* shalt not remove.
Before the extensive use of fences, landed property was marked
out by stones or posts, set up so as to ascertain the
divisions of family estates. It was easy to remove one of
these landmarks, and set it in a different place; and thus a
dishonest man might enlarge his own estate by contracting that
of his neighbour. Hence it was a matter of considerable
importance to prevent this crime among the Israelites; among
whom, removing them would be equivalent to forging, altering,
destroying, or concealing the title-deeds of an estate among
us. Accordingly, by the Mosaic law, it was not only
prohibited in the commandment against covetousness, but we
find a particular curse expressly annexed to it in ch. 27:17.
Josephus considers this law a general prohibition, intended
not only to protect private property, but also to preserve the
boundaries of kingdoms and countries inviolable.
27:17 Job 24:2 Pr 22:28 23:10 Ho 5:10
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