Day 76 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 76– Deuteronomy 17 – 20 (Forbidden worship, Judges, Kings, Priests, Cities of Refuge, Witnesses, Warfare)

Moses with another eclectic list of laws, duties, and possibilities.  Chapter 17 reviews the seriousness of worshiping idols and leading others to do so = death. Priests & Judges, with 2-3 witnesses decide the fate of murderers and assault cases.

Moses also covers the time when Israel will want a king for themselves, and what special laws will apply to him.

Chapter 18 reaffirms that the people MUST support their brothers, the Levites, for they are not proportioned any land. It also warns strongly against any occult practices, and sentences death to practitioners.

And then Moses tells of “a Prophet” that God will raise up from their tribes and put His own words in His mouth. Israel is to “listen to Him.” (An early hint of the Messiah. See John 1:21, 25, 6:14)

Chapter 19  again distinguishes between premeditated murder and manslaughter, calling for three Cities of Refuge to safeguard the one who accidentally killed someone, and more cities as the nation grows.  It also warns of untrue and malicious witnesses, saying they shall be punished as was meant for the supposed offender.

In Chapter 20 Moses covers a new topic, that of warfare, first when fighting enemies around Israel, and then those inside the Land.  In the first case, they can besiege cities (but not cut down fruit trees for siegeworks), and when they conquer it, everything will be their spoil. The captured people will be forced labor and all animals and goods are theirs.  However, when they are fighting against the cities of Canaan, they shall utterly destroy everybody and everything.  First to clear the land of idolatry, and then to punish these offenders whose iniquity was finally “ripe,” and to give space for Israel.

Interestingly, there are 4 types of men who can “evade the military draft.”  1) Any man who has built a new home and has not dedicated it. 2) Any man who has planted a vineyard and has not yet enjoyed the fruit yet. 3) Any man who has betrothed a wife but has not yet taken her in marriage.  4) And finally, any man who is fearful and fainthearted may also leave the service.