After reading chapter 28:
*First we have a reiteration of the necessity for obedience, then a list of blessings and cursings. If the Israelites obey Yahweh, they will recieve blessings in the form of abundant wealth, food, children, and defeat of enemies. They will become the top dogs in the land and the benefactors of other nations.
*If they do not obey, they will be cursed in every way, including lack of wealth, food, and children. They will contract many different diseases and health problems. There will be drought and famine. The Israelite's enemies will defeat them. They will go mad, be unsuccessful in every endeavor, and end up oppressed and robbed. Their brides to be will be violated before they can marry them. They will labor and build in vain. They will be ridiculed and become the lowest of the low.
*The cursings go on for some length and are very poetically detailed. At one point there is a quite gory description of the Israelite's descent into the depths of cannabalism. Not only cannabalism, but selfishly refusing to share the flesh of their children. How sorry can you get.
*Then, after all these horrendous cursings, the Israelites will be scattered among the nations and worship other gods. They will have sunk so low that they will be sent back to Egypt on ships and no one will even want to buy them as slaves. That's low.
*There you have it, the carrot and the stick, heaven and hell on earth, not in any invisible realms.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Deuteronomy chapter 26 and 27
After reading chapter 26:
*After they conquer the people who lived in the promised land first, and take over their property, and set up a place to worship Yahweh, the Israelites have to perform a ceremony of giving first fruits, to show Yahweh how grateful they are. The third year, they have to give the tithe to the Levites, foreigners, widows , and orphans. It is repeat info, but this time they are given specific phrases to declare.
*The chapter ends with yet another exhortation to obedience and more rhetoric about the Israelites being special snowflakes.
Chapter 27:
*Here we find a lot of redundant and superfluous phraseology telling the Israelites that after they enter the promised land they are to go up on Mount Ebal (fascinating info on Wikipedia) set up some stones, cover them with plaster, and write the words of the law on them. Then they are to build an altar of uncut stone, and have a big BBQ party (Sacrifice and feast.) After that, they are to divide up into specific tribes. Some tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses, the rest will stand on Mount Gerazim to pronounce blessings, as mentioned in previous scriptures. Now, however, the exact words for the cursings are given. After each curse, the people are to say, Amen!" The curses contain an odd collection of rules regarding conduct.
*After they conquer the people who lived in the promised land first, and take over their property, and set up a place to worship Yahweh, the Israelites have to perform a ceremony of giving first fruits, to show Yahweh how grateful they are. The third year, they have to give the tithe to the Levites, foreigners, widows , and orphans. It is repeat info, but this time they are given specific phrases to declare.
*The chapter ends with yet another exhortation to obedience and more rhetoric about the Israelites being special snowflakes.
Chapter 27:
*Here we find a lot of redundant and superfluous phraseology telling the Israelites that after they enter the promised land they are to go up on Mount Ebal (fascinating info on Wikipedia) set up some stones, cover them with plaster, and write the words of the law on them. Then they are to build an altar of uncut stone, and have a big BBQ party (Sacrifice and feast.) After that, they are to divide up into specific tribes. Some tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses, the rest will stand on Mount Gerazim to pronounce blessings, as mentioned in previous scriptures. Now, however, the exact words for the cursings are given. After each curse, the people are to say, Amen!" The curses contain an odd collection of rules regarding conduct.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Deuteronomy chapter 25
After reading chapter 25:
*More miscellaneous rules and laws:
-Disputes are taken to court where judges will decide a suitable number of lashes with a whip for the guilty party. No more than forty lashes, or the person may be degraded. (What does degraded mean in this context?)
-Let your ox eat some of the grain it is treading while it is working.
-A widow must not marry outside her husband's family. She has to marry his brother, if he has one. Any children she has are considered the dead husband's, so his name will not be "blotted out." This is what is known as Levirate marriage. It was common practice in many parts of the East. However, if the brother doesn't want to marry the widow, she can accuse him in the presence of the village elders, take off his sandal, and spit in his face. Then his family will be called "the family of the unsandaled." Big whoop.
-If a woman's husband gets in a fight and the woman tries to help by grabbing the other man's private parts, she gets her hand cut off as punishment. Wow. This seems pretty harsh, but remember chapter 23 says that no one with damaged testicles could participate in the assembly of the lord. After all, Yahweh cares more about men's testicles than women's hands.
