Haazinu - Reading #5

Haazinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!

Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 32:29–39

My Thoughts:

Verse 36 should clarify the future for us, ”For Hashem will judge His people, and have compassion on His servants…”. It’s not like we can lead a sinful life, ignoring Hashem’s commands and not be judged. That is why we repent, teshuvah and make restitution -- so that He will have compassion on us. Make sure your heart is right with Hashem. If not, make it so. We want to experience Hashem’s compassion and not His judgment. Amen.

Challenge:

Sometimes it helps to understand that Hashem really dictates the length of our days. Verse 39 explains, “I kill and I make alive,  I wound and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of My hand.” He can keep us alive or He can let us go. But the greater promise is no one can take you out of His hand. We must remember that Hashem can and will keep us alive and will heal us too. We just need to ask Him. That is my challenge today. If you need healing, maybe you have a serious disease. Don’t give up. Go to Hashem. Worship and pray before Him. Pray this Scripture that He heals. Then ask Him to heal you. Or someone you love or care about. It’s up to Him and we can ask. It will be in His time and in His way. Amen.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 32:29–39

29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this,

    that they would consider their latter end!

30 How could one chase a thousand,

    and two put ten thousand to flight,

unless their Rock had sold them,

    And Hashem had delivered them up?

31 For their rock is not as our Rock,

    even our enemies themselves concede.

32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,

    of the fields of Gomorrah.

Their grapes are poison grapes.

    Their clusters are bitter.

33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,

    the cruel venom of asps.

34 “Isn’t this laid up in store with me,

    sealed up among my treasures?

35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,

    at the time when their foot slides;

for the day of their calamity is at hand.

    Their doom rushes at them.”

36 For Hashem will judge His people,

    and have compassion on His servants,

when He sees that their power is gone;

    that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large.

37 He will say, “Where are their gods,

    the rock in which they took refuge;

38 which ate the fat of their sacrifices,

    and drank the wine of their drink offering?

Let them rise up and help you!

    Let them be your protection.

39 “See now that I Myself am He.

    There is no god with Me.

I kill and I make alive.

    I wound and I heal.

    There is no one who can deliver out of My hand.

Haazinu - Reading #4

Haazinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!

Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 32:19–28

My Thoughts:

After Moses explains the “trouble” they are going to be getting into when they abandon Hashem, he says in verse 28, ”For they are a nation void of counsel. There is no understanding in them.” He is predicting that they will have a time in the future when they will no longer “consult” with Hashem. They will be “void” of His counsel. Therefore, since they are not in relationship with Hashem there will be “no understanding”. That’s what is happening today. People no longer believe or communicate with the one true Elohim. They are going it alone. And the end result is that they have no understanding in spiritual matters. People have become totally carnal, devoid of the one true spiritual relationship with Hashem. This is sad. You and I can be a part of changing this. We can be “lights” to His truth and existence and bring His real love to others. We can teach people about Him and how to communicate (pray) with Him. If they do this they will gain understanding. 

Challenge:

In verse 20 we read that the result of disobedience amongst His people is that, “I will hide My face from them.”. Having the face of Hashem “hid” from you means He is no longer visible or tangible in your life. It is like when we sin, the “hand” of Hashem is lifted off our lives -- we can only go it alone. Do you want that? I don’t. And I can feel this happening every time I deliberately sin against Him. It’s like He really does “hide His face” from me. It takes true repentance and teshuvah to regain that personal relationship with Him. My challenge today is for you to assess your spiritual life. Do you feel Hashem’s Hand in upon your life, or do you feel He is “hiding His face” from you? If it is the latter, please do something about it. Repent and return to Him. Make restitution for what you have done and pray that He will return to you. Scripture says He will (Malachi 3:7). Don’t be content with a life absent of Hashem, invite Him back into your life. And show Him that you really mean this. Amen?

Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 32:19–28

19 Hashem saw and abhorred,

    because of the provocation of His sons and his daughters.

20 He said, “I will hide My face from them.

    I will see what their end will be;

for they are a very perverse generation,

    children in whom is no faithfulness.

21 They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not Elohim.

    They have provoked Me to anger with their vanities.

