Deuteronomy 26

Deuteronomy chapter 26 discusses the joy of giving financially by people who are called and ordained of YHVH to do his spiritual work on earth. This also includes giving to the poor among us. Heaven blesses those who give (vv. 1–15, 19). Giving is a holy activity (v. 13), and when YHVH’s people obey him in this manner and observe his other commandments as well, he proclaims them to be his special people and promises to promote them high above the nations of the world as his own holy people (vv. 17–20). This YHVH did for ancient Israel when they obeyed him, and he promises to do the same for those who obey him now (2 Cor 1:20). These eternal and immutable principles of the Torah are for all people and for all time; these divine principles have not changed over time regardless of men’s traditions and religious doctrines that say otherwise. 

You may not feel like YHVH has presently exalted you above all those around you, but consider this: What is your salvation worth and what will your status be after you have received your glorified body and are ruling and reigning with King Yeshua over this earth after his return and during his millennial kingdom on  this earth?

Deuteronomy 26:4–11, You shall answer.This was the prayer that one was to make when one brought their tithe to YHVH. Bringing one’s tithe to YHVH was an act of gratefulness and worship and was brought with a joyful heart for the blessings that the Almighty had bestowed upon the tithe-giver. You may not always feel overly blessed, but at the very least, the Creator has given us life. Beyond that, most of us are not starving, nor are we homeless or naked. Most importantly, YHVH Elohim gave us his only begotten Son through whom we have eternal salvation. This is greatest blessing of all! If we pause for a brief moment and reflect on our lives, we will find many things for which to be thankful to the Almighty.

Deuteronomy 26:5, My father was a Syrian. Syrian is the Hebrew word ‘ărammıy for Aramaen and is derived from Aram, the father of Aramaen people and who was the son of Shem, the son of Noah (Gen 10:21–22). Thus both the Israelites and the Syrians or Aramaens were Semites (i.e., descendents of Shem) due to their common ancestry. Moreover, Rachel, Leah and Rebecca were also from the region of the peoples Aram, so technically the descendents of Jacob were part Aramaen.

Deuteronomy 26:11, You shall rejoice. Bringing one’s tithes and offerings to YHVH is to be a joyful event since it is a reflection of our gratitude to him for abundantly blessing us. (Compare this verse with 2 Corinthians 9:6–11.) Giving to YHVH is a form of worship since it allows us to put our treasure where our heart is (Luke 12:34). Please join me in praying this prayer: 

Father, help us to give to you out of the abundance of our hearts joyfully and with gratitude for your blessings and bounty in our lives. Help me not to be a fair-weather giver only, but to give out of obedience, even sacrificially, that we may learn to have faith in your promises of provision and to obey you no matter the circumstances. Amein.

(For a brief study on tithing and giving, please see my teaching entitled, “Is Tithing for Us Today?” which is available on our ministry website at http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pdfs/tithing.pdf.)

Deuteronomy 26:12, You shall give to the Levite, to the proselyte, to the orphan, and to the widow. Throughout the Tanakh, YHVH has a special place in his heart for the “underdogs” of society, as did Yeshua during his earthly ministry. There are people, who through no fault of their own, and due to their own faults, need help and extra grace and mercy. What is your attitude toward those who fall into this camp? What are you doing to help them if you have the means to do so as YHVH has blessed you?