-Merchants must use accurate and honest weights.
-The Israelites are to remember their grudge against the Amalekites and destroy them when they take over the promised land.
*More miscellaneous rules and laws:
-Disputes are taken to court where judges will decide a suitable number of lashes with a whip for the guilty party. No more than forty lashes, or the person may be degraded. (What does degraded mean in this context?)
-Let your ox eat some of the grain it is treading while it is working.
-A widow must not marry outside her husband's family. She has to marry his brother, if he has one. Any children she has are considered the dead husband's, so his name will not be "blotted out." This is what is known as Levirate marriage. It was common practice in many parts of the East. However, if the brother doesn't want to marry the widow, she can accuse him in the presence of the village elders, take off his sandal, and spit in his face. Then his family will be called "the family of the unsandaled." Big whoop.
-If a woman's husband gets in a fight and the woman tries to help by grabbing the other man's private parts, she gets her hand cut off as punishment. Wow. This seems pretty harsh, but remember chapter 23 says that no one with damaged testicles could participate in the assembly of the lord. After all, Yahweh cares more about men's testicles than women's hands.
-Merchants must use accurate and honest weights.
-The Israelites are to remember their grudge against the Amalekites and destroy them when they take over the promised land.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Deuteronomy chapter 24
After reading chapter 24:
*More miscellaneous rules and laws:
-A man can give his wife a certificate of divorce and make her leave his house, if he finds something indecent about her. No definition of indecent. There is also no mention of a woman being able to do this, of course. The man owns the house. Anyway, if she gets married again, she becomes "defiled." Then, if the second man divorces her, the first guy is not allowed to remarry her. That would be detestable. However, there appears to be no reason a third guy couldn't have his turn.
-A newlywed man doesn't have to go to war for a year, so he can make his wife happy. (In other words, impregnate her.)
-Millstones cannot be taken as security for a debt because it would deprive the owner of a way to make a living. What do you know, a good rule!
-No kidnapping, enslaving, or selling fellow Israelites on penalty of death. Nothing is said about non-Israelites.
-Obey the Priest's rules about leprous diseases.
-Be considerate to the poor when they are offering a pledge.
-Do not take advantage of hired hands, Israelites or foreigners. Pay their wages on time.
-Children and parents cannot be put to death for each other's sins. Each is to die for his own sin. (If your child works on the sabbath, they die, not you. So, no worries, right?)
-Orphans, widows, and foreigners are to be treated justly.
-When harvesting, don't go back over the fields and vinyards a second time. Leave what was missed for the orphans widows and foreigners to glean.
*Well, some of today's laws weren't as strange or disturbing as usual. In fact many were downright compassionate.
*More miscellaneous rules and laws:
-A man can give his wife a certificate of divorce and make her leave his house, if he finds something indecent about her. No definition of indecent. There is also no mention of a woman being able to do this, of course. The man owns the house. Anyway, if she gets married again, she becomes "defiled." Then, if the second man divorces her, the first guy is not allowed to remarry her. That would be detestable. However, there appears to be no reason a third guy couldn't have his turn.
-A newlywed man doesn't have to go to war for a year, so he can make his wife happy. (In other words, impregnate her.)
-Millstones cannot be taken as security for a debt because it would deprive the owner of a way to make a living. What do you know, a good rule!
-No kidnapping, enslaving, or selling fellow Israelites on penalty of death. Nothing is said about non-Israelites.
-Obey the Priest's rules about leprous diseases.
-Be considerate to the poor when they are offering a pledge.
-Do not take advantage of hired hands, Israelites or foreigners. Pay their wages on time.
-Children and parents cannot be put to death for each other's sins. Each is to die for his own sin. (If your child works on the sabbath, they die, not you. So, no worries, right?)
-Orphans, widows, and foreigners are to be treated justly.
-When harvesting, don't go back over the fields and vinyards a second time. Leave what was missed for the orphans widows and foreigners to glean.
*Well, some of today's laws weren't as strange or disturbing as usual. In fact many were downright compassionate.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Deuteronomy 23
After reading chapter 23:
*This chapter contains more miscellaneous rules and laws. The first are concerning who can not enter the assembly of the lord: no one with damaged testicles, no one in a forbidden marriage, no descendant of a forbidden marriage- to the tenth generation (They'll have to keep mighty good records for that one), no Ammonites or Moabites- to the tenth generation. Edomites and Egyptians are okay after the third generation, because Edomites are distant relatives and the Israelites used to live in Egypt.
