Read Deuteronomy 25:1-12 at Bible Gateway.
Previously: deuteronomy 24:10-22, what is due the disadvantaged
(Please review the teaching tools of scripture, especially the Hebrew paragraph divisions and chiastic structures. The paragraphs marked by an “s” at their close are weak paragraphs, which indicate a change of facet but not a change of theme or topic. The paragraphs marked by a “p” at their close are strong paragraphs, which indicate the completion of a theme or topic. The paragraph divisions reveal the chiastic structures: narratives which zero in on the main point of the narrative at its center, like a bull’s eye at the center of a target. The main point is revealed, because the narrative elements before the main point (or central axis) are repeated after the central axis, in reverse order, while the central axis itself is not repeated.)
The Tenth Commandment, Do not covet, is explained in Deu 24:10-26:15. These are the Hebrew paragraph divisions in the second section:
Deu 25:1-4 {s} Do not withhold what is justly due the wicked or the ox
Deu 25:5-10 {s} Do not withhold seed that is justly due the dead brother
Deu 25:11-12 {s} Do not withhold just punishment
Our modern society is far from the standard of justice and righteousness expressed in Torah, so some of these commandments seem alien to us. In our English Bibles, vs. 1-4 are separated into two paragraphs, because to human logic, they seem to be about two separate topics. But the Hebrew paragraph divisions tell us that it is teaching a single theme. The key is: do not withhold what is justly due the ox … and do not withhold what is justly due the wicked, when he has been found deserving of punishment.
By this we learn that Do not covet entails more than not lusting for something we lack … it also entails, not keeping something that is ours, to ourselves, that is however due to another.
That is why it is an injustice for the brother of the dead husband to refuse to give children to the widow … he is keeping to himself that is due another.
The punishment in the last paragraph is severe, I grant that … but the severity of the punishment correlates to the severity of the infraction. To act as the woman in the paragraph did, might have been common practice among the Canaanites where Israel was going. But because of the commandment, every woman in Israel feared to do what perhaps they were inclined to do, and their self- control prevailed. Self- control is a good thing and a blessing.
This section forms a small chiastic structure:
Deu 25:1-12, s+s+s
1a) Deu 25:1-3, If there is a dispute among men + you shall not withhold punishment due the wicked;
1b) Deu 25:4 s, You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain (do not withhold what is due);
central axis) Deu 25:5a, If brothers dwell together;
2b) Deu 25:5b-10 s, The husband’s brother shall do his duty (do not withhold what is due);
2a) Deu 25:11-12 s, If two men fight together + you shall not withhold punishment due the wife.
Continued: deuteronomy 25:13-16, unjust weights and measures
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