Deuteronomy

34 chapters

Chapter summaries

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1. 1Moyses beginneth the first day of the eleventh month and fortieth year after the children of Israel parted from Egypt, to repeat and explicate the Law, 6. first putting them in mind of God's munificence, his own and other superiors' care over them, their ingratitude, incredulity, murmuring, 34. and punishment for the same.
2. 2With commemoration of God's continual protection of the Israelites, they are forbid to fight against the Idumeans, 9. the Moabites, or Ammonites. 24. But against Sehon King of Hesebon they should fight, kill him and all his, and possess his land.
3. 3The victory against the king of Basan of the giants stock is repeated, 12. Ruben Gad and half tribe of Manasses have possession on the other side Jordan from their brethren. 23. Moyses praying that he may go over Jordan, for the sins of the people is denied.
4. 4Moyses exhorteth the people to keep God's commandments. 15. Namely that they make no similitude nor image of man, nor of beast, bird, fish, sun, moon, nor of any creature to serve the same for the Creator. He foretelleth his own death, 25. threateneth them if they forsake God. 41. and appointeth three cities of refuge, on the same side Jordan.
5. 5The ten commandments are repeated and explained. 23. With commemoration of their dread and fear, when they heard the voice from the cloud, and saw the mountain burn.
6. 6God is diligently to be served, and loved with thy whole heart, thy whole soul, and whole strength. All his precepts, ceremonies and judgements must be carefully kept, and commended to posterity.
7. 7No league nor fellowship to be had with the Gentiles: 5. but their altars, groves, and all their idols to be destroyed. 17. God promiseth victories to his people, willing them to trust in him, and serve him.
8. 8The people is put in mind of afflictions which happened in the desert, and of benefits as well past, as promised; 11. to the end they love and serve God more effectually.
9. 9Lest they should impute the victories (which they shall have) to themselves, 6. they are put in mind of their often provoking God's wrath, 12. by idolatry, 22. by murmuring, by concupiscence, by contempt, and other sins. 25. for which they should have been destroyed, but God spared them for his promise made to Abraham Isaac and Jacob.
10. 10Moyses receiving the second tables of the ten commandments, and making an ark put them therein. 6. with mention of certain places where the children of Israel had camped, of Aaron's death, and of the Levites' office, and possessions, 12. he inculcateth the fear and love of God, and the keeping of his precepts. 16. namely to circumcise the heart. 19. to love strangers 20. and not to serve, nor swear by false gods.
11. 11For the benefits of God ( whereof some are repeated, and others promised ) the Israelites are bound to love him. 16. but if they forsake him he threateneth punishments. 26. proposing benediction and malediction as they shall deserve.
12. 12All idolatry, and whatsoever appertaineth thereto must be destroyed. 5. Sacrifices, tithes, and donaries must be offered in the special place, 15. Eating flesh they must not eat the blood. 29. In no case to imitate the idolatry of gentiles.
13. 13False Prophets must be slain, 6. how near soever they be in kindred, or friendship. 12. The whole city that shall permit false doctrine must be utterly destroyed, men, beasts, and all movables, and never be built again.
14. 14Gentiles' manner of mourning for the dead is prohibited. 3. Likewise to eat things unclean, with mention of certain clean and unclean beasts, 9. fishes, 11. and birds. 21. Also precepts of piety, clemency, paying tithes, first fruits, 27. nourishing of Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows.
15. 15Remission of debts in the seventh year to the Israelites, but not to strangers. 4. Albeit there will always be some poor, yet they must so lend to their needy brethren, that none be forced to beg. 12. An Hebrew servant that is an Hebrew must be set free in the seventh year, 16. except he desire to serve still. 19. The firstborn in all cattle must be consecrated to God, without making private profit thereof.
16. 16Three more solemn feasts to be kept every year, Pasch, 9. Pentecost, 13. and the feast of tabernacles, 18. Just Judges to be appointed in every city. 21. All occasions of Idolatry to be avoided.
17. 17Perfect hosts, not maimed nor defective, must be offered to God, Idolaters stoned to death. 8. When inferior judges differ, the cause must be decided, by the High Priest in consistory. Who is warranted not to err therein, and all are bound to obey his sentence. 14. The duty also of a king (whom in future time God will condescend to give them) is described, with special charge to receive the law of God at the Priests' hands.
18. 18In stead of other inheritance Priests and Levites have provision by Sacrifices and oblations. 9. All superstition to be avoided. 15. Repromise of prophets, and finally one special PROPHET ( towit CHRIST ) is promised. 20. False prophets must be slain.