Deuteronomy 26:13, Have given to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Israel’s social welfare system. This reveals Israel’s social welfare system as instituted and commanded by YHVH, who promised to bless the Israelites so abundantly when they obeyed his Torah-instructions that they would not only have plenty for themselves, but their proverbial cup would overflow onto those around them, so that they would be able to give materially to those in the Levitical ministry as well as to the poor. This welfare system was not instituted by the government through legalized extortion enforced at the point of a gun of the state’s legal punitive system. No! Rather, this system of benevolence was powered by the good will of the people from hearts of love and care for one’s neighbor as well as gratitude to YHVH for his blessings. This was the golden rule of loving one’s neighbor as oneself in action on a societal level. In modern socialistic nations, social welfare systems require major governmental expenditure and bureaucratic management including enforcement actions often being taken against “the wealthy” who refuse to pay “their fair share.” Man’s system may benefit the genuinely poor and needy but also rewards those who are lazy plus grifters who refuse to work but choose to take advantage of the largess of others. In YHVH’s system, there was neither a governmental bureaucracy nor a legal structure of forced confiscation of taxes to fund the welfare system, nor punitive enforcement if people fail to pay the mandated tax. Rather, this system was based on love for one’s neighbor, gratitude to YHVH for the blessings received from him, and was community based and reciprocal; that is, if your neighbor needed help and you were able, you helped him, and when you were in need he reciprocated. YHVH’s system is based on people who are motivated by love and godly values as taught in the Torah. On the other hand, man’s system thrives where the spiritual values of people have declined and where government is forced to step in to take up the slack. Moveover, man’s social welfare system is often driven by political operatives who are motivated by their lust for control, power and money. This system not only benefits politician but tends to engender generational poverty among those who are lazy and indolent. This all proves the point that YHVH’s Torah-ways are much higher than those of men when they reject his laws.

Deuteronomy 26:13–15, Prayer offered when giving. This is the prayer that the tithe-payer is to pray upon bringing his tithe to YHVH. Tithing leads to prosperity, but for whom? Just the individual? Notice in verse 15 the wording: “bless your people Israel….” The tithe-payer is praying for blessings not just upon himself, but upon the entire nation. What can we draw from this? Is there room for selfish and self-centered prayers here? What happens when the whole community is tithing and everyone is praying for everyone else’s well-being and blessing?

Deuteronomy 26:17–19, You have distinguished YHVH…YHVH has distinguished you. What does this mean? What is YHVH’s attitude toward Israel? What does the word avouched or distinguished (some translations read: proclaimed or agreeing) mean here? What is transpiring here with the people distinguishing YHVH and YHVH returning the action in verse 18? The resulting action is in verse 19.

Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy 27:2–10, Set up for yourselves. Immediately upon crossing the Jordan and entering the Promised Land, YHVH instructed the Israelites to set up a stone monument containing the Torah and to construct an altar for burnt sacrifices. What is the significance of these symbols, and why was it so important that this be Israel’s first order of business upon entering the Land of Promise? Matthew Henry states in his commentary that the Word of YHVH (the Torah) and prayer (the altar) must always accompany each other. How does this relate to Psalms 51:16–19 and Hosea 6:6 and the believer’s spiritual walk? Also, why did YHVH command the Israelites to construct the altar of uncut and whole stones? To whom does this prophetically point? (Read Dan 2:35, 45; Ps 118:22; Matt 21:42; Luke 20:17.) The stones of the altar were rough and uncut. To whom does this point who became our Living (spiritual) Altar and Sacrifice? (See Isa 53:2.)

Deuteronomy 27:2, 4, 8, Set up great stones. On Mount Ebal and on whole, uncut stones, the Israelites were to write YHVH’s Torah-law and then coat these stones with lime plaster. Elohim also told them to build an altar there where they were to make burnt and peace offerings. Why was the Torah written on stones on Mount Ebal—the mountain of the curses? Why not on Mount Gerizim, the mountain of blessing? Certainly this cannot mean that the Torah is a curse, for Paul calls it kadosh (holy), just and good in Romans 7:12. What could these stones represent symbolically? 

First, this symbology tells us that those who do not follow the Torah will come under a curse, for to violate YHVH’s laws is sin (1 John 3:4), and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23), and every person has sinned (Rom 3:23). 

