Women wearing men's clothes and men wearing women's clothes


Women should not wear men's clothes. Men should not wear women's clothes.  God hates this. 
[5] The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Finding a bird's nest


An Israelite finds a bird's nest. The mother bird is in the nest. Baby birds and eggs are in the nest, too. The Israelites may take the eggs or baby birds. But they should let the mother bird go free. If they do this, they will live long and successful lives.
[6] If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
[7] But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.

A fence around the roof of a house

Someone builds a new house.  He should put a small fence around the roof.  It will be safer  so maybe no one will fall off the roof.  But if someone falls off the roof, the house owner is not responsible.
[8] When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.

Planting other seeds in a vineyard


They should not plant different kinds of seeds in their vineyards (farms of grapes). If they do, the food that grows will not be good.
[9] Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.

Putting two different animals in a plow


They should not put an ox and a donkey together to plow their fields. 
[10] Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.

Wearing 2 different kinds of cloth

They should not wear clothes made of both wool and linen.
[11] Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.

Some Jewish men wear fringes on their clothes today. The fringes are called tzitzit.

Some men wear the fringes on an undershirt.  Other men wear the fringes on a prayer shawl. Pictures from IsraelVisit web site

Fringes on clothes

They should put fringes on the 4 corners of their clothes.
[12] Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.

Laws about sexual relations

A man marries a woman.  The man has sexual relations with his wife.  Then he changes his mind, and he hates her. He starts to say bad things about her. He says that she was not a virgin when he married her. That means she had sexual relations with another man before she was married. 
[13] If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,
[14] And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:


Then the wife's parents will go to the elders (leaders). They will tell the elders that the husband is telling a lie. They will take proof that their daughter was a virgin.  
[15] Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:
[16] And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;
[17] And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.


The elders will punish the husband.  They will beat him. He will have to pay 100 shekels (coins) of silver to the wife's father.  The woman must stay and be his wife.
[18] And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;
[19] And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.


But if it was true, and the wife was not a virgin, the woman will be punished. They will take the wife out of her father's house. All of the men in the city will throw rocks at her and kill her.  She did a bad thing. She had sexual relations with a man before she got married.  The Israelites should kill her to get the evil (bad) out of their land. 
[20] But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:
[21] Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.


A man has sexual relations with a woman, but the woman is married to another man.  This is adultery. The man and the woman must die.   The Israelites must put evil out of Israel. 
[22] If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.


This happens in a city. A woman is engaged to a man.  Another man has sexual relations with her. Both the man and the woman should die. The other Israelites should take them out of the city.  They should throw rocks at them and kill them.  The woman should die because she should have screamed for help. In the city, someone would have heard her. The man should die because she was engaged to another man. 
[23] If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;
[24] Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.


This happened outside the city in a field.  A woman is engaged to a man. Another man rapes her (forces her to have sexual relations with him).  This is the same as when a man kills another man. The man must die.  The woman must not die. They were outside the city. If the woman screamed for help, no one could hear her. The woman is not guilty. 
[25] But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
[26] But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:
[27] For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.


A man seduces (talks her into having sexual relations) a woman who is not engaged.  When someone else finds out about this, the man must pay the woman's father. He must pay him 50 shekels (coins) of silver. The man should marry the woman.  He can never divorce her.
[28] If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;
[29] Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.


A man must never have sexual relations with his any of his father's wives.
[30] A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.

Deuteronomy 23


Laws about people who cannot worship with the other Israelites. 

Some people who worshiped false gods crushed or cut off  a man's sexual organ on purpose. This man cannot worship with the Israelites. 
[1] He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.


A person whose parents were not married cannot worship with the other Israelites.  The person's children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and  for 7 more generations cannot worship with the other Israelites.
[2] A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.


People who are from the groups called the Ammonites or Moabites cannot worship with the other Israelites. The Ammonites' and Moabites' children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and  for 7 more generations cannot worship with the other Israelites.
[3] An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:


When the Israelites were coming out of Egypt, the Ammonites and Moabites did not help them with food and water.  Later, they hired Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. But God changed Balaam's curse into a blessing. To read about Balaam, please click here. God loved the Israelites.  The Israelites should never make peace with the Ammonites and Moabites. 
[4] Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
[5] Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
[6] Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.


The Israelites should not hate the group of people called the Edomites.  The Edomites are cousins of the Israelites.  The Israelites should not hate people from Egypt.  Back in Joseph's time, the Israelites were strangers in Egypt. 
[7] Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.


After 3 generations pass, Edomites and Egyptians can worship with the Israelites. 
[8] The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.

The soldiers should keep their camps clean


When the army is fighting in wars, they should stay away from things that make them unclean.  They should keep their camp clean.  If a man has a discharge in the night, he should go out of the camp. He should stay out until the next afternoon. Then he should take a bath. At sunset, he can go back into the camp. 
[9] When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.
[10] If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:
[11] But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.


The soldiers should keep a shovel with their other equipment. If they need to use the toilet, they should go out of the camp and dig a hole. After they finish, they should cover the hole with dirt.
[12] Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
[13] And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:


They should keep their camp clean because God walks in their camp.  He saves them and helps them win when they fight. He helps them defeat their enemies. If the camp is unclean, God will leave.
[14] For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

A rule about a slave who runs away. 


A slave runs away from his owner. He runs to the Israelites.  He wants the Israelites to protect him. The Israelites must not force the slave to go back to the owner.  The slave can choose an Israelite city, and he can go live there.  The Israelites must treat the slave well.
[15] Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:
[16] He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.

