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. (1 Samuel 3:17).

By the Lord. 2 Sam. 19:7⁷Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. (2 Samuel 19:7). 1 Kin. 2:42.

Before God I lie not. Gal. 1:20²⁰Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. (Galatians 1:20).

I call God for a record. 2 Cor. 1:23²³Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. (2 Corinthians 1:23).

God is witness. 1 Thess. 2:5⁵For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: (1 Thessalonians 2:5).

I charge you by the Lord. 1 Thess. 5:27²⁷I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. (1 Thessalonians 5:27).

As thy soul liveth. 1 Sam. 1:26²⁶And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. (1 Samuel 1:26). 1 Sam. 25:26²⁶Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. (1 Samuel 25:26).

God used, to show the immutability of His counsel. Gen. 22:16¹⁶And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: (Genesis 22:16). Num. 14:28²⁸Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: (Numbers 14:28). Heb. 6:17¹⁷Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: (Hebrews 6:17).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Naphtali, the Tribe of.

• New Birth, the.

• Nile, the River.

• Oak-Tree, the.

• Oaths.

• Obedience to God.

• Offenses Against the Holy Ghost.

• Olive-Tree, the.

• Ostrich, the.

• Palm-Tree, the.

• Part I — Concerning God

• PART II — Man Was Created.

• Part III — Concerning Man.

• Part IV — Concerning Redemption