Study Desk

When you are attacking a town, don't chop down its fruit trees, not even if you have had the town surrounded for a long time. Fruit trees aren't your enemies, and they produce food that you can eat, so don't cut them down.

They and some of the priests will take this cow to a nearby valley where there is a stream, but no crops. Once they reach the valley, the leaders will break the cow's neck. The priests must be there, because the Lord your God has chosen them to be his special servants at the place of worship. The Lord has chosen them to bless the people in his name and to be judges in all legal cases, whether property or injury is involved.

If a man is caught in town having sex with an engaged woman who isn't screaming for help, they both must be put to death. The man is guilty of having sex with a married woman. And the woman is guilty because she didn't call for help, even though she was inside a town and people were nearby. Take them both to the town gate and stone them to death. You must get rid of the evil they brought into your community.

Suppose a woman isn't engaged to be married, and a man talks her into sleeping with him. If they are caught,

they will be forced to get married. He must give her father fifty pieces of silver as a bride-price and can never divorce her.

This is because when you came out of Egypt, they refused to provide you with food and water. And besides, they hired Balaam to put a curse on you.

Wait outside, and they will bring out the item you have agreed on.

Pay them their wages at the end of each day, because they live in poverty and need the money to survive. If you don't pay them on time, they will complain about you to the Lord , and he will punish you.

You were tired, and they followed along behind, attacking those who could not keep up with the others. This showed that the Amalekites have no respect for God.

The Lord your God will help you capture the land, and he will give you peace. But when that day comes, you must wipe out Amalek so completely that no one will remember they ever lived.

Then, standing there in front of the place of worship, you must pray: My ancestor was homeless, an Aramean who went to live in Egypt. There were only a few in his family then, but they became great and powerful, a nation of many people.

The Egyptians were cruel and had no pity on us. They mistreated our people and forced us into slavery.

Moses said to Israel: Every year you are to give ten percent of your harvest to the Lord . But every third year, this ten percent must be given to the poor who live in your town, including Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows. That way, they will have enough to eat.

After you cross the Jordan River, you will go to Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. The tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin will go up on Mount Gerizim, where they will bless the people of Israel. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali will go up on Mount Ebal where they will agree to the curses.

Then everyone on earth will know that you belong to the Lord , and they will be afraid of you.

and no one will disturb the birds and wild animals while they eat your dead bodies.

Even if your olive trees grow everywhere in your country, the olives will fall off before they are ready, and there won't be enough olive oil for combing your hair.

You will be so short of money that you will have to borrow from those foreigners. They will be the leaders in the community, and you will be the followers.

They won't show any mercy, and they will have no respect for old people or pity for children.

They will take your cattle, sheep, goats, grain, wine, and olive oil, then leave you to starve.