Study Desk

Then the leaders of the town nearest to where the body was found are to select a young cow that has never been used for work.

Lord , forgive your people Israel, whom you rescued from Egypt. Forgive us and do not hold us responsible for the murder of an innocent person.'

And so, by doing what the Lord requires, you will not be held responsible for the murder.

and change her clothes. She is to stay in your home and mourn for her parents for a month; after that, you may marry her.

"If someone has been put to death for a crime and the body is hung on a post,

But if its owner lives a long way off or if you don't know who owns it, then take it home with you. When its owner comes looking for it, give it to him.

"Do not hitch an ox and a donkey together for plowing.

You are to take them outside the town and stone them to death. She is to die because she did not cry out for help, although she was in a town, where she could have been heard. And the man is to die because he had intercourse with someone who was engaged. In this way you will get rid of this evil.

The man raped the engaged woman in the countryside, and although she cried for help, there was no one to help her.

"If slaves run away from their owners and come to you for protection, do not send them back.

"When a man is newly married, he is not to be drafted into military service or any other public duty; he is to be excused from duty for one year, so that he can stay at home and make his wife happy.

"When you lend someone something, you are not to take as security his millstones used for grinding his grain. This would take away the family's means of preparing food to stay alive.

Each day before sunset pay them for that day's work; they need the money and have counted on getting it. If you do not pay them, they will cry out against you to the Lord , and you will be guilty of sin.

"Parents are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their children, and children are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their parents; people are to be put to death only for a crime they themselves have committed.

"Do not deprive foreigners and orphans of their rights; and do not take a widow's garment as security for a loan.

"When you gather your crops and fail to bring in some of the grain that you have cut, do not go back for it; it is to be left for the foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

When you have picked your olives once, do not go back and get those that are left; they are for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.

When you have gathered your grapes once, do not go back over the vines a second time; the grapes that are left are for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.

Then we cried out for help to the Lord , the God of our ancestors. He heard us and saw our suffering, hardship, and misery.

Be grateful for the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family; and let the Levites and the foreigners who live among you join in the celebration.