"And Moses said to them: Have you kept alive all the women and let them live? Behold, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of Jehovah. Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by lying with a male. But keep alive for yourselves all the female children who have not known a male by lying with him." (Num31:15-18)

"Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; and the anger of Jehovah will burn against you and quickly destroy you. But thus you shall deal with them: you shall break down their altars, and shatter their pillars, and chop down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire." (De7:3-5)

"When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, if she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife, if the latter husband hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband who took her as his wife dies, then her former husband who sent her away cannot take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before Jehovah, and you shall not bring sin upon the land which Jehovah your God is giving to you as an inheritance." (De24:1-4)

"They say, If a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, shall he return to her again? Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have committed adultery with many lovers; yet turn back to Me, says Jehovah." (Jer3:1)

This was the situation under which Boaz took Ruth as wife. But obligation dictated that he needed to offer the option to a 'closer' relative, and when that closer relative declined, Boaz was free to take Ruth. (Ruth ch4)

On the other hand, when Onan refused to give his sister-in-law his seed, God killed him. He was just going to 'have sex' (fool around), but not complete the act. (Ge38:6-10) Which, then, became the beginning in the series of events which led to Judah fathering Perez through his own daughter-in-law Tamar; who was also in the lineage to the birth of Jesus. (Mt1:3)

However, in God's economy, "fruitfulness" is His blessing and design. Which is why...

"If a man lies with a male as one lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall be executed to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Le20:13)(Le18:22)

Nor is it a case that God doesn't want men to 'love' each other. David and Jonathan loved each other in such a way that David wrote a song upon the occasion of Jonathan's death, "your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women" (2Sa1:26) John was the disciple "whom Jesus loved" (Jn13:23, 21:20) But it should be clearly understood that 'love' is not 'sex'. Sex is an act of procreation, which is simply impossible between men. True love far-surpasses what sodomy practices!

As we see in our world today, things related to sex are likely THE #1 AREA OF PERVERSITY. People and animals aren't meant to procreate. People of the same gender are not equipped to procreate; the body parts don't even 'fit' that way. Procreation is intended the way God designed it, "male and female". I'm sure there are many passages we have not addressed on this subject. But Scripture addresses it much, in similar proportion to how much humanity has corrupted it. And God gave this exhortation in summarizing it...

"Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have been defiled; for the land is defiled. Therefore I am visiting its depravity upon it, and the land is vomiting out its inhabitants. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native nor any stranger who sojourns among you (for all these abominations the men who were in the land before you have done, and the land is defiled), that the land not also vomit you out when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. For whoever does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore you shall keep My charge, so that you do not do any of these abominable customs which were done before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am Jehovah your God." (Le18:24-30)

"You shall not murder" (20:13)

"He who strikes a man so that he dies shall be executed to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God allowed the meeting into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee." (21:12-13)

The Hebrew word includes killing in 1) premeditation, 2) accidental, 3) as avenger. In other words, a person who was alive, is now dead; whatever the motive or cause. But this passage specifies the guilty person is to be killed. Does God's Word contradict itself? As Israel was taking possession of God's inheritance to them they were told to go in and kill the pagans and obliterate evidences of their pagan idolatry. Was God contradicting Himself? Do not kill; but kill...??

In English the word "kill" indicates that a living person is now dead. To "put to death" or "deprive of life". As I browse through the dictionary definition, there doesn't seem to be any moral, emotional or purpose for the killing. Simply: that which was alive has been made dead.

To accomodate the Hebrew aspect of "premeditation" we have the English word "murder": "The unlawful killing of one human being by another, especially with premeditated malice"

And for the Hebrew aspect of "avenger" we find "execute": "To put to death, especially by carrying out a lawful sentence".

And so, this passage, along with some others, describe and explain what are capital offenses, and which are not.

First of all, PLOTTING to kill. This is premeditation and planning in the first degree. There's no 'accident' involved. From the depths of the heart the person has murder on their mind, and they carry it out. They are to be EXECUTED. Supposing the ruling powers have sent the officers to arrest him, and he flees and hides in the temple or grabs the "horns of the altar", thinking: Surely they won't -defile- God's temple to shed my blood?

"...you shall take him even from My altar, that he may die" (vs14)

The shedding of blood is one of the highest priority laws. After the Flood, God gives very -few- laws, but the one He does give is regarding murder.

"Surely the blood of your souls will I require; at the hand of every living thing will I require it, and at the hand of man. At the hand of every man’s brother I will require the soul of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man" (Ge9:5-6)

"The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants" (Is24:5)

"The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground" (Ge4:10)

Now, if the death was accidental, Israel had Cities of Refuge where the killer could flee, and then face what we call trial "by jury". (Nu35:24) That whole chapter goes into detail. Supposing the two bumped into each other, and the one fell and died, that is accidental. Supposing people were chopping wood, and the ax head flies off the handle and hits another person such that they die, that is accidental. (De19:1-13)

But a person grabs a stone, a club, some other object by which to make his -beating- of the other person more effective, and the person dies... that is murder. The murderer is to be executed. Perhaps, as people are wont to do when fighting, they don't have any intention to -kill- the other person; they just want to 'beat the snot' out of them; but their fighting becomes so intense that one of them dies. It doesn't matter the intention of the killer: They were fighting, and one of them died. The one remaining alive is a murderer. He did not -have- to fight. He could have "given place to wrath" (Ro12:19), and if he had done so, they both would still be alive. But he chose to fight, and it resulted in death. The murderer is to be executed. If the -other- person had been more successful, and the one being discussed was killed, instead, then the -other- person would be the murderer, and -he- would be executed.

