Deuteronomy 26:1-19 First fruits of the Promised Land to the Priest

 

First Fruits of the Promised Land to the Priest

Deuteronomy 26:1-19     Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

When you come [into] the land [that] the Lord your God gives you to possess & [live in it,] for an inheritance, it shall be, that you take [some] of the first of all the fruit [you produce] in your land that the Lord your God gives to you & put it in a basket.

[You] shall go to the place [where] the Lord your God shall choose to [put] His Name there. You shall go to the priest, [serving] in those days & say to him, I [declare] this day to the Lord your God, that I [have] come [into] the country [that] the Lord [swore] to our [forefathers] to give us.

The priest shall take the basket [from] your [hands] & set it down before the altar of the Lord your God. You shall say before the Lord your God, My father was a Syrian ready to perish & he went down into Egypt & [temporarily stayed] there with a few & became a great, mighty, populous nation there.

The Egyptians [treated] us [wickedly,] afflicted us & laid [heavy] bondage upon us. When we cried [out] to the Lord God of our [forefathers,] the Lord heard our voice & [saw] our affliction, labor & our oppression.

The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand & an outstretched arm, with [terrible & awesome] signs & wonders. The [Lord God] has brought us to this place & has given us this land, even a land that [flows] with milk & honey.

Now, [look,] I have brought the first fruits of the land, [that,] You, O Lord, have given me. You shall [put] it before the Lord your God & worship before the Lord your God. You shall rejoice in every good thing [that] the Lord your God has given to you & to your house & to the Levite & the stranger among you.

[After you finish making your 3rd annual 10%] tithe of the increase of your [produce,] in the third year, which is the year of tithing & have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless & the widow, [so] they may eat within your gates & be filled;

Then, you shall say before the Lord your God, I have brought the [sacred portion] out of [my] house & I have also given them to the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless & to the widow, according to all You commanded me.

I [haven’t sinned] against Your commandments, [nor] have I forgotten them. In my mourning, I haven’t eaten [of them, nor] have I taken away [any] for an unclean use, nor given [any of it] for the dead. But I have [paid attention] to the voice of the Lord my God & have done according to all You [have] commanded me.

Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven & bless Your people, Israel & the land [that] You have given us, [like] You [swore] to our [forefathers.] A land that flows with milk & honey.

The Lord your God has commanded you to do these [mandates] & judgments this day. Therefore, you shall keep & do them with all your heart & with all your soul.

[Today] you have declared that the Lord is your God & you will walk in His ways & keep His statutes, commandments, [His rules] & [pay attention] to His voice.

The Lord has [declared] to you this day, [that you are] His [special] people, [like] He has promised you & that you shall keep all His commandments; And [He will] make you high above all the nations He has made; in praise, name & honor. [So] that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, as He has [said.]

Deuteronomy 25:1-19 The Duty of a Deceased Man’s Brother

 

The Duty of a Deceased Man’s Brother

Deuteronomy 25:1-19     Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

If there [is] a controversy between men & they come to [court,] [so] the judges may judge them, then [the judges shall] justify the righteous & condemn the wicked.

If the wicked man [is] worthy [of a beating,] the judge shall [have him lay] down & he will be beaten, a certain number [of times, in front of the judge,] according to his [crime.]

He may not exceed 40 stripes. If he [beats] him [with more stripes than this,] then his [Israelite brother] will seem [repulsive] to you. You shall not [put a muzzle on] the ox when he [tramples down] the corn.

If [brothers] live together & 1 [dies without a] child, [his widow] shall not marry [outside the family] to a stranger. Her husband’s brother [shall be intimate] with her & take her [for his] wife & perform the duty of a [deceased] husband’s brother to her.

It shall be, that the firstborn she bears shall [carry the name of the deceased brother, so] his name [isn’t] put out of Israel. If the [the brother of the deceased man, doesn’t want] to take his brother’s wife, go to the gate of the elders & say,

My husband’s brother refuses to raise up to his [dead] brother a name [for him] in Israel & won’t perform the duty of my husband’s brother.  Then, the elders of his city shall call him & [say] to him & if he [stands firm in not taking] her & [says,] I [don’t want] to take her;

then his brother’s [widow] shall come to him in the presence of the elders & [loosen] his shoe from off his foot & spit in his face & shall say, So it shall be done to [the] man [who won’t] build up his [deceased] brother’s house. In Israel, his name shall be called, The house of him [who had] his shoe [loosened.]

