Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
31:19 Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives.
These instructions became the pattern when the Israelites entered Canaan and engaged in battle. The cleansing rituals associated with death were still necessary even when the battle was God initiated. The spoils were to be divided between those who fought and those that did not (v.27).
31:19 Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives.
These instructions became the pattern when the Israelites entered Canaan and engaged in battle. The cleansing rituals associated with death were still necessary even when the battle was God initiated. The spoils were to be divided between those who fought and those that did not (v.27).
32:4-5 "… the land the LORD subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. If we have found favor in your eyes," they said, "let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan."
These people had not seen the land west of the Jordan yet were opting out of it! They were comfortable where they were and happy to settle for something less than what God intended.
Do we do this?
32:4-5 "… the land the LORD subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. If we have found favor in your eyes," they said, "let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan."
These people had not seen the land west of the Jordan yet were opting out of it! They were comfortable where they were and happy to settle for something less than what God intended.
Do we do this?
33:53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.
The land is God's gift to Israel. God gives them the land but they have to possess it – walk in faith, believe God's promises and have courage. And we have to do the same – God gives us gifts, we have to exercise faith and courage, believing God's promise to us.
33:53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.
The land is God's gift to Israel. God gives them the land but they have to possess it – walk in faith, believe God's promises and have courage. And we have to do the same – God gives us gifts, we have to exercise faith and courage, believing God's promise to us.
34:12 This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.
(From Constable's Commentary) "This is not the same territory promised to Abraham but was what God gave the Israelites at their entrance into the land. If they had been obedient to Him, He would have enlarged their borders to include the whole area promised to Abraham … the 'Canaan' that was the inheritance given to Israel was larger and more extensive than they were ever able to possess even in David and Solomon's time"
God has much more for us to possess – more than we can imagine.
34:12 This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.
(From Constable's Commentary) "This is not the same territory promised to Abraham but was what God gave the Israelites at their entrance into the land. If they had been obedient to Him, He would have enlarged their borders to include the whole area promised to Abraham … the 'Canaan' that was the inheritance given to Israel was larger and more extensive than they were ever able to possess even in David and Solomon's time"
God has much more for us to possess – more than we can imagine.
35:12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.
There was no police force in ancient Israel and "Ancient Near Easterners practiced capital punishment widely as part as the law of retaliation" (Constable's Commentary).
Unlike the other nations, God made provision so innocent people are protected.
35:12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.
There was no police force in ancient Israel and "Ancient Near Easterners practiced capital punishment widely as part as the law of retaliation" (Constable's Commentary).
Unlike the other nations, God made provision so innocent people are protected.