Although Moses gave three speeches prior to Israel entering the land of Canaan, his second speech reminded Israel about the importance of God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 4:44-28:68). The first half of Moses’ second address instilled in Israel that obedience leads to blessing and disobedience leads to cursings (Deuteronomy 5-11). The second half of his speech would focus on instructions regarding worshiping properly (Deuteronomy 12:1-16:17), leading responsibly (Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22), maintaining orderly behavior in society (19:1-23:14), obeying various laws (Deuteronomy 23:15-25:19), and practicing tithes and firstfruits once entering the land (26:1-15). As Moses was closing out his second speech, he mentioned twenty laws which displayed the extent of obedience upon entering Canaan. Escaped slaves (23:15-16) were not to be mistreated or handed back over to their masters but rather they were to be given refuge among Israel. The Israelites were to have no association with temple prostitution (23:17-18) or bring anything associated with prostitution near the house of God. Temple prostitution was often a part of wicked, pagan worship. Interest (23:19-20) was not to be charged on anything borrowed or loaned to a fellow Israelite, although interest could be charged to a foreigner. Vows (23:21-23) made to the Lord were to be fulfilled quickly and anyone not fulfilling a vow would be guilty of sin. Sharing of one’s crops (23:24-25) was encouraged but no grapes or grain were permitted to be taken from the field. Divorce (24:1-4) was never viewed as a good thing, but a husband could divorce his wife if he discovered something indecent (the particular something is unknown) about her; however, if the woman remarries, her first husband cannot marry her again. Another law pertaining to marriage was that a newly married man could not be drafted into the army (24:5) since he needed a year to bring happiness to his wife. Since two millstones were needed to grind grain, one millstone could not be taken (24:6) to secure a loan because they provided a man’s livelihood. Kidnapping (24:7) was prohibited and the kidnapper was to be put to death. Skin diseases (24:8-9) were to be handled according to the instructions for the Levitical priests (see Leviticus 13-14 for details). If a poor borrower (24:10-13) offered a pledge secured with his cloak (used as a blanket at night), the lender was never to barge into the borrower’s home to take whatever he wanted as a pledge; furthermore, the lender was to return the cloak to the borrower that night so he would not be cold. A poor laborer (24:14-15) should be paid daily instead of weekly or monthly. Since he was living from day to day, he could not wait to be paid. The death penalty (24:16) was to be served by the one guilty of sin. No one should have to be put to death for the sins of another. Foreigners, orphans, and widows (24:17-22) were not to be forgotten and allowed to glean in fields during harvest. The prosecution of criminals (25:1-3) was to be carried out in front of the judges who were to ensure that the punishment was limited to 40 stripes. Working oxen (25:4) should not be muzzled but permitted to eat as they worked. Levirate marriage (25:5-10), the practice of a dead man’s unmarried brother marrying his childless widow in order to provide an heir, was to be observed or the brother would face humiliation by the elders of the city. If a woman tried to stop a fight (25:11-12) between her husband and another man by grabbing his testicles, her hand was to be cut off. This law was a protection of modesty and a man’s ability to reproduce. Accurate scales (25:13-16) were always to be used in business dealings. Honest weights prevented people from being cheated. Israel was to destroy the Amalekites (25:17-19) for their heartless attack on the weak and helpless after Israel had departed from Egypt (see Exodus 17:8-16 for background). After mentioning these twenty various laws, Moses then commanded them to observe two ceremonies once inhabiting and enjoying the harvest of the land: firstfruits offering (26:1-11) and the tithe in the third year (26:12-15; see Deuteronomy 14:22-29 for background). Celebrating these two rituals would cause Israel to remember God’s faithfulness in leading them into the land of Canaan.
Dear God, help me to see Your commands as boundaries to help me love You and love others.
