Oaths

Oaths

The lawful purpose of, explained - Heb 6:16

Antiquity of - Ge 14:22; 24:3,8

USED FOR

• Confirming covenants
- Ge 26:28; 31:44,53; 1Sa 20:16,17
• Deciding controversies in courts of law
- Ex 22:11; Nu 5:19; 1Ki 8:31
• Pledging allegiance to sovereigns
- 2Ki 11:4; Ec 8:2
• Binding to performance of sacred duties
- Nu 30:2; 2Ch 15:14,15; Ne 10:29; Ps 132:2
• Binding to performance of any particular act
- Ge 24:3,4; 50:25; Jos 2:12

Judicial from of administering - 1Ki 22:16; Mt 26:63

Often accompanied by raising up the hand - Ge 14:22; Da 12:7; Re 10:5,6

Often accompanied by placing the hand under the thigh of the person sworn to - Ge 24:2,9; 47:29

To be taken in fear and reverence - Ec 9:2

THE JEWS

• Forbidden to take, in name of idols
- Jos 23:7
• Forbidden to take in the name of any created thing
- Mt 5:34-36; Jas 5:12
• Forbidden to take false
- Le 6:3; Zec 8:17
• Forbidden to take rash, or unholy
- Le 5:4
• To use God's name alone in
- De 6:13; 10:20; Isa 65:16
• To take, in truth, judgment, &c
- Jer 4:2
• Generally respected the obligation of
- Jos 9:19,20; 2Sa 21:7; Ps 15:4; Mt 14:9
• Fell into many errors respecting
- Mt 23:16-22
• Often guilty of rashly taking
- Jud 21:7; Mt 14:7; 26:72
• Often guilty of falsely taking
- Le 6:3; Jer 5:2; 7:9
• Condemned for false
- Zec 5:4; Mal 3:5
• Condemned for profane
- Jer 23:10; Ho 4:2

INSTANCES OF RASH, &c

• Joshua, &c
- Jos 9:15,16
• Jephthah
- Jud 11:30-36
• Saul
- 1Sa 14:27,44
• Herod
- Mt 14:7-9
• The Jews who sought to kill Paul
- Ac 23:21

Custom of swearing by the life of the king - Ge 42:15,16

EXPRESSIONS USED AS

• By the fear of Isaac
- Ge 31:53
• As the Lord liveth
- Jud 8:19; Ru 3:13
• The Lord do so to me, and more also
- Ru 1:17
• God do so to thee, and more also
- 1Sa 3:17
• By the Lord
- 2Sa 19:7; 1Ki 2:42
• God do so to thee and more also
- 1Sa 3:17
• Before God I lie not
- Ga 1:20
• I call God for a record
- 2Co 1:23
• God is witness
- 1Th 2:5
• I charge you by the Lord
- 1Th 5:27
• As thy soul liveth
- 1Sa 1:26; 25:26

God used, to show the immutability of his counsel - Ge 22:16; Nu 14:28; 6:17