I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people.

    I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

22 For a fire is kindled in my anger,

    that burns to the lowest Sheol,

    devours the earth with its increase,

    and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire.

23 “I will heap evils on them.

    I will spend my arrows on them.

24 They shall be wasted with hunger,

    and devoured with burning heat

    and bitter destruction.

I will send the teeth of animals on them,

    with the venom of vipers that glide in the dust.

25 Outside the sword will bereave,

    and in the rooms,

    terror on both young man and virgin,

    the nursing infant with the gray-haired man.

26 I said that I would scatter them afar.

    I would make their memory to cease from among men;

27 were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy,

    lest their adversaries should judge wrongly,

    lest they should say, ‘Our hand is exalted,

    Hashem has not done all this.’”

28 For they are a nation void of counsel.

    There is no understanding in them.

Haazinu - Reading #3

Haazinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!

Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Reading #3 -  Deuteronomy 32:13–18

My Thoughts:

It is so harsh that here the people are ready to enter the Promised Land and Moses is prophesying that they are going to fail and go off and worship other gods. In verse 18 we read, “Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten Elohim who gave you birth.” This is how sin begins, we forget who Hashem is. Sometimes things can get so good in life, that we forget who gave them to us. We get prideful, puffed up and think we worked or earned the things we have. And then we begin to “worship” what we have, instead of Hashem. Maybe you don’t think you could ever forget Hashem and all He has done. But, sometimes I think we do. How many hours a day do we watch TV? How many hours a day do we pray and worship Hashem? If that answer convicts you and scares you -- then it is time to set things straight! Make sure today that you are not forgetting Hashem and all He is. Spend time with Him today. Take a “prayer walk” and thank Him for all He has done!

Challenge:

In continuation of the thoughts above -- have you ever “abandoned” Hashem (verse 15)? I have a good friend who unexpectedly lost his brother a few months ago. They were best friends. He got mad at Hashem. Why did Hashem “take” his brother at such a young age? I can see where this anger has really separated my friend from Hashem. I am encouraging him to think about where his brother is. That just maybe he is in paradise (I believe with Yeshua) -- in a very special place that Hashem has prepared. My friend is hurt, and we all have had times when we have felt the same. But we must not abandon or reject Hashem. We must remember He gives and He takes away. My challenge to you today is to thank Hashem for today. That He woke you up, Ask Him to walk with you today. If you are hurting, go back to Him and ask Him if He will help you to heal and be restored. Ask Him to come close to you so that you can feel His presence in your life. I pray that He does.

Reading #3 -  Deuteronomy 32:13–18

32:13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth.

    He ate the increase of the field.

He caused him to suck honey out of the rock,

    oil out of the flinty rock;

14 butter from the herd, and milk from the flock,

    with fat of lambs,

    rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats,

    with the finest of the wheat.

    From the blood of the grape, you drank wine.

15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked.

    You have grown fat.

    You have grown thick.

    You have become sleek.

Then he abandoned Elohim who made him,

    and rejected the Rock of his salvation.

16 They moved Him to jealousy with strange gods.

    They provoked Him to anger with abominations.

17 They sacrificed to demons, not Elohim,

    to gods that they didn’t know,

    to new gods that came up recently,

    which your fathers didn’t dread.

18 Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful,

    and have forgotten Elohiim who gave you birth.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #7

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-10

Apostolic Writing: Matthew 24:29-42

Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 24:14–25:19

My Thoughts:

Why would someone carry diverse weights? In verse 25:13 we read, “You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, one heavy and one light.” The answer seems obvious. You would only have them to cheat someone. And who would do that? Unfortunately, we all have “cheated” someone in our life -- intentionally or not intentionally. It can happen at the grocery store.  It can happen when paying an employee for hours worked or not worked. At home we can “cheat” a spouse on our home budget. It can happen anywhere. We need to make sure that the “weights” we are using in life are equal and fair. To not be equitable is an “abomination” to Hashem. That is enough reason right there.