*The army camps are to be kept "clean." Anyone with a nocturnal emission has to stay outside the camp for a day then wash themselves before they return in the evening. So who volunteered this information every morning? Was there an inspector? Excrement was to be buried so the lord wouldn't have to look at anything so indecent and unholy. Wait. Wasn't God supposed to have created human bodies to get rid of waste in this way? Doesn't God see everything at all times any way? Why didn't Yahweh say it was to prevent the spread of disease?
*If a slave takes refuge among the Israelites, they are not to turn him over to his master. They are to let him live among them and not oppress them. Someone should have read this to the colonial Americans.
*No Israelite is to become a shrine prostitute. Money from that profession is not to be given to the lord.
*Israelites can't charge each other interest, but they can charge foreigners.
*All vows to Yahweh must be quickly paid up.
*The Israelites could go in each other's vinyards or field and eat their fill. They just couldn't take any home.
*This chapter contains more miscellaneous rules and laws. The first are concerning who can not enter the assembly of the lord: no one with damaged testicles, no one in a forbidden marriage, no descendant of a forbidden marriage- to the tenth generation (They'll have to keep mighty good records for that one), no Ammonites or Moabites- to the tenth generation. Edomites and Egyptians are okay after the third generation, because Edomites are distant relatives and the Israelites used to live in Egypt.
*The army camps are to be kept "clean." Anyone with a nocturnal emission has to stay outside the camp for a day then wash themselves before they return in the evening. So who volunteered this information every morning? Was there an inspector? Excrement was to be buried so the lord wouldn't have to look at anything so indecent and unholy. Wait. Wasn't God supposed to have created human bodies to get rid of waste in this way? Doesn't God see everything at all times any way? Why didn't Yahweh say it was to prevent the spread of disease?
*If a slave takes refuge among the Israelites, they are not to turn him over to his master. They are to let him live among them and not oppress them. Someone should have read this to the colonial Americans.
*No Israelite is to become a shrine prostitute. Money from that profession is not to be given to the lord.
*Israelites can't charge each other interest, but they can charge foreigners.
*All vows to Yahweh must be quickly paid up.
*The Israelites could go in each other's vinyards or field and eat their fill. They just couldn't take any home.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Deuteronomy chapter 22
After reading chapter 22:
*Verses 1-12 are a series of odd laws that seem to have nowhere else to go:
-Give lost animals and personal property back to their rightful owners. No "finders keepers."
-Help a fellow Israelite restore a fallen animal to its feet.
-Noone must wear the clothes of the opposite sex, God detests people who do that. (The obvious inference would be that some people did this at that time.)
-Wild bird eggs can be harvested from nests, but the mother birds must be left alone.
-A railing must be built around the edge of a roof, so that the owner of the house won't be liable if someone falls off the roof.
-Do not plant two kinds of seeds in a vinyard or the vinyard will be defiled.
-Do not yoke an ox and a donkey together.
-Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.
-Make tassels on the four corners of your cloak
*The rest of the chapter contains some rather barbaric marriage rules. Basically, if a man expects to be marrying a virgin, he better get one. If he doesn't like his wife, he can yell foul after the marriage and the bride's parents have to provide proof of the bride's virginity in the form of a cloth stained with blood from the wedding night. If there is no proof, the woman is to be stoned to death at the door of her father's house by the men of the town. If there is proof of her virginity, it is to be shown to the village elders and the accusing husband is to give his father- in- law 100 silver shekels. Then he can never divorce the woman. Poor woman.
-If a man sleeps with another man's wife, they must both die. No exceptions.
-If a man sleeps with a virgin in town, who was pledged to be married, they must both be stoned to death. 1. Because she belonged to another man. 2. Because she was in town and didn't scream. Um, how do they know this in advance? What if she was threatened with death if she screamed?
-If a man rapes a virgin in the countryside, who was pledged to be married, only the man is to be killed. After all, she screamed bloody murder and no one could hear her. That makes her innocent. Again, how do they know this? She could have been quite willing and no one would know the difference.
