Chapter 25 is, again, a continuation of Moses' discussion of miscellaneous regulations. He begins the chapter talking about solving disputes in the court, regulation of ox eating, and brothers marrying widowed wives. With this regulation he states, “But if the dead man’s brother refuses to marry the widow, she must go to the town gate and say to the leaders there, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel -- he refuses to marry me.” The leaders of the town will then summon him and try to reason with him. If he still insists that he doesn’t want to marry her, the widow must walk over to him in the presence of the leaders, pull his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. She will then say, “This is what happens to a man who refuses to raise up a son for his brother.” Ever afterward his family will be referred to as “the family of the man whose sandal was pulled off”! (Deuteronomy 25:7-10) Oh my goodness...that is funny!
Moses follows that up with, “If two Israelite men are fighting and the wife of one tries to rescue her husband by grabbing the testicles of the other man, her hand must be cut off without pity.” (Deuteronomy 25:11-12) Brutal! I’m glad we are no longer governed by those regulations.
Moses finishes the chapter discussing regulations concerning using accurate scales for merchandise measurement, and destroying the Amalekites.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us be in compliance with the laws of our current society, and follow your ten commandments, those moral laws, that stand the test of time...that will never change. We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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