Deuteronomy 21-23
An Overview of Chapter 21
If someone is found dead in a field between two cities then the Elders of the closest city must offer a sacrifice and proclaim that they are not responsible for this death. Then they ask God to remove the guilt on the land because of the innocent persons death.
If a soldier takes a wife from a captive nation, the wife must first shave her head, do her nails, take off her slave clothes and mourn her parents for a month. If later the man decides not to be married to her, he must not mistreat her, but let her go peacefully.
If a man has two wives and the firstborn son comes from his unloved wife, then he is to treat that son well, and not give the position of firstborn to the younger son of the loved wife.
If parents have a rebellious teenager who will not obey they are to take them to the city gate and all the men of the town will stone him.
No one who is hanged will remain on the tree overnight (New Testament occurrences - John 19:31 and Galatians 3:13).
An Overview of Chapter 22
Miscellaneous laws:
- If an Israelite sees a lost item or animal (or even a hurt animal) of another Israelite he is required to take care of it until it can be returned to the original owner.
- Men and women must wear gender appropriate clothing.
- If you see some baby birds in a nest you can take them, but you cannot take their mother.
- If you build a house it must be safe.
- Things that were not intended to be mixed together should not be mixed together.
- Tassels should be worn on your clothes as a reminder of the commandments of God (Numbers 15:38-40).
Laws for sex:
- If a new husband claims his wife was not a virgin then a system is set up to determine if that is true, which basically required people to save the sheet the first had sex on, and the blood stained cloth would be given to the girls parents as proof of her virginity. If she was a virgin, then the elders of the city will make fun of him and fine him. If she wasn’t, then she was to be stoned to death.
- If someone is caught in adultery, then both patterns will be killed.
- If an engaged girl is raped, but doesn’t cry out for help she and the rapist will be killed, if she does cry out, then only the rapist will be killed.
- If a man and woman have sex and neither are married, then they are required to get married.
- A man cannot have sex with his mom, or step-mom.
An Overview of Chapter 23
Those who cannot worship God among the nation of Israel:
- emasculated men.
- illegitimate children.
- Ammonites and Moabites.
Israelites should be friends with Edomites.
Keeping the camp of the army clean:
- night time emissions would make you unclean for one day.
- a dumping ground should exist outside of camp for a bathroom, and the results should be buried.
Miscellaneous laws:
- if an escaped slave is found you do not give them back to their master.
- Israelite men and women cannot be prostitutes.
- money earned through prostitution cannot be brought as an offering to God.
- Israelites could not charge other Israelites interest, but they could charge foreigners.
- vows were to be kept.
- you can eat from a vineyard or field you are passing through, but no doggy bags.
Reflection
Jesus told us all the law and all the prophets hinge on loving God and loving your neighbor. Look at the laws listed above and try to categorize them as loving God, loving your neighbor or both.
For Further Study
Greatest Commandment: Matthew 22:34-40
If someone is found dead in a field between two cities then the Elders of the closest city must offer a sacrifice and proclaim that they are not responsible for this death. Then they ask God to remove the guilt on the land because of the innocent persons death.
If a soldier takes a wife from a captive nation, the wife must first shave her head, do her nails, take off her slave clothes and mourn her parents for a month. If later the man decides not to be married to her, he must not mistreat her, but let her go peacefully.
If a man has two wives and the firstborn son comes from his unloved wife, then he is to treat that son well, and not give the position of firstborn to the younger son of the loved wife.
If parents have a rebellious teenager who will not obey they are to take them to the city gate and all the men of the town will stone him.
No one who is hanged will remain on the tree overnight (New Testament occurrences - John 19:31 and Galatians 3:13).
An Overview of Chapter 22
Miscellaneous laws:
- If an Israelite sees a lost item or animal (or even a hurt animal) of another Israelite he is required to take care of it until it can be returned to the original owner.
- Men and women must wear gender appropriate clothing.
- If you see some baby birds in a nest you can take them, but you cannot take their mother.
- If you build a house it must be safe.
- Things that were not intended to be mixed together should not be mixed together.
- Tassels should be worn on your clothes as a reminder of the commandments of God (Numbers 15:38-40).
Laws for sex:
- If a new husband claims his wife was not a virgin then a system is set up to determine if that is true, which basically required people to save the sheet the first had sex on, and the blood stained cloth would be given to the girls parents as proof of her virginity. If she was a virgin, then the elders of the city will make fun of him and fine him. If she wasn’t, then she was to be stoned to death.
- If someone is caught in adultery, then both patterns will be killed.
- If an engaged girl is raped, but doesn’t cry out for help she and the rapist will be killed, if she does cry out, then only the rapist will be killed.
- If a man and woman have sex and neither are married, then they are required to get married.
- A man cannot have sex with his mom, or step-mom.
An Overview of Chapter 23
Those who cannot worship God among the nation of Israel:
- emasculated men.
- illegitimate children.
- Ammonites and Moabites.
Israelites should be friends with Edomites.
Keeping the camp of the army clean:
- night time emissions would make you unclean for one day.
- a dumping ground should exist outside of camp for a bathroom, and the results should be buried.
Miscellaneous laws:
- if an escaped slave is found you do not give them back to their master.
- Israelite men and women cannot be prostitutes.
- money earned through prostitution cannot be brought as an offering to God.
- Israelites could not charge other Israelites interest, but they could charge foreigners.
- vows were to be kept.
- you can eat from a vineyard or field you are passing through, but no doggy bags.
Reflection
Jesus told us all the law and all the prophets hinge on loving God and loving your neighbor. Look at the laws listed above and try to categorize them as loving God, loving your neighbor or both.
For Further Study
Greatest Commandment: Matthew 22:34-40
posted by Shaun Sells | 2:59 PM
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