Deuteronomy 21 Commentary

Continuing his exposition of categories generally related to the sixth commandment ("You shall not murder"—Deuteronomy 5:17), Moses looks at five case laws that appear to fit within the general category of caring for human life.

The first deals with the issue of murder when the killer is unknown (vv. 1-9). The second case regulates how an Israelite man treats a woman captured in battle (vv. 10-14). The third commands the Israelite man who has two wives to give a double portion of his inheritance to the firstborn son, even if his mother is less favored than the other (vv. 15-17). The fourth case provides guidance to parents as to how to deal with a stubborn and rebellious son who continuously disobeys his parents (vv. 18-21). The fifth case deals with the case of the dead body of a person who committed a capital offense and has been put to death (vv. 22-23).

All five of these sections are in the form of conditional statements ("if" or "when," followed by a prescribed response). These case laws serve to ensure that the Israelites live righteously before their Suzerain (Ruler) God. These are detailed laws that prescribe how to apply the principles of self-governance and "love your neighbor."

Deuteronomy 21 can be outlined as follows:

• The Law Concerning Unsolved Murders (Deuteronomy 20:1 – 9)
• The Law Concerning the Marriage of an Israelite and a Captive Woman (Deuteronomy 20:10 – 14)
• The Law Concerning the Inheritance of a Firstborn Son (Deuteronomy 20:15 – 17)
• The Law Concerning a Rebellious Son (Deuteronomy 20:18 – 21)
• The Law Concerning the Burial of a Person Who was Hanged (Deuteronomy 20:22 – 23)