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.
Showing posts with label stoning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stoning. Show all posts
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Deuteronomy 16 and 17
After reading chapter 16:
* Here is a reiteration of the instructions for observing the Passover, except with the addition that it must be celebrated in the place the lord will choose for a dwelling, not in their towns. Then we revisit the feast of weeks and the feast of tabernacles. In verse 18 the Israelites are instructed to appoint judges for each tribe, in each town. No bribing judges allowed. Also, no Asherah poles next to the altar and no sacred stones.
After reading chapter 17:
*Do not sacrifice a blemished animal to the lord, for he is picky. If anyone is found to be guilty of worshipping other gods, they are to be taken outside the city gate and stoned to death. However, there must be more than one witness. Plus, the witnesses must cast the first stones.
*Difficult court cases must be brought to the place the lord chooses and decided by a priest or a judge. Thier decisions will be binding and must be obeyed or the penalty is death.
*When they enter the promised land and go to choose a king, they must choose someone of whom God approves. He must be an Israelite, not a foreigner. He must not acquire a lot of horses, wives, or silver and gold. (All things that Solomon supposedly acquired. ) When he becomes king, he is to write his own personal copy of the law on a scroll and read it every day, so he will follow it carefully. The king is not to consider himself better than other Israelites, then he will reign a long time. Apparently the author of Deuteronomy was not aware of any objections to having an Israelite king, which we will see later.
* Here is a reiteration of the instructions for observing the Passover, except with the addition that it must be celebrated in the place the lord will choose for a dwelling, not in their towns. Then we revisit the feast of weeks and the feast of tabernacles. In verse 18 the Israelites are instructed to appoint judges for each tribe, in each town. No bribing judges allowed. Also, no Asherah poles next to the altar and no sacred stones.
After reading chapter 17:
*Do not sacrifice a blemished animal to the lord, for he is picky. If anyone is found to be guilty of worshipping other gods, they are to be taken outside the city gate and stoned to death. However, there must be more than one witness. Plus, the witnesses must cast the first stones.
*Difficult court cases must be brought to the place the lord chooses and decided by a priest or a judge. Thier decisions will be binding and must be obeyed or the penalty is death.
*When they enter the promised land and go to choose a king, they must choose someone of whom God approves. He must be an Israelite, not a foreigner. He must not acquire a lot of horses, wives, or silver and gold. (All things that Solomon supposedly acquired. ) When he becomes king, he is to write his own personal copy of the law on a scroll and read it every day, so he will follow it carefully. The king is not to consider himself better than other Israelites, then he will reign a long time. Apparently the author of Deuteronomy was not aware of any objections to having an Israelite king, which we will see later.
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