Today started out discussing the tribe of Levi, and how they had no portion of land or inheritance with Israel. They had no private ownership of land. Towns and surrounding pasturelands were set aside for the use of the Levites, as were the tithes and parts of sacrifices.
They would have no inheritance among their brothers, as the Lord was their inheritance, as he promised them. They were fed through the offerings; and the priests were given the shoulder, two cheeks, and the stomach of an ox or sheep. They were also given the firstfruits of grain, wine, and oil; and the first fleece of sheep.
“For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time.”
Then it went on to explain the abominable, or detestable practices of the nations living in the land that the Lord was giving to the people of Israel. And what they could not do:
-Can not burn son or daughter as an offering
-No practicing divination, fortune telling, interpreting omens
-Can not be a sorcerer, charmer, medium, necromancer, or one who inquires with the dead.
Whoever did any of the listed things would be an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations, God was driving those nations out of the land before them. “You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.”
This is the second time at least, I have read about this topic and it makes me think. Does that mean we shouldn’t go to psychics or mediums?
What if you have the gift of clairvoyance or psychic abilities? What about my angel card readings? I thought because those were based around God and the angels they were alright? A lot of questions here…
Moving on, a new prophet like Moses would be coming. The general context of this section indicated that a series of prophets is meant. At Mount Horeb the people requested that Moses take the message from God and deliver it to them. But now that Moses is to leave them, he said that another spokesman would take his place, and then another would be necessary for the next generation. This is therefore a collective reference to the prophets who would follow.
The Lord said, “I will raise up for them, a prophet like you (Moses), from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.”
However, if the prophet presumed to speak a word in the Lord’s name, but the Lord did not tell him or spoke in the name of other gods; he shall die. If they questioned whether or not the Lord had spoken the words the prophet said, they would know by whether or not it came true. If it didn’t, then the prophet spoke presumptuously and they should not fear him.
Then it discussed the cities of refuge again. To briefly summarize that section: there were three cities set apart that a manslayer could flee to. By fleeing there, it could save his life from retaliation or revenge of the person killed. This was mainly only for accidents, while the case was decided.
If anyone purposely murdered someone and fled to one of the cities, the elders were to take that person and turn him over to the avenger of blood so he would die.
“Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you.”
It mentioned property boundaries and how one could not move their neighbor’s landmark stone. These were set by the men of old in the inheritance of the land that the Lord gave them to possess. Such stones were set up to indicate the perimeters of fields and landed estates. Moving them illegally to increase one’s own holdings was considered a serious crime.
It went on to discuss laws concerning witnesses. “A single witness would not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that has been committed. Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be established.” If a malicious person accused someone falsely, then the priests and judges would have to decide if the witness was false or not. If they were, then the consequence would be whatever that person was trying to do to the other falsely.
“So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
Today ended with discussing laws concerning warfare. When they went out to war against an enemy that was larger than them, they were not to be afraid; for the Lord was with them. When they got closer to the battle, the priest would speak to the people, saying,
‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies; let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
-Deuteronomy 20:3-4
Then the officers would speak giving them an option to go home; if they just built a house, if they planted a vineyard, if they had a betrothed wife, if they were scared. I’m not sure if they were actually allowed to go home, or that was a rhetorical “pep talk?”
The commanders were appointed at the head of the people. When they got close to a city, they were to offer terms of peace before they started fighting. If they responded peaceably and welcomed them in, then all the people who were found in it were to do forced labor and serve them.
If they didn’t make peace with them then they would go to war. When God had them win the battle, they were to kill all the males. The women and children, livestock, and everything else in the city would be taken as their spoils. They were to do this with all the cities far from there, that were not cities of the nation God was giving the people of Israel.
Those cities would be completely destroyed. “Not one thing alive that breathes would be saved.” They would have complete destruction so they could not teach them any of their abominable practices.
Lastly, they could not cut down any trees or harm them in war. They could eat from them, but could not cut them down. Only the trees they knew were not for food could be cut down for building.