-If a man rapes a virgin who is not pledged to be married, he must give her father fifty shekels of silver and marry her. This marriage is for life, no divorce permitted. Poor woman. Unless, the two of them cook up this scheme so that the father could have no choice but to agree to the marriage.
-A man may not sleep with his father's wife. We would say "duh" but if this wasn't an issue, why is it mentioned? Reuben, son of Jacob (Israel), did this very thing in Genesis chapter 35.
Lesson: It's safer for a woman to be raped in the country, especially if she was already pledged to be married. Then she gets to live and won't have to marry her rapist.
*Verses 1-12 are a series of odd laws that seem to have nowhere else to go:
-Give lost animals and personal property back to their rightful owners. No "finders keepers."
-Help a fellow Israelite restore a fallen animal to its feet.
-Noone must wear the clothes of the opposite sex, God detests people who do that. (The obvious inference would be that some people did this at that time.)
-Wild bird eggs can be harvested from nests, but the mother birds must be left alone.
-A railing must be built around the edge of a roof, so that the owner of the house won't be liable if someone falls off the roof.
-Do not plant two kinds of seeds in a vinyard or the vinyard will be defiled.
-Do not yoke an ox and a donkey together.
-Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.
-Make tassels on the four corners of your cloak
*The rest of the chapter contains some rather barbaric marriage rules. Basically, if a man expects to be marrying a virgin, he better get one. If he doesn't like his wife, he can yell foul after the marriage and the bride's parents have to provide proof of the bride's virginity in the form of a cloth stained with blood from the wedding night. If there is no proof, the woman is to be stoned to death at the door of her father's house by the men of the town. If there is proof of her virginity, it is to be shown to the village elders and the accusing husband is to give his father- in- law 100 silver shekels. Then he can never divorce the woman. Poor woman.
-If a man sleeps with another man's wife, they must both die. No exceptions.
-If a man sleeps with a virgin in town, who was pledged to be married, they must both be stoned to death. 1. Because she belonged to another man. 2. Because she was in town and didn't scream. Um, how do they know this in advance? What if she was threatened with death if she screamed?
-If a man rapes a virgin in the countryside, who was pledged to be married, only the man is to be killed. After all, she screamed bloody murder and no one could hear her. That makes her innocent. Again, how do they know this? She could have been quite willing and no one would know the difference.
-If a man rapes a virgin who is not pledged to be married, he must give her father fifty shekels of silver and marry her. This marriage is for life, no divorce permitted. Poor woman. Unless, the two of them cook up this scheme so that the father could have no choice but to agree to the marriage.
-A man may not sleep with his father's wife. We would say "duh" but if this wasn't an issue, why is it mentioned? Reuben, son of Jacob (Israel), did this very thing in Genesis chapter 35.
Lesson: It's safer for a woman to be raped in the country, especially if she was already pledged to be married. Then she gets to live and won't have to marry her rapist.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Deuteronomy 21
After reading chapter 21:
*The first 9 verses are the rules for atoning for an unsolved murder with no eye witnesses. The elders of the nearest town take a heifer that has never been yoked, to a valley that has not been plowed, by a flowing stream. Then they break its neck, wash their hands over it, and declare their innocence. This will supposedly absolve them from the guilt of the shedding of innocent blood that is floating around that area. What a waste of a good heifer. Wait, the priests are there too. I'm sure they will find some use for that young cow carcass. Veal scaloppine.
*Verses 10 -15 are about captive wives acquired through war and conquest. Let's be clear. These were women taken away from their homes by force, and without their consent. If an Israelite is attracted to a beautiful captive, he can just take her for his "wife." First, her head must be shaved, her nails trimmed and her old clothes replaced. She is to be allowed to mourn for her father and mother for a month. How generous, considering they were probably murdered by the Israelites. After that the Israelite man can go to her and be her husband. In other words, he can sexually use her. If he doesn't like her, he can let her go wherever she wishes. In other words, he can abandon her. He can not sell her or treat her as a slave (?!) because he has dishonored did her. So, he can't make any money from her, but he can save money by getting rid of her. How do you think the "dishonored" woman would feel about that? Is there any limit to the number of throw away wives?
*If an Israelite man has two wives and loves one more than the other, he must still give priority of inheritance to his first born son, no matter which wife bore the son. The first born gets a double share.
