If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:
Ver. 31. And an oath be laid upon him, to cause him to swear.] An oath may lawfully be taken for the help of truth in necessity, and not else. Hence the Hebrew word Nishbang is a passive, and signifieth rather to be sworn, than to swear.
And the oath come before thine altar.] That sign of God's presence there. Amongst us, he that sweareth, layeth his hand on a Bible, for like cause.