Today I read Deuteronomy 21, which instructs the Israelites on how to deal with unsolved murders, captured war wives, firstborn sons, and disobedient sons. Today I considered that God was serious about punishing children obeying their parents.
Murder Mystery, War Wives, and Sons
The Israelites were given laws concerning unsolved murders, capturing wives during war, and treatment of their sons (Deuteronomy 21:1-23). If a person is found killed in the field, the elders of the nearest city will make a sacrifice for the person. The elders will state if they are innocent and if they know who killed the person. If a person took a woman captive through war and wanted to sleep with her, they had to make her their wife. They were not to touch her the first month and give her time to mourn. If they are not happy with the war captured wife after they sleep with her, they have to set her free and not sell her. Men are to treat their firstborn sons, even those born of hated wives, as firstborn sons. Both the father and mother together can take a rebellious son that won’t obey them before the elders of the city to be stoned to death.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God expected the children of Israel to obey their fathers and mothers. When children refuse to listen to either the father or the mother, both parents can take them before the elders for punishment. I never thought the phrase “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out” would be supported in the Bible. But we have to remember that we live by grace through Jesus Christ and not by the law, so don’t harm your child. We are instructed that “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8 NIV).
What did you read in Deuteronomy chapter 21 that was surprising to you?