Deuteronomy 21
Lutheran reading notes
In Deuteronomy chapter 21, the story continues to develop the theme of renewal of the covenant and preparation to enter the promised land. Lutheran interpretation often highlights how the events reveal humanity’s need for God’s grace and the reliability of God's promises. The chapter illustrates both the reality of human weakness and the faithfulness of God who works through history.
1
If {one} be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, {and} it be not known who hath slain him:
Deuteronomy 21:1 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which {are} round about him that is slain:
Deuteronomy 21:2 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
And it shall be, {that} the city {which is} next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, {and} which hath not drawn in the yoke;
Deuteronomy 21:3 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:
Deuteronomy 21:4 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be {tried}: {word: Heb. mouth}
Deuteronomy 21:5 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And all the elders of that city, {that are} next unto the slain {man}, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:
Deuteronomy 21:6 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen {it}.
Deuteronomy 21:7 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them. {unto thy people of: Heb. in the midst, etc}
Deuteronomy 21:8 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
So shalt thou put away the {guilt of} innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do {that which is} right in the sight of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 21:9 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
Deuteronomy 21:10 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
Deuteronomy 21:11 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; {pare: or, suffer to grow: Heb. make, or, dress}
Deuteronomy 21:12 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.
Deuteronomy 21:13 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
Deuteronomy 21:14 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, {both} the beloved and the hated; and {if} the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
Deuteronomy 21:15 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit {that} which he hath, {that} he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, {which is indeed} the firstborn:
Deuteronomy 21:16 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated {for} the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he {is} the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn {is} his. {that...: Heb. that is found with him}
Deuteronomy 21:17 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and {that}, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
Deuteronomy 21:18 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
Deuteronomy 21:19 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son {is} stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; {he is} a glutton, and a drunkard.
Deuteronomy 21:20 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
Deuteronomy 21:21 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
Deuteronomy 21:22 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged {is} accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee {for} an inheritance. {accursed...: Heb. the curse of God}
Deuteronomy 21:23 highlights covenant renewal with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.