Deuteronomy 2-3 & Acts 26

Moses continues in his own narrative story of the journey from Sinai to the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 2. The interesting characteristic in his story telling is that we begin to get the family background to the people in the Promised Land. For instance, we are told that Israel is related to Edom in that Edom is the descendants of Esau, or Ar is a descendant of Lot. The story of Israel also shows how God has blessed other peoples in the region of the Canaan but Israel is not to have quarrels with these people. The story also contains information such as the Emim or Rephaim who supposedly were giants, precursors of Goliath.

The first battles are also recounted as Israel defeats King Sihon. While Israel seeks peaceful passage, King Sihon brings forth his hosts but God delivered Israel from Sihon and his lands, around Gilead, are given to Israel. This conflict reflects the Holy War, or ban, that God has called Israel to fight. No one is allowed to live, not man, woman or child. Perhaps this ban reflects God's desire to remove impure people from the land or to remove any future conflicts from the region or perhaps this reflects a later editor's desire to make Israel understand that they are not to be like other nations or people but to only be faithful to God. Many cities are conquered in this war, cities that will be turned over to the tribes of Reuben and Gad.

The victory over a mighty king and people further confirms that God will guard Israel and will lead them to victory, one must have faith. This is a lesson that the previous generation did not learn but the new generation of Israel is now experiencing.

The war continues as Deuteronomy 3 offers to us the story of the defeat of King Og of Bashan. The story seems to make King Og one of the giants referred to previously in that his bed was massive about 13 feet long. King Og's defeat cements Israel's place in the Transjordan region, they will not be displaced and now await entrance into the Promised Land by crossing over the Jordan.

In his own words, Moses makes one last plea to enter into the Promised Land, but God holds to his judgment that Moses had broken the covenant with God while in the Wilderness and so only his family will enter into land, not Moses.

Acts 26

The trial of Paul continues, kind of, in chapter 26 of Acts. Festus is concerned that he does not have any charges to write against Paul to send to the emperor for Paul's appeal, so Festus would like an "expert's" opinion. He turns to King Agrippa, a Jew, for this expertise. Paul is before Agrippa and makes his claim of innocence.

Again, Paul seeks to demonstrate that his actions were guided by God and that Paul has always been a faithful adherent to Jewish law and custom. Paul's seemingly establishes the fact his differences with the Jewish authorities is based upon religious aspects and not stirring up a revolt against Rome that the religious leaders attempt to imply.

The end of the chapter demonstrates the strength of Paul's argument for Agrippa mentions that if Paul had not appealed to the emperor, it would be appropriate to release him.