A Journey through the Bible with Tiglath

30. Deuteronomy Chapter 12 to Chapter 18 (verse 4).

If you read chapters 12 to 31 you will find a rich store of information about the

laws and customs that Moses set out for his people as they entered the Promised

Land. These turned his people from desert wanderers to a settled civilized people

— many of them farmers. I haven’t time on our long journey to summarise every

chapter. What I will do is pick out what I consider to he some of the more

important elements.

In Chapter 12 the Hebrewsare instructed to wipe out all evidence of idol worship

in any country they take over. Once they have crossed the River Jordan the people

are told that they can only eat sacrificial food in places chosen by God. Blood

they cannot eat, it has to be poured on the ground like water.

Moses is still concerned that his people may turn from the true God and worship

idols, so we find in Chapter 13 that false prophets and dreamers are to be put to

death. Further, if a relative tries to turn a member of the family towards pagan

religions he shall be stoned to death.

Chapter 14 is of great interest, as it tells

the Hebrews what they can and cannot

eat. Note that the pygarg is an ibex. I

quote verse 6 ‘And every beast that

parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft

into two claws,

and cheweth the cud (are) among those

beasts that ye shall eat’. Verse 7,

‘Nevertheless, these ye shall not

eat of them that chew the cud, or of them

that divide the cloven hoof:

and the camel, the hare, and the coney’ (the rabbit); ‘for they chew the cud, but

divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you’. The people were

forbidden to eat pigs or touch their dead bodies. The list continues to verse 20

and includes instructions about birds, fishes and seafood.

The question will, I know, be asked as to how and why certain animals etc were

classified as unclean. It was not known until the 19th Century that certain animals

carry diseases dangerous to us. The Hebrews had worked out that a clean animal

was a ruminant, if it chewed the cud and was cloven hoofed. If it chewed the cud

and was not cloven hoofed it was unclean. Likewise, if it was cloven hoofed and

did not chew the cud, also, that was unclean. The chapter continues to separate

clean and unclean birds, fish and reptiles. Sea food certainly could not be eaten.

Chapter 15 informs us that every seventh year was to be a year of release.

This release referred to loans to brothers and neighbours. It also referred

to Hebrew men and women who were slaves to other Hebrews. These had

to be released during the seventh year and not sent away empty-handed.

If a Hebrew slave wished to stay with his or her master after seven years,

an awl was pushed through their ears to fix them to the door. After this

they were servants for ever (verse 17).

Do read Chapter 16 as it gives a very full account of how the Feast of the

Passover is to be kept. To this day this is the main Jewish Festival. Two

other Feasts, namely Weeks and Shelters (Tabernacles), are also described

in this chapter.

Chapter 17 continues the theme that those who worship idols must be

slain. Verse 14 envisages that God will set a king over His people and

describes the duties of a king.

Chapter 18 begins by describing

the Priests of Levi. Because they

were the priestly tribe they did not

inherit any of the Promised Land.

As they couldn’t farm, they

couldn’t produce food and wine

for themselves. Moses sets out, in

detail, what food is to be given to

the Priests. For example, if an ox

or sheep was

sacrificed they received the shoulders, two cheeks and the maw (jaw or

gullet). Also, the Priests were to have the first fruit of the corn, and of the

wine and of the oil and also the first fleece of the sheep.

Next month on our journey we shall continue to look at laws and customs.