Day 36 Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 13-17

Deuteronomy 13: Maintaining the Purity of Faith 

[Overview]

Following the previous chapter prohibiting idolatry, this chapter warns against those who tempt people with idolatry. God commanded that all false prophets and dreamers who tempt people to worship idols be killed (verses 1-5). He also commanded that those who followed them and worshipped idols and the cities that worshipped idols be completely destroyed, including their families and livestock, and not to be touched (verses 6-18). This was an expression of God’s will to resolutely eradicate idolatry, the most threatening element destroying Israel’s identity as a covenant community.

In the previous chapter, Moses warned Israel not to fall into the religion of the land of Canaan after entering Canaan. This chapter warns against the symptoms of non-religion that would arise within Israel after entering Canaan. It deals with false prophets, temptations by family and friends, and people in order.

Deuteronomy 14: Regulations on Food and Tithes 

[Overview]

This chapter mentions the regulations on purity and tithe that the Israelites, as a covenant community, must keep. The Israelites must not harm themselves, and they must not eat anything except animals that chew the cud and those that have scales and fins (vv. 1-21). They must also offer a tithe of their land produce to God every year (vv. 22-27), and every three years they must set aside a tithe for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow (vv. 28-29). The above regulations are not formal purity, but symbolic regulations on spiritual purity, and were established for the purpose of peace in the community.

In this chapter, Moses gives two major commandments. One is the regulation to be holy before God, and the other is the regulation on tithing. Specifically, the Canaanite regulations on shaving hair, the ritual of food purity, the regulation of not boiling a kid in its mother's milk, and the regulation of offering a tenth of one's produce to God are all regulations that emphasize the distinctiveness of God's people. This commandment of holiness is also required of today's Christians who have become saints.

Deuteronomy 15: Sabbath Year and Firstborn Rules 

[Overview]

This chapter mainly deals with economic rules, referring to general social norms that the covenant community must observe. The Israelites must not demand debts from their fellow countrymen, and must repay all debts every seventh year. In addition, they must actively provide relief to the poor (vv. 1-11). This exemption rule applies equally to those who were slaves (vv. 12-18). Meanwhile, it states that the sacrifices offered to God must be the most blameless and perfect (vv. 19-23). ​​These are rules given to prevent the community from being destroyed due to economic inequality.

Following the previous chapter, Moses now explains the rules regarding liberation and exemption that must be observed in the Sabbath year. The theme of Sabbath is closely related to the redemption of Israel, and verse 15 of this chapter cites the Exodus as the basis for the Sabbath year regulations. In this Sabbath year, the Israelites had to observe several regulations according to God’s command. This chapter deals with this fact in detail, and also repeatedly explains the command to offer the firstborn to Jehovah.

Deuteronomy 16: Regulations on the Three Major Feasts 

[Overview]

This chapter mentions the three most important major feasts of Israel and regulations on judgment. Israel was to observe the Passover ordinance related to the Exodus in the month of Abib to remember God’s grace in saving Israel from the death of the firstborn (verses 1-8), and to remember their slavery in Egypt through the Feast of Weeks, in which they offered the first harvest of the year to God (verses 9-12). They were also to observe the Feast of Tabernacles, in which they gave thanks to God for giving them all the harvest of the year (verses 13-17). Meanwhile, judges were to judge justly, not accept bribes, and not set up an altar of idols next to the altar of God (verses 18-22).

In this chapter, Moses teaches the Israelites about the three major feasts that they must observe and the regulations for a desirable society. Serving God properly is the most basic element of life for God’s people. Moses emphasizes this fact again, while also emphasizing that God’s justice must be actively manifested in society. These two elements later correspond to the Golden Rule, which Jesus used to summarize the teachings of the Law and the Prophets (cf. Luke 10:26-27).

Deuteronomy 17: Rules for Politics and Society 

[Overview]

In the continuous mention of rules to be observed in the land of Canaan, this chapter is the first to mention the judicial system and the kingship system. After the rules for offering blameless sacrifices to God and killing idolaters are mentioned (verses 1-7), the rules for judging appear. Judgments are to be conducted by Levitical priests or the judges of the time, but they must be conducted fairly according to the law, and the parties to the lawsuit must accept the results of the trial (verses 8-13). Meanwhile, the rules for the qualifications and duties of the one to become a king appear. The king is to be chosen from among his own kind, but he must not accumulate wealth or concubines, and he must rule according to the word of God (verses 14-20).

Following the battlefield, Moses again emphasizes the prohibition of idolatry in this chapter and the laws for truly serving God and the regulations regarding judgment. In particular, it is characteristic that he announces prophetic regulations regarding the monarchy that will be established in Israel. Thus, he stipulates in detail that only God's chosen one must be placed on the throne and the regulations that kings must observe.