Lending Law

Deuteronomy 23:19-20

“Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” (Deuteronomy 23:19-20)

Although the modern usage of the word refers to charging exorbitant rates of interest, the historical meaning was of any rate.   Poor people are often forced to borrow because they have no reserves, and high interest rates make them even poorer.  Leviticus 25:35-37 commanded, “And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.  Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.  Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.”  

God warned that there will always be poor people, and interest free loans was a major part of the Jewish welfare system to help the poor get back on their feet.  Given as a loan rather than a gift, the assistance did not destroy the recipient’s self esteem like handouts do.  Under Jewish law, a person who didn’t pay his bills could be sold as a bond servant for up to seven years so there was little risk of losing ones money, even for a Jew from another tribe or community, and God promised to bless the efforts to help others.   Loans to people from other countries were less sure of recovery and interest was allowed on them to compensate for taking the risk.

On the other hand, Proverbs 28:8 warns, “He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.”  Taking advantage of a poor person by charging them interest or paying less than a fair price for their belongings will result in God taking it away to give to those who will be fair.

Scientific laws such as the Newton’s Law of Gravity explain certain natural principles of the physical world.  They cannot be successfully ignored, even by a society that has no formal science.   The most primitive societies learn to live according to those scientific laws, even though they may not be able to explain why.  In a similar way, The Old Testament Law states certain principles that cannot be safely ignored.  Societies succeed only to the degree they follow those principles, whether they understand them or not.
 The current mortgage crisis is a direct result of financial institutions and individuals trying to take unfair advantage.  The principles have not changed.  It ought not surprise us when ignoring God’s principles turns out badly.


Promises to God
Deuteronomy 23:21-23

“When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.  But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.  That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.” (Deuteronomy 23:21-23)

In Judges 11, Jephthah was chosen to lead Israel against the Ammonites.  In the excitement and stress of the moment just before the battle, he promised that if they won the battle, he would sacrifice the first thing that came to meet him to God.  They won the battle and his only daughter was the first one to meet him.  Judges 11:35 describes his reaction.  “And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.”  Once the commitment was made, it must not be broken for any reason.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 goes into more detail.  “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.  Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?”  

How many young people have been convinced by some youth pastor or evangelist to commit to being a preacher or missionary, or how many adults have made a financial commitment they couldn’t afford because of excitement or peer pressure and been unable or unwilling to fulfill it.  “I didn’t realize what it would require” is no excuse for failing to keep the promise.  There was nothing wrong with not making the promise, but it is sin not to keep it.  Preachers who pressure people to make such commitments are causing people to sin and will be held accountable.


Other People’s Crops
Deuteronomy 23:24-25

“When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.  When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.” (Deuteronomy 23:24-25)

Passing a loaded fruit tree or a strawberry patch it is very tempting to pop some in your mouth.  A person was not to be considered stealing for giving in to such a temptation, even though they might eat several.   Placing them in a container to take home or using reaping tools to get more implied it was not a matter of simply yielding to a momentary desire, but a deliberate intention to take advantage, and was forbidden.  This closely relates to the provision for the needy,supplying for those who are traveling.

Restrictions on joining the Nation of Israel

Deuteronomy 23:1-8

“He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 23:1)

The law promised that if Israel would keep God’s commands, “There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land:” in Exodus 23:26.  A person who had had his sex organs removed or injured could not reproduce, making his wife unable to have children as well and forcing God to break his promise or miraculously intervene.

“A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 23:2) 

A bastard is the product of a couple having sex but not becoming husband and wife.  Sex was not to be treated as a form of recreation.  Adultery and whoredom were to be punished by death as was a rapist.  A child born as a result of such sin was not to be executed, but he and his descendants were to be excluded from full membership in the nation, even ten generations in the future.  Promiscuous sex had serious consequences even for future generations.

“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.  Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.   Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever. ” (Deuteronomy 23:3-6)

Both Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and thus relatives of Israel. God had promised their land to them because, despite Lot’s sin, he was related to Abraham and a man of God.  In Deuteronomy 2:9, Moses said, “ And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.”

Ignoring or not believing God’s promise, the Ammonites turned on Israel rather than encouraging them on their way to where God was sending them, even trying to invoke God’s curse on them by Balaam, and then getting them involved in sin.  As a result, their men were never to be adopted into the nation of Israel, and Israel was never to try to help them out.  The old saying, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you“ implies that the way you treat others is the way you wish to be treated..  They were to treat the Ammonites and Moabites as they had treated them.

