Deu 25:5

Vv 5-10: The next of kin (Heb “gaal” or “kinsman-redeemer”) had the duty of preserving the family by marrying the widow of a deceased brother if he had died childless. Under such a law, the continuity of the family was maintained, even though its continuance may have been threatened by folly or disaster. The duty of Preserver of the Family is clearly linked with the duty to redeem the land inheritance.

In the Book of Ruth, the wealthy Boaz, acting as the “gaal”, made it possible for Ruth — the Moabite widow of a Jew — to have fellowship with Israel, and a covenant relationship with God.

The Lord Jesus, as our “gaal”, has done likewise for us who are Gentiles: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Eph 2:11-13). “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Eph 3:6).

Deu 25:15

See Lesson, Honesty (GG).

Deu 25:19

YOU SHALL BLOT OUT THE MEMORY OF AMALEK FROM UNDER HEAVEN: See Lesson, Amalek.

UNDER HEAVEN: A phrase suggesting the universality of Yahweh’s judgement: Gen 6:17; Exo 17:14; Deu 7:24; 9:14; 25:19; 29:20; 2Ki 14:27. The two NT references (Acts 4:12; Col 1:23) expand the theme to show that the Father is indeed concerned with salvation for all mankind.

Deu 21:6

THEN ALL THE ELDERS… SHALL WASH THEIR HANDS: Pilate, the “elder” of the city next to the slain man Christ, washes his hands of the matter. Note: Christ was at the same time the slain man and the atoning sacrifice (Mat 27:24).

Deu 21:10

Vv 10-14; By Law of God, no forcible possessions… no taking of mere concubines. Lawful marriage is encouraged.

CAPTIVES: Cp Num 31:18: Young innocent women and virgins are not slain. Note Deu 20:16: this does not refer to any of the 7 nations to be exterminated.

Deu 21:12

SHAVE HEAD… TRIM NAILS: Signs of mourning, then acceptance of Israel’s God, to become a proselyte.

Deu 21:13

THE CLOTHES… WHEN CAPTURED: Nothing which might have attracted attention to herself will be preserved. The putting away of all outward beauty.

A FULL MONTH, THEN: Time to test the genuineness of his desire for her. Was it true, and based on faith?

Deu 21:14

PLEASED: Heb “chaphets”; rel “Hephzibah” (Isa 62:4) = “My pleasure/delight is in her”. Cp Deu 24:1: “becomes displeasing” (diff wd). How? through “uncleanness/nakedness/immorality” (Heb ervah) (Deu 24;1) — apparently the only cause.

LET HER GO WHEREVER…: “She may go and be another man’s wife”: Deu 24:2.

YOU MUST NOT SELL HER OR TREAT HER AS A SLAVE: She has become Jewish, and has rights (cp Deu 24:7).

Deu 21:23

Sinners hanged on trees: baker (Gen 40:19), King Ai (Jos 8:29), 2 men (Est 2:23).

In Mosaic times, a criminal was stoned, and then hung from a tree (or a stake) to publicly exhibit the punishment due to such a sin (Num 25:4; 2Sa 21:6)… It was because the curse of God rested on those suspended from a tree, or a cross in death, that the Jewish leaders were anxious that the Lord should die in that way, and hence called upon Pilate to order his execution by crucifixion. This was not a Jewish form of death, so they had to seek the help of Rome. This form of death, as they saw it, would demonstrate conclusively that the hated Jesus was not the Messiah.

But Jesus’ resurrection to eternal life seemed to belie this curse (Rom 1:3). So what WAS cursed by God on the cross (Gal 3:13)? Was it the man Christ Jesus: his righteous, sinless character? By no means. No, it was not possible that he should be held by death (Acts 2:24).

What was cursed was not the man himself, but the sin to which his human nature was inclined: “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so HE CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH” (Rom 8:3). “God made him who had no sin [that is, personally] to be sin [in a nature, or physical body, prone to sin] for us” — in other words, he was put under the curse of the Law — so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Co 5:21): so that through this man who overcame sin, our sins might be forgiven!

This was also the lesson of the bronze serpent lifted up on a stake in the wilderness (Num 21).