When men are fighting with [each other] & the wife [comes] near to deliver her husband [from the man who hits] him & takes [him by his private parts] with her hand, then her hand shall [be] cut off & you shall not pity her.

You shall not have a bag with [dishonest weights,] some [heavier] & some [lighter.] But you shall have a perfect & [fair] weight & a perfect & [fair] measure, [so] your days are lengthened, in the land the Lord your God gives [to] you. For all [who have dishonest weights] are an [detestable] to the Lord your God.

Remember what Amalek did to you by the [road,] when you [came out] of Egypt. How he met you by the [road] & [attacked even all who] were feeble, faint & [tired who straggled behind.] He [didn’t] fear [respect] God.

It shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies [around your] land, which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance to possess it, you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget it.

Deuteronomy 24:1-22 The Lord God Wants the Israelites to Take Care of the Needy

 

The Lord God Wants the Israelites to Take Care of the Needy

Deuteronomy 24:1-22     Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

When a man has taken & married a wife & it [happens] that she [becomes displeasing to him,] because he has found some uncleanness in her: then, let him write her a [certificate of divorce] & [put] it in her hand & send her out of his house. When she has departed from his house, she may go & be another man’s wife.

If the [new] husband [hates] her & gives her a [certificate of divorce] in her hand & sends her out of his house; or if the [new] husband dies, her [first] husband [who] sent her away, may not take her to be his wife again, after [she’s been] defiled.

For that is an abomination before the Lord. You shall not cause the land to sin, [that] the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance. When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, [nor] be [in] charge [of] any business.

But he shall be free [of these responsibilities & be] at home for 1 year, [so he] shall cheer up his wife which he has taken.

No man shall take the lower or the upper millstone [property marker] as a pledge [as collateral for a loan.] For he takes [away] a man’s [livelihood with that] pledge.

If a man is found [kidnapping fellow Israelites] & [treats them like slaves or] sells [them;] then that thief shall die & you shall put away evil from among you.

If [there’s] a plague of Leprosy, [pay attention & carefully] observe & do all the priests, the Levites, shall teach you. As I commanded them, you shall observe & do so. Remember what the Lord your God did to Miraiam by the [road,] after you [had] come out of Egypt.

[Numbers 12:8-10 With [Moses] l will speak [with My] mouth, [visible, face to face] & not in dark speeches. And he shall [see] the [image] of the Lord. [Therefore] then, [why] weren't you afraid to speak against My servant, Moses? And the anger of the Lord [grew] against them & He departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle & behold, Miriam was leperous.]

When you lend anything to your brother, you shall not go into his house to [get] his [collateral.] You shall stand [outside] & the man you [made the loan to] shall bring the pledge [outside] to you.

If the man [is] poor, you shall not sleep with his pledge [collateral of clothing.] In any case, you shall [give] him the pledge again at [sunset, so] he may sleep in his own [clothing] & bless you. You shall be [considered righteous] before the Lord your God.

You shall not oppress [take advantage of] a hired servant [who] is poor & needy, whether he is [an Israelite] or a stranger within your gates [of] your land. You shall give him his [wages on the same day he worked before sunset;]

For he is poor & [depends] on it: lest he cry [out] against you to the Lord & [it's considered] a sin to you.

The fathers shall not be put to death for the [sins of] the children. Neither shall the children be put to death for the [sins of] the fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

You shall not [divert] the [justice] of the stranger [or] the fatherless. Nor [shall you] take a widow’s [clothing as a] pledge [collateral.] But you shall remember that you [were in bondage] in Egypt & the Lord your God redeemed you [from there.] Therefore, I command you to do this thing.