The women of Moab and Ammon had little to do with the men’s decision to turn on Israel, and were not excluded, with Ruth, a Moabite woman being adopted into the nation of Israel and becoming one of Jesus’ earthly ancestors.

One of the states of present day Jordan, Amman, is the ancient land of Ammon, and the enmity toward Israel persists to the present day.

“Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.  The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.” (Deuteronomy 23:7-8)

The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s(Israel’s) brother.  They were even more closely related to Israel than the Moabites and Ammonites, while they didn’t welcome them, they had not tried to destroy Israel either.  Egypt had allowed Israel to move freely into their land in Joseph’s day, enabling them to survive, although they later enslaved them.  Israel was not to hate them, and the grandson of an Edomite or Egyptian man could be considered a full fledged part of Israel, even though he was not full blooded Jewish.


The Standards Are Not To Be Changed For Those In Military Service 
Deuteronomy 23:9-14

“When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.” (Deuteronomy 23:9)

Prostitution and drunkeness seem almost expected of military personnel on leave, and cities with military bases cater to the debauchery.  God’s people were not to permit such activity, but were to maintain the same moral and health standards at all times.

“If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp: But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.” (Deuteronomy 23:10-11)

Discharge from a sore or wound or ejaculation carried the potential for disease and made one unclean, as we see from Leviticus 15:31-32.  “Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.  This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;” The same standard of uncleanness and purification was demanded in the military camp as in the regular cities.

“Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad: And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee: For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.” (Deuteronomy 23:12-14) 

There was to be a designated latrine area anytime they were camped.  A paddle or shovel blade was to be on the back of their spears so that when they needed to relieve themselves in the field they could bury it, preventing the spread of disease, minimizing the odor and not spoiling the view.

On visitation, I visited a family who was into drugs and alcohol.  They lived in an old house that still had an outhouse, and when the indoor plumbing quit they didn’t bother to fix it.  It wasn’t long before they decided it was too far to the outhouse, so began relieving themselves where ever was convenient.  Police officers have described similar situations, and children are often removed from such homes to protect their health.  God forbade such a lifestyle, even in a temporary situation.


Escaped Servants or Slaves
Deuteronomy 23:15

“Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.” (Deuteronomy 23:15-16)

Under the law, people could be sold as bond servants to pay debts, and outsiders could be held as slaves.  If the service was so cruel or demanding that the servant or slave found it necessary to run away, He was not to be forced to go back but was to be given the opportunity to make it on his own.  It was the employer or owner’s responsibility to make things good enough they didn’t leave.


Sodomy and Prostitution Forbidden
Deuteronomy 23:17-18

“There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.  Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 23:17-18) 

Today there is a great deal of emphasis on “safe sex”.   Promiscuity, and especially prostitution exposes one to whatever diseases any other sexual partners may have had.  Sodomy, or anal sex exposes both partners to any disease organisms that may be present in the intestines or colon, not just sexually transmitted diseases.  This prohibition was more effective at preventing disease than our safe sex programs.

God had forbidden such activity, and bringing part of the wages for it as a sacrifice amounted to mocking God’s command.  It was an abomination.  Dogs are promiscuous, breeding whenever they can, and buying them was essentially rewarding someone for their promiscuity.  The money was not acceptable to God.

Sexual Relationships Between Family Members

Deuteronomy 22:30

“A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.” (Deuteronomy 22:30)

The Old Testament is a very practical system for living a prosperous and happy life.  The principles it lays out are still applicable to modern life, although we are often told they have no relevance today.  Sexual relationships with relatives have two potentially serious risks.

Those who work with livestock are usually aware of the consequences of inbreeding.  A gene that when combined with other genes may produce a highly desirable trait, but when duplicated in both the father and mothers DNA nay result in serious genetic problems.  Dwarfism is common among inbred Herford cattle, Hip problems are common among collies, and mental problems are common among Pitbulls and Poodles.  Similar problems are seen in small closely knit groups which are concerned with retaining their cultural identity or purity.  It is shocking to study the mental and physical decline of European royalty because they would not allow marriage to outsiders.  Leviticus 18:6-13 give specific instructions to minimize this danger.