Deu 22:1

Deu 22: “As Yahweh’s holy nation, Israel is to be governed by His laws, which will give them a unique character as a people, within the world of Gentiles. This chapter legislates for the following: consideration for the property of others (vv 1-4); the sexes to be clearly distinguished by dress (v 5); care to be given to the natural fauna (vv 6,7); building construction to provide protection for others (v 8); Yahweh’s distinction in nature to be respected (vv 9-11); Israelites to be distinguished in dress (v 12); protective care to be afforded the unloved bride (vv 13-19); adultery punishable with death (vv 20-22); rapists to be stoned (vv 23-27); fornicators to be suppressed (vv 28,29); and incest strictly forbidden (v 30).

“The legislation in this chapter relates to failings that are increasingly plaguing the modern world. It is interesting, therefore, to compare its requirements with the attitude of current society; for it relates to areas of deep concern. In an age of ruthless indifference to the wellbeing and consideration of others, it is refreshing to consider the Law’s demands requiring the observance of mutual assistance as here laid down (vv 1-4). In an environment that is exploiting natural resources with terrifying thoroughness and flouting long established distinctions, it speaks of the Divine order in nature which can be ignored only at humanity’s peril (vv 5-12). In a social order which increasingly condones the exploitation of human beings as pawns in the game of sex, it emphasises the Divine order among men, and requires recognition of the sanctity of marriage (vv 13-20). People are not simply bodies to be played with. In an era of anarchy that is intent upon throwing off all restraint, it sets forth the basis of an orderly world. That basis is not law itself; but respect for law. To defy law, as modern society does, is to court both licence and anarchy. Divine law cannot be broken without hurt to those who do so. Yahweh’s purpose will prevail. If the world persists in throwing itself against His principles, it will destroy itself. It is rapidly nearing that state, so that only the return of the Lord will save it (Rev 11:18)” (Expos).

Deu 22:9

Sowing: What to sow: Luke 8:11. What not to sow: Deu 22:9. How to sow: Psa 126:5,6. When to sow: Ecc 11:6. The reward of sowing: 1Co 15:58.

Deu 22:10

Unequal yoking — the principle: What God has joined, we must not separate. What God has separated, we must not join. Unequal yoking is (a) unfitting — because of differences in size, temperament, strength. The ox is clean, and the ass unclean. Unequal yoking is (b) unfair — because both would suffer pain, discomfort. Thus unequal yoking leads to a poor working combination.

Deu 22:23

Vv 23,24: An adulteress is put to death (Lev 20:10). A betrothed (engaged) woman is treated as though already married (called “wife” in v 24: cp Mat 1:20).

Deu 22:28

Cp Exo 22:16,17: one who is “enticed”. Remedy: marriage (here), or payment of dowry so she can marry someone else (Exo 22:16,17).

Deu 19:1

Deu 19: This chapter contains: (a) an order to separate three cities of refuge in the land of Canaan, for the man who killed someone unawares to flee to, but to which those who were guilty of purposeful murder were to have no benefit (vv 1-13; cp Num 35:6-34), (b) a law against removing landmarks (Deu 19:14; cp Deu 27:17; Pro 22:28; 23:10); and (c) laws concerning witnesses in legal cases, that there should be more than one, that is, two or three (Deu 19:15; cp Mat 18:16; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1), and that a false witness, on conviction, should be punished (Deu 19:16-21; cp Exo 23:1-7; Mark 14:55-59).

Vv 1-13: “An important divine benefit was the provision of cities of refuge to protect those who found themselves in a grave situation of impending death. Six cities were to be separated for this purpose, three on each side of the Jordan. On arrival on the east, three of the cities had been named, a work completed by Joshua. Further instructions regarding the maintenance of the roads leading to the cities are now given. The provision of these cities was not merely for the circumstances of society, but to teach lessons concerning salvation. To live according to the flesh (ie, the desires thereof) and to give way to it, or sow to it, is to court death. Thus, lawlessness in which one refuses to be brought under the influence of divine law is a sin unto death. Thus one who hates his brother is a murderer, for which there is no city of refuge available, but he was removed out of the way of mercy. But there are sins not unto death, for which forgiveness shall be granted. We therefore should seek that City of Refuge (Christ) along the Living Way of prominence, and easy access” (GEM).