And there are some other categories:

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which Jehovah your God is giving you" (20:12)

When I was a child there were some things that were JUST NOT DONE. A child did not sass back, or hit, or any such thing a parent (or adult). It was not just my family, but some of the families of my peers. Such infractions would receive a swift slap across the face, a grabbing of the ear and hussled ushering into the other room where the paddle or belt was quickly soundly applied to the seat of understanding, or some other similar punishment. Today, kids do all sorts of things to their parents, and instead of punishment, they get video-taped and sent to "Funniest Videos" where everybody laughs, and if they were rebellious enough and people laughed hard enough, perhaps they win money. We have a generation where teens mistreat their parents, and the parents whine and wring their hands in despair....Whatever can we dooo?? We just can't do ANYTHING to make them behave. We've done everything we can think of! Some years ago I remember the case where a teen was beating his father in the head with a ball-peen hammer, and instead of taking control and ushering the teen to punishment, the father pleads with the son, "I love you, I love you". Well, this passage explains what could happen in Biblical Israel. But in today's mixed up world it is called "child abuse".

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Pr22:6)

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.... Do not withhold correction from a lad, for if you beat him with the rod, he will not die." (Pr22:15, 23:13)

"To whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand the message? Those weaned from the milk and removed from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little" (Is28:9-10)

'Done 'everything' you can think of? NO YOU DIDN'T!

God is a God of LIFE: He gives life and sustains life. When a murderer kills another human being, they are mocking God's life. And when an offspring curses or any other way assaults their parents, they are mocking those who gave God's life to them by procreation and nurture.

What about (merely) kidnapping, but not killing the person?

"He who steals a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall be executed to death" (vs16)

"If a man is found kidnapping any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and has treated him as a slave or sold him, then that kidnapper shall die; thus you shall put away the evil from among you." (De24:7)

On the other hand, if a thief is caught in the act and in the struggle is killed, "there shall be no blood shed for him" (22:2) He shouldn't have been stealing. This subject will be covered in more detailed in a couple more lessons.

Now, if there is a fight with injuries, but no death, there is no execution. (vs18-19) However, the one who caused the injuries is to make compensation for lost time while disabled, and make provision to help the person be healed.

If a person beats their servant such that they die immediately, they are to be executed. (vs20) They might be their "property", but nevertheless, the servant is a -person-. However, if the servant dies after a day or more, then there is no retribution because the servant was part of the person's "assets". (vs21) Now this, I don't understand. Is not a human life a human life? If the master was not to treat a servant harshly, why is the servant's -life- not worth more beyond a day? Or perhaps the servant was being rebellious and was receiving punishment; and so, how harsh was the punishment? I'm not going to try to figure this out here.

If a person strikes a pregnant woman in such a way that it induces labor, and the baby is born; if the baby remains healthy, the guilty party is punished, but not executed. (vs22) However, if the baby is killed...

"then you shall requite soul for soul" (vs23)

And it closes this little passage with a principle: Whatever a person perpetrates upon another person, either in death or injury, is to be done to the guilty person. But this is not permission for the execution of personal vendettas. Jesus spoke to this...

"You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist evil. But whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." (Mt5:38-39)

"And as you would have men do to you, you also do likewise to them." (Lk6:31)

"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am Jehovah." (Le19:18)

However, again, regarding servants: If a master hurt a servant, giving them a permanent injury or disability, the servant was to be released; given their freedom, in exchange for the hurt done to them. (vs26-27)

AND...!

These laws were not -just- for Israel. A stranger could not waltz into Israel and commit crimes, and when confronted to retort: Well, in -my- country we can do these things. YaRight! No!

Sometimes people use the expression "Judeo-Christian" when speaking of morality and legal codes. These laws that God gave to Israel are God's Laws. It doesn't really matter if a person is a Jew or not. Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and justice is justice. Period.

"You shall have the same law for the sojourner and for the native; for I am Jehovah your God." (Le24:22)

What did he know, and when did he know it?

"If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall be stoned to death with stones, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and the owner has been given warning, and he has not kept it restrained, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death." (vs28:29)

Last lesson we observed that culpability for murder is based on motive. But here we also learn that a person can commit murder due to neglect. An example was given: if people are out chopping wood, and the ax head flies off the handle, hits another person and kills them, it is deemed 'accidental'. The person is NOT a murderer.

But something the example did not address: Supposing the person sees the ax, he can 'wiggle' the head on the handle, and does nothing to 'fix' the ax nor to tighten up the head; the head flies off and kills somebody. Is he guilty?

This passage with animals (oxen) who can have tendencies to butt into things and gore them, I think can answer the 'ax' question.