“None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. 

The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.  The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. 

The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. 

The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.  The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister; for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.” (Leviticus 18:6-13) 

Conflicts arise in any relationship, and sexual relationships are especially vulnerable to jealousy and emotional damage.  Psychologists tell us that losing a mate is as traumatic as having a limb cut off, which is one reason why adultery was such a serious offense.  It is compounded when it is with the mate of a close relative. These dangers are very real in the above situations, and may destroy family relationships, but the same risk involves those who are only connected by relationship to another person.  Leviticus 18:14-18 deals with these situations.

“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. 

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness. 

Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.” (Leviticus 18:14-18)

Close association can lead to temptation unless one makes a definite decision not to get involved.  Getting involved forces the family to take sides and does great emotional harm to everyone involved.  Guilty parties were to be cut off from the people, either excluded or executed.

Pre-Marital Sex

Deuteronomy 22:13-21

 “If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.” (Deuteronomy 22:13-17) 

Sometimes a couple find themselves dissatisfied when they come together in marriage, and this is especially likely in situations where the marriage is undertaken without the couple getting to know each other before hand, as in people who met on the internet or arranged marriages.  Accusations of having played around before marriage often arise in such cases.  Even in modern American society where “pre-marital” sex is considered the norm, suspicion causes a lot of conflict.

While it is difficult to prove whether a guy is a virgin or not, it was not hard to prove a about a woman since God provided a seal to protect her from infection during her childhood.  Breaking that seal, the hymen would produce some bleeding and vaginal fluid which would show up on the sheets.  If the guy accused his wife of not being a virgin, her parents could prove it was a lie by simply bringing the spotted sheet as proof of her virginity.

“And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him; And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.” (Deuteronomy 22:18-19) 

If it could be proven the man had lied about his wife, he was to be taken out and punished, usually by whipping, then fined a hundred shekels or fifty six ounces of silver.  In 2012 prices that would amount to about a thousand six hundred dollars which wass given to the girl’s parents for damage to her reputation.  The man would be forced to support her as his wife for the rest of his life.

“But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.” (Deuteronomy 22:20-21)

If it turned out that the girl was not a virgin and they could not produce the proof, then the girl was to be taken out and stoned to death because she had indulged in “pre-marital” sex and the guy’s complaint was valid.  She was guilty of adultery with the man that married her, and involved him in adultery unknowingly.  If the guy already knew that she was not a virgin, he would have no valid claim against her.

Several years ago a Bible college professor told a group of the college girls that if they had indulged in pre marital sex, God would forgive them and they must never let their husband know as he would be unable to forgive them.  It is my opinion, and I think scripture supports it, that it would be better to be upfront and allow him to decide than to lie to him.  Sooner or later the lie, or the resulting guilt will affect the relationship even though God has forgiven the sex act.


Dealing with Adultery
Deuteronomy 22:22-24

“If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.” (Deuteronomy 22:22)

If a man was found having sex with a woman married to another man it was adultery and both the man and woman were to be executed.  In the story of the woman taken in adultery in John 8, the Pharisees were violating God’s command in bringing the woman and not the man to be executed.  Both were guilty and God is no respecter of persons.  Both were to be stoned because both were guilty even though society tends to excuse men.  According to Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”  The same rules apply to both.

“If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.” (Deuteronomy 22:23-24)

In the case of an individual who was engaged but had not yet been married, if they voluntarily had sex with another person, they were to be executed for adultery because of the emotional damage such behavior causes.  Modern day bachelor parties are not a good thing.

Rape
Deuteronomy 22:25-27

“But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.”(Deuteronomy 22:25-27)

The determining factor as to whether sex was consensual or not was whether the woman cried out for help.  Ancient cities were very quiet compared to modern ones.  It is amazing how noisy even a quiet car is.  In ancient cities, a woman calling for help was almost certain to be heard, so if no one heard her, it was to be assumed she was a willing participant.  If she was in place where no one would be likely to hear her, it was to be assumed she called for help and no one could hear, and it was to be considered rape.  If the woman was married or engaged, the rapist was to be executed for adultery, but the woman was to be considered just as innocent as the victim in an unprovoked murder.

