Deuteronomy 19:1-21 Cities of Refuge

 

Cities of Refuge

Deuteronomy 19:1-21      Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

When the Lord your God has cut off the nations whose land the Lord your God gives you & you [take over their land] & [live] in their cities & in their houses; you shall [set apart] 3 cities in the midst of the land, the Lord your God gives you to possess.

You shall prepare [roads for yourselves] & divide the [territory] of the land the Lord your God gives you into 3 parts, [so] every slayer may flee there. This is the case of the slayer, who may flee there.  [So] the case of the slayer, [who] flees [there,] may live: [whoever accidently] killed his neighbor & [didn’t hate] him in the past.

[Like] when a man goes into the [woods] with his neighbor to [cut] wood & [when trying] to cut down the tree, the [ax head slips off the handle & strikes] his neighbor & he [dies.] He shall flee to 1 of those cities & live.

Lest [while he’s angry,] the avenger of [bloodshed chases] the slayer & [overtakes] him, because the [distance] is long & [kills] him [when he wasn’t deserving] of death, [since] he hadn’t hated him in the past.

[Therefore,] I command you, saying, You shall separate 3 cities for you. If the Lord your God [enlarges] your [territory] & gives you all the land [like] He has sworn & promised to give to your [forefathers.]

If you shall keep & do all these commandments [that I give] you this day, to love the Lord your God & to [always] walk in His ways; then you shall add 3 more cities for you, [in addition to] these 3. [So,] innocent blood isn’t shed & no blood [is] upon you in your land [that] the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance.

But if any man [hates] his neighbor & lies in wait to [ambush] him & rises up against him & [strikes] him & mortally [wounds him] & he dies & [then] flees to 1 of these cities: then the elders of his city shall send for him [there] & deliver him to the avenger of blood, [so] he may die.

Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the guilt of innocent [bloodshed] from Israel, [so] it may go well with you. You may not remove your neighbor’s landmark, [put long ago to mark] your inheritance, in the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess.

[The testimony of] 1 witness shall not [count] against a man for any iniquity or sin [that he does.] At the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses, the matter shall be established.

If a false witness rises up to testify [a lie] against [a man,] then, both the men [who have a] controversy, shall stand before the Lord, the priests & the judges, [that exist] in those days.

The judges shall [diligently inquire] & if the witness [is] a false witness & has falsely testified against his brother; then you shall do to that [false witness what he wanted done to the person he was accusing.]

So, you shall put away the evil from among you. Those [who] remain shall hear & [be afraid, so from then on, no one commits] any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. [Matthew 38-40 You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye & a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, That you [don’t] resist evil: but [whoever] shall [strikes] you on your right cheek, turn to him the other, also. And if any man [sues] you & takes away your coat, let him have your cloke, also.]

Deuteronomy 18:1-22 Israelites Should Not Practice the Pagan Rituals of Other Nations

 

Israelites Should Not Practice the Pagan Rituals of Other Nations

Deuteronomy 18:1-22      Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

The priests, the Levites & all the tribe of Levi, shall have no [portion] nor inheritance with Israel. [Instead,] they shall eat the offerings [to] the Lord made by fire & [this is] his inheritance.

Therefore, they [won’t have any] inheritance [of land] among their brethren. The Lord is their inheritance, as He has said to them. This shall be the priest’s [portion] from the people, from [those who] offer a sacrifice, whether [it’s] an ox or sheep.

They shall give to the priest the shoulder, the [jaws & the stomach.] Also, they shall give to [the priest] the firstfruits of your [grain,] your wine, your oil & the first of your fleece [from] your sheep.

For the Lord your God has chosen him & his sons out of all your tribes, to stand to minister in the Name of the Lord forever.  If a Levite shall come from the place where he [lived within] Israel, where he [has temporarily stayed] & [desires to come] to the place the Lord shall choose, then he shall minister in the Name of the Lord his God, [like] all his brethren, the Levites do, [who] stand before the Lord.

They shall have [the same] portions to eat, [in addition to what comes from] the sale of his [inheritance.] When you [have] come into the land [that] the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to do [ay of] the abominations of those nations.

There shall not be found among you [anyone who makes] his son or daughter pass through fire, or uses divination, [observes] times, or [is] an enchanter, or a witch. [Deuteronomy 12:30-31 [Pay attention that you aren’t] snared by following them, after they [have] been destroyed from before you & that you [don’t inquire] after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? Even I will do the same [also.]

