Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 20:5

5 Thou shalt not bowe down thy self to them , nor serve them : for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children , unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me :

Not onely inward reverence is forbidden, but also all outward gestures that naturally or customarily express reverence, whether bowing down the body, as here, or bending the knee, as 1 King. 19. 18. or kissing the Idol, or ones hand towards it, as Iob 31. 27. Hos. 13. 2. one gesture being by a Synecdoche named for all.

Nor before them: for to bow to them and to bow before them are expressions in Scripture of the same extent and use, as appears by comparing this place with Levit. 26. 1. 2 Chron. 25. 14. and 2 Sam. 7. 22. with 1 Chron. 17. 25. and Matth. 4. 9. with Luke 4. 7.

Or, Worship him either inwardly in thy mind, or outwardly by any sensible, mean or sign of worship given to them, as incense or sacrifice, vowing to them or swearing by them, or the like.

(i. e.) Impatient of any partner in thy love and worship, and full of wrath against them that give my glory to images, Isa. 42. 8. as jealousie is the rage of a man, Prov. 6. 34. against the defiler of his marriage bed. God is pleased to call and account himself the husband of his Church and people, Ier. 2. 2. Hos. 2. 19. and therefore Idolatry is called Adultery, Deut. 31. 16. Ier. 3. 3, 10. and Gods anger against Idolaters Iealousie.

The word, el, properly signifies the strong God, and shews Gods ability to avenge himself, as the word, jealous, notes his readiness and resolution to do it.

(i. e.) remembring; enquiring into, or punishing, as that word is commonly used, as hath been noted before.

Quest. How can this be just? Answ. 1. All are born sinners and are children of wrath, and therefore justly punishable for their own sins. Answ. 2. He speaks not here of eternal damnation, but of temporal punishments, in which there is no shadow of injustice, as appears, 1. because the sins of parents are oft punished in their children even in humane Courts, as is manifest in Traitors, which practise being acknowledged to be just, it cannot with any sense be accounted unjust in God. 2. Because such external punishments have more good than evil in them, and are in many, and may be so in others, if th[illegible: 1+ letters] selves do not hinder it, instruments of the greatest good, exercises of their vertues and graces, and means of their eternal happiness. 3. Because children are a part and the possession of their Parents and therefore it is not unjust if they suffer with them and for them. Answ. 3. This is to be understood with an exception of Repentance and penitent children, as appears from Ezek. 18. And if any such be temporally punished for their fathers sins, God will abundantly recompence it to them some other way. But if children tread in their fathers sinful steps, it is but just that they should partake of their plagues.

And further too, as appears in the Ten Tribes, and afterwards in the two Tribes, upon whom the iniquity of their Fathers hath been visited now for many generations. But he mentions them in particular, partly because a parent may live so long and see the dreadful effects of his sin in his childrens children, partly because so far the memory of a father may extend and be matter of imitation to his children, and partly to shew the difference between his exercise of justice and mercy, as appears by comparing the next verse.

This word is opposed to the conceit that Idolaters, at lest many of them, have of themselves, that they love God, more then others do, because they love and honour, and worship the Creatures for his sake, and for those excellencies that he hath wrought in them. But this will no more excuse their Idolatry, than it will excuse him that commits Adultery with his friends wife, that he did it for his friends sake, and from the love he had to his friend and for his Relations.

Marginal references: chap. 34. 14. Deut. 6. 15. Josh. 24. 19. Nah. 1. 2.; chap. 34. 7. Num. 14. 18. 1 King. 21. 29. Job 5. 4. and 21. 19. Isa. 14 20, 21. and 65. 6, 7. Jer. 2. 9. and 32. 18.