Challenge:

In verse 25:4 we read, “You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain.” That is another curious commandment. Except when you contemplate what Hashem is really saying it is incredible. He is making a commandment to allow your ox to take small breaks, bend his head down and eat grain. So many times in Torah we see Hashem giving mercy to animals. They are His creation, just like mankind. My challenge to you today is to make sure you are treating animals kindly. If you see an animal (wild or domestic) that needs help -- help it. If you are riding a horse and it looks stressed, give it a break. If you have a dog, don’t chain it up outside all day. Invest in an electric fence. I learned you can install your own fence for under $300. So, don’t go out to eat for a while and help your dog to run free! Let’s all be kind to our animals. (There is a whole other subject of the way we slaughter animals for meat. That is a discussion for another day).

Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 24:14–25:19

24:14 You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the foreigners who are in your land within your gates. 15 In his day you shall give him his wages, neither shall the sun go down on it; for he is poor and sets his heart on it; lest he cry against you to Hashem, and it be sin to you.

16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

17 You shall not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, nor take a widow’s clothing in pledge; 18 but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and Hashem your Elohim redeemed you there. Therefore I command you to do this thing.

19 When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow, that  Hashem your Elohimmay bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

21 When you harvest your vineyard, you shall not glean it after yourselves. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 22 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore I command you to do this thing.

25:1 If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment and the judges judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. 2 It shall be, if the wicked man is worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down and to be beaten before his face, according to his wickedness, by number. 3 He may sentence him to no more than forty stripes. He shall not give more, lest if he should give more and beat him more than that many stripes, then your brother will be degraded in your sight.

4 You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain.

5 If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married outside to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, that his name not be blotted out of Israel.

7 If the man doesn’t want to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife shall go up to the gate to the elders, and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to raise up to his brother a name in Israel. He will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.” 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him. If he stands and says, “I don’t want to take her,” 9 then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, and loose his sandal from off his foot, and spit in his face. She shall answer and say, “So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.” 10 His name shall be called in Israel, “The house of him who had his sandal removed.”

11 When men strive against each other, and the wife of one draws near to deliver her husband out of the hand of him who strikes him, and puts out her hand, and grabs him by his private parts, 12 then you shall cut off her hand. Your eye shall have no pity.

13 You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, one heavy and one light. 14 You shall not have in your house diverse measures, one large and one small. 15 You shall have a perfect and just weight. You shall have a perfect and just measure, that your days may be long in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you. 16 For all who do such things, all who do unrighteously, are an abomination to Hashem your Elohim.

17 Remember what Amalek did to you by the way as you came out of Egypt; 18 how he met you by the way, and struck the rearmost of you, all who were feeble behind you, when you were faint and weary; and he didn’t fear Elohim. 19 Therefore it shall be, when Hashem your Elohim has given you rest from all your enemies all around, in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky. You shall not forget.

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

Isaiah writes about things to come. He always sees Hashem bringing His people back to the Land to be reconciled. In verse 5 we read encouraging words, “For your Maker is your husband; Hashem of Armies is His name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the Elohim of the whole earth.” We must remember these words if we ever get discouraged. There will be a time when there will be new heaven and new earth, filled with the glory of Hashem. The Temple will be restored and His Torah will go forth. Every knee will bow. And He will be Elohim over all the earth. This is what we have to look forward to. And we praise you Elohim for this promise. Amen.

Challenge:

In verse 10 we have a comforting promise from Hashem, “...My loving kindness will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed...”. What is this “covenant of peace”? I believe it is the ultimate shalom that can only come from the Father. It is the peace He gives us when everything around us is toppling down. His promise is that He will never leave us or forsake us. So if you are down and out, or going through some hard times, remember these words. This is my challenge to you today. Lift your eyes up toward heaven and ask Hashem to pull you out of the pit of discouragement. If this is not you, then share it with someone in your life that is going through a difficult time. We all need hope. And it can only come from Him! Amen.

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-10

54 “Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth;

    break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who didn’t travail with child:

    for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says Hashem

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent,

    and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations;

    don’t spare: lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.

3 For you will spread out on the right hand and on the left;

    and your offspring will possess the nations

    and settle in desolate cities.