What is the ox's 'tendency'? Just like people, animals have temperaments and personalities. As an animal is with a person, they often take on the temperament of their owner. Just as you can tell what people are like from observing their children; often the same is true from observing a person's animals. A mean-spirited and nasty person will often have a dangerous and vicious dog that, anytime it gets out of the yard, or loose from its tether, will run around the neighborhood in a rampage, killing cats and biting people. A farmer using animals as beasts of burden and labor, depending on how the farmer treats the animal, the animal will tend to be either docile or always easily agitated. As the preacher observes...

"A righteous man understands the soul of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." (Pr12:10)

However, there are some animals that just never are tamed, but must always be guided with heavy hand. Even the animal's owner must continually take precautions. And so, the owner, through negligence, lets the animal loose, and it gores and kills a person...both the animal -AND- the owner are killed. The owner knew the animal's tendency and did not keep it under control.

This is often the case when a vicious dog violently attacks somebody, they are often collected by animal control and euthanized.

A couple of exceptions: Perhaps the case is such that execution is not proper? Maybe there were extenuating circumstances? Perhaps something happened beyond the owner's control and the ox got out? Remember, this is being adjudicated before the judge (priest), and it doesn't seem right to execute the person, a fine is imposed (vs30)

And this, like some other things that I don't understand: if the ox gores another's human SERVANTS, the penalty was a fine of "thirty shekels of silver" (vs32) Why a fine? Why not execution? Are servants not of equal value as free persons? Is their soul not as significant as a free person? Is blood not blood? This I don't understand

Or is this a prophetic type of when Jesus would be 'sold' for 30 pieces of silver? (Zec11:12-13, Mt26:15) As Jesus came and gave Himself in the form of a "bondservant" (Php2:7)

But there is also law regarding animals, as property.

Dig a pit and don't cover it, and your neighbor's animal falls into it and is killed...the one who dug the pit is liable for the dead animal. There's a reason construction zones put up barriers, cones, flashing lights and reflectors for night time. Is it the life of the animal God is concerned about? "Or does He say it altogether for our sakes?" (1Co9:9-10) The animal is of value to its owner in terms of his livelihood. The animal is killed, the owner's productivity suffers. Do harm to another person, compensation is due.

And even with animals to other animals, when -owned- by people. An ox gores another ox and kills it. Are the costs split equally? Or was the one ox -known- for goring? If so, its owner must compensate for his own negligence.

It is a matter of -responsibility-. We do not live life, caring only about -self-. Cain asked God, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Ge4:9) When God answered, "The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground" (vs10), He was saying, essentially, "Yes, you are!" In that case, Cain had killed Abel with malice aforethought. In the previous lesson we discussed -direct- killing and injury of a fellow-human; where one makes -direct-, personal, physical contact to effect injury or death.

But in this lesson we see that responsibility is held also for INDIRECT contact and consequences. The things we are directly responsible for, if those things cause death or injury to others because of our neglegence or inattention to circumstances or events; it is as if -we- had actually personally done those injuries.

What about that "ax" question? If an ax head is 'loose' on the handle, any reasonable person is going to assume that at some point the head might go flying off. It -could- happen. Just as in the case of an ox that -tends- to want to gore, so you know you better keep it in check, otherwise eventually it's going to kill somebody; same with the ax. The person knew the head was loose, and did nothing to fix it. If it kills somebody, certainly it was an "accident"; but was totally preventible. The person who didn't prevent the accident, by fixing the ax, is guilty of murder.

"And whoever kills a beast shall make compensation; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. You shall have the same law for the sojourner and for the native; for I am Jehovah your God." (Le24:21-22)

"You shall not steal" (20:15)

"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep...if the thing stolen is found in his possession alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double" (22:1,4)

...And in these lessons, as with all writings at this website, I hope the reader is looking up the passages and reading them. These studies aren't intended to address every last word individually; assuming the reader has the ability, also, to read with understanding...

"They do not despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. But if he is found, he shall restore sevenfold.." (Pr6:30-31)

Around Spokane, where I live, there are people all over, standing on the sidewalks at intersections, holding signs with various messages, looking for hand-outs. The other day as I was coming out of Walgreens with the jug of milk I had just purchased, I hear this voice to the side and behind me: Sir, do you have some change? And I turn to see this man sitting in the shade on the sidewalk, leaning against the building. About a year ago this old man used to walk by, pushing this old dilapidated bike (with his stuff strapped to it), and two scruffy scrawny dogs dragging along ahead of him at the end of this rope. He looked to be genuinely in bad shape; as did his dogs. On the other hand, more currently there is this person I can see regularly from my store windows, with his dog that is usually full of energy, running and jumping around at the end of the leash, but when I have happened to drive or walk by to see what his sign says: "I need food for my dog". And I've seen him over there 'training' his dog not to be so rambunctious, but to conform to the image of poverty, and droop his tail. With today's economy what it is, there truly are people hurting, and a person might feel a tug to give them a little something. On the other hand, it is pretty well known that there are the pan-handlers who "work the system". I've heard tell that some will -drive- their fancy 'newer' model vehicles, park them, and go stand wherever it is they stand, and rake in the money by the fist-fulls. They make more money pan-handling than many do at well-paying jobs. This one a block over from the store, here, I have seen on occasion when he was walking to/from his 'home'(?) to the street corner, and where he was walking to/from was a neighborhood, certainly not the upper crust; but certainly also not the down-trodden part of town. He apparently -has- a 'home' he 'commutes' to/from to his street corner, where he begs for "food for his dog".

