an oath of the Lord] So called, 1 Kings 2:43. because when men take it, they take the Lord to be witnesse of the sinceritie of their hearts, and veritie of their lippes; and implicitly invoke his vengeance upon themselves, if they sweare falsly. no man seeing it] But the party himselfe, there being no other proofe, or witnesse; in such a case an oath must be the end of strife: as Hebrews 6:16. betweene them both] For the oath was to passe from the one for the satisfaction of the other. put his hand] See Annot. on vers. 8.