When you cut down your harvest in your field & [have forgotten a] sheaf [of grain] in the field, [don’t go back & get it.] It shall be for the stranger, the fatherless & the widow: [so] the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

When you [beat] your olive tree [with a stick] you shall not go through the [branches] again. It shall be for the stranger, the fatherless & for the widow.

When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, shall not glean [collect the grapes] afterward. It shall be for the stranger, the fatherless & the widow. You shall remember that you [were in bondage] in the land of Egypt. Therefore, I command you to do this thing.

Deuteronomy 23:1-25 Who Can Not Enter the Congregation of the Lord

 

Who Can Not Enter the Congregation of the Lord

Deuteronomy 23:1-25     Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

[No man with crushed or severed genitals may] enter the congregation of the Lord. [An illegitimate person] shall not enter the congregation of the Lord, [even until] the 10th generation.

An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord, [not until] the 10th generation, [but] forever, because they [didn’t meet] you with bread & water in the [road,] when you came out of Egypt.

[Also,] because they hired Balaam, [Beor’s] son, [from] Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. [Still] the Lord your God [wouldn’t listen] to Balaam. But the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing [for] you, because the Lord your God loved you.

You shall not seek their peace [or] prosperity all your days, forever. You shall not [hate] an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not [hate] an Egyptian; because you were a stranger in his land. The 3rd generation of children [born to] them shall enter into the congregation of the Lord.

When the [army] goes [out] against your enemies, [avoid] every wicked thing. [A man who has a nocturnal emission shall go outside] the camp. He shall wash himself at [twilight the next day] & may return to camp at [sundown.]

You shall have a place [outside] the camp & use the paddle on your weapon [like a shovel when you go to the bathroom & cover it up.] For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to [protect you & deliver] your enemies before you. Therefore, your camp shall be holy, [so God doesn’t] see [any] unclean thing & turn away from you.

You shall not deliver an escaped servant to his master. He shall [stay] with you, even among you, in the place he shall choose [that he] likes best [within] your gates. You shall not oppress him.

There shall be no [unfaithful harlot] of the daughters of Israel, [or] sodomite of the sons of Israel. You shall not bring the [earnings from any prostitution,] or the price of a dog into the house of the Lord your God [to pay for your] vow, because these are [detestable] to the Lord your God.

[Don’t charge interest on loans] to your brother; [whether] they are loans for money, [food] or anything [else that would’ve earned interest.]

You may [charge] interest on [loans to] strangers, but not your brother, [so] the Lord your God may bless you in all that you [put] your hand to in the land where you go to possess it.

When you shall [make] a vow to the Lord your God, [don’t be slow in repaying] it. For the Lord your God will surely require it [from] you & you would be [guilty of sin.]

But, if you [refrain] from [making] a vow, no sin shall be in you. [Whatever you utter from your mouth you must do,] even a freewill offering, [because] you have vowed & you promised [freely] to the Lord your God with your [own] mouth.

When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may then eat the grapes [you want,] but you shall not put any in your [container.]

When you come into your neighbor’s standing corn, you may then pluck the ears [of corn] with your hand, but you shall not [use] a sickle [to cut] your neighbor’s standing corn.

Deuteronomy 22:1-30 A Variety of Rules for the Israelites

 

A Variety of Rules for the Israelites

Deuteronomy 22:1-30     Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

You shall not [watch] your brother’s ox or sheep go astray & hide yourself from them. You shall bring them [back] to your brother again. If your [Israelite] brother [isn’t close] to you, or you [don’] know him, then you shall bring it to your own house.

It shall be with you until your brother [looks for] it & you shall restore it to him again. [You shall do the same] with his [mule, clothing, or] all lost [things] of your brother’s, [that] you have found. You shall do [the same] & you may not hide yourself.

You shall not see your brother’s [mule] or ox fall down by the [road] & hide yourself from them. You shall surely help to lift them up again. The woman shall not wear what pertains to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s [clothing.] For all who do so are [detestable] to the Lord your God.

If a bird's nest is in a tree [happens] to be [in front of] you by the [road] in any tree or on the ground, whether they are young [birds,] eggs, or the [mother] is sitting on the young, or upon the eggs, you shall not take the [mother] with the young. You shall let the [mother] go & take the young for yourself, [so] that it may be well with you & you prolong your [life.]