When I was in high school, my dad pastored this little church, and we lived in the parsonage, next to the church building. (My mother had died a few years previously, so it was the two of us) One evening as we had just sat down to supper, there is this knock at the door. This hobo, obviously on hard times: Can you spare a little change for bus fair? They never just ask for "money", but what they always attach some 'purpose' for which they need it. The hobo didn't get any money, but was invited in to share in our supper. (bachelor cooked, and served onto the plate directly from the cooking pans; no intermediate serving bowls [that would require more washing, you see]; no fancily spread table) Well, after that, on a few other occasions, right at supper time (they might not have had a watch, but they knew what time it was!), others would knock, asking for money, and get invited in for a meal, instead. They were obviously in need, and apparently the word got around in their community that they might be able to get a meal at this particular Baptist parsonage.

But do you give to panhandlers? How does one know they are -truly- in need, or are they merely 'acting' the part? Like the Gibeonites who put on torn and tattered clothes, old dried out water bottles, and worn out sandles, fooling Israel that they were from a "distant land" in order to con Israel into a peace treaty; when they actually lived next door to Israel. (Jos9:6)

But you steal? The cops are called and you get hauled off to jail.

What if you hear a "prowler" who happens to be stealing, you grab 'whatever' you feel like grabbing as a 'weapon', go sneak in on them to confront them, and a scuffle ensues; and when it is all over, the thief is lying there, dead. The home owner is NOT guilty of "murder". He was stealing and got caught, and the homeowner was rightfully protecting what was his, even being "fully armed". (22:2)(Mt12:29, Lk11:21)

Supposing the thief is injured and doesn't die? Supposing he has nothing with which to payback what he stole? In that economy he was to be "sold for his theft" (22:3) Today, perhaps that would translate to prison time? But not capital punishment. He was just stealing -things-; not physically hurting people.

In God's economy there was no such thing as "criminal's rights". Even in the case involving accidental death, where the one who killed was not guilty of "murder" nor was executed; nevertheless, if he wanted to be safe from the kinsman avenger-of-blood, he needed to live in the city of refuge until the high priest died. (Num35:25-28) He could not be declared "not guilty" and go home. Even after being declared "not guilty", if he left the city of refuge, and the avenger found him and killed him, that was his tough luck. God's economy was heavily weighted in the direction of NOT KILLING, whether murder or involuntary manslaughter... and in the direction of retribution against the wrong.

"Surely the blood of your souls will I require; at the hand of every living thing will I require it, and at the hand of man. At the hand of every man’s brother I will require the soul of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man." (Ge9:5-6)

In farming society, one farmer out of negligence allows his animals into his neighbor's fields, and they eat and trample the neighbor's crop, the owner of the offending animals is to compensate for the damages and loss. Somebody starts a fire and it does damage, he is to compensate for the damages. (22:5-6) Does this not make sense!

And then, what about the "he says, he says" cases? One's word against the word of another. As sometimes happens, somebody offers to store goods for another, but while in storage, they are stolen. Or animals are hurt or die while being kept? Or a person borrows something from another. Supposing the thing is hurt or broken while being borrowed, vs the same thing is hurt or broken while the owner is -there-, not only loaning, but also helping. (22:7-15)

There is a concept here that the person who is "in charge" at the moment is also "responsible" for what happens under their watch. Like the little saying by which certain politicians or managers in charge in this country will -own- their own responsibility.

"The buck stops here"

Sometimes disputes require a 3rd party, where...

"...the matter of both of them shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges declare guilty shall restore double to his neighbor" (22:9b)

Supposing a guilty person wants to make compensation, but the person is no longer alive and/or there are no relatives TO WHOM to make compensation?

"But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong shall go to Jehovah for the priest, besides the ram of the atonement with which atonement is made for him." (Nu5:8)

"Thus the priest shall make atonement for the soul who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before Jehovah, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him." (Nu15:28)

"You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall turn them back to restore them to your brother. And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks for it; and you shall restore it to him. You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found, you shall do likewise; you cannot hide it. You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall help him lift it up to make it stand." (De22:1-4)

SOMEBODY IS IN NEED... YOU HELP THEM!

But the reminder is also given regarding the blood. There is a difference between humans and animals. There are some today who wish to treat animals just like mankind. They promote "animal rights". They would string up anybody who would harm any animal. But in God's economy...