4 “Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed.

    Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed.

For you will forget the shame of your youth.

    You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.

5 For your Maker is your husband; Hashem of Armies is His name.

    The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.

    He will be called the Elohim of the whole earth.

6 For Hashem has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,

    even a wife of youth, when she is cast off,” says your Elohim.

7 “For a small moment I have forsaken you,

    but I will gather you with great mercies.

8 In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment,

    but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says Hashem your Redeemer.

9 “For this is like the waters of Noah to me;

    for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth,

    so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.

10 For the mountains may depart,

    and the hills be removed;

but my loving kindness will not depart from you,

    and my covenant of peace will not be removed,”

    says Hashem who has mercy on you.

Apostolic Writing

My Thoughts:

Yeshua shares in this Matthew segment about His return. That there will be signs that He is coming. Including His arrival on clouds and the announcement through the sound of a trumpet. His angels will gather His chosen ones and I believe they will bring them back to Israel. That is what all the prophets (including Isaiah’s verses above) encourage us with. The Mashiach will come and His chosen throughout the world will be gathered and returned to Israel. The Temple will be built and the Mashiach will reign. This is what Yeshua is teaching -- just what the prophets did. Everything Yeshua taught pointed to the Father and to the Torah. Amen.

Challenge:

Verses 36-42 are widely used to defend the doctrine of the “rapture”. That the good people who have received Jesus will be taken up to heaven. This so amazes me because if you carefully read these verses you will see that the opposite takes place. In verse 37 we read, “As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Who exactly were “taken away” during the time of the flood? Those who were evil. They were drowned in the waters. Noah warned them and they did not listen. That is who will be taken away in the end. Those who are evil, who do not want Hashem -- they will be removed.  The ones that go to Israel are “gathered”, the ones who are removed are “taken”. My challenge is to study about this. Search your heart, pray and ask Hashem what is to happen. Yeshua is giving us some important information here, and it is good to study it out. 

Apostolic Writing: Matthew 24:29-42

24:29 “But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

32 “Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors. 34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36 “But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39 and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour Hashem comes.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #6

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 24:5–13

My Thoughts: 

Verse 6 is a curious commandment,  “No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.” After doing some research it seems like what Hashem is saying is don’t take the “livelihood” of another as a pledge (to pay for a debt, etc). To do so, would take his ability to take care of himself and family -- away. And leave him with nothing to sustain his family. Hashem doesn’t want us to do this. That’s how much He loves each of us. It is a protection that someone would not lose everything and become destitute. Again one more example of how Hashem protects the poor. And how we are to be involved with that process.

Challenge:

We learn today another lesson of protecting husband and wife, and their relationship, by Hashem. If you are newly married you are not required to serve in the army for at least a year. This is so beautiful. Think of how important that first year is in a marriage. How hard it would be to be apart from your new spouse, right after you got married. This is a clear indicator of how Hashem wants marriages to be good and solid. Your challenge today is to look at your own marriage, or the marriage of a friend or family person. Have they had time together to solidify their marriage (or have you)? Have they (you) had a special time of at least one year to “ground” their marriage? If not, take the time to do so now. Or help the couple that has not had that special time, to do the same. Support marriages in your family and amongst your community of friends. 

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 24:5–13

24:5 When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army, neither shall he be assigned any business. He shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.

6 No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.

7 If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deals with him as a slave, or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

8 Be careful in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you. As I commanded them, so you shall observe to do. 9 Remember what Hashem your Elohim did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt.

10 When you lend your neighbor any kind of loan, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. 11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge outside to you. 12 If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. 13 You shall surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before Hashem your Elohim.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #5

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

My Thoughts:

In this week's Torah portion we learn that it is okay to pick corn or grapes from our neighbor if we happen to walk through their property. No trespassing laws, in fact an invitation to help yourself. But, of course only for what you need at the moment. Not to gather bushels full. It is very kind and generous to think that our Hashem allows this kind of trust and sharing. He also has rules for your harvest and the poor. Hashem makes it clear He does not want the poor to starve, and He is interested in sharing our blessings. Let us try to remember that in our daily lives.