19. 19Certain cities of refuge must be assigned for casual manslaughter. 11. Wilful murder punished by death without remission, 15. so is to be convinced by two or three witnesses. 16. False witnesses punished with the pain, which the crime objected deserveth.
20. 20Lawful wars are to be undertaken with courage and confidence. 5. Such as for special causes may be dismissed from the field, 10. What is to be observed towards the enemy. 19. What trees may not be cut down, and what sort may be, for the use of wars.
21. 21How to seek out a secret murderer. 10. Women taken in battle may be married after a month. 15. The eldest son may not be deprived of his birthright for hatred of his mother. 18. A stubborn son must be stoned to death. 22. When one is hanged on a gibbet, he must be taken down the same day, and buried.
22. 22Piety towards neighbours. 5. neither sex may use the apparel of the other. 6. cruelty to be avoided even towards birds, 8. battlement about the roof of a house. 9. Things of diverse kinds not to be mixed. 12. cords in the hems of a cloak. 13. Trial and punishment of adultery and of deflowering virgins. 30. the son may not marry his stepmother.
23. 23Eunuchs, bastards, Moabites, and Ammonites may not enter into the Church. 7. Idumeans, and Egyptians may be admitted. 9. Observation of spiritual and corporal cleanness. 15. other precepts concerning fugitives, 17. fornication, 19. Usury. 21. Vows. 24. and eating other men's grapes or corn.
24. 24Divorce permitted to avoid greater evil. 5. The newly married must not go to war. 7. He that traitorously stealeth a man must be slain. 8. disobedience to Priests incurreth leprosy. 10. Such things may not be taken to pledge, as cannot be well spared. 14. Poor laborers must be presently paid. 16. not one punished for another's fault, but right judgement to all, 18, 19. and liberal alms to the poor.
25. 25Punishment afflicted according to the faults, but so that he which is beaten have not above forty stripes. 4. The ox's mouth not be muzzled that treadeth corn. 5. A married man dying without issue, his brother must marry the widow. 11. The wife that taketh her husband's adversary by privities must lose her hand. 13. no false weights, nor measures to be kept. 17. Amalecites must be utterly destroyed.
26. 26First fruits must be offered in special place assigned to God's service, professing of gratitude for the land possessed according to God's promise. 12. Likewise tithes of the third year, 16. With conclusion, that the people promise to observe all the precepts of God, and so doing they will protest and prosper.
27. 27God's commandments must be written in plastered stones. An Altar erected, and sacrifices offered. 11. Observers of the commandment must be blessed, and transgressors cursed. 14. With the form of cursing idolaters, and divers other enormous sinners.
28. 28Divers blessings are promised to the observers of God's commandments. 15. and curses threatened to transgressors.
29. 29A continual oath is made between God and his people (with commemoration of sundry benefits by them received) that keeping his law they shall be more blessed: and breaking the same shall sustain the threatened punishments.
30. 30If the children of Israel, offending and falling into the foresaid curses shall repent, God will restore them to his blessings again. 11. leaving it in their power to serve him if they will, 17. and therefore Moyses protesteth to them that the impenitent shall assuredly perish, because having life and death, blessing and cursing proposed, they choose the worse.
31. 31Moyses substituteth Josue his successor in temporal government. 9. delivereth the law to the Priests. 16. God foretelleth that the people will often forsake him, and that he will punish them. 19. commandeth Moyses to write a canticle (an abridgement of the Law) easy to be remembered. 25. and the Levites must put this book in the ark side of the covenant.
32. 32A Canticle of the Law, wherein the people are exhorted to serve God, for his perfect goodness, for his singular benefits, for their former ingratitude, and for his mercy still mixed with his punishments. 44. All which earnestly commended to them to remember and teach their children, 48. Moyses is commanded to go into a mountain, whence he shall see the promised land, but not enter into it.
33. 33Moyses blessing the tribes of Israel (Simeon omitted) prophesieth particularly of every one. 26. Again exhorteth them, that as God hath chosen them his peculiar people, so they love and honour him their only God.
34. 34Moyses seeth the promised land, but not suffered to go into it, 5. He dieth at the age of 120. years. God burieth his body secretly, and all Israel mourn for him thirty days. 9. Josue replenished (by imposition of Moyses' hands) with the spirit of God succeedeth. 10. But Moyses for his special familiarity with God, and for most wonderful miracles is commended above all other Prophets.