In Deuteronomy 12-26 Moses continues to spell out, explain, and elaborate on the Ten Commandments by declaring the particular requirements of God’s covenant. Some sections repeat what we have already seen. Others expand those teachings further or reveal additional laws not yet stated. One writer in the College Press NIV Commentary notes, “Moses anticipated settlement in the Promised Land and therefore dealt with issues not found in earlier legislation. The intention was to apply the broad principles of the Ten Commandments to everyday life in the land. Because of this focus Deuteronomy had a continuing relevance for the people of Israel, and each new generation could hear it afresh. It is because of this nature of the material that it lends itself to reflection and meaning for God’s people through the ages.”

All written materials for this series will be posted on this website, http://servingandsharing.com/, under the category, “Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy – Life in the Desert.” Here is my video presentation introducing this series – https://youtu.be/Lynx51p0tJA. The video of this specific class presentation, as well as all the others in this series, will be posted to this playlist as they are recorded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKKB1uvyHFM&list=PL7JRppjEn33bCHyqZFRQ2JDiJnGRnOYyR. Please use the “Contact” button to request corresponding handouts and outlines.

Please forward this post to others that you think would benefit from this study and invite them to subscribe.

Deut 12 Proper Worship

12:1-4 Destruction of Canaanite Idols

12:5-14 Holy Offerings at the Chosen Place

Eventually God will say, “Jerusalem. The Temple.”

To prohibit pagan places and acts of worship.

12:15-28 “Non-Holy” Meat at Any Place

Israelites could eat regular meat anywhere, but not the animal’s blood.

12:29-32 Rejection of Canaanite Religion

“Beware that you are not ensnared.”

“Do not add to or take away from what I command.”

Deut 13 Threats of Idolatry

Three sources that may say, “Let us serve other gods!”

13:1-5 A Prophet or Dreamer of Dreams

The sign may occur, and yet the doctrine is false. Don’t be misled!

13:6-11 Your Relative, Spouse, or Best Friend

Do not yield, listen, pity, spare, or conceal him.

13:12-18 One of Your Cities Led Astray

Destroy man and beast. Burn city and booty.

Deut 14 Foods and Tithes

14:1-21 Clean and Unclean Foods (cf. Lev 11)

No cutting or shaving (re: pagan magic, polytheism).

Rationale for food distinctions: promotion of personal hygiene? Avoidance of pagan practices? Economy? Obedience? Self-control?

14:22-29 Tithes

Note: they consumed the tithe they brought to Yahweh.

14:28 Additional tithe every 3 years for the landless.

Inclusion of the alien, the fatherless, and the widow.

Note further discussion in 26:12.

Deut 15 Sabbatical Year; the Firstborn

God’s plan to relieve Israelites’ debt and poverty.

15:1-3 All debts of Israelites to be canceled in the 7th year.

15:4-6 Ideally, none poor. Obedience, blessing.

15:7-11 Generosity, not stinginess, toward those in need.

15:12-18 Kind provision for bondservants (cf Ex 21:2-6).

To be released in the 7th year and furnished liberally.

Remembering that you were slaves in Egypt.

He may love you and want to stay. If he leaves, don’t feel wronged.

15:19-23 Dedication of firstborn male animals.

Deut 16 Annual Feasts; Judges

16:1-8 Passover (Unleavened Bread)

Abib – 1st (lunar) month, Mar/Apr

16:9-12 Weeks (Harvest, Pentecost)

16:13-15 Booths (Tabernacles, Ingathering)

16:16-17 Presence of All Males at the Chosen Place

16:18-20 Judges and Equal Justice

16:21-22 No Asherah Images or Sacred Pillars

Deut 17 Just Administration

17:1-7 Trial and Execution of Idolaters

Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

“Purge the evil from your midst.” Cf. 1 Cor 5 re: the immoral brother.

17:8-13 Dealing with Difficult Cases

Homicides, lawsuits, and assaults.

Central tribunal or “Supreme Court.”

Execution of any who refuse the priest’s verdict.

17:14-20 Choice and Qualities of the King

God provided for and did not prohibit having a king. Cf. 1 Sam 8-9.

Deut 18 Supernatural Guidance

18:1-8 Provision for Priests and Levites

Not having any land inheritance, they would be supported by the offerings that the people brought to Yahweh.

18:9-14 Prohibition of Spiritism

Divination, witchcraft, sorcery, omens, mediums.

Instead, God’s directions through His prophets.

18:15-22 Promise of the Coming Prophet(s)

In a partial sense, Joshua and others. Deut 34:9-12

In the full sense, Jesus. Acts 3:22–24; 7:37

Deut 19 Protection of Life

19:1-13 Three More Cities of Refuge – on the West Side

To complement the three cities in the east. Deut 4:41-43

Protects life. Clarifies and specifies the command, “Do not kill.”

19:14 Protection of Land Boundaries

19:15-21 Witnesses and Justice

A false witness would have to pay the very penalty he sought.