*If an Israelite man has a rebellious, stubborn, disobedient, drunken son, he will be brought to the elders at the gate by his parents. All the men of the town will stone him to death. This will put fear into the rest of the Israelites. No kidding. I guess stoning dispenses with the need for jails.
*Last, if a guilty person has been hung, his body must not be left up overnight. He is to be buried the same day, because anyone who is hung is under God's curse and the curse can spread. We wouldn't want that to happen.
*The first 9 verses are the rules for atoning for an unsolved murder with no eye witnesses. The elders of the nearest town take a heifer that has never been yoked, to a valley that has not been plowed, by a flowing stream. Then they break its neck, wash their hands over it, and declare their innocence. This will supposedly absolve them from the guilt of the shedding of innocent blood that is floating around that area. What a waste of a good heifer. Wait, the priests are there too. I'm sure they will find some use for that young cow carcass. Veal scaloppine.
*Verses 10 -15 are about captive wives acquired through war and conquest. Let's be clear. These were women taken away from their homes by force, and without their consent. If an Israelite is attracted to a beautiful captive, he can just take her for his "wife." First, her head must be shaved, her nails trimmed and her old clothes replaced. She is to be allowed to mourn for her father and mother for a month. How generous, considering they were probably murdered by the Israelites. After that the Israelite man can go to her and be her husband. In other words, he can sexually use her. If he doesn't like her, he can let her go wherever she wishes. In other words, he can abandon her. He can not sell her or treat her as a slave (?!) because he has dishonored did her. So, he can't make any money from her, but he can save money by getting rid of her. How do you think the "dishonored" woman would feel about that? Is there any limit to the number of throw away wives?
*If an Israelite man has two wives and loves one more than the other, he must still give priority of inheritance to his first born son, no matter which wife bore the son. The first born gets a double share.
*If an Israelite man has a rebellious, stubborn, disobedient, drunken son, he will be brought to the elders at the gate by his parents. All the men of the town will stone him to death. This will put fear into the rest of the Israelites. No kidding. I guess stoning dispenses with the need for jails.
*Last, if a guilty person has been hung, his body must not be left up overnight. He is to be buried the same day, because anyone who is hung is under God's curse and the curse can spread. We wouldn't want that to happen.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Deuteronomy 20
After reading chapter 20:
*This chapter is instructions for when the Israelites go to war, not if, when.
-They are not to be afraid of larger, stronger, or better equipped armies, because Yahweh will be with them.
-The priest will give the army a pep talk before battles.
-The officers will allow exemption from service for the dedication of a new house, a vinyard that hasn't begun to produce yet, plans to marry, and fear of war. Then they will appoint commanders.
-When the army goes to attack a city, they will first offer it peace on condition of the forced labor (slavery) of the inhabitants. If they refuse, the Israelites are to lay siege to the city. When they win, the men are to be slaughtered; the women, children, and valuables are to be taken as plunder. They are free to use the "plunder." God gives it to them. This only applies to cities further away.
-The above does not apply to the cities of the nations God gives the Israelites as an inheritance. Those cities will be completely decimated and "anything that breathes" must not be left alive, otherwise they might be taught to do some of the despicable things those people do. How do innocent children and infants pose a threat? Not to mention animals.
-When the Israelites lay siege to a city, they are not to destroy the fruit bearing trees because they are useful to them for food, besides what did the poor trees do to deserve that? However, it's okay to cut down other types of trees to build siege works.
*This chapter is instructions for when the Israelites go to war, not if, when.
-They are not to be afraid of larger, stronger, or better equipped armies, because Yahweh will be with them.
-The priest will give the army a pep talk before battles.
-The officers will allow exemption from service for the dedication of a new house, a vinyard that hasn't begun to produce yet, plans to marry, and fear of war. Then they will appoint commanders.
-When the army goes to attack a city, they will first offer it peace on condition of the forced labor (slavery) of the inhabitants. If they refuse, the Israelites are to lay siege to the city. When they win, the men are to be slaughtered; the women, children, and valuables are to be taken as plunder. They are free to use the "plunder." God gives it to them. This only applies to cities further away.
-The above does not apply to the cities of the nations God gives the Israelites as an inheritance. Those cities will be completely decimated and "anything that breathes" must not be left alive, otherwise they might be taught to do some of the despicable things those people do. How do innocent children and infants pose a threat? Not to mention animals.