Thou shall not do so to the Lord your God. For they have done every abomination to their gods, [that] the Lord hates. For they have even burnt their sons & daughters in the fire to their gods.] Or [don’t be] a charmer, consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer, [one who talks to the dead.] For all [who] do these things are an abomination to the Lord & because of these abominations, the Lord your God [has driven these nations] out before you.

You shall be [blameless] before the Lord your God. For these nations which you [are to] possess, [paid attention to observers of times & diviners, [astrologers & fortune-tellers:]  but as for you, The Lord your God has not [allowed] you to do so.

*The Lord your God will raise up [for] you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brethren, like me & to Him you shall [pay attention] [Luke 7:14-16 And [Jesus] came & touched the [funeral stretcher] & [those who carried] him stood still. And [Jesus] said, Young man, I say to you, Arise. And he [who] was dead, sat up & began to speak. And [Jesus] delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all. And they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet [has] risen among us & that God has visited His people.]

According to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb [a.k.a. Mt. Sinai,] [on] the day of the assembly, saying, Don’t let me hear again the voice of the Lord my God & neither let me see this great fire anymore, [so] I don’t die. And the Lord said to me, [What they said is good.]

* I will raise up a Prophet [for] them, from among their brethren, like you & will put My words in His mouth; & He shall speak to them all [that] I shall command Him. [John 17:6-8 I have made Your name [apparent] to the men, [whom] You gave to Me, out of the world. They were Yours & You gave them to Me & they have kept Your Word. Now, they have known that all things, [whatever] You have given Me, are [from] You. For I have given to them, the words [that] You gave Me & they have received them & have known surely that I came out from You. And they have believed that You did send Me.]

* And it shall come to pass, that [whoever] will not [pay attention] to My words [that] He shall speak in My name, I will require [his life from] him. [Acts 3:23-25 And it shall [happen,] that every [person, who] will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. [Yet,] among the prophets from Samuel & those [who] followed after, as many as have spoken, have [also] foretold of these days. Unto you first, God having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, [by] turning everyone away from his iniquities.]

But a prophet [who presumes] to speak a word in My Name, [that I haven’t] commanded him to [say,] or [whoever] shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall even die.

If you say in your heart, How shall we know [if a prophecy isn’t from] the Lord? When a prophet [speaks] in the Name of the Lord [& it doesn’t happen or come true,] the Lord hasn’t spoken [that.]

But the prophet has spoken [without My authority.] You shall not be afraid of him. [Jeremiah 28:9 The prophet [who] prophesies of peace, when [what] the prophet [said happens,] then [it] shall be known, the Lord has truly sent [that] prophet.]

Deuteronomy 17:1-20 Consequences When an Israelite Worships False Gods

 

Consequences When an Israelite Worships False Gods

Deuteronomy 17:1-20      Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God any [bull] or sheep [that has any kind] of blemish [or defect]: for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.

If any man or woman is found within your gates [that] the Lord your God gives you & [has done] wickedness in the sight of the Lord your God, [by sinning against] His covenant [contract,]

And [they have] gone & served other gods & worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any [stars] of heaven, [that I have forbidden]; And you [are] told & [hear] of it & diligently [question] & find it [to be] true & certain, that [this] abomination [was done] in Israel:

Then, you shall bring that man or woman [who] committed this wicked thing into your gates & you shall stone them [to death.] At the [testimony] of 2 or 3 witnesses, shall [someone] worthy of death, be put to death, but [they] shall not be put to death by the [testimony] of 1 witness.

The hands of the witnesses shall be first on him to put him to death & afterwards the hands of all the people [of Israel.] So, you shall put the evil away from among you.

If a matter of controversy arises that is too [difficult] for you [to judge] within your gates, [regarding bloodshed, opposing pleas, lawsuits & assaults, go] to the place the Lord your God shall choose;

And you shall [go] to the priests, the Levites & to the judge, in those days & [inquire.] They shall [show] you the sentence for [justice.] You shall do according to the sentence they [show] you [at] the place the Lord [chooses] & do according to all that they [instruct] you.

You shall not decline to the right hand, nor the left [to do] the sentence they have [shown] you. The man [who presumes not to pay attention] to the priest [who ministers] there before the Lord your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die, [so] you put away evil from Israel.