"And whoever kills a beast shall make compensation; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death." (Le24:21)

"...for in the image of God He made man." (Ge9:6b)

"You shall neither mistreat a sojourner nor oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt" (vs21)

A reading from Jasher ch19 might prove enlightening. [link] When a stranger would come to Sodom they might strap him down to a bed and 'stretch' him until he died. Why? Just because they wanted to. If a poor person came to town, they might bestow gold and riches upon him, but not allow him to eat; so when he died of starvation, they would clamor upon him and strip his body of his clothes and jewlery. Or if somebody wounded a person, making them bleed, the one who did the wounding would require "payment" from the one he injured, for providing the 'service' of making his "blood flow". When a man came to Sodom, the edict was declared that he was to be left on the street to starve to death, but one of Lot's daughters snuck food to him everyday. And so, as the man wasn't dying, the people of Sodom were curious as to why he wasn't dying, and caught her in the act of showing kindness, took her before the judge, and the judgment was that she was tossed into the fire and burned to ashes. Stuff like that. Their evil was not -just- that they did things, men-with-men. (Ro1:27) But they were worse than wild beasts in terms of normal human civility.

"for [Lot], dwelling among them, his righteous soul was tormented from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds" (2Pt2:8)

And so God calls upon Israel's -memory- of what they had endured, and were now liberated from. Remember how bad you had it, and don't do the same thing to strangers that come into your territory. Remember: "love your neighbor as yourself" (Le19:18). As Jesus would say...

"As you would have men do to you, you also do likewise to them" (Lk6:31)

What does this mean for "welfare" the way it is typically run today? This law was for "widows and orphans". There had been a legitimate family unit, but the bread winner is dead. Is this God's license for today's slothful whores to sleep around, never get married, beget children by many different men; and the more children, the more 'benefits' the government will pay? In God's economy, earlier in the series we saw how promiscuity was to be eradicated by stoning. In God's economy there would not be the freeloading bitches. (please excuse the language. But a female dog is called a "bitch", and they often gad about with multiple males. These females are behaving like dogs. God's judgment is to those where "Outside are dogs" and "prostitutes" Re22:15) Since our current culture is run by Caesar, it is certainly a 'better' thing when the laws require "single mothers" to get training and work towards getting employment. The law on "gleaning" was so widows could go 'work' in the fields and gather their food.

They also had the tithe. (De14:27-29, 26:12) Notice, as you read these references, that this tithe was for the Levites (who were not given an inheritance/livelihood of land on which to grow crops because they were in service to God) -and- the poor. The tithe was one of the gifts to God for their system of 'welfare'. It was for those in legitimate need; not prostitutes, tramps and drunkards.

Paul said...

"If anyone does not desire to work, neither shall he eat." (2Th3:10)

But God also knows that there will always be the legitimately poor.

"For the needy will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, You shall open, to open your hand unto your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land." (De15:11 see also: Mt26:11)

"If you lend money to My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not lay interest on him" (vs25)

And in treating those in misfortune, who more than a blind person...

"Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road. And all the people shall say, Amen!" (De27:18)

"I will hear and give heed to their cry; and My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless...I will give heed, for I am gracious" (vs23-24,27)

"You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain, for Jehovah will not leave unpunished one who takes His name in vain" (20:7)

"You shall not curse God, nor curse a chief of your people" (22:28)

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Mt12:36)

"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is a debtor. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it is a debtor. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by Heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it." (Mt23:16-22)

"God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the Law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the Law?" (Ac23:3)

"I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people." (Ac23:5)

In what sorts of ways do people speak ill of (curse) God? If only, God would do X, Y or Z: as such, condemning how God is dealing with whatever the case is. Praying, Lord, Lord, Lord DO THIS THE WAY WE ARE DEMANDING OF YOU (because we have Jesus' 'resurrection power'): expecting God to hop-to to our will, as though He was the servant and we were the boss. God might have created the universe, but He did it through evolution, like the scientists say: doubting the Scriptures and as such, calling them lies and fairy-tales.

This passage says...

"You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me." (vs29)

"When you vow a vow unto Jehovah your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for Jehovah your God will seek to require it of you, and it would be sin in you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin in you. That which has gone forth from your lips you shall keep and do; that which you have voluntarily vowed unto Jehovah your God, what you have promised with your mouth." (De23:21-23, Ec5:4-5)

What do we give the Lord? The left-overs after we've first been satisfied? The small half? In order not to be committing murder, the firstborn of their children were redeemed. Samuel, on the other hand, being the firstborn was 'given' to God for service, and grew to become the prophet that annointed David king. But in farming culture, that firstborn animal was 'profit' and 'livelihood'. After the long growing seasons the firstfruits of the produce was (tasty) food to eat. The first of the corn, peas, and such are the most tender and sweetest. The first and best was to go to God, to His priests and their families.

Let's leave off preaching and go to meddlin' a moment. If you happen to be blessed enough to have a congregation or fellowship where you have a God fearing and Bible teaching pastor, what does he get? What goes into the offering plate? The -first- of your expenditures, or what's -left- after paying the bills?

Here God is exhorting Israel how they should give. Not cursing and giving are lumped together into the same thought. Did they obey?

