Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 1/29/2007

Question
Why is Deuteronomy 23:1 and 25:11-12 written in the Bible? I mean what was the purpose of that and why is Judges 3:19-25 written in the bible?  

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for this question.

Deuteronomy 23:1

He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The Old Testament gives us laws to give us a picture of how holy we must be to be in the presence of God.  This is one of those pictures.  I am glad that we are now under grace, and can approach GOd just as we are.

Deuteronomy 25:11-12
11 When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets: 12 Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Once again we see God giving civil law during a time of Theocracy.  It was to be a rule of society at that time.

Judges 3:19-25
19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.  20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.  21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: 22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.  23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. 24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.  25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

This are the events surrounding the death of a wicked leader.  In the Book of Judges, we find that Israel sinns, God sends an enemy to oppress the people, the people repent, then God sends a deliverer to free the people from their oppression.  This is one of those times when the people were being freed from their opression.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don