Second, Who is the Chief Cornerstone, the Stone that the builders rejected (Ps 118:22; Matt 21:42; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20), and the stone cut without hands (Dan 2:34)? What was the purpose of these offerings and to whom do the burnt and peace offerings point? The white lime plaster symbolically obviously represent the saints, the bride of Messiah, being clothed in robes of righteousness (see Rev 19:7–8). Who is the King of Righteousness through whom redeemed sinners become righteous? Who is clothed in robes of righteousness once their sins have been atoned for? (Read Heb 7:2, 20–28 cp. Rev 19:7–8 cp. 3:5, 18; Isa 61:10.) Who was wounded for our ­transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, had laid on him the iniquities of us all, and was made an offering for sin (Isa 53:5, 6, 10)? Who was the Living Torah, the Word of Elohim made flesh (John 1:1, 14)? Who redeemed us from the curses of the law (Gal 3:13), which came upon us as a result of our sinning (sin is the violation of YHVH’s law, 1 John 3:4), and thus bringing a death penalty upon us (the wages of sin is death, Rom 6:23)? Obviously, the answer to all these questions is Yeshua the Messiah, the Savior or Redeemer of all those who place their trusting faith in him and volitionally choose to become his disciple and to love him and allow him to become the Master of their lives.

Is it now making sense why the Torah and the altar were placed on Mount Ebal? This is another one of the many prophetic shadow pictures in the Torah pointing to the redemptive work of Yeshua at the cross. Let us give glory to Elohim who knows the beginning from the end and to Yeshua the Messiah, the Lamb of Elohim, who was slain from the foundation of the world for our salvation! 

Does seeing all of these prophetic pictures in the Bible prophesied more than one thousand years before Yeshua’s birth not strengthen your faith that Yeshua is indeed the Messiah, the Lamb of Elohim slain from the foundation of the earth? Who else could have fulfilled these prophecies?

Deuteronomy 27:5–5, An altar of stones…not use an iron tool on them.On the significance and spiritual symbolism of an altar of whole, unmarked or uncarved stones, see notes at Exodus 20:25–26.

Deuteronomy 27:11–28:68, Moses commanded the people.YHVH required the Israelites to recite a “pledge of allegiance” affirming their commitment to him before entering the Promised Land. What can we learn from this? Is this something we should do from time to time in our own spiritual walk: recite pledges of commitment to YHVH and set up spiritual markers or reference points in our lives as tokens of our allegiance to him to which we can harken back from time to time? These are acts of the will that when done can engage the heart and stir up feelings of love, devotion, commitment and remembrance.

Deuteronomy 27:11–16, Freedom versus bondage. Christian author Matthew Henry in his commentary on this verse points out something very interesting that none of the Jewish Torah commentaries I have read mention. The six tribes appointed to read the blessings from Mount Gerizim were all children of free women (Leah and Rachel). What are the spiritual implications of this? (Compare this with Paul’s discussion of the free and bondwoman pertaining to Isaac and Ishmael in Galatians 4:21–31.) To which children do the promises of YHVH’s material and spiritual blessing (namely, eternal life through Yeshua the Messiah) belong? Is it to those who are in bondage to or under the curses of the Torah-law because they walk in sin (which is the transgression of the law, see 1 John 3:4), or to those who walk in obedience to the Torah (i.e., in sinlessness or those who walk in YHVH’s instructions and teachings in righteousness)? This brings up yet another issue. As is taught in the most Christian churches, is the purpose of the Torah simply to condemn people, to bring people into spiritual bondage, and beyond that, the Torah’s main purpose is to point people to the cross after which it is to be discarded like a dirty old rag? While this may be what men’s traditions and doctrines teach, this is not what the Word of Elohim declares. Selah.

Deuteronomy 27:11–26, Cursed. What are the broader principles or remez understanding behind each of these curses? Imagine how much better the world be if people obeyed YHVH’s commandments and what they imply. The Creator gave man his laws to keep the civil peace and order in society. When violated, they result in social upheaval, wars, strife, conflicts, destruction and all sorts of evil consequences between individuals, people-groups and nations.