Deu 20:1

Deu 20: “In this chapter rules are given to be observed in times of war. When a battle was near, a priest was to address the soldiers, and encourage them to fight (Deu 20:1-4), then the officers were to declare who might return home (Deu 20:5-9). When an enemy’s city was approached, peace was to be proclaimed on certain conditions, which, if accepted, the inhabitants were to be tributaries and servants, but if not, when taken, all were to be put to the sword, excepting women, children, and cattle (Deu 20:10-15). However, those of the seven nations were to be utterly destroyed (Deu 20:16-18), and, during a siege, no trees bearing fruit fit for food were to be cut down (Deu 20:19)” (Gill).

Deu 13:1

Vv 1-3: “In the book of Deuteronomy it was laid down what the attitude of the people of Israel should be to those who claimed to speak with the authority of God’s Holy Spirit.

“First, does the prophet utter prophecies which are proved to be true by their fulfilment? ‘If the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the Lord has not spoken, the prophet has spoken it presumptuously’, ie, without God’s authority (Deu 18:22). But there was always the possibility that the ‘prophet’ might succeed, by means of a bit of clever guesswork, in deceiving his hearers. So then a further test: ‘If a prophet arises among you… and the sign or wonder which he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods’… you shall not listen to the words of that prophet’ (Deu 13:1,2).

“In other words, a prophecy or a sign or a wonder does not guarantee that the Holy Spirit is at work. The final and certain test is whether the teaching is good and true and right” (WGHS). See Lesson, Holy Spirit gifts, available today?

Deu 13:4

Note 6-fold progression: follow, revere, keep, obey, serve, hold fast…

Deu 14:8

THE PIG IS ALSO UNCLEAN: “Nowadays, in modern hygienic farms, pigs can be reared without the historically important diseases such as the pork tape worm and the round worm Trichinella spiralis. But in the wilderness setting, as in any uncontrolled environment, the habit of pigs of eating waste and carrion means that they are a considerable risk as food animals… Another disease, trichinosis, is common in parts of the world, and the major culprit is undercooked pork or wild boar. This disease can be fatal” (SP, Tes 71:205). Cp Lev 11:7.

Deu 14:21

DO NOT COOK A YOUNG GOAT IN ITS MOTHER’S MILK: Found in Exo 23:19; 34:26 and Deu 14:21. Five possibilities: (1) The mother would suffer from still producing milk, with no offspring to nurse. (2) The Canaanites worshiped milk as coming from certain goddesses (ie, keep away from worship of idols of land). (3) A prohibition against imitating the superstitious rites of the Egyptians, who, at the end of their harvest, cooked a kid in its mother’s milk and sprinkled the broth as a magical charm on their gardens and fields, to render them more productive the following season (JFB). (4) The suckling should not be killed so young, cut off in its prime. (Christ the sacrifice suffered in the midst of his own people.) (5) Do not “destroy” your child with the “milk” of excessive kindness/coddling!

Deu 15:2

THE LORD’S TIME FOR CANCELING DEBTS HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED: It was the LORD’s time because it was “appointed and commanded by him, and was for his honour and glory, as a God gracious and merciful to the poor, and beneficent to those creditors; and which was proclaimed in his name, by the civil magistrate, according to his order… Now this was typical of a release of debts, or of forgiveness of sins, which is an act of God’s grace through Christ, and for his sake. Sins are called debts [because] men are debtors to fulfil the law, and in case of failure, or a breach of it, are bound to the debt of punishment; and these debts are very numerous, and men are incapable of paying them: and by a release of these is meant not a liberty of sinning, nor a freedom from the being or bondage of sin, but from the guilt of it, and from obligation to punishment for it; and is properly the forgiveness of sin, which is expressed by various phrases, as a non-imputation, a non-remembrance, a covering, blotting out, and removing of sin, and here typically a release of debts (see Mat 6:12), and God only can make it; he is the creditor, sin is committed against him, and he only can forgive it, which he does freely, fully, and at once (see Luk 7:41,42)” (Gill).

Deu 15:7

DO NOT BE HARDHEARTED: Hard-heartedness is first seen in Pharaoh (Exo 4:21; 7:3,13; 8:15,32; 9:12,34; 10:1,20,27; 11:10; 14:4,8). So when this description is used of anyone in Israel, it is very pointed: ‘You are being like the oppressing Egyptians from whom I have delivered you!’ Cp Deu 15:7; 2Ch 36:13; Psa 95:8; Isa 63:17; Mark 10:5; 16:14; John 12:40; Rom 2:5.

