David Pawson - Unlocking the Bible

The commands and legislation fall into a number of different categories, detailed in the following sections. *

1. Religious/ceremonial

IDOLATRY/PAGANISM

Israel is forbidden to follow other gods, or erect graven images. We are told that the Lord is a jealous God. Jealousy is an appropriate emotion for God, even if we might not think so at first. We are jealous when we want what is ours. Envy is when we want what is not ours. So just as it would be appropriate for a man to be jealous if another man took his wife, it is right that God should be jealous for his people when they follow other gods.

As a consequence of the First Commandment, asherah poles are specifically forbidden.

There are laws about cutting flesh and shaving heads when mourning.

If a relative seeks to entice their family away from the worship of God, they must be put to death – there should be no mercy.

When attacking idolatrous cities the Israelites are told to kill all the people and burn the city so that it could never be rebuilt.

Idolaters are to be stoned on the word of two or three witnesses, one of whom should be responsible for casting the first stone.

There is to be one place of worship. All ‘high places’ where the Canaanites worship are to be destroyed.

The Israelites are not to enquire about or get interested in other religions. They must shun child sacrifice, which is detestable.

FALSE SPIRITUALISTS

All false prophets, dreamers, and those who ‘follow other gods’ are to be put to death.

All forms of spiritualism are punishable by death: consulting the dead, witchcraft, omens, spells, mediums.

We are told that a true prophet like Moses will be raised up (a reference to Jesus).

When false prophets speak in the name of other gods, or when they speak but the prophecy does not come true, they are to be put to death.

BLASPHEMY

If the name of God is misused, the miscreant must be put to death.

DEDICATIONS

All first-born animals must be dedicated to the Lord.

TITHING

A tenth of all produce is to be set aside. Every three years produce would be passed on for the Levites, aliens, fatherless and widows.

CONQUEST

Baskets of firstfruits are to be offered from any land the Israelites conquer.

They are to declare their history when they arrive in the land, recounting their rescue from Egypt.

Prayers of thanksgiving are also to be made.

SABBATH

Up until the time of Moses, nobody had a Sabbath. It is a new provision for slaves who have previously worked seven days a week, but who are now given one day a week free from work.

FEASTS (ALL PILGRIM EVENTS)

Passover.

Weeks (Pentecost).

Tabernacles.

SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS

If there is a murder, and the perpetrator cannot be found, a heifer is to be sacrificed to declare the innocence of the community.

EXCLUSIONS FROM THE ASSEMBLY

Those with mutilated or castrated genitals are excluded from the assembly of the Lord.

Children of forbidden unions (up to the tenth generation) are also forbidden to enter.

Ammonites and Moabites are explicitly forbidden.

Edomites (from the third generation) are permitted to enter.

VOWS

Whatever we vow we must do. Vows are freely made, so should be followed through. If you make a vow to God you must keep it.

SEPARATION

No mixing of seeds is allowed.

A donkey and an ox should not be yoked together.

Clothes of wool and linen may not be mixed.

These laws of separation may seem very strange, but they were connected to the old fertility cult which was widespread in the land. The pagans believed that by mixing such things they were producing fertility. God was emphasizing that he gives fertility: they did not need to practise such superstition.