And all the people shall hear & be afraid & no [longer disregard the priest or the judge this way.] When you come into the land [that] the Lord your God gives you & shall possess it & [live in] it & say, I will [put] a king over me like all the nations [around] me;

You shall [only put] a king, whom the Lord your God shall choose. One from among your [Israelite] brethren, shall you [put] as king over you. You may not [put] a stranger, [who isn’t] your [brethren.]

But [the king] shall not multiply horses [for] himself, nor cause the people [of Israel] to return to Egypt to [get more horses, since,] the Lord has said to you, You shall [not] return that way [any] more.] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, [so] his heart [isn’t led astray.]

Neither shall he multiply gold or silver to himself. It shall be, when [the king] sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write a copy of the law [for] him in a book [that] is before the priests, the Levites.

It shall be with him & he shall read [what’s in it] all the days of his life, [so] he may learn to fear [respect] the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law & these [mandates] & do them.

[So, the king’s] heart isn’t lifted up above his brethren & [so] he [isn’t led astray] from the commandment, to the right hand or the left. [So] he might prolong his life & his [children’s [lives] in his kingdom, in the midst of Israel.

Deuteronomy 16:1-22 Reminding the Israelites to Keep the Passover

 

Reminding the Israelites to Keep the Passover

Deuteronomy 16:1-22                           Deuteronomy [in Smaller Chunks]

[Moses tells the Israelites:] Observe the month of Abib & keep the Passover to the Lord your God, for in the month of Abib, the Lord your God brought [you] out of Egypt [at] night.

Therefore, you shall sacrifice the Passover to the Lord your God, [from] the flock & the herd, in the place where the Lord shall choose to [put] His Name there.

[You] shall not eat leavened bread with it. 7 days you shall eat unleavened bread [without yeast,] [which is] the bread of affliction, for [you came] out of Egypt in haste.

[You do this] [so,] you may remember the day when you [came] out of the land of Egypt, all the days of your life. There shall be no bread [with] leaven shall be seen in all [your territory,] for 7 days.

Neither shall any of the [meat] remain until morning [that] you sacrifice the 1st  day at [twilight.] You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates, [that] the Lord your God gives you.

But at the place [that] the Lord your God [chooses] to put His Name, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at [twilight, when] the sun [goes] down, [which is the time] you came out of Egypt.

You shall roast & eat it in the place the Lord shall choose & in the morning, you shall [return] & go into your tents. Six days you shall eat unleavened bread & on the 7th day, [there] shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God & you shall do no work [on it.]

You shall [count] 7 weeks [for yourself] from [the] time [you begin] to put the sickle to the [grain.] [Then,] you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God, with a tribute of a freewill offering [from] your hand.

You shall give to the Lord God, [the freewill offering,] according [to how] the Lord your God has blessed you. You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you, your son & daughter, your [male & female servants,] the [Levites] within your gates & the [strangers,] fatherless & [widows who] are among you.

[It shall be done] at the place [where] the Lord, your God has chosen to [put] His Name there. You shall remember that you [were a slave] in Egypt & you shall be [careful] to observe & do these [mandates.]

You shall observe the Feast of the Tabernacles 7 days after you have gathered in your [grain] & wine. You shall rejoice in [your] feast, you & your son & daughter & your [male & female servants,] the Levites within your gates & the [strangers,] fatherless & [widows who] are among your gates [& towns.]

Seven days you shall keep a solemn feast to the Lord your God in the place [that] the Lord shall choose, because the Lord your God shall bless you in all the increase of [your produce] & all the work of your hands.

Therefore, you shall rejoice. Three times a year, all the males shall appear before the Lord your God, in the place which He shall choose: [during] the Feast of Unleavened Bread; the Feast of Weeks & the Feast of Tabernacles & they shall not appear before the Lord empty [handed.]

Every man shall give, as he is able, according to [what] you [have] been given & [blessed with] by the Lord your God. You shall [appoint] officers in all your gates [of your towns, that] the Lord God [has given to] you throughout your tribes.

[These officers] shall judge the people with [fair] judgment. [You] shall not [divert justice, nor show partiality, to people, nor] take a [bribe,] for a [bribe] blinds] the eyes of the wise & [diverts] the words of the righteous. You shall follow [what] is [totally] just, [so] that [you] may live & inherit the land which the Lord your God [is giving to] you.

You shall not plant [for] you a grove of any trees, near to the altar, [that] you shall make [for] the Lord your God. Neither shall you set up any image, which the Lord your God hates.

