Day 74-11

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

D. From Kadesh-Barnea to crossing of Jordan ~ cont.

5. Settling down in plains of Moab, east of Jordan ~ cont.

m. Instructions for holy conduct ~ cont.

(11) Divorce and other personal laws - Deuteronomy 24:1-22
(12) Firstfruits offering - Deuteronomy 26:1-11
(13) Obedience and prayer - Deuteronomy 26:12-19
n. Commandments, Blessings, and Warnings - Deuteronomy 27:1-26

{pages 323-326}

I found the parameters in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 interesting, especially for those who are divorced.  A man could put away his wife, yet she was free to remarry without it being considered adultery.  However, if the 2nd husband died or divorced her, she could not remarry the 1st husband.

I thoroughly enjoyed the commentaries by Gill, Henry, and K&D (Keil & Delitzsch) on verses 1-4.  All were lengthy and thus not included, however, all are available online (or via E-Sword) should you choose to browse.  What I gleaned from them was that the practice (learned in Egypt) was to staunch the easy exchange of wives, thus treating them as possessions and to insure that a wife who was not favored was not ill treated.

When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.  (Deuteronomy 24:5)

I **always** get a chuckle out of that verse anytime I read it.

cheer up - H8055 - A primitive root; probably to brighten up, that is, (figuratively) be (causatively make) blithe or gleesome.

Used 155 times in 148 verses.  The first usage is in Exodus, when Moses is telling God how he is not the right vessel (just have to love how *we* think we know who is and is not the right vessel, and have the audacity to tell God the same!).

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well.  And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.  (Exodus 4:14)

Last usage in Zechariah, interestingly this passage has the word rejoice twice, but only once as H8055, there is a second translation as glad.

And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.  (Zechariah 10:7)

Curious...the word is used in the Psalms 52 times and 16 times in Proverbs.

If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.  (Deuteronomy 24:7)

This would effectively shut down kid/person nappings and also human trafficing.  Hideous and wicked, if there were more severe consequences for such abominations, the frequency would drop severely, if not be completely eliminated.

Ahhh, another listing of the tribes.  In this case all of Israel's original sons.

On Mount Gerizim to bless:

Simeon ~ Levi ~ Judah ~ Issachar ~ Jospeh ~ Benjamin

On Mount Ebal to curse:

Reuben ~ Gad ~ Asher ~ Zebulun ~ Dan ~ Naphtali

Twelve curses are listed in Deuteronomy 27:15-26):

1. Graven or molten image made, hidden;
2. Father and Mother not honored;
3. Landmark removal;
4. Ill treatment of the blind;
5. Stranger, fatherless, widow not given fair treatment;
6. Illicit relations with father's wife;
7. Beastilaity;
8. Incest;
9. Illicit relations with mother-in-law;
10. Neighbor treated unworthily;
11. Assassination; and
12. Failure to confirm all the words of the Law.

Bless (from verse 12) - H1288 - A primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason.

Curse (from verse 13) - G7045 - From H7043; vilification.

• H7043 - A primitive root; to be (causatively make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.).

Cursed (verses 15-26) - H779 - A primitive root; to execrate.

Execrate:
–verb (used with object)

1.

to detest utterly; abhor; abominate.

2.

to curse; imprecate evil upon; damn; denounce: He execrated all who opposed him.

Amen (verses 15-26) - From H539; sure; abstractly faithfulness; adverbially truly.

• H539 - A primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once (in Isa_30:21; by interchange for H541) to go to the right hand.

I thought it interesting that there were 12 curses, some of which were similar to the 10 commandments.  I just recently found out that the Roman Catholic Church modified the 10 commandments, eliminating #3.  Chilling.

Lord, help us not to diminish ought of any of the Words of Your mouth that you have spoken forth by Your chosen vessels.  Men, moved by the Holy Ghost to set forth Your precepts, wisdom, knowledge and guidance.


O Lord, cause us, Your people, to have a fervent desire and passion for Your Word.  To daily attend to reading, meditation and study.