Marbaniang, Domenic

1. CITIES OF REFUGE (Deut.19:1-13) These cities were places where an unintentional killer (someone who didn't kill by intention, but by accident) could run and be safe. However, if he left the city, his blood was on his head. 2. LIMIT OF WITNESSES ( Deut. 19:15-20) The limit of witnesses was at least two or three. The Law specifically states: "One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." (Deut.19:15, NIV) 3. MANNER OF INVESTIGATION ( Deut. 19:18) The judges were required to make a "thorough investigation" (NIV), a "careful inquiry" (NKJV) of the matter. 4. DETERRENT OF CRIME ( Deut. 19:18-21) "..if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you. And those who remain shall hear an...

People sometimes bemoan the fact that slavery was permitted in the Old Testament; but, what one needs not fail to recognize is that it was permitted for only a liberating purpose and with certain limitations. It was both limited and liberating. Deuteronomy 15:12-18 underscores at least three laws about the practice of slavery: 1. It was to be VOLUNTARY. The Law specifies, "If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself.." It was not to be a forced bond-labor. It had to be voluntary. When a person would be in so much debt that he couldn't pay it back anymore, he usually would prefer selling himself as a slave. In other cultures, such slavery would become permanent and for generations. But, the Bible didn't permit that, unless the servant voluntarily willed to remain with the master (16-17). 2. It was to be TEMPORARY. It says that when one has served for 6 years, in the 7th year "you must let him go free." Slavery couldn't spill over into the 7th yea...