Oaths
1. The lawful purpose of, explained. Heb 6:16.
2. Antiquity of. Ge 14:22; 24:3,8.
3. Used for
a. Confirming covenants. Ge 26:28; 31:44,53; 1Sa 20:16,17.
b. Deciding controversies in courts of law. Ex 22:11; Nu 5:19; 1Ki 8:31.
c. Pledging allegiance to sovereigns. 2Ki 11:4; Ec 8:2.
d. Binding to performance of sacred duties. Nu 30:2; 2Ch 15:14,15; Ne 10:29; Ps 132:2.
e. Binding to performance of any particular act. Ge 24:3,4; 50:25; Jos 2:12.
4. Judicial from of administering. 1Ki 22:16; Mt 26:63.
5. Often accompanied by raising up the hand. Ge 14:22; Da 12:7; Re 10:5,6.
6. Often accompanied by placing the hand under the thigh of the person sworn to. Ge 24:2,9; 47:29.
7. To be taken in fear and reverence. Ec 9:2.
8. The Jews
a. Forbidden to take, in name of idols. Jos 23:7.
b. Forbidden to take in the name of any created thing. Mt 5:34-36; Jas 5:12.
c. Forbidden to take false. Le 6:3; Zec 8:17.
d. Forbidden to take rash, or unholy. Le 5:4.
e. To use God’s name alone in. De 6:13; 10:20; Isa 65:16.
f. To take, in truth, judgment, &c. Jer 4:2.
g. Generally respected the obligation of. Jos 9:19,20; 2Sa 21:7; Ps 15:4; Mt 14:9.
h. Fell into many errors respecting. Mt 23:16-22.
i. Often guilty of rashly taking. Jdj 21:7; Mt 14:7; 26:72.
j. Often guilty of falsely taking. Le 6:3; Jer 5:2; 7:9.
k. Condemned for false. Zec 5:4; Mal 3:5.
l. Condemned for profane. Jer 23:10; Ho 4:2.
9. Instances of rash,
a. Joshua, &c. Jos 9:15,16.
b. Jephthah. Jdj 11:30-36.
c. Saul. 1Sa 14:27,44.
d. Herod. Mt 14:7-9.
e. The Jews who sought to kill Paul. Ac 23:21.
10. Custom of swearing by the life of the king. Ge 42:15,16.
11. Expressions used as
a. By the fear of Isaac. Ge 31:53.
b. As the Lord liveth. Jdj 8:19; Ru 3:13.
c. The Lord do so to me, and more also. Ru 1:17.
d. God do so to thee, and more also. 1Sa 3:17.
e. By the Lord. 2Sa 19:7; 1Ki 2:42.
f. God do so to thee and more also. 1Sa 3:17.
g. Before God I lie not. Ga 1:20.
h. I call God for a record. 2Co 1:23.
i. God is witness. 1Th 2:5.
j. I charge you by the Lord. 1Th 5:27.
k. As thy soul liveth. 1Sa 1:26; 25:26.
12. God used, to show the immutability of his counsel. Ge 22:16; Nu 14:28; 6:17.