Deuteronomy 21-22 & Psalm 35

If a situation arises where a dead person is found in the open, between two towns, there must be a determination of who shall make the appropriate sacrifice to alleviate guilt. Deuteronomy 21 offers the instructions that the closest town must take up this obligation with an appropriate sin offering and washing away of sin. There are two concerns, the first is the body and the second is the land, for while appropriate rites must be taken for the dead corpse, attention is also given to make sure that the land is not defiled as well.

In what would seem to be an addendum to chapter 19, vs. 10 of Deuteronomy 21 instructions are offered for those who desire to marry a woman taken as captive after a war. As a wife, she then is allowed full rights of an Israelite woman. If the Israelite chooses not to keep her as a wife, she must be released and not sold off as a slave for she still retains her status as an Israelite.

The head of the household again has certain obligations for his children. The chapter affirms the right of the first born son, even is he is the son of a disliked wife. (Of course David's selection of Solomon would seem to contravene this law.) His birthright is protected. In another ruling regarding children, rebellious children are warned that they can be stoned if the elders of a community believe they have disrespected their parents.

As we near Easter, the end of the chapter holds an interesting tidbit. If a person is convicted of a crime and found guilty and hung on a tree, they must not remain up on the tree all night but instead cut down and buried. Anyone hung on a tree s under God's curse.

The opening of Deuteronomy 22 reminds Israel that they cannot claim ignorance in failing to respond to the needs of their neighbors. They are to take an active role in assisting their neighbor. The next several verses might fall under the category of two different things do not go together, do not mix the natural order of things. 

The final verses deal with sexual relations, the opening discussion demonstrating the even status of men and women. If a man lies about the virginity of his wife, he will be fined; if she lies, stoned to death. Not really equal there. 

If two parties, unmarried but one is betrothed, agree to an affair, they are both killed. Pretty equal. If a man lays with a betrothed women, but no one was around to hear her cry out, then his the one killed. If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed and sleeps with her, and they are caught, he must take her for a wife.

Psalm 35

The psalmist seeks rescue against those who offering false testimony and persecution. The righteousness of the psalmist is demonstrated in that when those persecuting him or her were sick, the psalmist acting in appropriate ways to bring healing. While now, these same people have turned against the psalmist.

In seeking deliverance, the psalmist also vows to offer prayers of thanksgiving and testimony after the deliverance comes. However, it would seem that such deliverance is not immediately forthcoming as the petition includes a cry of how long? This causes the psalmist again to seek deliverance and to seek God's action against the wicked.

Those who seek joy in his calamity are asked to be brought to shame, while those who seek his vindication are offered joy.