"For I, Jehovah, change not. Therefore you sons of Jacob are not destroyed. From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says Jehovah of Hosts. But you say, In what way shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, How have we robbed You? In the tithe and the offering. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now with this, says Jehovah of Hosts, whether I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing until there is not enough room to store it." (Mal3:6-10)

"You offer defiled food on My altar, and say, In what way have we defiled You? By saying, The table of Jehovah is to be held in contempt. And if you offer the blind in sacrifice, is it not evil? And if you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Bring it now to your governor. Will he be pleased with you or receive you favorably? says Jehovah of Hosts." (Mal1:7-8)

"You shall be holy men unto Me"

"The firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of Jehovah your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk" (23:19)

"You shall not eat anything that dies of itself; you may give it to the sojourner who is within your gates, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people unto Jehovah your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk." (De14:21)

"If a bird’s nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; you shall let the mother go free, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days." (De22:6-7)

Although misguided by pagan demon-worship, the American Indians have good intentions when they "thank" the animal they are about to butcher, for giving its life and providing its meat to them. Their thanks should be to the Creator, God Most High, not the created thing. (Rom1:25)

In another couple lessons we'll see the standards for cleanliness. Eating animal flesh that died of itself (De14:21) or is "torn by beasts" (vs31) was forbidden. They might not have discovered microbes, nor had microscopes by which to see what was harmful, nor knew the source of sickness, but God knew. When He gave standards for cleanliness, it was also, by definition, standards of holiness and good health. Keeping separate from filth and disease. As God was making Israel into a holy nation, He also promised...

"I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought upon the Egyptians. For I am Jehovah who heals you." (Ex15:26)

"You shall not testify a witness of falsehood against your neighbor" (20:16)

"You shall not raise a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unjust witness" (23:1)

But as this passage goes on to describe, it is so much more than that. It is legalese for behavior in court, law suits, prosecution and persecution. It is a judicial standard.

When it says to "not RAISE a false report", that word "raise" suggests that things might otherwise be at peace, but a person is concocting and -creating- an incident. For what reason? It doesn't say. But the passage also speaks of "enemy" (vs4); not everybody gets along. And so, somebody who doesn't like another person finds some incident or item over which to create an accusation, the outcome of which they desire to inflict punishment upon the person they are falsely accusing.

When a person does such a thing, what is to be done?

"If a false witness rises up against any man to testify against him regarding apostasy, then both men in the controversy shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges who hold office in those days. And the judges shall investigate thoroughly, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother; thus you shall remove the evil from among you. And those who remain shall hear and fear, and thereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity: soul for soul, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." (De19:16-21)

"If a soul sins and has heard the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter; if he does not report it, he bears guilt." (Le5:1)

"You shall not have in your bag a stone and a stone weight, a great and small. You shall not have in your house an ephah and ephah, a large and small. You shall have perfect and just weight stones, a perfect and just ephah; that your days may be prolonged in the land which Jehovah your God is giving to you." (De25:13-15)

"Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death at the mouth of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death at the mouth of one witness. The hands of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. Thus you shall put away the evil from among you." (De17:6-7)

"One witness shall not rise up against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he sins; at the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." (De19:15)

"You shall not follow the majority in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after the majority to thrust aside justice" (23:2)

"And you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and perverts the words of the righteous" (23:8 De16:19)

This passage is about righteousness and justice. Doing what is "right". Not taking out personal vengeance on an enemy. Respect your neighbor's rights. As you do, he also stands before God. God gave you property, He also gave to your neighbor; even if he is your enemy. Don't move his landmark/fence. (De19:14)

Remember: "And as you would have men do to you, you also do likewise to them." (Lk6:31)

Jesus said this to Jews, who had as background these passages we are studying. Even if he is your enemy, are there certain things you would hope for from your enemy if you were in straights? Well then, do similarly for him if he is in a pickle.

So, the matter goes to court, and the judge issues a verdict. The judge's verdict stands. Supposing somebody wishes to challenge the judge and refuses to abide by the ruling? In this country they have what is called "contempt of court". I don't know the system; but do they not have temporary imprisonments. If a witness is refusing to answer questions, they might be hauled off to prison until they agree to testify; or this or that. Things were a bit more brutal in Israel...

"And the man who acts presumptuously to not heed the priest who is standing to serve there before Jehovah your God, or the judge, that man shall die. Thus you shall put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously." (De17:12-13)

What were the punishments? In prior lessons we observed Restitution: making right what had been wronged. In some cases the punishment was capital punishment. In other cases it might be stripes...

"If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie prostrate and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, by number. He may beat him forty times and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many stripes above these, and your brother be degraded in your eyes." (De25:1-3)

And of course, for whatever offense for which a person was punished, punishment was not commuted. One person was not punished for another's guilt.

"Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall the sons be put to death for their fathers; every man shall be put to death for his own sin." (De24:16)

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2Co5:10)

"Who are you to judge another’s servant? To HIS OWN MASTER HE STANDS OR FALLS. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand." (Ro14:4)

"The hands of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people..." (De17:7, 13:9)

"If a man is guilty of a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you have hung him on a tree, his corpse shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which Jehovah your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanging is accursed of God." (De21:22-23)

Now... just as justice is to be fair and truthful, it is also to be equitable. Don't treat one person one way, and another another. This passage speaks of differentiating between the "needy" (vs6) and "poor" (vs3) Supposing a person cannot afford a high-priced attorney who is skilled at twisting words and logic, and has a reputation for getting the guilty off scott-free. That's not how justice is to be meted out. It is to be based on the facts and truth.

