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Deuteronomy 24 is just full of one-line commandment reminders from God.  Moses covered a lot of ground with the people in this passage.

Welcome to the COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY.

We have covered much of Deuteronomy, Chapter 24 already; but for the sake of moving forward today we will cover verses 8 – 22 together. 

If this article seems choppy, or if the words on the page seem to jump from here to there quickly; that is just the style and the way that the scriptures are recorded, with short, simple snippets that are just meant to be observed and remembered. 

We don't want to leave anything of great importance out, and we don't want to overlook anything. 

At the same time; we do not want to belabor any subject after if it seems already covered in one simple sentence. 

Some things are just that way.

VERSE 7 - KIDNAPPING

If a man is caught kidnapping one of his brother Israelites and treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. You must purge the evil from among you.

Kidnapping is a terrible crime against humanity. 

This terrible crime actually went on all the way back to the days of ancient Israel, and it still goes on inside our culture today.  Nothing but evil comes from such a wrong action; especially if the kidnapping is of someone who is a close family member or one that you should be showing loyalty and respect.  Absolutely any type of kidnapping is wrong.

People who were kidnapped long ago were often treated as slaves.  Today people who are kidnapped are often sold into a form of human bondage and wind up being slaves too. They are often put into all types of abominable situations against their will. Slavery, misuse and abuse are in every little hidden corner of the country; it is just not visible to us. We must pray against this evil movement in modern-day society.

God does no approve and He disapproves so strongly that the death sentence is pronounced for the sin of kidnapping as Israel reviews the laws of the people before taking their place in their new homeland.

They are reminded that God abhors kidnapping.

VERSE 8-9 - LEPROSY

In cases of leprous diseases, be very careful to do exactly as the priests, who are Levites, instruct you. You must follow carefully what I have commanded them.  Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam along the way after you came out of Egypt.

During ancient times; when someone suspected they had leprosy they were to go to the priest to be examined. If the priest declared their suspicions accurate, there were certain standards to be upheld according to the severity or the type of skin problems that manifested. 

Everyone in the camp had a huge concern for contagious diseases. They did not want anything entering unnoticed or untreated because there were huge numbers of people living in close quarters. Contagious diseases like leprosy could quickly get out of hand. 

Therefore; the person who contacted any type of leprosy (and there were several types of skin diseases that were considered to be leprosy in those days;) had to stay "outside the camp" for a period of time until their healing was approved by a priest. 

Sometimes there was no hope for healing; but often the disease would go away and the person was allowed to return to moving within the camp among the people again. 

Those who lived outside the camp moved and traveled on their own just staying a certain distance away from the rest of the people at all times. They were usually told to yell out "unclean" if someone was approaching them without knowing their condition. This was a terrible way for anyone to have to go through life. 

God mentioned Miriam here. 

There was a time when Miriam was struck with leprosy.  It was a punishment for being rebellious and disobedient to God by being disrespectful and not showing honor and respect toward Moses as a leader. 

We told this whole story in detail when we were studying the book of Exodus during a past lesson. If you wish to review it here is the link: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/never-speak-against-gods-humble-servants/. 

However you look at the experience of Miriam (there is much to learn from it); I think God was reminding the people to stay humble and obey those in authority over them.  That was where Miriam went wrong, and that was how leprosy came tragically into her life. 

During the days of Israel's formation as a nation; It was always better to remain inside the camp as opposed to having to live outside the camp..

VERSES 10-15  - ABOUT LOANS AND PAYCHECKS

When you make a loan of any kind to your neighbor, do not go into his house to get what he is offering as a pledge.  Stay outside and let the man to whom you are making the loan bring the pledge out to you.  If the man is poor, do not go to sleep with his pledge in your possession.  Return his cloak to him by sunset so that he may sleep in it. Then he will thank you, and it will be regarded as a righteous act in the sight of the LORD your God.  Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise; he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Here it seems that God is simply commanding the people to be respectful and considerate to each other. 

Let the person leaving collateral for their loan with you go and get the collateral and bring it to you.  Do not seize it.  Show respect for their situation and have mercy in the way you deal with people. 

Treat everyone with dignity. 

If they are poor and they give you their cloak; be sure they have it back by sunset when they will need it to stay warm.  Do not make the unfortunate suffer more because of their association with you; make their lives better, not worse, and you will give glory to God.

VERSES 16 -18 ACT JUSTLY

Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.  Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.

When a person is judged; they should only be held accountable for their own sins.  Parents are not punished for their children's sins, nor are children punished for their parent's sins. 

Justice is applied properly as individual accountability. 

So; be merciful if a widow with no money can't repay you.  Do not be harsh or take anything that does not belong to you when trying to collect rent or loans. 

God wants the people to stop and remember what it was like to be a helpless slave and to realize how everyone needs mercy and forgiveness sometimes.  They lived that way in Egypt before God delivered them.  If not for God's help they would still be in bondage. 

Judgement for sin from God happens on an individual basis. One generation does not need to pay for the sin of another generation; each is held accountable for their own actions. This totally rules out critical race theory. Israel was NOT asked to abide by any such laws; and according to biblical standards; neither should anyone today. We ALL will answer for our sins to God on an individual basis. If everyone keeps the commandments, remains kind to one another and lives out God's ways; no one suffers.

VERSES 19 – 21 - PROVIDE FOR THE HUNGRY WITH DIGNITY

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.  When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.

All God asks in this commandment is that those who have what they need in abundance be kind enough to leave some for those who do not.  Allow them to glean your fields and get the left-overs.  Let them get the olives that were not picked in the first harvest.  This is how they can work for their food and not starve yet keep their dignity and personal responsibility intact. 

God cared how the have-nots were treated; and He made provision for them from those who had plenty.    

VERSE 22 – REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE SLAVES

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

God reminds his people that they are to remain humble and to realize that every blessing they possess came from His hand and His hands alone.  They were slaves in Egypt and just as destitute as some of their neighbors at one time; if not for God they would still be there begging for bread in Pharaoh's palace and working their fingers to the bone.  The least they can do to show their gratitude to God is to treat their fellowman with love and dignity and respect. 

These were the traits of responsibility that each Israelite shared.

These are the things that we would do well to observe today.