Deut 20 Rules of Warfare

20:1-4 Courage in Battle Because of the LORD

20:5-9 Exemptions from Military Service

  New homeowners and vineyard owners.

  Engaged men and fainthearted men.

20:10-15 Treatment of Distant Cities

20:16-18 Treatment of Canaanite Cities

20:19-20 Treatment of Trees in the Land

Save the fruit trees for food. Cut the others for siege works.

Deut 21 Responses to Specific Situations

21:1-9 Atonement for Unsolved Murders

21:10-14 Treatment of Captive Girls

Respect. Marriage. Time to mourn. Divorce, but.

21:15-17 Inheritance Rights of Firstborn Sons

Double portion, even if born to an “unloved” wife.

21:18-21 Treatment of Rebellious Sons

Elders’ leadership role. All to stone. Purge the evil. Deter others.

21:22-23 Proper Burial of Hanged Convicts

Capital punishment. Cf. Gal 3:13 – Christ became the curse for us by hanging on a tree.

Deut 22 Morality in Daily Life

22:1-4 Care for Others’ Lost Animals, Property

22:5 Prohibition of Cross-Dressing

22:6-7 Preserving the Producers of Life (Birds)

22:8 Protecting Against Falling from Roofs (Parapets or Roof Fences)

22:9-12 Laws of Separation

Don’t mix two seeds (pure crops), two animals (clean and unclean, opposite in temperament), two fabrics (wool and linen – paganism?).

Tassels on Garments. As reminders. Cf. Num 15:38-40.

Maintain God-given distinctions, set apart from the world.

22:13-21 Charges of Premarital Immorality

Proof of virginity: blood-stained cloth from wedding night.

If false, the man to be chastised, fined c. 2.5 lb. of silver.

If true, the woman to be stoned. Purge the evil.

22:22-29 Adultery, Premarital Sex, Rape

Rape of an engaged virgin: the man to be executed.

Rape of non-engaged virgin: the man to be fined, forced to marry her for life, support her, and protect her.

22:30 Incestuous Marriage – Stepmother

Lev 18:6-8; 20:11; Deut 27:20; 1 Cor 5:1

Deut 23 Cleanliness and Purity

23:1-8 Exclusion from the LORD’s Assembly

Due to pagan practices or acts against Israel.

23:9-14 Cleanliness in the LORD’s Camp

Nocturnal emissions, human waste.

23:15-16 Protection of Escaped Slaves

23:17-18 Prohibition of Cult Prostitution

23:19-20 Prohibition of Lending with Interest

23:21-23 Completion of Vows Made to the LORD

23:24-25 Limited Food from Others’ Vineyards

Deut 24 Protection of the Weak

24:1-4 No Remarrying of One’s Divorced Spouse

Intended only to protect divorced women, not to endorse divorce.

Yet the Pharisees turned it into a “command.” Matt 19:7

24:5 No Military Service in First Year of Marriage

24:6 No Taking of One’s Livelihood in Pledge

24:7 No Kidnapping, Abuse, or Sale of Others

24:8-9 Obedience to the Laws re: Leprosy

24:10-13 Taking Collateral for a Loan

Respect his person and his property. Return his cloak.

24:14-15 Paying a Hired Man

Give him his wage before sunset, lest you sin.

24:16 Punishing Only Personal (not Fathers’) Sin

Emphasis on justice, individual responsibility.

Children may suffer consequences, but not guilt.

24:17-22 Being Fair and Generous to the Poor

Because God redeemed you from Egyptian slavery.

Deut 25 Respect and Responsibility

25:1-3 Limits on Punishment – Maximum of Forty Stripes

Not to degrade the wicked man unnecessarily.

25:4 Fair Treatment of Animals – Ox not to be Muzzled

Cf. NT preachers, elders. 1 Cor 9:9; 1 Tim 5:18

25:5-10 Levirate (Brother-in-Law) Marriage

Man dies w/o child. Brother marries widow. First child continues the name of the dead man. If the brother refuses, he is to be publicly disgraced. Cf. Boaz’ marrying Ruth, redeeming the estate.

Sadducees’ test question: seven brothers, one wife. Mark 12:18-27

25:11-12 Prohibition of Unfair Fighting

If a wife attacked her husband’s enemy literally “below the belt,” her hand would be cut off as her penalty.

25:13-16 Just Weights and Measures

25:17-19 Extermination of the Amalekites

Amalek – the grandson of Jacob’s brother Esau. Gen 36:12

Attacked Israel’s weak stragglers. Ex 17:8-16; Num 24:20

Deut 26 Offerings of Acknowledgement

26:1-11 Firstfruits: Best Produce of the New Land

Because God blessed, heard, saved, led, and brought us.

Giving – worship to God, to be shared with others.

26:12-15 The Third-Year Tithe

Two great commands: love God; love neighbor.

So, tithes were to be generous gifts to the needy and the poor.

26:16-19 Concluding Exhortation

Closes the covenant stipulations that began in 12:1.

Command. Agreement. Obedience. Blessing.