Also, the law is the law for all people: the native as well as the foreigner. Just as the observance of Passover was the same for the foreigner as the native (Nu9:14), the matter of civil law was also the same...

"And if a stranger sojourns with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering by fire, a soothing aroma unto Jehovah, just as you do, so shall he do. One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a perpetual ordinance throughout your generations; as it is for you, so shall it be for the sojourner before Jehovah. ONE LAW AND ONE CUSTOM SHALL BE FOR YOU AND FOR THE STRANGER WHO SOJOURNS WITH YOU." (Nu15:14-16)

"Also you shall not oppress a sojourner, for you know the soul of a sojourner, because you were sojourners in the land of Egypt" (23:9)

"When you besiege a city many days, to make war against it to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them, if you can eat from them; do not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man, to be besieged by you? Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, to build siege works against the city making war with you, until it is subdued." (De20:19-20)

So, with this topic, is God going "green" here? Is He an environmentalist and promoting "sustainability"? "Save the forests" and all that stuff? Is God making sure there is 'food' to eat? ...for people and animals? I don't know. But one thing I notice with God's laws is that He made all living things to be "fruitful". Back in the first couple chapters of Genesis He mentions several times, for mankind, animals, plants....to "be fruitful", multiply and fill the earth. Whatever is edible from trees is their 'fruit'; their fruitfulness.

"When you build a new house, then you shall make a railing for your roof, that you may not bring blood upon your house if anyone falls from it." (De22:8)

"Take a head count of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male by head, from twenty years old and above; all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies." (Nu1:2-3)

On the other hand...

"Take a head count of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ house, from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, regarding the set apart, holy things" (Nu4:2-4)

"And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age..." (Lk3:23)

"not a new convert, that he not be puffed up with pride and fall into the same condemnation as the devil" (1Ti3:6)

"When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war nor leave for any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring gladness to his wife whom he has taken." (De24:5, 20:5-7)

Now, as I recall the history of this nation, there was an era when this nation's morality -began- to descend to eventually become what we see today. Those days were called the "Roaring 20s" They came on the heels of "The Great War", WWI. The jazz, parties and dancing. Servicemen during times of war find entertainment where they can, and they come home with the same mentality. Dancing with swapping of partners. When the girl's new husband is off to war, but she is at a party, she meets up with some other man whom she enjoys dancing with. Same with her husband overseas. So men and women are meeting each other, mixing it up, getting married, getting divorced because while he was away, she was playing; or while he was away he met somebody. And then, after WW2 was the 50s and the introduction of Rock-n-Roll and everything that has come about since then. Both of these phenomena, on the heels of major wars. When military personnel go to war, by its very nature, it splits families up: either temporarily until they come home, or permanently through divorce or death. Again... God's design is "fruitfulness". If a couple get married, and get separated immediately, that is the opposite of God's design.

OK...so, we picked on "warfare". The passage also addresses leaving for business. Don't get married with the idea that one is immediately going to be far away for business. Either get married and stay put, get married and move together so you can be together... or, don't get married. Marriage is about "cleaving" to each other (Ge2:24, Mk10:7, Eph5:31); not forming a union and then splitting up right away. A husband and wife are supposed to be -together-.

Marriage is a picture of the Believer's relationship with Jesus Christ. (Eph5:23) Jesus does not save us and then take off and leave us stranded. Certainly He went to Heaven with the promise to "come again and receive [us] to [Himself]" (Jn14:3) But through the indwelling sealing Holy Spirit of promise (Rom8:9, Eph1:13) He fulfills the promise, "By no means will I ever leave you nor ever forsake you." (Heb13:5b) Even though we don't see Him right now (1Pt1:8), we know His presence through the Holy Spirit. (Jn16:13-15)

"to make a distinction between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Jehovah has spoken to them by the hand of Moses." (Le10:10-11, 11:47, 14:57)

"Her priests have violated My Law and defiled My holy things; they have not divided between the holy and profane, nor have they declared between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them." (Ezk22:26)

Israel was a -theocracy-. In theory, -God- was supposed to be their -King-. But as we see from the Ezekiel passage, and as the rest of the Bible and History inform us, Israel was not faithful to God. They did not obey his laws and statutes, and... suffered the consequences. The things in this series about "no other gods" and about "treating God" were to Israel, the theocracy. Modern nations might not adhere to them, seeing as how they typically espouse -religious- "freedom"; Caesar allows his subjects to worship -any- god/s they choose. And of course, in their denial of the Most High, they often suffer the consequences, as He brings periodic judgment upon them for rejecting their Creator.

God's laws to Israel included both the Civil and Levitical aspects. We have tried to limit this series to the "civil". The levitical included various -ceremonial- dippings, sacrificing of animals, dipping of blood, anointing of oils, burning of incense, washing under running water; all prescribed according to the specific topic. Things which the writer of Hebrews says, "which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience" (Heb9:9) Our eternal standing before God is not based on the physical rituals, but the -heart-.

