Laws Concerning Relationships, Mixtures And Marriage

Moses covers various laws in this chapter as it pertains to a man’s neighbors and his family:

1.     Every man was required to help protect that which belonged to his neighbor (vv. 1-4).

2.  The clothing of men and women was to maintain a distinction between the sexes (v. 5).  During the days of Moses garments worn by men and women were mostly robes and very similar. The major difference was their decoration or ornamentation.

3.    Men were commanded to help animals protect their young (vv. 6-7). This is illustrated through the object lesson of a bird.

4.    A man was not to allow hazardous things around his home but to be concerned for the safety of others (v. 8).

5.     Things were not to be mixed that were separated in God’s creation such as seeds, animals etc. (vv. 9-11).

6.   Tassels were placed on a person’s clothing to remind man of the Lord’s commands (v. 12).

7.     The laws of sexual purity are given (vv. 13-20):

a.  As it pertains to a husband who accuses his wife of not being a virgin (vv. 13-21).

b.  As it pertains to a man sexually involved with a married woman (v. 22).

c. As it pertains to rape and seduction of an engaged virgin (vv. 23-27).

d.  As it pertains to a man and woman involved in sexual impurity (vv. 28-29).

e. As it pertains to incest (v. 30).