Deuteronomy 26, Thoughts on Deut. 25-26

These are the last two chapters of “statutes and judgments.”

·       25:1-3: This is interesting in terms of the “forty blow” maximum to beatings.  The reason for the limit is not “physical” so much as “social.”  Lest your brother be humiliated in your sight. 

·       25:4: This might seem an odd statute, but it makes good sense.  It’s not a law about being kind to your animal, though the Law of Moses would insist on that.  It’s more about getting good use from the animal.  And note, this has significance in the NT, applied to elders who teach the word (1 Cor. 9:9; 1 Tim. 5:17-18).

·       25:5-10: This statute requiring a younger brother to marry the older brother’s childless widow was in practice in the family of Jacob (Gen. Gen. 38:8).  You can tell it is a serious issue.  Once they entered the land this transfer also involved the property and other rights of the older brother.  It all went to the brother next in line.  This law was fundamental to the story of Ruth and the “kinsman redeemer.”

·       25:11-12: The shameful act of the woman far outweighs her desire to help her husband win a fight.

·       25:13-16: Violation of this statute violates the eighth of the Ten Commandments.

·       25:17-19: After dealing with the Canaanites, so as to have peace in the land, Israel was then to deal with the Amalekites.  God called on King Saul to do this, and Saul disobeyed the LORD and lost the kingdom (1 Sam. 15).

·       26:1-15: The last of the statutes and judgments has to do with “firstfruits.”  Both the situations described have a “confession of faith” attached to them.

o   When they enter the land they are to thank God for the abundance of fruit and vegetables they have to eat.  When they do this they are to repeat vs. 5-10.  The “father” who was a Syrian was, of course, Jacob who dwelt in Syria for the twenty years where he gained his wives and eleven of his twelve sons.  When they were seventy in number they went to Egypt, with God’s blessing, where Joseph provided for them.  They became a great nation and now had finally returned to the land of promise.

o   Verses 12-15 deal with the regular tithing of firstfruits that would be for the priests and Levites as well as the poor.  Again, this was not to become a mechanical act.  They were to recognize that they were doing this as worship of God and that had done it with integrity.

·       26:16-19: This concluded the “statutes and judgments.”  The significance of it all is bound up in the “covenant” that has been established.  This new generation of Israel is committing to keep God’s law.  And God is committing to be their God and to make them a holy nation.  We discussed this at the outset of our studied in Deuteronomy.  This is a restatement of the “Old Testament/Covenant” as they prepare to enter the land.  Fulfillment of this would result in Israel’s ability to stay in the land and to prosper.  How will this work out?  We will continue in Deuteronomy because God will give them the answer to that question in advance.