Question 1

What does it mean to justify the righteous and condemn the wicked?

Accepted Answer

This line describes what fair judges must do when people bring a dispute to court. To "justify the righteous" means to clear and defend the one who has done right, not treating an innocent person as guilty. To "condemn the wicked" means to declare the truly guilty person in the wrong and to sentence them. The passage shows that God cares about honest courts, where truth matters more than power or money. Sin is not ignored, but innocent people are not punished. Justice in the community is meant to reflect God’s own fairness.

Question 2

Why is the punishment limited to forty stripes in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The law allows a guilty man to be beaten, but it sets a clear limit: up to forty stripes and no more. The guilty person is to be punished "according to his fault," not in a wild or cruel way. The judge must be present to see that the beating is measured and does not go beyond what is just. The reason given is that the offender is still a “brother” and must not be made vile or treated as less than human. Punishment is meant to correct and restore, not to crush a person’s dignity.

Question 3

What is the meaning of not muzzling the ox that treads out the corn?

Accepted Answer

This short command tells God’s people not to put a muzzle on an ox while it is walking around threshing grain. The picture is simple: the animal is working hard, so it should be allowed to eat some of the grain as it works. God cares about fair and kind treatment, even toward animals. The principle reaches further: those who work should share in the benefit of their labor and not be cheated. It reminds us that God’s concern for justice and kindness touches everyday work and very practical things.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the brother marrying the widow with no child?

Accepted Answer

When brothers lived together and one died without a child, the living brother was told to marry the widow. Their firstborn son would carry the name of the dead brother so his name and inheritance would not vanish from Israel. This protected the widow from being left alone and without support, and it kept the family line and property within the clan. The law shows how strongly God tied family responsibility, care for widows, and the keeping of a family’s name together in the life of His people.

Question 5

Why was a man shamed if he refused to marry his brother’s widow?

Accepted Answer

If a man refused to take his dead brother’s widow, she could go to the elders at the city gate and complain. If he still refused, she would remove his shoe in front of the elders, spit in his face, and declare that this is what is done to a man who will not build up his brother’s house. His family would then carry a shameful nickname about the loosened shoe. This public act showed that he had turned his back on family duty and on care for the widow. It warned others not to treat family responsibility lightly.

Question 6

Why is the law about the woman grabbing a man’s private parts so severe?

Accepted Answer

The passage describes a fight between two men where the wife of one man reaches out and grabs the other by his private parts to help her husband. The law says her hand must be cut off and that no pity should be shown. The wording is hard for many readers, and it has been understood in more than one way, but the main point in the context is that even in conflict, people must respect modesty and not cross certain boundaries. The severe penalty shows how seriously public shame and indecent actions were viewed in that culture.

Question 7

Why does God forbid different weights and measures in trade?

Accepted Answer

God tells His people not to keep two kinds of weights or measures, a big one and a small one, to cheat in buying and selling. Instead, they must have a perfect and just weight and measure. Using false weights lets someone gain by tricking others, which God calls an abomination. Honest trade protects trust in the community and shows respect for neighbors. The passage also links long life in the land with this honesty, showing that everyday fairness in business is part of walking with God, not just a small matter.

Question 8

Who were Amalek and why must Israel remember what they did?

Accepted Answer

Amalek was a people who attacked Israel on the way out of Egypt. They did not meet Israel in open, fair battle. Instead, they struck the weakest at the back, those who were tired and faint, and showed no fear of God. Because of this cruel attack, Israel is told to remember Amalek’s deeds and, when God gives them rest in the land, to blot out Amalek’s remembrance from under heaven. This is about God’s judgment on stubborn evil and a warning that harming the helpless invites God’s response.

Question 9

What does this passage teach about God’s character?

Accepted Answer

This chapter shows God as just, fair, and also gentle toward those who are weak. He cares that courts judge rightly, that punishment fits the crime and does not strip away a person’s worth, that workers and even animals are treated kindly, that widows and family lines are protected, and that business dealings are honest. At the same time, He does not ignore brutal evil, as seen in the command about Amalek. Taken together, these laws show a God who loves order, mercy, and truth in everyday life.

Deuteronomy 25:1

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

Fairness and Mercy

Widowhood and Marriage

Standard Weights and Measures

Revenge on the Amalekites

Fairness and Mercy

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Deuteronomy 25:1

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

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Fairness and Mercy

Widowhood and Marriage

Standard Weights and Measures

Revenge on the Amalekites

Fairness and Mercy

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