A rule about prostitution


No Israelite man or woman should become a prostitute who works in a temple.  If prostitutes earn money, they should not use their prostitute money for offerings.  Even if they promised a special offering to God, they should not give their prostitute money.  God hates prostitution.
[17] There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
[18] Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Loaning money to other people


Usury is loaning money to another person. Then the other person must pay the money back with interest. Interest means the other person must pay back more than he borrowed.  Usury usually means very high interest--paying back a lot more than he borrowed. 

God does not want the Israelites to do this to other Israelites.  If an Israelite loans money to another Israelite, he should not make the other Israelite pay the money back with high interest. It is the same if he loans him money, food, or anything else.  
[19] Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:


Usury is ok if an Israelite loans money or other things to a person who is not an Israelite. He can ask that person to pay back the money with interest.   If the Israelites obey God's law about this, God will bless them in everything they do after they move into Canaan.
[20] Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Keeping promises to God


Israelites made vows to God. Vows are promises to give something to God or to do something special for God. When an Israelite makes a vow, he should keep his promise to God.  He should do what he says he will do. If he doesn't do what he says he will do, it is a sin. If a person does not make a vow, then it is no sin 
[21] When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
[22] But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
[23] That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

Eating food in a neighbor's garden

An Israelite goes into his neighbor's vineyard (grape garden).  He may eat as many grapes as he wants. But he cannot put grapes in a bowl or bucket and carry them away.  
[24] When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.


An Israelite goes into his neighbor's garden of corn.  He may pick corn with his hands.  But he cannot use a sickle (a cutting tool) to cut down the corn plants. 
[25] When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

Deuteronomy 24


Laws about marriage and divorce

A man marries a woman.  Later, he learns something bad about her. He learns that she did something bad in the past. He can divorce her. He can write special divorce papers and send her away. 
[1] When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.


The woman can marry another man.  Later, the 2nd husband may divorce her, too. The 2nd husband can write special divorce papers and send her away. Or maybe the 2nd husband dies.  The woman cannot marry her 1st husband again.  It is a sin for her to marry the 1st husband again.  God hates that.  They should not commit this sin after they move into Canaan.
[2] And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
[3] And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
[4] Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

A law about men who have new wives


A man and woman get married.  The man should not go fight in a war for 1 year.  He should not leave home to work for 1 year.  He should stay home and be happy with his wife. 
[5] When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

A millstone in Capernaum Photo from LivingTravel.com

A law about loaning money


A person loans money to another person.  The person who borrows should give something valuable to the loaner. The loaner will keep the thing until the borrower pays back the money.  But the loaner should never take the borrower's millstone. Millstones are the big rocks used to grind grain (crush the grain to make flour). The borrower needs to keep his millstone so he can make flour and then make bread. 
[6] No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge.

Kidnapping another Israelite


An Israelite kidnaps (steals) another Israelite.  He sells him so that he becomes a slave.  The person who kidnapped the other person must die. It is evil to kidnap another person and make him a slave. They should kill him to get the evil out of Israel.   
[7] If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.

Leprosy

Leprosy is a skin disease. The Israelites should remember God's laws about leprosy. They should do everything the priests tell them to do.  To read the laws about leprosy, please click here

They should remember what God did to Miriam (Moses' sister) after they left Egypt. To read about Miriam and leprosy, please click here.
[8] Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
[9] Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.

A law about loaning money


A person loans money to another person.  The person who borrows should give something valuable to the loaner. The loaner will keep the thing until the borrower pays back the money.  But the loaner should never go into the borrower's house to get the thing. He should stay outside. The borrower will bring the thing out to him. 
[10] When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
[11] Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.


The borrower gives the loaner a coat to keep until he pays back his loan. The loaner should not keep the coat all night. The borrower needs the coat at night to keep warm.  The loaner should give the coat back at night.  God will see that the loaner did the right thing. 
[12] And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
[13] In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

Workers should be paid before sunset


An Israelite hires people to work for him. The workers might be Israelites or workers from other places.  Each day before sunset, the man should pay the workers. The workers are poor. They need their money everyday. If the workers do not get their money, they will pray to God. They will complain about the man who hired them. It is sin if the man does not pay the workers everyday.   
[14] Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
[15] At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

Some people are punished with death.


Some sins were punished with death. That means that the person who committed the sin would be killed.  If a son or daughter committed a sin, his parent should not be killed.  If a parent committed a sin, his son or daughter should not be killed.  A person could be killed only for his own sin.
[16] The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

The Israelites should be good to strangers and orphans.


The Israelites should be fair to strangers and orphans.  If they loan money to a widow, they should not take her clothes to hold until she pays back the money. 
[17] Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:


They should remember that they were slaves in Egypt in the past. God helped them and rescued them.  Now they should treat other people well, too.
[18] But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

Farmers should leave some food in the fields for other people.

An Israelite is cutting down the food on his farm. He leaves, then he sees that he forgot some food in the field.  He should not go back and cut it down. He should leave it there.  Then orphans, widows, and strangers can come and cut it down for food.  If the Israelite does this, God will bless everything he does.
[19] When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.


An Israelite is getting the olives off his trees. Then he sees that he forgot some olives.  He should not go back for them.  He should leave them on the trees.  Then the strangers, orphans, and widows can pick the olives.
[20] When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

An Israelite is getting the grapes from his farm. Then he sees that he forgot some grapes.  He should not go back for them.  He should leave them there.  Then the strangers, orphans, and widows can pick the grapes.
[21] When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
[22] And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

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