Deu 15:16

Vv 16,17: Lesson: As in 1Co 7, there are here two options, either of which may be acceptable.

Deu 16:1

Deu 16: “Yahweh appointed specific feasts to remind the nation of their responsibilities toward Him. Three pilgrimage feasts had a double significance. They each had reference to a historical incident of importance: Deliverance; Giving of the Law; Wandering in the Wilderness. But they also marked the three seasons of the agricultural year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, with the beginning, fullness, and completion of harvest — and a preparation for renewed harvest! It is well to keep in view the agricultural aspect of the Three Festivals. It helps us to realise the fact that Israel was once an agricultural people, and that its commercial character is not, as is commonly thought, inborn, but is the result of the unkindly conditions in later ages. Each of the Festivals focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, and relate to his threefold work: as the Passover in his earthly ministry; as Pentecost in his heavenly advocacy, as Tabernacles in his future glorious work in the kingdom. So the chapter sets out: (1) The passover to be observed: vv 1-8. (2) Feast of Weeks to be kept: vv 9-12. (3) Feast of Tabernacles to be commemorated: vv 13-15. (4) Liberality enjoined at the Feasts: vv 16,17. (5) Appointment of judges and officers: vv 18-20. (6) The worse crime: Treason against supreme power: vv 21,22” (GEM).

Deu 16:2

AT THE PLACE THE LORD WILL CHOOSE: Spoken while still in wilderness. At first, kept in tents; then later, at their national altar.

Deu 16:13

CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES: “We shall probably find the meaning of this in the contemplation of this feast of ingathering as the type of the final harvest of life eternal, of which Christ is the individual, and his people the collective first-fruits. To this harvest all the work of God has been working forward from the beginning. That it should be foreshadowed by the last of all the feasts of the year is fitting: and that this feast should be held on the seventh month is in the same line of harmony, also that it should commence on the first day and last nearly the whole month, is striking. That it should begin with a joyful trumpet blast is suggestive of the great joy with which the arrival of the day of God will be hailed” (LM 208).

Deu 16:21

ASHERAH: See Lesson, Asherah.

Deu 17:14

Israel will yet have a king, but he will be unlike the kings of all the other nations.

WHEN YOU ENTER THE LAND…: The promise of a king is thus connected with the promises to Abraham: Gen 12:1,7.

Deu 17:15

FROM AMONG YOUR OWN BROTHERS: Christ, a king, priest, and prophet, from among his brethren (Heb 2:14-17; 5:1-5).

WHO IS NOT A BROTHER: Moses fears a return to Egypt, as in v 16. Cp Zealots’ hatred of Idumean kings and Roman lords.

These words will echo through the ages of the Old Testament. When the grand old prophet Samuel is rejected by a people he had served so faithfully, it is because they think they MUST have a king “like all the nations”! God Himself assesses the situation: “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected ME, that I should reign over them” (1Sa 8:5,7). In rejecting God, the people selected a “stranger” to rule over them — for Saul proved to be a “foreigner” in his understanding and affections. And even when Saul was displaced by David, the king God chose, the people persisted in rejecting this king as well — the proud, rich Nabal asked scornfully, “Who is David?” (1Sa 25:10), and later the rebel Sheba cried, “We have no part in David” (2 Sa 20:1).

And finally we come to the Roman “Pavement” in Jerusalem, where the king chosen by God above all others stood in the presence of his subjects, crowned with thorns! “Behold your king” (John 19:14). These were not the words of Pilate only; they were God’s words also. But the people cried out with one voice: “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:15). Finally and conclusively the nation selected a “foreigner” to be over them, and so it was, and so it has been for nearly 2,000 years.

Deu 17:16

HORSES: Sym warfare (Psa 20:6,7; 33:16-19; Pro 21:31). Christ entered city on an ass, but he will appear in the LD on a great white horse, followed by an army of cavalry (Rev 19:11-16).

MAKE THE PEOPLE RETURN TO EGYPT: A return to bondage. This the Pharisees/lawyers tried to do to their followers.

YOU ARE NOT TO GO BACK…: A new way you have never gone (Jos 3:4). An old way you must never return.

