Journal Through the Bible: Week 29 Monday

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Deuteronomy 21:1-22:12

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• If someone was found dead the judges of the people were to question the inhabitants of the nearby villages to see if they could determine who had killed the person. The elders of the city were to take a heifer into an unimproved valley and kill it. (See Genesis 15:9 and Numbers 19:1-22 for heifers killed for purification.) The elders of that town would swear an oath that the citizens had nothing to do with the death.
• A woman captive was to cut her nails and shave her head. She would be given new clothing and would be allowed to grieve her dead relatives for a month before becoming the wife of the man who held her captive. If the man did not wish to keep her as his wife he was to allow her to leave and settle wherever she desired. He was not allowed to keep her as a slave.
• Men who had multiple wives could not make the firstborn of a beloved wife the one that inherited the double portion over the true firstborn.
• Those who had riotous and drunkard sons that would not obey their parents even after correction and punishment were to deliver them to the elders of the city and have them put to death.
• Those who were hanged on a tree were to be taken down by nightfall and buried. They were accursed.
• Lost animals or other possessions were to be restored unto their owners once those owners could be determined.
• They could not turn away if they saw a neighbor needing help.
• Men and women were not to masquerade as one another by wearing each other's clothing.
• Mother birds and baby birds or eggs could not be taken at the same time. The young could be taken but the mother bird was to be left.
• Protective railings were to be built around the rooftops of houses.
• Seeds were not to be hybridized.
• Plowing could not be done with an ox and donkey together.
• Their garments were to have fringe upon their hems.

Does God make any promises?

• Taking only the eggs or baby birds but leaving the mother brought a promise of prolonging their days.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Hebrews 9:13, 14 says that the blood of the heifer was for purification but that it is Jesus' blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness
• Rebellious sons were the antithesis of Jesus, the Holy One who always obeyed His father and did His will. 
• Jesus was hung on a tree. He was accursed of God.
• Jesus expanded the command to help a neighbor with the story of the Good Samaritan. 

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I saw.