UnMarried Sex
Deuteronomy 22:28-29

“If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.” (Deuteronomy 22:28-29) 

If a man had sex with a girl who wasn’t married or engaged, he had to take her as his wife, whether he raped her or not.  He was required to give her folks fifty shekels or about twenty eight ounces of silver for not having asked their permission and support her as his wife for the rest of his life with no possibility of divorce.  It didn’t matter whether she got pregnant or not.  The parents had the right to refuse to let her live with him if they so chose, according to Exodus 22:16-17.  “And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.”

Matthew 19:5-6 stresses that marriage is an act of God and man has no authority over it.  “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”  I Corinthians 6:16 makes it clear that God uses the mechanism of sex to cause that bonding.  “What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.”  

Preachers and churches which refuse to allow couples to get married because of premarital sex are replacing God’s word with man’s tradition, just as Jesus accused the Pharisees in Matthew 15 and Mark 7.

Responsibility For Other’s Property

Deuteronomy 22:1-4

“Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.  And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.  In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother's, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.

Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.” (Deuteronomy 22:1-44)

There was to be a sense of responsibility to protect each others property.  If another’s property was found, it was to be returned to it’s owner if possible.  If the owner was not known, the property was to be kept for the owner, whether livestock or some inanimate property.  A person was not to act as if they had not seen the thing regardless of the loss of ones time. Or energy in recovering the object or animal.  There was to be no “finders keepers.”


Distinction of Sexes
Deuteronomy 22:5

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 22:5)

This verse has often been used to forbid women wearing trousers, claiming that they are man’s apparel.  Such a stance ignores the fact that men’s apparel in that day was a robe.  The breeches described for the priests were an undergarment and were not standard men’s clothing either.  While both men and women wore robes, they were obviously different, and the verse actually refers to men and women wearing clothing that distinguishes between sexes.  It is just as much an abomination for a man to dress as a woman as for a woman to dress as a man.

Today it is common for men to try to pass themselves off as women, to dress in drag, and it is not unusual for women to pose as men, to be “butch”, and especially in homosexual circles.  This is what the verse is referring to as an abomination.  Over the years, I have observed that some of those most opposed to women wearing pants have dressed as women to participate in a skit for teenagers or have been involved in homosexual activity.   I suspect their stance was just a smokescreen for their own sin.


Ecological protection
Deuteronomy 22:6-7

“If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.” (Deuteronomy 22:6-7) 

While one was free to eat birds, one was not to wipe out even an entire family,  They were to leave survivors who could reproduce so the bloodline would not be lost.  Preserving the different species would result in God’s blessing on the nation of Israel.   One of the benefits would be an ongoing source of food.   It is closely related to God’s command to Adam in Genesis 2:15.  “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”   God made man responsible for caring for the environment.

Unfortunately many ecologists overlook the other side of God’s command in Genesis 9:1-5.  “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man."

While man was to protect the wildlife, he was also permitted to eat them.  Animals which killed man were to be killed, as were people who killed people.  Man’s life was to be sacrosanct.  The ecologist who wishes to forbid all killing of animals and the person who sets out to wipe out a species are equally in sin.  There is to be a balance.

Protection Of Employees
Deuteronomy 22:8

 "When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.” (Deuteronomy 22:8)

A railing or parapet was to be provided to prevent  workers falling from the roof of a building.  The owner would be held liable if someone was injured or killed as a result of neglect of such and obvious danger.  While most jurisdictions today do not require such a railing, the owner or employer is still liable for someone falling from a roof.  OSHA requires that safety measures be in place to prevent such a fall.

Ensuring Quality And Viability Of Seed
Deuteronomy 22:9

 “Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.” (Deuteronomy 22:9)

Sowing similar crops such as melons, and squash in close proximity can result in cross pollination and hybridization.   This results in a loss of the distinctive features of the various crops and sometimes in sterile plants.  Isolating the various crops would ensure maintenance of seed quality,  Modern seed producers use the same principle to ensure quality of the seeds they produce.


Unequal Combinations Were to Be Avoided
Deuteronomy 22:10-11

“Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.” (Deuteronomy 22:10)

An ox is several times as strong as a donkey, but quite a bit slower.  The result is that in plowing or heavy pulling, both animals are overtaxed, with the donkey being forced to work beyond his strength, while the ox pulls more than his share of the load. It is not fair to either one.

“Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.” (Deuteronomy 22:11) 

Wool has a great wicking and water and heat holding properties.  Linen more readily loses both heat and water.  When mixed together, the person was more likely to sweat which would then be retained by the wool, leading to the linen rotting.  Lower temperatures in the north eastern United States reduced the problems of using linsey woolsey cloth for winter clothing,   It wasn’t satisfactory in the southern states, however.


Garments Were To Be Fringed
Deuteronomy 22:12

“Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.” (Deuteronomy 22:12)

Edges of their garments were to be fringed.  This ensured the cloth would not unravel, but the primary purpose seems to have been to distinguish them from other groups, as a hem or tape would have served the same purpose.

Unsolved Murders

Deuteronomy 21:1-9

“If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him: Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain: And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke; And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley: And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried: And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.  Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 21:1-9)

Israel would not be able to solve every murder or accidental death.  In such cases the administration of the city having jurisdiction over the crime scene was take an houng cow who had never been used and kill her as a sacrifice to God in a unfarmed valley, where they will stand before God, with the priests standing as judges.  The administrators were there to wash their hands, indicating they had no part in the person’s death while stating that as a fact and asking God to forgive the people of the city for being unable to punish the guilty party.

If this procedure was followed, God would not hold the city accountable for letting an innocent man be killed without penalty.  God would honor their effort to do what was right.


Treatment of a Captive Woman
Deuteronomy 21:10-14

“When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife; Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.” (Deuteronomy 21:10-13) 

Sexual attraction is not limited to members of the same race or culture.  While God forbade the Jews marrying the Canaanite people because of the probability of being led into idolatry and false religion, the prohibition was not universal.  They were free to marry women of races they had conquered, but they were not to rape or take advantage of those women’s being captives.  They were to respect her grief over the loss of her family, allowing her to grieve naturally.  Once the grieving was over they were allowed to take her as their wife with all the rights and privileges of a wife, not as a captive or slave.

“And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.” (Deuteronomy 21:14)

All marriages have points of conflict but interracial and inter cultural marriages have built in conflicts.  If the marriage wasn’t satisfactory, they could separate, but the wife was to be allowed to go as a free woman.  The husband could not return her to slavery or make a profit off her after sexual relations with her.  While divorce is never the preferred choice, there are times when it is the only option.  I Corinthians 7:10-11 make it clear that while it is not to be lightly undertaken, it is not absolutely forbidden.  It does not free one to marry someone else.  Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:9 both stress that is adultery.

In both England and early America, slave women were sometimes viewed as sex slaves and used accordingly.  Under God’s law such practices were absolutely forbidden.


Heirs
Deuteronomy 21:15-17

"If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.” (Deuteronomy 21:15-17)

Contrary to what many believe, polygamy is never forbidden in the Bible, in either the Old or New Testament, although it is clearly discouraged, and a man who desires to lead a church is forbidden to have more than one wife.  If he doesn’t control himself in that area, he isn’t qualified to teach others how they should live.

The first born child usually doesn’t have to compete for his parents attention like younger siblings, but he often ends up taking undue responsibility for them, and thus deserves a little more than the others.  If a man had more than one wife, and favored one over the other, he would tend to favor her children as well.  The man could not ignore the efforts of the eldest if he were the child of the least liked wife, but was to give him a double portion as the one who took on those responsibilities.  Unlike many other cultures, everything did not automatically accrue to the oldest son.

 
Parents Responsibility for Children
Deuteronomy 21:18-21

“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.  And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) 

People were to take responsibility for their livestock and pets, and they were to take responsibility for their children’s behavior.  If a child living at home refused to listen to his parents, after every effort to correct his behavior, they were to publicly accuse him before the elders of the city, to be executed for his rebelliousness.  This was a serious indictment of the parenting skills of the parents and would result in every effort to correct the behavior, but some children, and teenagers refuse to obey.  Executing such a one relieved the parents of responsibility for damage he might do and ensured that he would not influence others to act the same way.

How much would our juvenile crime level be reduced if the parents were held accountable for their failure to properly teach their underage children?


Punishment Is To End when Finished 
Deuteronomy 21:22-23

“And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

Many cultures have left executed bodies on public display to try to discourage others from committing the same crimes.  Far too often the result is desensitizing to suffering of others instead.  God said that leaving the body on display would lead to the land being defiled.  People forget what the crime was and only remember the penalty.

