Bible in 365 Days

Deuteronomy 21-23                

Deuteronomy 21

Sundry laws affecting the life of the people in the land after the conquest were now uttered. The sin of murder was once again dealt with. This time it was the murder of a person which could not be traced to the guilty party. Civic responsibility must be recognized by offering sacrifice.

The question of the marriage of captive women was also dealt with. Should a man set his heart on one of these women, she was to be treated in the most honorable way. The marriage was not to be consummated for a month. If at the close of that time the man were of the same mind, the woman could be married. If not, she was to be allowed to go forth absolutely free.

Then followed laws concerning the inheritance of children. In the existing state of things, it might be that a man would come to hate one of his wives, while he loved another. In such case the children were not to be allowed to suffer. The first­born was to have the' rights of the birthright, whether the child of the loved or the hated woman.

While in this way the right of the child was safeguarded, the necessity for parental discipline was enforced, and provision was made that if the child was not amenable to the law of his parents, the city was to act in discipline and in judgment.

Finally, the hatefulness of sin to God was revealed in the injunction that persons hanged on a tree as the result of sin were to be buried immediately.

Deuteronomy 22

Here we have the record of the laws conditioning life in love and neighborliness. Every man was enjoined to take care of his brother's lost things if he found them; and he was also to help the hurt animals of his brethren in the hour of their distress.

All unseemliness in dress was forbidden. Men were charged to act in kindness even toward the birds. In building their houses they were to think of others who later might have to use them, and protect them against the possibility of accident by erecting a parapet around the roof.

Three commandments were uttered forbidding admixture. The land must not be sown with two seeds. Plowing must not be done with an ass and ox together Garments were not to be made of an admixture of wool and linen.

Continuing, the stringency of the Mosaic economy in the matter of chastity is revealed. It may well be carefully studied even today. It may be summarized by declaring that it demands that at all costs the man must be chaste and the woman pure. Moreover, it is made perfectly clear that in the mind of God the sacredness of betrothal is as great as that of the marriage relationship.

Deuteronomy 23

Under the Mosaic law certain persons were excluded from worship and others from the camp. Any who in any way violated the requirements of personal perfection in physical matters were not to be allowed to stand among the worshipers. Both the actually maimed and such as were the direct issue of sin were excluded. The Moabite and Ammonite were excluded to the tenth generation because of their refusal to help the people of God in the time of their need and their attempt to harm them in the matter of Balaam. The Edomite and Egyptian were to be excluded to the second generation only. In the case of the first, help had not been rendered in time of need; and in that of the second, Israel must never forget benefits received

With his eye ever on the future of the people in the land, Moses proceeded to touch upon various subjects to the end of this chapter and through the following two chapters seemingly without any system. Israel was to be a refuge for the oppressed slaves of other people. Usury among brethren was forbidden. Vows, it was plainly declared, must be kept, but it was also made perfectly clear that there was no necessity for making vows. In the case of need a man might eat in his neighbor's vineyards or pluck his standing corn, but no man was allowed to carry away from vineyard or cornfield anything for trade or personal enrichment.