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." (Rom2:28-29)

Fish with scales could be eaten, but if they did not have scales they were not to be eaten. A non-scaled fish that immediately comes to mind is the catfish/bullhead. These have a slimy smooth skin, and they are bottom-feeders. Now, in the midwest, around the Mississippi River regions, catfish is considered a delicacy. They even grow upwards of 4ft long, or more, and I've heard the tales of people trudging around in the shallows and physically picking them up, out of the water, to then butcher them for eating. Also, not without the incidents where the fish might have 'stuck' the person in the stomach with their barbs.

Science tells us that we -are- what we eat. If a person eats onions or garlic, their sweat and body odor can often smell like onions or garlic. You can tell what they've been eating, by what they smell like. After first growing up in Japan, and then living in the midwest, and then NDakota, I didn't much care for catfish and bullheads. They always tasted "slimy" to me. Same with duck. Duck bob their behinds up in the air, while with their beaks they go foraging around in the bottoms. Think about the eco-system. As pollution and debris washes into the water drainage system, the stuff the creatures above (in the clean water) discharge fall down into the bottom areas, where the catfish and ducks come along and forage. Same as pigs and dogs, compared to cattle and sheep, that feed on above-ground grass. Some of the carrion birds in the 'unclean' list are birds that eat dead animals. Why are they dead? What -disease- did they die of? Or even if not a disease, how long have they been dead, and what microbes are now growing in the rotting flesh, which the bird also eats. Just like -we- are what we eat, so are the animals we eat...they are what they eat. If they were feeding on unclean, diseased and rotting substance; and then we come along and eat them; we, in turn, are eating of disease and rot. And a couple lessons ago we observed God promising Israel -not- to have all the diseases of Egypt. Part of that was accomplished by Israel eating "clean" foods.

I don't know enough about the birth process to understand everything God commanded there. Nor why a mother would be "unclean" longer when giving birth to a daughter, than when giving birth to a son.

But some of the rest makes 'sense' with modern medical understanding. Certain rashes you don't scratch lest it spread. Open sores that are oozing another person doesn't want to touch, lest they catch it. There is lots of washing to wash away the infection. When a person has had a condition that discharges into the clothing, the clothing is washed. These are things that make sense to us. But ancient peoples did not understand the connections. God taught them to Israel. And even if they didn't understand, if they obeyed, they could remain healthy. When Miriam was punished with leprosy, God uses an example of spitting. Today they have PSAs to teach people to cough/sneeze into their elbows, and to wash their hands after being in public. Something that is making the news recently is the matter of how much fecal matter is found on things like shopping carts. People don't wash; they put their babies in the carts with dirty diapers; it sticks to the carts, and others come along and handle them. The Japanese have a national tradition that I don't recall hearing about from any other nation: If somebody has a cold, they wear surgical-like masks over their nose and mouth, to contain their own cold germs. Sometimes, even healthy people will wear them to keep from catching whatever might be floating around in the air during the cold and flu season.

We think nothing of it, we have toilets. But God even gave a directive about when doing certain bodily functions, to take a spade and dig it into the ground and cover it.

"and you shall have a spade among your tools, and when you sit outside, you shall dig with it and turn over and cover your excrement." (De23:13)

In Israel, if somebody had a severely communicable disease like leprosy, they were "unclean" and would take up residence "outside the camp" (Nu5:2-4) away from the general population. Don't -contaminate- what is clean with what is unclean. If you've just cleaned/windexed a window or mirror, you don't keep it clean by -touching- it with dirty hands. The clean mirror will -never- make the dirty hands clean; nor will the dirty hands -ever- clean a mirror.

This business of physical cleanliness not only keeps people -physically- healthy, but is a type/picture of how we should conduct ourselves spiritually. The writer says...

"For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.... Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." (Heb13:11-13)

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE to embrace the ways of apostasy, and not become infected. Just as with Israel, they did not keep the unclean out; when a Church congregation refuses to keep the apostates and unsaved 'out' of the assembly, they will NEVER (IT IS NOT POSSIBLE) clean-up the unclean that are in their midst. But the unclean -WILL- tarnish their holiness.

In the days of the boy-king Joash, Jehoiada the priest set about to restore holiness, and it says...

"And he stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of Jehovah, so that no one who was in any way unclean could enter." (2Ch23:19)

Paul says...

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole SPIRIT, SOUL, and BODY be preserved BLAMELESS at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1Th5:23)

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1Co6:19) Does not a holy God deserve a -clean- temple! Our souls are our personhoods which either obey or disobey God. Our souls are what make our bodies -do- whatever it is that others see. And our spirits are that which knows God.

These "civil" laws cover more than worldly human civil laws do because they are given to God's people. God's standards are higher than satan's. That's why they cover the SPIRIT: "no other gods" SOUL: servants, treating people, behavioral issues BODY: sexual, cleanliness, etc. The reason the world's civil law continues to fail is because it is minus God. They think their strength is that they are tolerant of all religions. But they do so at the rejection of their Creator. They cannot possibly succeed without God and His holy standards, and His Salvation.

Spirit, Soul and Body... -BLAMELESS- before God.

"looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Tit2:13)

And "..we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him PURIFIES HIMSELF, just as He is pure" (1Jn3:2-3)

"...just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Eph5:25-27)