• Verse 16—Do not treat your father or mother with contempt. That is, respect your elders and older people in general.
• Verse 17—Do not move your neighbor’s property line. That is, respect the property rights of others, and do not steal anything from your neighbor.
• Verse 18—Do not make the blind to wander off the road. That is, take care of the handicapped, disabled and sick among you. Do not take advantage of them.
• Verse 19—Do not take legal advantage of the stranger, fatherless or widow. That is, do not take advantage of the underprivileged, poor or the helpless people in society.
• Verse 20—Do not have sexual relations with your step-mother. That is, do not have sexual involvements with any blood related family members.
• Verse 21—Do not have sexual relations with animals. What more can be added to this command?
• Verse 22—Do not have sexual relations with your sister. All incest is forbidden.

• Verse 23—Do not have sexual relations with your mother-in-law. Do not have sexual involvements with any family member.
• Verse 24—Do not attack your neighbor secretly. That is, have open and honest dealings with everyone around you including your enemies.
• Verse 25—Do not take a bribe to slay an innocent person. That is, do not pervert justice, lie or twist the truth to your advantage.
• Verse 26—Do not violate YHVH’s Torah-law. All of YHVH’s commandments are to be followed.

Deuteronomy 27:11–28, Blessing and curses for obedience. In these verses we find listed some of the blessings and cures for Torah obedience. Do you believe the Torah principles (YHVH’s eternal spiritual truths) of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience to YHVH’s Word are for us today? If not why not? Is it because you are listening to Bible preachers and teachers who claim to know and teach the Word of Elohim, but who are instead teaching the doctrines and traditions of men by which the Word of Elohim has been made of none effect (see Mark 7:13)?

The following are some questions to ask yourself when considering Elohim’s Torah and the blessings and curses that come upon us as a result of our response to these instructions in righteousness, which are a reflection of the character and nature of the Creator. Does YHVH’s character, his Truth or Word change? If the blessings listed in these verses are not being manifested in your life why might that be? Could it possibly correspond to your level of Torah obedience and faith or trust level vis-à-vis YHVH and his Word? What changes could you make in your life that might place you in a more favorable position to receive his blessings for obedience rather than the curses for disobedience?

Deuteronomy 27:15–18, The commandments are all inter-connected. To the casual reader, the admonitions contained in these verses may seem to be arranged in a random order, but this is not the case. Let’s discuss the purposeful design of the order in which Elohim gives these commandments.

Consider the following. The prohibition against idolatry (verse 15) is juxtaposed with that of degrading one’s parents (i.e., not honoring one’s parents, or as S. R. Hirsch states in his commentary, “who outwardly is respectful to his parents but inwardly considers himself vastly superior to them”) along with trespassing against one’s neighbor’s property by removing his neighbor’s boundary markers or landmarks. 

Now consider this. One who does not honor and fear YHVH but turns to idolatry (the second commandments) will not honor one’s parents (the fifth commandment) and vice versa. Such a person will likewise not honor the property of one’s neighbor including his neighbor’s wife. 

Juxtaposed next to these commands is the prohibition against misleading a blind person (verse 18). This means that we should not take advantage of one’s blindness by advising a blind person in a way that is beneficial to us and detrimental to the blind person. 

Following this commandment is the principle about one who steals justice from another by perverting judgment against one who is weaker socially or financially or who is less informed at law than another thereby giving the advantage to the stronger (The ArtScroll Davis Edition Baal HaTurim Chumash/Devarim, pp. 2126–2127). 

Can you see how each command is interrelated with all the others? Does this not give one insight into the curious statement found in James 2:10, which declares that if you have broken one commandment you have broken them all? This should help us to see that in one way or the other, all of YHVH’s commandments are inter-related, all depend on each other, and they all stand or fall together. 

Now relate James 2:10 back to verse eight of the same chapter where James notes that the entire Torah-law can be summarized as the “royal law of love” (Jas 2:8).

As you review YHVH’s list of prohibitions in Deuteronomy 27, can you see any other relationships between these juxtaposed concepts? Learning to exegete (draw truth out of) Scripture in this manner will yield a whole new level of spiritual revelation to the reader.

Deuteronomy 28