Thoughts on Deuteronomy 21: Once again this chapter in Deuteronomy considers some distresses of life and how the Israelite community is to handle those matters. “The distress concerns,” according to Raymond Brown, “a murdered man (1-9), a captured woman (10-14), a deprived son (15-17), a depraved son (18-21), and an executed criminal (22-23).” (Brown, 203) Each of these instances concerns governance, religion, family, and community in the…keep reading

Thoughts on Deuteronomy 20 Often time portions of Deuteronomy seem out of place or order. We must remember there are connections in the broader context of Deuteronomy to God’s purpose for the ethnic people of Israel. Life, death, future and family are important themes in scripture. In Deuteronomy 19 the main concerns were accidental death versus murder and the future of a family in property rights. Chapter…keep reading

Thoughts on Deuteronomy 19: The Lord God made promises to His people for a future land. He also planned for proper protection for His people interacting in that land. Chapter 19 renders some legal aid for matters of life, property, and testimony. As Raymond Brown stated, “God’s realism is more vividly portrayed in Deuteronomy than anywhere else in the Bible. He makes careful provision for life as…keep reading