-When the Israelites lay siege to a city, they are not to destroy the fruit bearing trees because they are useful to them for food, besides what did the poor trees do to deserve that? However, it's okay to cut down other types of trees to build siege works.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Deuteronomy 19
After reading chapter 19:
*Here we read again about cities of refuge for persons who have killed unintentionally. The Israelites are to divide the land they will acquire into three parts. Each part is to have a centrally located city with easy access by roads. These cities are to be the cities of refuge, a place to escape the "avenger of blood", probably a relative of the deceased who is assigned the task of avenging the death. If god enlarges thier territory as he promised, they are to set aside three more cities. This is slightly different than Numbers 35 which tells them to set aside six towns to begin with. Numbers also says these are Levite towns, Deuteronomy does not. Intentional murderers cannot be given refuge, they are to be handed over to the avenger of blood.
*Verse 14 has a command not to move boundary stones, which has nothing to do with the verses before or after and seems totally out of place.
*Next we are again told that a criminal matter can only be established by the testimony of more than one witness. Judges must investigate and make sure witnesses are not malicious. A false witness is to be punished in the way he intended his victim to be punished. Show no pity. Life for life, hand for hand, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Extenuating circumstances don't matter. I guess that keeps things simple.
*Here we read again about cities of refuge for persons who have killed unintentionally. The Israelites are to divide the land they will acquire into three parts. Each part is to have a centrally located city with easy access by roads. These cities are to be the cities of refuge, a place to escape the "avenger of blood", probably a relative of the deceased who is assigned the task of avenging the death. If god enlarges thier territory as he promised, they are to set aside three more cities. This is slightly different than Numbers 35 which tells them to set aside six towns to begin with. Numbers also says these are Levite towns, Deuteronomy does not. Intentional murderers cannot be given refuge, they are to be handed over to the avenger of blood.
*Verse 14 has a command not to move boundary stones, which has nothing to do with the verses before or after and seems totally out of place.
*Next we are again told that a criminal matter can only be established by the testimony of more than one witness. Judges must investigate and make sure witnesses are not malicious. A false witness is to be punished in the way he intended his victim to be punished. Show no pity. Life for life, hand for hand, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Extenuating circumstances don't matter. I guess that keeps things simple.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Deuteronomy 18
After reading chapter 18:
*Here we again find parts of sacrifices and first fruits that are to be given to the Levites and other regulations about Levites. Then the Israelites are told not to participate in the detestable practices of other nations, especially child sacrifice, divination, sorcery, interpretation of omens, witchcraft, casting spells, or consulting with the dead. Never mind that some of these things were done by Abraham and Joseph. Plus, the Levites were supposedly able perform divination with the Urim and Thummim.
*However, there will be god appointed Israelite prophets. The Israelites must pay attention to the prophet. Supposedly, this is because they begged not to have to listen to God themselves, lest they die. A prophet cannot speak in the name of other gods, or say anything God has not commanded him to say, or he will be put to death. How will the people know if he is lying? Well, if the prophecy does not come true, of course! So, they won't know if he's telling the truth till after the fact. That's okay. The prophecies written in the bible were mostly after the fact anyway, others never did come true.
More:
http://infidels.org/library/modern/farrell_till/prophecy.html
http://www.debunkingskeptics.com/DebunkingChristians/Page7.htm
*Here we again find parts of sacrifices and first fruits that are to be given to the Levites and other regulations about Levites. Then the Israelites are told not to participate in the detestable practices of other nations, especially child sacrifice, divination, sorcery, interpretation of omens, witchcraft, casting spells, or consulting with the dead. Never mind that some of these things were done by Abraham and Joseph. Plus, the Levites were supposedly able perform divination with the Urim and Thummim.
*However, there will be god appointed Israelite prophets. The Israelites must pay attention to the prophet. Supposedly, this is because they begged not to have to listen to God themselves, lest they die. A prophet cannot speak in the name of other gods, or say anything God has not commanded him to say, or he will be put to death. How will the people know if he is lying? Well, if the prophecy does not come true, of course! So, they won't know if he's telling the truth till after the fact. That's okay. The prophecies written in the bible were mostly after the fact anyway, others never did come true.
More:
http://infidels.org/library/modern/farrell_till/prophecy.html
http://www.debunkingskeptics.com/DebunkingChristians/Page7.htm
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