[Leviticus 26:1 You shall make [yourself] no idols, nor [carved images,] neither [should] you [put] up a standing image. Neither shall you [put] up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it. For I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 15:1-23 Lend to the Poor

 

Lend to the Poor

Deuteronomy 15:1-23      Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

[After] the end of every [7th year,] you shall make a release [of debts.] This is the [way to make] the release: Every creditor [who lends] to his neighbor, shall [cancel the debt owed.]

He [mustn’t demand payment from] his neighbor [of his own people,] or his [family,] because it is called the Lord’s release. You may [require] payment from a foreigner, but you shall release your [fellow Israelites, from the debt.]

[Except] when there [aren’t any] poor among you. For the Lord will greatly bless you in the land [that] the Lord your God [gives to] you for an inheritance [for you] to possess.

Only [be] carefully [to pay attention] to the voice of the Lord your God & observe & do all these commandments [that] I [am giving] you this day. The Lord your God blesses you, [like] He promised you & you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. You shall [rule] over many nations, but they shall not [rule] over you.

If there are poor among your [fellow Israelites] within any of [your towns] in your land the Lord your God [gives] you, you shall not be [heartless] & close your hand from your poor brother. But you shall open your hand wide to him & you shall surely lend him [a] sufficient [amount] for his need [of] what he [wanted.]

[Be careful, so] there isn’t a wicked thought in your heart, saying, This is the 7th year, the year of [releasing the debts] is [soon.] And your eye is evil against your poor [Israelites] & you don’t give him [anything] & he [cries out] to the Lord against you & you are [guilty of] sin.

You shall surely give [to] him, [without holding a grudge in] your heart & the Lord your God shall bless you in all [that you do] & all you put your hand to. [There] shall never cease [to be] poor in the land, [so] I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide to your [fellow Israelites,] to your poor & your needy in your land.

If your brother, a Hebrew man or woman [is] sold to you & serves you 6 years; then you shall [set him free] from you in the 7th year. You shall not let him go away [empty-handed] from you. You shall [give] him [generously from] your flock, [& of your grain] & your winepress.

You shall give to him [from what] the Lord your God has blessed you.  Therefore I command you this day, you shall remember that you [once were] bondmen in the land of Egypt & the Lord your God redeemed you.

It shall be, if he [the bondman says] to you, I won’t go away from you, because he loves you & your [household] & he [has done] well with you. Then you shall [pierce] an awl through his ear into the door [as a sign] that he shall be your servant forever.

You shall do likewise to your maidservant. It [shouldn’t seem difficult for you to send] him away free from you, for he has been worth double [what would have been paid for] a hired servant [for] you, by serving you 6 years.

The Lord your God will bless you in all you [do.] All the [firstborn] male of your herds & flocks, you shall sanctify to the Lord your God. You shall not do [any] work with the [firstborn] of your [bulls,] nor shear the [firstborn] of your sheep.

[Every year] you & your household shall eat it before the Lord your God, in the place [that] the Lord shall choose. [If there’s] any blemish in [it,] if [it’s] lame or blind, or [has any deformity,] you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.

The clean & the unclean person shall eat it, [like the gazelle & the deer,] within your gates. Only you shall not eat [its] blood. You shall pour it upon the ground [like] water.

Deuteronomy 14:1-29 Not Eating Detestable Things

 

Not Eating Detestable Things

Deuteronomy 14:1-29      Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

You are the children of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves [or shave the front of your heads mourning for the dead.] For you are a holy people to the Lord your God.

The Lord has chosen you to be a [special,] holy people for Himself, the Lord your God, above all nations on the earth. You shall not eat any abominable thing.

These are the [animals] you may eat: the ox, sheep, goat, [deer, gazelle, roe deer,] wild goat, [antelope & mountain sheep.] You shall eat [any animal with hooves] divided into 2 AND chews the cud.

[Still,] if the animal you shall not eat [those] that [don’t] chew the cud, or [those] that [don’] divide the cloven hoof; [like the:] camel, [rabbit & the rock badger,] [because] they chew the cud, but [their hooves aren’t divided, so] they are unclean to you.

[You aren’t to eat the pig,] because [its] hoof is divided, [but it doesn’t] chew the cud. It is unclean to you & you shall not eat [its meat, or] touch [its] dead carcass.

You shall eat of all [these living] in the waters: that have [both] fins & scales. You may not eat [whatever doesn’t have] fins & scales. It is unclean to you.

