Read Deuteronomy 23 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew Paragraphs:
23:1 {s} Assembly membership prohibited
23:2 {s} Assembly membership prohibited to 10th generation
23:3-6 {s} Assembly membership prohibited to 10th generation
23:7-8 {s} Assembly membership allowed in 3rd generation
23:9-14 {s} Holiness in the army camp
23:15-16 {s} An escaped slave shall not be returned to his master
23:17-18 {s} Wages of a harlot or the price of a dog shall not be offered to YHVH
23:19-20 {s} Do not steal by means of interest on loans
23:21-23 {s} Pay vows to YHVH
23:24 {s} Do not harvest your neighbor’s vineyard
23:25 {s} Do not harvest your neighbor’s standing grain
We have been learning how to preserve the integrity of the marital union. Some of the paragraphs in chapter 23, though, have left the 7th Commandment of Do not commit adultery, and have moved on to theft. Deu 23:15 begins defining what is and is not theft, beginning with the case of the escaped slave. All the paragraphs explaining Do not commit adultery make its own Chiastic Structure:
The Chiastic Structure shines a spotlight on the central axis, which is, kind treatment, and love. And kindness, and love, is at the heart of preserving the marital union. Daily kindnesses done for the other, daily asking the question, “What can I do to show love to my spouse today?” and then acting on it, helps preserve the marital union, by keeping our hearts knit to our spouses’ heart.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Deuteronomy 21:10-23:14, Seventh Commandment Chiastic Structure – Christine Miller
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