When you build a new house, you shall make a [railing around the edge of your flat] roof, so you [don’t bring bloodshed] upon your house, if any man falls from [there.] [Don’t plant different kinds] of seed in your vineyard, lest the fruit [from] your seed that you have sown & the fruit of your vineyard [are] defiled.

You shall not plow with [both] an ox & a [mule] together. You shall not wear [clothing] of [different] sorts [of materials, like] wool & linen together. You shall make [tassels] upon the 4 [corners of your outer garment, used to] cover yourself.

If any many [marries] a wife & [is intimate with her & dislikes] her & [accuses her of not being an innocent maiden,] then her father & mother shall bring the [proof of her being an innocent maiden] to the elders of the city [at] the gate.

[Her] father shall say to the elders, I gave my daughter to this man to [marry] & he [dislikes] her & [has accused her,] saying, he [didn’t find her an innocent maiden] & these are the [proof] of my daughter’s [innocence.] They shall spread the cloth [of proof] before the elders of the city & the elders shall take that man & [punish] him.

They shall [fine] him 100 shekels of silver & give them to the father of the. [maiden,] because he brought a [bad] name upon [an innocent maiden] of Israel. She shall be his wife & [he can’t divorce] her all his [life.]

But if [it’s] true & the [proof isn’t] found for the [maiden,] then, they shall bring the [maiden] to the door of her father’s house & the men of her city shall stone her [to death,] because she has [committed an outrage] in Israel, [by being intimate with someone else.] You shall put evil away from among you.

If a man [is] found lying [intimately] with a married woman, then both of them shall die, [so] you put evil [out] of Israel. If an [engaged maiden] & a man finds her in a city & lies with her [intimately,] then you shall bring them both to the gate of that city & you shall stone them [to death.]

The [maiden,] because she [didn’t cry out while] being in a city. The man, because he has [violated another man’s wife, so] you shall put evil away from among you.

But if a man finds an [engaged maiden] in the field & [forces her to be intimate,] then only the man [who] lay with her shall die. But you shall do nothing to the [maiden, because she didn’t do any] sin worthy of death. For this matter is [like] when a man [attacks his neighbor & kills him.]

For he found the [maiden] in the field & [engaged maiden] cried [out] & there was [no one] to save her. If a man [finds an innocent maiden, who isn’t engaged & grabs her & lies] with her [intimately & they are] found.

Then, the man, [who] lay with her shall give the [maiden’s] father 50 shekels of silver & she shall be his wife, because he has humbled her. He may not [divorce] her, all [his life.] A man shall not [marry] his father’s wife. [He must not uncover] his father’s [bedshirt.]

Deuteronomy 21:1-23 Solving Murders

 

Solving Murders

Deuteronomy 21:1-23      Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

If [someone] is found [dead,] lying in the field of the land [that] the Lord your God gives you to possess & [it’s] not known who [killed] him: Then your elders & judges shall come [out] & measure to the [closest] cities around [the dead person.]

Then the elders of the [closet] city to the [killed] man, shall take a heifer that has [never worked or worn] a yoke & bring it down to a valley [that hasn’t been plowed or planted] with. The elders shall bring down the heifer into a valley, [that hasn’t been planted or harvested] & cut off the heifer’s neck there in the valley.

The priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to Him & to bless the Name of the Lord. By their word every controversy & [assault] shall be tried.

All the elders of the city [nearest] to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley. They shall say, Our hands haven’t shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it [happen.]

O Lord, be merciful to your people, Israel, whom You have redeemed. [Don’t hold the shedding of innocent blood against them.] And the [bloodshed shall be atoned for.] So you shall [take] away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when you shall do [what] is right in the sight of the Lord.

When you [go out] to war against your enemies & the Lord your God has delivered them into your hands & you have taken them captive & [you] see among the captives a beautiful woman & have [desires for] her to [be] your wife;

Then, you shall bring her home to your house. She shall shave her head & [cut] her nails. She shall [take] off the [clothing] of her captivity & remain in your house & [mourn for] her father & mother a full month.

