Trees — Eden, Cross, New Jerusalem

Deuteronomychapter 21

23 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 163 cross-references outward and receives 150 — heaviest partner: Deuteronomy.

Chapter summary

The unsolved murder, the captive wife, the rebellious son, and the hanging on a tree. A corpse in the field — the nearest city's elders break a heifer's neck at an unploughed stream; they wash their hands over it and testify that this blood is not theirs. A captive woman taken as wife — thirty days of mourning; then a full wife, not to be sold. A firstborn of two wives — the beloved's son does not supplant the hated's son if he is the firstborn. A stubborn, rebellious son — the elders of his city stone him. A hanged man — ‘he that is hanged is accursed of God; his body shall not remain all night upon the tree’. Galatians 3:13 reads this verse to the cross.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Deuteronomy overview for the book's full setting.

23 Trees — Eden, Cross, New Jerusalem

1 If one be found slain in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath smitten him;

2 then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:

3 and it shall be, that the city which is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

4 and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.

5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be.

6 And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

7 and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.

8 Forgive, O Jehovah, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and suffer not innocent blood to remain in the midst of thy people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them.