Challenge:

Today we read some interesting rules about divorce and remarrying. It seems like Hashem is allowing divorce, but not remarrying that person again (if she has married someone else and they have died). In fact, He mentions it is an abomination if you do this. And that we do not cause the land to sin. It has to do with his wife being “defiled”. We may not quite understand this, but what we can understand is that He does not want us to sin. Period. Your challenge today is to look over your life -- pay attention to the areas you know where you are “sinning” or disobeying Hashem’s commands. Do not pretend that you are perfect. Because as soon as you think about this -- sin will be revealed. Even what you may think is a “small” sin, like gossiping. Gossiping is NO small sin. It affects people, and can ripple out to affect your community, thus affecting a part of the world. It gets “into the Land”. Get rid of sin in your life today. If it is a habit, then ask Hashem to help you. It may be hard to change, but He can help you. Guaranteed.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

25 When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

24 When a man takes a wife and marries her, then it shall be, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a certificate of divorce, put it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 When she has departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 If the latter husband hates her, and write her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife; 4 her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife after she is defiled; for that would be an abomination to Hashem. You shall not cause the land to sin, which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #4

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 23:8–24

My Thoughts:

Keeping the camp clean is very important. It is important for people to be righteous, and for the camp to be physically clean (especially without modern plumbing)! Why?  Verse 14 tells us, “...for Hashem your Elohim walks in the middle of your camp, to deliver you, and to give up your enemies before you. Therefore your camp shall be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in you, and turn away from you.” He “walks” in the middle of the camp. What does that look like? We can’t see Him in physical form, but I am assuming His Spirit walks through our lives, through our dwelling places. Now, that is something to think about. If He “walks” in the middle of our lives, shouldn’t we be very, very concerned about being “clean” before Him also? Review your life. Make sure you are repenting, turning away from sin, and washing yourselves clean so that He can walk among us!

Challenge:

Are you a man/woman of your word? In verse 23 we read, “You shall observe and do that which has gone out of your lips.” Hashem is teaching us that when we say we are going to do something, we are obligated to do it! This reminds me when I meet someone and we are talking. Then I say to them “I will pray for you”. Well, I better be sure that I will pray for them, or I better not say it. It is better to either pray for them on the spot, or tell them you will try and remember to pray for them and be honest. The challenge today is for you to think about who you have told you would do something for recently. Have you fulfilled your word? Did you do what you said you would? If not, make it right today. Make your “yes be yes, and your no be no”. Be a person of integrity.

Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 23:8–24

8 The children of the third generation who are born to them may enter into Hashem’s assembly.

9 When you go out and camp against your enemies, then you shall keep yourselves from every evil thing. 10 If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of that which happens to him by night, then shall he go outside of the camp. He shall not come within the camp; 11 but it shall be, when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water. When the sun is down, he shall come within the camp. 12 You shall have a place also outside of the camp where you go relieve yourself. 13 You shall have a trowel among your weapons. It shall be, when you relieve yourself, you shall dig with it, and shall turn back and cover your excrement; 14 for Hashem your Elohim walks in the middle of your camp, to deliver you, and to give up your enemies before you. Therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may not see an unclean thing in you, and turn away from you.

15 You shall not deliver to his master a servant who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He shall dwell with you, among you, in the place which he shall choose within one of your gates, where it pleases him best. You shall not oppress him.

17 There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. 18 You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the wages of a male prostitute, into the house of Hashem your Elohim for any vow; for both of these are an abomination to Hashem your Elohim

19 You shall not lend on interest to your brother: interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest. 20 You may charge a foreigner interest; but you shall not charge your brother interest, that Hashem your Elohim may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land where you go in to possess it.

21 When you vow a vow to Hashem your Elohim you shall not be slack to pay it, for Hashem your Elohim will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you. 22 But if you refrain from making a vow, it shall be no sin in you. 23 You shall observe and do that which has gone out of your lips. Whatever you have vowed to Hashem your Elohim as a free will offering, which you have promised with your mouth, you must do. 24 When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat your fill of grapes at your own pleasure; but you shall not put any in your container.