In our day grounding or forbidding a child to participate in and activity is often used as punishment.  Unfortunately the child soon forgets the crime and only remembers the punishment.  Before long he becomes rebellious, feeling he is being unfairly punished, and further misbehavior results.  A punishment which makes it clear the behavior is unacceptable then ends is far more effective.

Military Service

Deuteronomy 20:1-9

“When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 20:1)

There are always problems and conflicts in life.  Even with God’s blessings, there were from time to time going to be battles to be fought and difficulties to overcome.  They would at times face much better equipped armies and seemingly insurmountable odds.  They were not to allow themselves to be intimidated by the opposition.  The same God which destroyed the Egyptian army in the Red Sea was still with them and had not lost his power.  We have the same God, and as I John 4;4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”  When we allow ourselves to be intimidated, we ignore and deny who God is.

“And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy  20:2-4)

Every time they went into battle, they were to be reminded by the priests that God was the source of their victories, and not their human power.  Too often people get the idea it is their own efforts that produce the results.  Just a few weeks later Israel would have that demonstrated resoundingly by defeating the fortified city of Jericho, then being defeated at the unprotected village of Ai.  We need to be reminded to put our faith in the Lord.

“And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.  And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.  And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.” (Deuteronomy 20:5-7)

Most wars begin as a means of expanding power and prestige, rather than for the protection of the people, although it is usually portrayed a s being beneficial to them.  God forbade future kings from building up excessive military force in Deuteronomy 17, to minimize the problem.  Here he makes it clear the benefit of many is not to supersede the good of the individual.  A man who had built a new house or started a vineyard was not to be forced to forsake his projects or property to satisfy the desires of the majority.  After all, victory would mean little if attaining it meant losing the things one wished to protect.  Victory means little if there is nothing to go home to when the battle is over.

Deuteronomy 24:5 expands this even more in the case of a newly wed. “When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.”  Establishing a strong marriage requires a great deal of working together.  Working to obtain a college degree, or starting a new career, or service in the military with it’s attendant separation can prevent the development of a sound marriage relationship.  Clearly God considers a sound marriage more important than success in other areas.

"And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.  And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.” (Deuteronomy 20:8-9) 

No one was to be forced to fight.  In fact an effort was to be made send those who were afraid or weren’t committed to the fight home.  Their attitude might spread to others and cause a lack of commitment and focus.   Leaders were then to be selected from among those committed to the cause.  


Rules of Warfare
Deuteronomy 20:10-20

“When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.  And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.” (Deuteronomy 20:10-11) 

When Israel went up to war against a city, they were first to give and opportunity to surrender.  They were not to attack without warning.  If the people were willing to yield, they were to be treated a subject peoples, protected by and contributing to the nation.

“And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.  Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.” (Deuteronomy 20:12-15)

A city which refused to make a treaty was to be taken by force, when defeated every man who fought against them was to be executed.  Women and children were to be preserved and become Israel’s, as did all the property that was taken.  This was to be the treatment for those outside the area God had promised to Israel.

“But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 20:16-18) 

The land of Canaan was given to the Jews because of the wickedness of the people who occupied it.  It was not given them until the current occupants had exceeded the level of sin God would permit.  This was established in Genesis 15:16.  “But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”  Leviticus 18:24-25 warns Israel not to repeat the same mistakes.  “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.”

When the level of iniquity or deliberate sin reaches a certain point God will destroy the nation which has allowed the sin.  The Canaanite nations had exceeded that point and God would use the Jews to destroy them.  Centuries later, when the Jews reached a certain level of iniquity, God would use the Assyrians and the Babylonians to destroy Israel, but at this time they were doing what God commanded.  They were to completely destroy the Canaanites so they didn’t adopt the same attitudes and practices.  Nations which had not gone to such extreme wickedness were nto to be completely obliterated.

“When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an ax against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege: Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.” (Deuteronomy 20:19-20)

They were not to destroy long term infrastructure such as orchards for short term victory,  Even the battles were to be fought with long term planning.  After all, destroying necessary fruit trees to defeat a city would make it less habitable for many years.  Only trees and infrastructure which didn’t have long term effects were to be destroyed.