After that, you [may be intimate with] her & be her husband. She shall be your wife. [If you aren’t pleased with] her, then, you shall let her go [wherever] she wants, but you shall not sell her or [treat her like a slave,] because you have humbled her.

If a man has 2 wives, 1 beloved & the [other] hated & they both have [bore] him [sons] & the firstborn son is [from the wife] that was hated: Then it shall be, when he makes his sons inherit [what] he has, he may not [give a larger inheritance to] the son of the beloved [wife, as if he were the] firstborn.

But he shall acknowledge the son of the [wife] he hated [as] the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For [the firstborn] is the beginning of all his strength & the [rights] of the firstborn [are] his.

If a man has a rebellious & stubborn son, [who won’t] obey the voice of his father or mother & [after] they have [punished] him, he still won’t [listen] to them, then his mother & father shall [take] hold of him & bring him to the elders at the gate of the city [to be judged.]

They shall say to the city elders, This is our stubborn & rebellious son. He won’t obey our voice. He is a glutton & a drunkard. All the men of the city shall [stone him to death,] so you shall put away [the] evil from among you.

All [of] Israel shall hear & be [afraid.] If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, he [is] to be put to death, you shall hang him on a tree. His body shall not remain on the tree all night, but you shall bury him that day.

* (For he [who] is hanged on a tree is accursed of God;) that your land [isn’t] defiled, [that] the Lord your God gives you [as] an inheritance. [John 19:16-18 Then [Pilate] delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus & led Him away. And He bearing His [wooden] cross, went [out] into a place called The Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew: Golgotha; where they crucified Him & 2 [others] with Him, on either side one & Jesus in the [middle.]

Deuteronomy 20:1-20 When Going to Battle…

 

When Going to Battle…

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

When you go out to battle against your enemies & see more horses, chariots & people than you [have, don’t] be afraid of them. For the Lord your God, [Who] brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

It shall be, when you are [near] the battle, the priest shall [come] & speak to the people & say to them, Hear, O Israel, you are [going] into battle this day against your enemies. [Don’t be afraid, nor] be faint [hearted.]

Don’t tremble [or] be terrified because of them. For the Lord your God goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. The officers shall say to the people, [Are there any men who] have built a new house & haven’t dedicated it? Let him go & return to his house, lest he die in battle & another man [dedicates] it.

[Are there any men who] have planted a vineyard & haven’t eaten of it? Let him go & return to his house, lest he die in the battle & another man [eats] of [his vineyard.]

[Are there any men who are engaged to] a wife? Let him go & return to his house, lest he die in battle & another man [take] her. The officers shall further & say to the people [of Israel, Are there any men who] are fearful & faint hearted? Let him go & return to his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint, as well as his heart.

When the officers [finish] speaking to the people, they shall make captains of the [army] to lead the people. When you come close to the city to fight against it, then [declare] peace to it.

If they [accept] & answer [in] peace & open [their gates,] all the people found there shall be [tributary servants & shall work for] you. If [they] won’t make peace with you, then you shall [attack] it. When the Lord your God has delivered it into your hands, you shall [strike] every male with the edge of the sword.

But [all] the women, [children, livestock] & all that is in the city [including the plunder,] you shall take [for] yourself. You shall eat the [plunder] of your enemies, [that] the Lord your God has given you.

You shall do [this] to all the cities [that] are far [from] you & aren’t cities of these nations. But the cities of these people, [that] the Lord your God gives you [as] an inheritance, nothing that breathes shall [be saved] alive.

You shall [totally] destroy them: the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, & the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded you. [So] they don’t teach you all their abominations they have done to their gods; [in case] you should sin against the Lord your God.

When you [attack] a city & the war [takes] a long time, you shall not destroy [its] trees [with an ax,] because you may eat [from] them. You shall not cut them down, (for a tree of the field is man’s life) to [use] them in the [battle.]

You shall only cut down & destroy the trees you know [aren’t used for food.] You shall build a [wall of defense] against the city that makes war with you, until it [is defeated.]