Week 11 - Numbers 34-Deuteronomy 17
Numbers 34-36
The Lord defines the boundaries of the land that Israel will inherit, and names
the leaders of the tribes.
Forty eight cities are to be given to the Levites throughout the territory of
Israel, with six of those cities designated as Cities of Refuge. Anyone who kills
another inadvertently, or by accident can flee to the nearest city of refuge, and if
he is judged innocent of murder, then he can live in that city and be protected
from the avenger of blood (the nearest relative of the one who was killed).
However, when the High Priest dies, then all such refugees are free to go home,
and the avenger of blood is no longer allowed to exact revenge. Each of us have
been declared not-guilty as a consequence of our High Priest having died, and
we were set free.
This book ends with a clarification of the laws of inheritance.
Deuteronomy 1-2
The name of the book of Deuteronomy means “second law”, and it represents
the final words of Moses to the nation of Israel in the days before he died. Israel
is encamped east of the Jordan river, across from Jericho near the end of the 40 th
year after leaving Egypt.
Moses recounts the history of Israel over the 40 years since leaving Egypt,
and how God finally brought them to the land of the Amorites after all who had
rebelled against the Lord had died in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy 3-4
Moses retells the destruction of God upon Bashan and the Amorites, and the
extent of the territory east of the Jordan that was given to the tribes of Reuben,
Gad, and half of Manasseh.
He reminds all the people of the incredible works that God did for them, and
challenges them to look and see if any other god has done anything like them in
the history of the world. He stresses the vital importance of remembering the
things that God has done, and in teaching all of them to our children and
grandchildren.
Deuteronomy 4:39 NAS95 - "Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that
the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.
Deuteronomy 5-7
Moses reminds the people that they themselves were witness to the awesome
presence of God at Mt Horeb, and they all heard His voice, restating His
commandments to the nation.
The greatest commandment in all of the Bible…
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NAS95 - "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is
one! "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your might.
Remember these Words. Teach them to your children and their children. In
the future, when you are blessed in great prosperity in the land, do not forget
them.
The Lord promises great blessings upon Israel in the land He will take them
to, but they must not assimilate with the people in that land, and they must
remain faithful to all of God’s commands, or He will bring judgement on them.
Deuteronomy 8-10
Meditate on the words God spoke in chapter 8, and how they apply to you!
The Lord warns Israel against pride in thinking they are more righteous or
special in going into the promised land, and Moses recounts their oft repeated
offenses against God. The Lord is judging the wickedness of the nations in
Canaan land, He is fulfilling His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He
is doing all of that for the glory and honor of His own Name - not because Israel
was anything special - the same is true for us to remember of ourselves.
Deuteronomy 11-13
God promises to bless those who love Him and obey His commands, and He
will likewise curse those who hate Him, and go after other gods.
The Lord commands the people to bring sacrifices to Him only in the place
where He chooses to place His Name, after they conquer the people of the land.
They must destroy all forms of idol worship in the land. That place God will
choose is going to be first established in Shiloh under Joshua’s leadership, but
some 400 years later it will be in the place God shows David in the city of
Jerusalem.
The Lord commands diligence in guarding against false prophets, and in
following anyone who would lead people away from serving Jahweh only.
Deuteronomy 14-17
Moses recounts the laws of kosher, the differences between the clean and
unclean animals. All the people must bring a tithe of their increase to the Lord,
which goes to the levites and priests for their living.
Debts are to be wiped out in the 7 th year, and all who sold themselves into
slavery to pay their debts will go free. The law concerning bond slaves is
described in chapter 15, where a man can voluntarily choose to serve his master
for the rest of his life, when he might have otherwise been freed.
The laws of passover, and the 7 annual feasts of the Lord outlined again in
chapter 16.
The laws of corporal punishment are called out for the good of the people, so
that the nation will not become corrupted. God predicts that the people will
eventually want a king to reign over them, and tells them in advance that He will
choose who is to be king in Israel.