Deuteronomy 24 Journey Through the Bible Deuteronomy 26
King James Version
The Book of Deuteronomy
Chapter 25
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Commentary
Deuteronomy 25
What significance is there of the shoe and loosening it? Is this what John the Baptist spoke of when he said that one cometh whose shoe I am unworthy to unlatch? The unlatching of the shoe in this chapter represents that a man will not take to him his late brothers' wife to wed, and to not carry out his brothers duty as a husband to the wife he left behind when he died. It seems to suggest a sort of dishonor, but I am not entirely certain that it is the dishonor of the surviving brother who refuses his late brothers' wife to wed.
I know that this all sounds a bit repetitive, but I assure you that if you follow along closely now, you may see what I am suggesting clearer. The woman will loosen his shoe and spit in his face, maybe as a sign that she is dishonored by his refusal. He will not build up his brothers house, and for whatever reason, he will not take the surviving wife as his bride. It may be that he don't have a family of his own and don't want to build up for his late brother that which he hopes to build up for his own name some day. Or, perhaps he does already have a family and don't want to change what he already has going, probably for the worse, anyway. I have yet to see a success story in the Bible of man with more than one wife. There are struggles enough with only one. Some struggle even without a wife, within their own heart, to love God and to follow fully in His leading. Maybe this man has neither scenario true in his life, but had developed a different heart for the woman who was married to his brother. I know that I would not wish to marry my brothers wife if she were to lose him to death. It would seem too weird for me. I wouldn't be thinking of his honor or building up his house for him. I would be thinking that she is more of a member of the family, and that I know her in a way that will make it impossible for me to know her in any intimate way, ever. Nevertheless, it was the right thing to do in that time and there are rules for that, too.
There is an unusual law written in verse 11, or at least one I haven't seen before. The verse is implying that the woman is forbidden to get into the middle of a dispute that her husband is having, and use her hand to squeeze his private parts to inflict pain. She is being warned here that if she does this thing, she shall have her hand cut off, and none are permitted to pity her. It does not go on to explain further, so we are to receive this as the final word on the subject. I assume that this was a common enough thing for the woman to interfere in her husbands quarrel and grab the other man by his private parts, at least common enough to make a law about it.
Verses 13-15 instruct us to deal honestly with others always, and as a matter of fact, don't even have the things necessary to cheat someone in a deal, such as weights to set the balance of his measure. Even the deals that don't require a scale, one must deal honest at all times, for him that do unrighteously are an abomination unto the Lord thy God.
God wanted to bring to the memory of what Amalek had done and what become of him because of it. He wants to compare that with these laws and the significance of the matter. Amalek will be blot out the remembrance of the People forever under heaven, and shall be forgotten. We will do well to avoid this kind of wrath of God. We would do well to remember what God will do to those who take advantage of others, when the defenseless and harmless are attacked. It is these that God wants us to help and to protect. Perhaps that is why the woman should not be refused a hand in marriage to the brother of her dead husband, so that she will not fall to poverty and ruin where her late husband had tried so hard to build a life for them, and to make his name grow among his people.
Whatever the case, God wants the world to see a whole People; ones who have nothing missing and nothing broken... that there be among them no lack of any good thing. God wants to show the world that those who will serve His will shall be blessed beyond measure. He wants this body of believers to grow greater than the heathen nations of the world, but even the mighty shall fall at the hand of God. He is the same then as He is now. It's all about His reputation, His name. Do in Jesus' name is the same as saying, "Do in Jesus' reputation". Speak His name and see great things. Represent Him well and see great things. For He is great, and instantly ready to prove it.
