Deuteronomy 22 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Deuteronomy 22 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Moses’ speech, recorded in the opening chapters of Deuteronomy, occurred immediately following the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.  

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C.

• The Book of Deuteronomy opens on the 1st day of the 11th month in the 40th year (Deu 1:3) following the Israelites departure from Egypt (approximately 1450 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Israelites (Hebrews) – The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God granted them freedom after several hundred years in slavery in Egypt. Leading up to the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites had spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness as they made their way to Canaan, the land God promised to give them as a home.

• Moses – Moses was selected by God to lead the Israelites to Canaan. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses communicated God’s words and laws to the people.    

WHERE:

• Deuteronomy 1:5 tells us Moses spoke the words recorded in Deuteronomy while in Moab, probably on the plains of Moab near Pisgah (Numbers 22:1).

OUTLINE:

• VARIOUS LAWS AND COMMANDS (22:1-12):

  • If an Israelites found a lost animal or garment, he was not to ignore it and pass by, he was told to assist in returning the lost item to its owner.

  • Men were not allowed to wear women’s clothing and women were not allowed to wear men’s clothing. Anyone who dressed as the opposite gender was an “abomination to the Lord” (22:5).

  • If a Hebrew found a bird’s nest with a mother sitting on eggs or baby birds, they were allowed to take the eggs or baby birds but not the mother.

  • The Israelites were to build parapets (low protecting walls) on their roofs so no one would fall off.

  • Vineyards were to be planted with only one type of seed.

  • The Israelites were not to plow their fields with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

  • Clothing was to be made from only one type of fabric (not two or three mixed together).

  • The Israelites were to sew tassels onto the four corners of their garments.

• LAWS CONCERNING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT (22:13-30):

  • If a man accused his wife of deceiving him and not being a virgin when he married her, the woman’s father was to bring evidence of her virginity to the elders of the city.

  • If evidence was provided, the husband who made the false accusation was to be whipped, he had to pay his father-in-law 100 shekels of silver, and he could never divorce his wife because he had shamed her.

  • If it was uncovered that the woman had deceived her husband and she was not a virgin when they married, the woman was to be put to death.

  • Adulterators were to be put to death.

  • In the city, if a man slept with a woman betrothed to another man and the woman did not cry out for help, both the man and the woman were to be put to death.

  • In the countryside, if a man seized a betrothed woman and slept with her, only the man was to be put to death, because it was possible no one was around to hear the woman’s cries for help.

  • If a man seized an unbetrothed virgin and slept with her, he was required to pay her father 50 shekels of silver, marry the woman, and he was never allowed to divorce her.

  • A man was forbidden from sleeping with his father’s wife.

APPLICATION:

• Human beings are made in the image of God and God created us with unique genders.

• Humans attempting to change genders and eliminate the concept of gender is just another manifestation of the pride that says, “I know better than the Creator” (same mistake Adam and Eve made).

• God hasn’t made any mistakes. He didn’t put anyone in the wrong body.

• Maybe we ought to listen to Him to discover who we truly are when we find ourselves in an identity crisis.