* Deuteronomy 14
We learn to pay a full tithe of our increase.
Deuteronomy 15
We learn about the Sabbatical year. It is just like the Sabbath. It occurred every seventh year. Debts were released, or forgiven and fields were left untilled for the year.
From the Bible Dictionary we learn this about the Hebrew Feasts:
Three times a year all the males of the covenant people were to appear before the Lord in the place that He should choose. In the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. This ordinance presupposed a state of settled peace rarely if ever realized in the history of the people in Old Testament times.
The Old Jewish festivals continued to be observed and had additional associations connected with them. Other present-day Christian festivals date from a time subsequent to New Testament and are not authorized by the scripture.
Feast of Passover is divided into two parts:
The first two days and last two days (the latter commemorating the splitting of the Red Sea) are full-fledged holidays. Holiday candles are lit at night, and Kiddish and Sumptuous holiday meals are enjoyed on both nights and days. They don't go to work, drive, write or switch on or off electric devices. They are permitted to cook and to carry outdoors. It was instituted to commemorate the passing over the houses of the Children of Israel in Egypt. The first Passover differed somewhat from those succeeding it. It became (1) a sanctuary feast, (2) a seven days' feast of unleavened bread. (3) feast was connected with the harvest. The first and seventh days were Sabbaths and days of holy convocation. The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month Nisan. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. And, by following the rituals of Passover, they have the ability to relive and experience the true freedom that our ancestors gained.
Feast of Unleavened Bread:
Often called Passover because only unleavened bread was eaten during these seven days immediately following Passover. Unleavened Bread reflected the fact that the Israelites had no time to put leaven in their bread before their hasty departure from Egypt; it was also apparently connected to the barley harvest (Leviticus 23:4-14).
A common Jewish tradition in preparing for the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to sprinkle leavened (yeast) bread crumbs throughout the house and then subsequently sweep them all up and collectively burn the outside. You might be asking yourself, Why would they do this? Well, in the bible, leaven symbolizes error or evil. It is the substance that causes fermentation. The Lord said to His disciples "Beware of the leaven (false doctrine) of the Pharisees". In addition, the apostle Paul warned the church at Corinth that a "a little leaven (yeast) leaveneth (ferments) the whole lump". Paul was simply saying that if sin goes unchecked, it will permeate and infect everything and everyone around them.
The Lord Christ Jesus was crucified on the cross at Golgotha on the day of Passover. He was then buried in a newly hewn tomb donated by Joseph of Arimathea. However, unlike all other corpses, the body of Jesus would not decay in the grave. There would be no decomposition of His body, no, none indeed. God the Father would not "allow thine Holy One (His Son Jesus) to see corruption. This feast proclaims that Christ's physical body would not experience the ravages of death while in the grave; for He was sanctified (set apart) by God the father. The unleavened bread signifies Israel's period of consecration.
Feast of Weeks:
"The word Shavuot means weeks, and the festival of Shavuot marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. Shavuot is one of the lesser-known Jewish holidays among secular Jews in the Jewish diaspora, while those in Israel are more aware of it.
In traditional Judaism, the festival marks the culmination of the experience of redemption, the Conclusion of Passover. Since the Exodus from Egypt was intended to lead to the revelation of Sinai, the goal is he giving of the Torah to the Jewish people. God took the Jews out of Egypt so that they would be His won treasured people, holy and separated from the pagan cultures around them. Indeed, all of the holidays are connected with this event, including the fall festivals of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkoth.
Feast of Tabernacles:
The third of the three major Jewish festivals. All adult males were required to travel to the sanctuary to take part. Tabernacles was the only feast with specific instructions to rejoice. This festival began on the 15th day of September-October, the 5th day after the Day of Atonement. It was quite a transition, from the most solemn day of the year to one of the most joyous. It lasted 7 days. During the festival the Jewish people lived in tents or booths, as they had done in the wilderness. It celebrated the completion of the great fall harvest and commemorated the Hebrews living in booths and wandering in the wilderness for 40 years because of their unbelief and disobedience.
The first day of the festival was observes as a day on which not work was permitted, and proceeded with a gathering at the Tabernacle.
It is the last of the appointed feasts and concludes the festive calendar. It anticipates the culmination of God's purpose for Israel, the final fulfillment of God's promises for and through that nation. To emphasize perfection and completion, it occurs in the seventh month, lasts for seven days and the number of tis sacrifices are divisible by seven.
(It is interesting to me that the feasts use the number 7 many times. It is one of the numbers Heavenly Father seems to use numbers times throughout all of the scriptures to emphasize the importance of things to Him)
* Israelites come to land that is spoiled and they are told "fear not I'll be with thee"
Exceptions for battle:
house not dedicated
vineyard
wife
Proclaim peace
If they don't accept it they will be killed
Emily was reminded of the Punic Wars in Carthage and Rome.
The people were ripe with iniquity and the Lord said to kill all wicked.
Laws talked about:
- lost property returned
- (dress code) women shouldn't wear mens' clothing and men shouldn't wear women's clothing
- don't harvest all food; leave some for the poor
- pay tithing
They should be a peculiar people
* Deuteronomy 27:1
Keep the commandments. President Russel M. Nelson and President Harold B. Lee spoke to us about this. President Nelson cautions us about treating the Commandments like a cafeteria where we pick and choose which commandments we obey.
Deuteronomy 27:12; 14-26
The tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, Benjamin went to Mt. Gerizim and were blessed.
Deuteronomy 27:13; 28:2-6
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali went Mt. Ebla and were cursed.
Sachem was in the middle of the two mountains.
* At the end of Deuteronomy Moses died (actually translated) but gave Joshua fine counsel to rise up and lead - "be strong and of good courage" - a phrase we have been hearing more and more lately from our General Authorities and General Auxiliary leaders.
Joshua tells us to meditate and observe > be prosperous and successful. He sends spies to Jericho and Rahab protects then by hiding them and tying a red ribbon on the door so it will be passed by.
* Joshua 3-5
They traveled three days. They picked up the Ark of the Covenant/Testimony and twelve rocks, and the priests were the ones who carried them. They were told to cross the Jordan River, and that when they stepped into the water and began to walk the river would part-like the Red Sea. They had to have faith. Joshua told the priests to stand in the middle while the people crossed and when they finished crossing the priests were placed the twelve rocks in a sick in the middle of the river as a memorial. They were to remember Being taken out of Egypt by the Lord. The males born while in the wilderness had to be circumsized. The Children of Israel came upon some old corn and began eating it. Once this happened the manna stopped coming to them because they no longer needed food.
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