Deuteronomy 29

This book is starting to draw to a close, and we have a recap today of the covenant and the brief history of the Exodus. It looks like the covenant is expanded a bit as well, and futher warnings are given against straying and worshiping other gods. There isn't much to say beyond that.

Deuteronomy 28

Wow. That is all I can say after reading this chapter. The first paragraph's blessings, which the Israelites will enjoy if they obey God's commands, are very pleasant to read - but then it turns to horror. The rest of the section, which is quite long, contains vivid and terrifying descriptions of what would happen if they turned from God and His laws. I suspect, from my memory of later Israelite history, that some of these predictions came true. I will be on the lookout for fulfillment of them later in the Old Testament, and I may even go do some reading up on that now.

Deuteronomy 27

We are indeed back into more of a narrative here, though not a lot is happening (just Moses giving more instructions for when the Israelites will cross into the promised land). The idea of half the Israelites standing to represent the blessings God put on them, and the other half standing to represent the curses that would fall on those who broke His laws seems a bit odd to me. The idea of writing the laws and commandments on stones atop a mountain is pretty cool, though; I wonder how long those stood. Are they perhaps still there somewhere?

Deuteronomy 26

This book is now starting to trend away from laws and back toward rules concerning offerings and tithes. We have a reiteration here of the command to bring the firstfruits of all the produce and livestock raised in the promised land to the Lord, as well as a reminder that the third year (of each seven year sequence, if I remember correctly) was to be donated to the poor and the Levites.

The chapter ends with a call to remember the Lord, and what He has commanded the Israelites. I suspect this marks a transition back to historical narrative, but we'll have to see tomorrow.

Deuteronomy 25

Same story as yesterday, and probably the day before that. The particular laws that stand out in this chapter are as follows:

- The law that a childless widow must marry her dead husband's brother and bear an heir for the deceased man. I think in the time of the Israelites family lines were more important than they are today, or at least more important than they are in my mind.


- The command to wipe out the Amalekites as retribution for their attacks on the Israelites during the Exodus. I don't actually remember the initial story of this happening, but I'll have to be on the lookout for its fulfillment.

*NOTE* - Somehow it looks like I forgot to hit "post" on this last night; I realized it when I looked today and saw that though I was read chapter 26 the last post was about 24. I'm posting it now, an appologize for any confusion!

Deuteronomy 24

It looks like this section of Deuteronomy is full of laws, and this chapter is no exception. The particular instructions that stand out to me here are as follows:

- Laws concerning divorce and remarriage; apparently divorce was allowed for some limited reasons, and remarriage to another person as well, but not marrying the person you were divorced from again

- The separation of a child and parent in terms of responsibility for sins; while God would punish or bless descendants for their ancestors' sins the Israelites were not to

- The concept that one should not be too thorough in harvesting; the leftovers were to be left for the poor in the community

Deuteronomy 23

More laws again today, focusing on purity in various aspects of Israelite life. The thing most interesting to me here was the laws concerning heritage: you couldn't partake in services at the tabernacle if you were within ten generations of someone born out of wedlock, or three generations of an Egyptian or Edomite. It seems odd to my modern sensibility to be punished for something done by ones ancestors, and in particular for the nationality of those people - but the only restriction for them seems to be this religious service; it isn't a just cause for discrimination in other areas of life.