The women that are captured in battle shall not be treated as slaves, but if one should desire her, he may prepare her to marry. As a wife, she may abide in the camp, but she must adhere to the Law of God, for her own goodness and for the greater good of the camp.

     If a man desires a captive woman to marry, and then later puts her away in a divorce, he shall not treat her badly and he shall give her the freedom to go on her own, as a free woman, and not a slave or maidservant. She has been humbled, and shall not be treated as less than a blessed child of God. She cannot be sold, nor can she be treated like merchandise.

     This chapter also addresses the law about unruly children, and the consequences of such a sin. When a child behaves unruly and will not heed to the instruction of his parents, it is a reflection of the People, when they are disobedient to the instruction and law of God. Therefore, the sin must be punished in like manner, that the child be put to death by stoning.

     The child will die, and the remaining children in the camp will see and take heed, lest they fall into the same or similar fate.

     If there is a death in the camp, and the matter goes unsolved, the People must still come clean of the slain. God makes it clear throughout the training expedition that the blood of man belongs to Him alone and that it cannot be shed unlawfully. Only by instruction of the law may a man be slain righteously, and even then the People must come clean of the slain. From the beginning, God had put specific emphasis on the blood of man. He heard the voice of Abel crying out from the ground, where he was slain by Cain. The consequence for Cain's sin should serve as a lesson to us, that God will not always put us away to die, but that we should be required to remain alive in our humiliation, and so that all the world can see the shame of the accursed man.

     What does this chapter tell us about our lives today? What lesson can we adhere to from this chapter that will improve and enrich our lives today? God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His just hand will not be removed from off of the face of the earth. His mercy and loving-kindness is from everlasting to everlasting. We need only to know the law and obey it. For those of us today who will not humble to the law of God, it is as it was then, you must not be any part of the Chosen People of God.

     If I don't like the laws of the United States of America, I can only choose to live somewhere else, where the law is as I do like. This seems to be a common standard, and should go without saying, but clearly needs to be said; if only for a reminder. Take heed, lest ye die.