Contrast with Solomon in 1Ki 4:26. The horse was the basic instrument of ancient warfare — the Biblical equivalent of the tank or airplane or missile. Horses were “vain things” (Psa 33:17) when it came to true safety; they could not be the security of a king whom God chose: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psa 20:7).

It is never recorded that Jesus owned or even rode upon a horse. When the time came for his revelation at Jerusalem as a king, he chose instead to enter the holy city in a symbolic gesture of meekness, upon “a colt the foal of an ass” (Mat 21:5; Zec 9:9).

Deu 17:17

NOT… MANY WIVES: Contrast with Solomon in 1Ki 11:3. Jesus, understandably, was not married; his mortal life was to be a short one — there would be no time for the proper development of an intimate relationship with even one woman, and no time for the rearing of a family. Nor would it have been true love for Jesus to subject a wife to the sorrow of widowhood and then permanent separation from her husband. “An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs — how he can please the Lord” (1Co 7:32). Jesus’ work was to be all-consuming; the otherwise lawful indulgences of ordinary men were not for him.

NOT ACCUMULATE… SILVER… GOLD: Contrast with Solomon in 1Ki 10:14-23. Probably no man lived up to this standard better than Jesus. And he who had nowhere to lay his head instructed his disciples in the same philosophy: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also… No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Mat 6:19-21,24).

Deu 17:18

Part of the protocol of royal succession in the ANE was the transfer of documents that legitimized the succession and provided standards by which the new king was to administer the affairs of his regime. This was the practice in Israel and Judah as well, a practice inaugurated by the Deuteronomic law (1Ki 2:3; 2Ki 11:12; 23:3)

HE IS TO WRITE FOR HIMSELF ON A SCROLL A COPY OF THIS LAW: The three negative commandments (Deu 17:16,17) for the king are followed by a last great positive commandment (Deu 17:18-20).

How did Jesus spend those “hidden years”, from age 12 to age 30 — while the young “prince” prepared for his role as “King of the Jews”? While the time of his public ministry was relatively short, the time of his preparation was eighteen years — five to six times as long. Most likely, in addition to the ordinary tasks of life (daily work, and oversight of his younger siblings), Jesus spent much of his spare time writing out his own copy of the Law, AND the prophets and the psalms… and memorizing them also, and studying them intensely! The man whose name is “The Word of God” could scarcely have done less. Of him David spoke prophetically: “Here I am, I have come — it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Psa 40:7,8).

There are other references to these commandments for the king which also have to do with Christ. And, surprisingly, they present a picture contradictory — on the surface — to that of Deu 17! In Rev 19 Christ appears from heaven to assume his throne: he is riding upon a white horse (Rev 19:11), and followed by the armies of heaven upon a great number of white horses (Rev 19:14). His reason for returning is to claim his bride — a multitudinous bride (the saints: Rev 19:8). And in Rev 21 is shown the results of his victorious war — a “city” of unsurpassed wealth (Rev 21:11-21).

The one who in his mortal life refrained from the multiplying of horses, wives, and wealth is seen as finally possessing all three in the greatest abundance. They are the gifts of his Father. The faithful Son who resisted temptation in the wilderness is at last rewarded. He who saw all the kingdoms of the world and their glory in a moment of time (Mat 4:8; Luk 4:5) refused to strive for their attainment by worldly means. Instead he believed and cast himself upon the Father, who had simply said: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession” (Psa 2:8).

And why should God bestow upon Jesus all the trappings of a king? The answer is found in a comparison of Rev 19:11,13 with Deu 17:18-20: “He was called Faithful and True… and his name is called The Word of God.”

This man was the only king to write the law of God perfectly upon his mind and his heart — to make it the guide of every moment and the basis of constant prayer. Here was the only King to acknowledge always the sovereignty of a greater Monarch. And thus the Creator Monarch will finally acknowledge him, and give him a name above every other name, that at the name of Christ every knee shall bow and every tongue confess (Phi 2:9-11). Those privileges and honors that kings have always fought to obtain for themselves will be Christ’s by right. Of all the world’s royalty, Christ alone will — with his spiritual “seed” — “reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel!”

Deu 17:19

Christ is called “the Word of God” in Rev 19:11,13.