You shall eat all clean birds, [except these] you shall not eat: the eagle & [every] kind [of:] vulture, kite & falcon, buzzard & raven, owl, [ostrich, sea gull] & any kind of hawk & cuckow.

[Any] kind [of] owl, swan, pelican, [carrion vulture,] cormorant, stork, [any] kind of heron, [plover] & bat. And every creeping thing that [flies] is unclean to you & shall not be eaten, but you shall eat of all clean [birds.]

You shall not eat anything that has died of itself. You shall give it to the stranger [within] your gates, [so] he may eat it. Or you may sell it to a [foreigner]: for you are a holy people to the Lord your God. You shall not [boil] a kid [goat] in [its] mother’s milk.

You shall [surely set aside a 1/10] tithe of all the [crops you harvest from your] field each year. You shall eat the tithe of your increase of [grain produced] year by year & your wine, oil, & [first born] of the herds & your flocks. And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place He shall choose to place His. Name, [so] you may learn to fear [respect] the Lord your God always.

If the [journey] to the place [where] the Lord [chooses] to put His Name is too long for you, so you are [unable] to carry [your tithe,] or if the place [is] too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, then you shall turn it into money.

[Tie] up the money in your hand & go to the place [that] the Lord your God shall choose. You shall [give] that money for [whatever you want:] oxen, sheep, wine, or strong drink, or whatever your [heart desires.]

You & your household shall eat there before the Lord your God & rejoice. You shall not [abandon] the Levite within your gate; for he has no [portion or] inheritance with you. At the end of 3 years, you shall bring all the [10%] tithe of increase [of your harvest] the same year & [store] it within your gates.

[This is for] the [Levites, who] (have no [portion or] inheritance with you) & the stranger, the fatherless & the widow within your gates, [who] shall come, & eat & be satisfied. [So] that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand that you [do.]

Deuteronomy 13:1-18 What to Do If Someone Tries to Lead You Astray

 

What to Do If Someone Tries to Lead You Astray

Deuteronomy 13:1-18      Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

If a prophet or a [person who tells] dreams [rises] among you & gives you a sign or a wonder & [they happen like he said] to you & [he says, Let’s] go after other gods, [that] you haven’t known & let’s serve them.

You shall not [listen] to that prophet or [teller] of dreams: for the Lord your God [tests] you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart & all your soul. You shall [follow] after the Lord your God & fear [respect] Him & keep His commandments & obey His voice.

You shall serve Him & [cling only to] Him. You shall put to death that prophet or [teller] of dreams, because he has spoken to [lead you astray] from the Lord your God.

[He] brought you out of the land of Egypt & redeemed you [from] the house of bondage. [They are trying to turn] you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to walk, so you shall [remove] the evil from the midst of you.

If your brother, your [mother’s] son, your son, your daughter, or the wife you [love,] or [your closest] friend, [who] is like your own soul, [tries to] entice you secretly, saying, [Let’s] go & serve other gods, [that] you nor your [forefathers haven’t] known, [especially] the gods the people [around] you, [either near or far,] from 1 end of the earth even to the other, you shall not [agree or listen] to him.

You shall stone him [to death] & not have pity on him & spare him or [hide] him. Your hand shall be first upon him to put him to death & then the hands of the people [Israelites, because he tried to lead you astray] from the Lord your God [Who] brought you from bondage, out of the land of Egypt.

All of Israel shall hear & [be afraid] & [shall no longer do] such wickedness as this among you.

If you hear in 1 of your cities [that] the Lord your God has given you to live, saying [that wicked men have] gone out from among you & have [seduced the city’s] inhabitants, saying, [Let’s] go & serve other gods, [that] we haven’t known, then you shall search, inquire, & diligently ask if it is [certainly true] that [this] abomination [has been done] among you.

You shall surely [strike] the [city’s] inhabitants with the edge of the sword, [totally] destroying all [in it, including its] cattle.

You shall gather to the [middle] of the street, all [its plunder] & with fire burn it [along] with the city & it shall be a heap forever. It shall not be [rebuilt] again.

Your [hands shall not cling to any] of the cursed [things to be burned, so] the Lord may turn from the fierceness of His anger & show you mercy & have compassion on you & multiply you like He [has] sworn to your [forefathers.]

[This will happen if] you [listen] to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep all His commandments & do [what] is right in the eyes of the Lord your God, [that] I command you this day.