for his people when they follow other gods.
As a consequence of the First Commandment, asherah poles are specifically forbidden.
There are laws about cutting flesh and shaving heads when mourning.
If a relative seeks to entice their family away from the worship of God, they must be put to death – there should be no mercy.
When attacking idolatrous cities the Israelites are told to kill all the people and burn the city so that it could never be rebuilt.
Idolaters are to be stoned on the word of two or three witnesses, one of whom should be responsible for casting the first stone.
There is to be one place of worship. All ‘high places’ where the Canaanites worship are to be destroyed.
The Israelites are not to enquire about or get interested in other religions. They must shun child sacrifice, which is detestable.
FALSE SPIRITUALISTS
All false prophets, dreamers, and those who ‘follow other gods’ are to be put to death.
All forms of spiritualism are punishable by death: consulting the dead, witchcraft, omens, spells, mediums.
We are told that a true prophet like Moses will be raised up (a reference to Jesus).
When false prophets speak in the name of other gods, or when they speak but the prophecy does not come true, they are to be put to death.
BLASPHEMY
If the name of God is misused, the miscreant must be put to death.
DEDICATIONS
All first-born animals must be dedicated to the Lord.
TITHING
A tenth of all produce is to be set aside. Every three years produce would be passed on for the Levites, aliens, fatherless and widows.
CONQUEST
Baskets of firstfruits are to be offered from any land the Israelites conquer.
They are to declare their history when they arrive in the land, recounting their rescue from Egypt.
Prayers of thanksgiving are also to be made.
SABBATH
Up until the time of Moses, nobody had a Sabbath. It is a new provision for slaves who have previously worked seven days a week, but who are now given one day a week free from work.
FEASTS (ALL PILGRIM EVENTS)
Passover.
Weeks (Pentecost).
Tabernacles.
SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS
If there is a murder, and the perpetrator cannot be found, a heifer is to be sacrificed to declare the innocence of the community.
EXCLUSIONS FROM THE ASSEMBLY
Those with mutilated or castrated genitals are excluded from the assembly of the Lord.
Children of forbidden unions (up to the tenth generation) are also forbidden to enter.
Ammonites and Moabites are explicitly forbidden.
Edomites (from the third generation) are permitted to enter.
VOWS
Whatever we vow we must do. Vows are freely made, so should be followed through. If you make a vow to God you must keep it.
SEPARATION
No mixing of seeds is allowed.
A donkey and an ox should not be yoked together.
Clothes of wool and linen may not be mixed.
These laws of separation may seem very strange, but they were connected to the old fertility cult which was widespread in the land. The pagans believed that by mixing such things they were producing fertility. God was emphasizing that he gives fertility: they did not need to practise such superstition.
2. Government
KING
There are laws here for a king, even though they were not to have a king for centuries.
God is their king – kingship is a concession, not part of his plan.
When a king comes to the throne he has to write out the laws of Moses in his own handwriting and read them regularly.
The king is instructed not to have many wives, many horses, or much money.
JUDGES
Rules for conducting law courts are given, including provision for a court of appeal. Interestingly, the penalty for contempt of court given here is death.
There are also
