DEUTERONOMY LESSON 27

     We will begin this lesson in Deuteronomy 25:1 "If there be a
controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that [the
judges] may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and
condemn the wicked."

     This is simply saying, if they cannot settle it themselves, they
come and let the judge decide it. The judges were cautioned to judge
with righteousness under the direction of the LORD. The judge should
be able to determine who is at fault, and appropriate fair punishment.

     Deuteronomy 25:2 "And it shall be, if the wicked man [be] worthy
to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be
beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number."

     This whipping would be on the upper part of his back and
shoulders. He was to lie down with his face covered. This beating took
place in front of the judge, so he could make sure the correct number
of blows were administered. Punishment for each crime was different.
The number of blows was determined by the seriousness of the crime.

     Deuteronomy 25:3 "Forty stripes he may give him, [and] not
exceed: lest, [if] he should exceed, and beat him above these with
many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee."

     The maximum number of stripes was 40, so the judge would make it
39, or less, to make sure they did not exceed the punishment. To whip
someone more than that, might kill him. It would certainly show no
regard for his welfare.

     Deuteronomy 25:4  "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth
out [the corn]."

     This is the same thing as saying, the man is worthy of his hire.
Whatever an animal worked at, he deserved to be fed. This, possibly,
has the larger meaning, that whoever works deserves to be paid a fair
wage.

     Deuteronomy 25:5  "If brethren dwell together, and one of them
die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without
unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take
her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto
her."

     This dwelling together means they live near each other. The main
reason for her husband's brother performing the duty of a husband to
her, is so there will be a heritage for his brother. The child will
bear the name of the deceased brother. This is an example of putting
family before your own feelings. The Hebrews felt they were cursed of
God, if they did not have a child to carry on the family name. This
marriage is to continue the name of the dead brother.

     Deuteronomy 25:6 "And it shall be, [that] the firstborn which she
beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother [which is] dead, that
his name be not put out of Israel."

     Not only will this child be named for the deceased brother, but
will be registered on the roll as the deceased brother's child.

     Deuteronomy 25:7 "And if the man like not to take his brother's
wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders,
and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a
name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother."

     He did not have to marry her, if he did not want to, but he must
be willing to face the consequences. The wife is allowed to complain
to the elders. Her complaint is that he refuses to raise up a child in
his brother's name.

     Deuteronomy 25:8 "Then the elders of his city shall call him, and
speak unto him: and [if] he stand [to it], and say, I like not to take
her;"

     Before any action is taken against him, the elders talk to him,
to get him to change his mind. He still has the option to refuse.

     Deuteronomy 25:9 "Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in
the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and
spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto
that man that will not build up his brother's house."

     "To spit in someone's face" shows utter disgust. The "taking off
of his shoe" shows that he is not worthy of standing in his brother's
place. This is done in disgust by the wife of the dead brother. The
statement is made to cause him to feel shame for not giving his
brother a son.

     Deuteronomy 25:10 "And his name shall be called in Israel, The
house of him that hath his shoe loosed."

     All of Israel looks on him in disgust, because he did not perform
his duty for his brother.

     Deuteronomy 25:11  "When men strive together one with another,
and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of
the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and
taketh him by the secrets:"

     It appears, the husband of another woman is fighting with a man.
It appears, the woman comes to help her husband in this matter, and
whether accidental, or on purpose, we are not told, grabs the man in a
secret place.

     Deuteronomy 25:12 "Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye
shall not pity [her]."

     Women should not be forward with men. The penalty, in this case,
is the cutting off of the woman' s hand. This has never been a
practice, however. The leaders started fining the woman the value of
her hand.

     Deuteronomy 25:13  "Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers
weights, a great and a small."

     In Leviticus, a great deal was said about having honest weights.
The person who has two different weights is trying to cheat on the
weight. Leviticus 19:36 "Just balances, just weights, a just ephah,
and a just hin, shall ye have: I [am] the LORD your God, which brought
you out of the land of Egypt." Proverbs 11:1 "A false balance [is]
abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is] his delight."

     Deuteronomy 25:14 "Thou shalt not have in thine house divers
measures, a great and a small."

     We know that the measurements fall into the same category, as the
just weights above.

     Deuteronomy 25:15 "[But] thou shalt have a perfect and just
weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may
be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

     The person, who intends to build a business, must have just
weights and measures. People will not trade with a person who cheats
on weights and measures. God will bless those who deal fairly.

     Deuteronomy 25:16 "For all that do such things, [and] all that do
unrighteously, [are] an abomination unto the LORD thy God."

     Transgressions against God and your fellow man are abominations
to God. God wanted them to be holy, because he is holy.  We see in the
following Scripture what the Lord requires.  Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed
thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee,
but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

     Deuteronomy 25:17  "Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the
way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;" Deuteronomy 25:18 "How he
met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, [even] all [that
were] feeble behind thee, when thou [wast] faint and weary; and he
feared not God." Deuteronomy 25:19 "Therefore it shall be, when the
LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about,
in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance to
possess it, [that] thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from
under heaven; thou shalt not forget [it]."

     Amalek was a very evil man. Amalek was an example of the
wickedness, they had encountered on their journey to the promised
land.  He attacked those already weak, who could not help themselves.
He had no fear of God, because he did not know God. Wickedness of
these heathen people had to be stopped. God would not allow this evil
man to live. He wanted even his name removed from all records. He must
not be remembered. He is cut off from history.
                        Deuteronomy 27 Questions


1.  Who do they go to, when they cannot settle an argument themselves?
2.  How were they to judge?
3.  If he is to be beaten, what does the judge have him do?
4.  Where would the whipping be done?
5.  The number of stripes was determined by the ___________ of the
    crime.
6.  What is the maximum number of stripes he could have?
7.  Why did the judge make it one less?
8.  Thou shalt not ____________ the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
9.  What is another way of saying the same thing?
10. Who should the wife marry, if her husband dies without children?
11. What is the main reason for her marrying him?
12. Who shall the firstborn be named for?
13. If the brother does not want to marry her, what does she do?
14. What is the first thing the elders do?
15. What does "spitting in someone's face" show?
16. What does the "taking off of the brother's shoe" show?
17. Instead of cutting off her hand as the law speaks of, what does
    she pay for being personal with a man other than her husband?
18. Quote Leviticus chapter 19 verse 36.
19. Quote Proverbs chapter 11 verse 1.
20. How will God bless them, if they have just weights and measures?
21. Quote Micah chapter 6 verse 8.
22. Who was so evil, even the memory of him should be wiped out?