LOOKING AFTER OTHER PEOPLE'S LOST BELONGINGS (DEUTERONOMY 22:1). The principle behind this regulation was concern for one's neighbour, as revealed in looking after his lost belongings with a view to restoring them, and concern for covenant property. The latter concern came out more in the original... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING ALWAYS READY TO GIVE ASSISTANCE (DEUTERONOMY 22:4). Deuteronomy 22:4 ‘ You shall not see your brother's ass or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely help him to lift them up again.' Where someone was seen to be in need of assistance with regard to his... [ Continue Reading ]
CROSS DRESSING IS FORBIDDEN (DEUTERONOMY 22:5). Deuteronomy 22:5 ‘ A woman shall not wear what pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh your God.' Cross dressing is strictly forbidden. It may well be that such behaviour... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL MUST AVOID ALL THAT IS UNSEEMLY (DEUTERONOMY 22:5) Israel was to avoid all that was unseemly. That had applied with regard to what living things could be eaten (Deuteronomy 14:3). Now it applies to dressing transexually (Deuteronomy 22:5), to dealings with nature (Deuteronomy 22:6), and to m... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKING BOTH A BIRD AND ITS YOUNG OR EGGS IS FORBIDDEN (DEUTERONOMY 22:6). Here what was seemly with regard to nature is in mind. Man was able to look on nature as a provider, but was not to treat it with disregard. Rather he should receive all with gratitude and watch over the provider. Compare the... [ Continue Reading ]
ANY ROOF MUST HAVE A PROTECTING PARAPET TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM FALLING (DEUTERONOMY 22:8). Here the idea was of thoughtfulness of the dangers we can put others in by carelessness with regard to safety. The roof would be a flat one that people would entertain on. Sometimes therefore they might be a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NON-MIXING OF UNLIKE THINGS (DEUTERONOMY 22:9). Unlike things should not be put together as no one could have any idea how they would finally react (compare Leviticus 19:19). By dealing with things individually many problems could be avoided. There is probably underlying this the idea of respec... [ Continue Reading ]
A FRINGE ON THE ROBE (DEUTERONOMY 22:12). In Numbers 15:37 special tassels were to be a distinctive mark of the Israelite, and were to remind him of Yahweh's commandments. Here that requirement is simply demanded without explanation. In Numbers it was part of the nation's dedication to Yahweh. Deu... [ Continue Reading ]
VARIOUS SEXUAL CRIMES (DEUTERONOMY 22:13). The Protection Of A Woman's Reputation (Deuteronomy 22:13). The rather sad message behind this regulation was that all parents should retain proof of their daughter's virginity, because some men were so evil that they might use her supposed lack of virgi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PENALTY FOR ADULTERY (DEUTERONOMY 22:22). The accusation of the young woman, which was connected with possible adultery, now led on to an overall condemnation of adultery. Deuteronomy 22:22 ‘ If a man be found lying with a woman who is married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, t... [ Continue Reading ]
DEALING WITH SEXUAL MISBEHAVIOUR (DEUTERONOMY 22:22). Various aspect of sexual misbehaviour are dealt with in this passage with the most heinous at the beginning and the end. Analysis using the words of Moses. a If a man be found lying with a woman who is married to a husband, then they shall bot... [ Continue Reading ]
DEALING WITH THE RAPE OF A BETROTHED WOMAN (DEUTERONOMY 22:25). Deuteronomy 22:25 ‘ But if the man find the young woman who is betrothed in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die, but to the young woman you shall do nothing. There is in th... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN MUST MARRY PERMANENTLY A VIRGIN WHOM HE HAS INTERCOURSE WITH (DEUTERONOMY 22:28) Deuteronomy 22:28 ‘ If a man find a young woman who is a of marriageable age, who is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the you... [ Continue Reading ]
A SON MUST NOT MAKE LOVE TO HIS FATHER'S WIFE (DEUTERONOMY 22:30) Deuteronomy 22:30 ‘ A man shall not take his father's wife, and shall not uncover his father's skirt.' The short section on sexual misdemeanour ends with the worse possible case, that of a man taking his father's wife, (probably no... [ Continue Reading ]