How to treat others impartially

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don't know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it "really" means.. Let's see where this takes us! 

Deuteronomy 20

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Verses 1-9: This is an acknowledgment of unsolved killings. In the absence of the punishment of the guilty, a sacrifice of a heifer is offered in remembrance of the victim. It seems that these would be heifers already offered to the Levites for such purposes. Just because we don't know who the murderer is, doesn't mean we can just pretend the murder didn't happen.

Verses 10-14: The message seems to be that a female captive intended for marriage can't then be treated as a slave if the marriage is unsatisfactory. You can't switch the rules on her for your convenience. 

More generally, I think it is incumbent on all of us to be steady and consistent so that others know what to expect from us. When we selfishly change, that is, in a sense, a betrayal of others.  

 Verses 15-17: This theme of consistency carries into this passage. In a polygamous marriage, the customary privileges given to the firstborn do not depend on who the mother is. This accords with the general theme of Mosaic law that one must not be partial in how others are treated according to personal preference or convenience.

Verses 18-21: I understand this metaphorically. The emphasis is to "purge the evil from your midst." We have lots of foolish thoughts that tempt us to do foolish things, such as to fall into drunkenness or gluttony. The father-mother or LORD, our highest consciousness, calls on us to eliminate such thoughts and consequent behaviors from our lives. 

I do not believe there is any intention for actual people to be killed for self-inflicted harm.

Verses 22-23: What strikes me isn't something these verses say, but what they don't say. Do not make a spectacle out of executions to humiliate the criminal. Do not put corpses on display as a warning to others. It's both a serious and a sad matter in that situation and it's best that the matter doesn't linger. It should be buried.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)