Deuteronomy 24
Overview
Deuteronomy 24 presents a series of laws addressing diverse social issues such as divorce, lending, labor rights, and justice, particularly for the vulnerable members of society. These laws reflect a concern for compassion, fairness, and social responsibility. Key points include:
Divorce and Remarriage: The chapter begins with regulations on divorce, stating that if a man divorces his wife and she marries another man who also divorces her or dies, the first husband cannot remarry her. This law aims to uphold the sanctity of marriage and prevent the trivialization of divorce.
Lending and Pledges: There are specific rules on lending and taking pledges (collateral) from the poor. For instance, a lender must not enter the borrower's house to take a pledge but must wait outside, and if the borrower is poor, the pledge (often a cloak) must be returned by sunset.
Labor Rights: The chapter includes laws protecting the rights of workers. Employers are instructed to pay their workers their wages on the same day and not withhold them overnight. This law shows concern for the well-being of workers, particularly those who live day-to-day.
Justice for the Vulnerable: Various laws emphasize justice and compassion for the vulnerable, including instructions not to pervert justice due to a foreigner or an orphan and not to take a widow's garment as a pledge. The chapter also mandates leaving behind a portion of the harvest for foreigners, orphans, and widows.
Punishments for Transgressions: There is a provision that parents are not to be put to death for their children's sins, nor children for their parents' sins, each is to die for their own sin, upholding individual responsibility.
Deuteronomy 24 is a comprehensive set of laws that address practical aspects of daily life while underscoring the values of compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity. The laws seek to protect the rights and needs of the vulnerable and promote a society where fairness and kindness are integral to social interactions and legal processes. The chapter reflects the Israelite community's commitment to creating a just and caring environment for all its members.
Divorce and Remarriage: The chapter begins with regulations on divorce, stating that if a man divorces his wife and she marries another man who also divorces her or dies, the first husband cannot remarry her. This law aims to uphold the sanctity of marriage and prevent the trivialization of divorce.
Lending and Pledges: There are specific rules on lending and taking pledges (collateral) from the poor. For instance, a lender must not enter the borrower's house to take a pledge but must wait outside, and if the borrower is poor, the pledge (often a cloak) must be returned by sunset.
Labor Rights: The chapter includes laws protecting the rights of workers. Employers are instructed to pay their workers their wages on the same day and not withhold them overnight. This law shows concern for the well-being of workers, particularly those who live day-to-day.
Justice for the Vulnerable: Various laws emphasize justice and compassion for the vulnerable, including instructions not to pervert justice due to a foreigner or an orphan and not to take a widow's garment as a pledge. The chapter also mandates leaving behind a portion of the harvest for foreigners, orphans, and widows.
Punishments for Transgressions: There is a provision that parents are not to be put to death for their children's sins, nor children for their parents' sins, each is to die for their own sin, upholding individual responsibility.
Deuteronomy 24 is a comprehensive set of laws that address practical aspects of daily life while underscoring the values of compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity. The laws seek to protect the rights and needs of the vulnerable and promote a society where fairness and kindness are integral to social interactions and legal processes. The chapter reflects the Israelite community's commitment to creating a just and caring environment for all its members.
Deuteronomy 24
1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge.
7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
9 Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.
10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
🔑 Kingdom Principle
11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.
12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.
🔑 See & Share Jesus
14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:
18 But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
End of Deuteronomy 24
1 Year Plan: Mar 24 - Deut 23, Deut 24, Luk 15
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge.
7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
9 Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.
10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
🔑 Kingdom Principle
11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.
12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.
🔑 See & Share Jesus
14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:
18 But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
End of Deuteronomy 24
1 Year Plan: Mar 24 - Deut 23, Deut 24, Luk 15
Got a Question or Comment?
