http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Answers to Questions on Deuteronomy 26:1-19 1. How does Hamilton outline Deuteronomy 26? A) The basic law (verses 1-11). B) An appendix (verses 12-15). C. An exhortation to keep the law (verses 16-19). 2. What two ceremonies were to be held as soon as Israel had taken possession of the land and had made the transition to agricultural life? The offering of the firstfruits and the third year, triennial tithe. 3. According to Hall, what purposes were served by the tithes and gifts of firstfruits? They counteracted coveting, addressed
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 the need to be good stewards of what God had given his people and acknowledged the fact that God owns everything. That which belonged to God was to be returned to the Lord and shared with the needy. 4. Where in Deuteronomy 26 does Moses second speech begin and end? Coffman wrote that chapter 26 is the conclusion of Moses second address which began in Deuteronomy 4:44. 5. Coffman and Hamilton agree on the three sections of Deuteronomy 26. How does Coffman entitle these three sections? A) Presentation of the firstfruits and tithes (verses 1-11). B) The third year tithing (verses 12-15). C) Formal ratification of the treaty (verses 16-19).
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 6. The observance of the commandment regarding the first fruits was, when Moses spoke, several years in the future because first the land would have to be conquered, crops planted and brought to maturity. (See Hall.) 7. These crops from which tithes were to be taken included wheat, barley, vineyards, figs, pomegranates, olives, herds and flocks. (See Hall.) 8. Offerings of firstfruits were made several times a year. Why was this the case? The offerings were made as the individual crops matured and were harvested. 9. Gifts of firstfruits were associated with the feast of weeks, the feast of unleavened bread and the feast of tabernacles. (See Hall.) 10. According to Clarke, what was the giving of firstfruits intended to do? To remind the Israelites of God s kindness in their deliverance from Egypt, sustaining them in the wilderness and the coming conquest of Canaan.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 11. Where were the firstfruits to be offered? Where was this? The service was to take place at the central sanctuary wherever it was at that time. The tabernacle was located in various places prior to Solomon s construction of the temple in Jerusalem. 12. How does Smith summarize verses 1-11 as to how the offering ceremony was to be observed? The firstfruits of Canaan were to be placed in a basket and taken to the place where the ark of the covenant/tabernacle was located at the time. 13. The contribution was to be presented to the priest. Would any priest do? The contribution was to be given to the priest in office at that time, to the one who was officiating them.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 14. Hamilton wrote, Deuteronomy draws a close connection between what God had done and what Israel should do. 15. Hall advised that Israel was not to confuse what God had done with what the Canaanites claimed for their fertility gods. 16. The worshiper was to give the basket filled with firstfruits to the priest who in turn would take the basket and set it before the altar of the Lord. 17. What were those offering firstfruits to affirm before the Lord? The Israelites offering the firstfruits were to make a solemn affirmation, declaration regarding their history and future expectations giving God the credit for all their blessings. 18. Who were the Arameans? The Arameans were a nomadic tribe from northwest Mesopotamia who lived in the area now known as Syria.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 19. Who was the wandering Aramean referenced in verse 5? How did this person warrant this designation? This refers to Jacob whose mother Rebekah was Aramean. The term wandering Aramean came from his nomadic existence. 20. Why could he also be called a perishing Aramean? Jacob and his family faced starvation during the great famine which forced them to migrate from Canaan to Egypt. 21. In Egypt this wandering/perishing Aramean became a great, powerful and numerous people. After four hundred thirty (430) (Exodus 12:40) years in Egypt, how many crossed the Red Sea with Moses? Give reasons for you answer. At the time of the Exodus the Israelite male population over the age of 20 was 600,000 (Numbers 1:45-46). With women and children added this could equal 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 Israelites. To grow to this number the population would have doubled about every 25 years.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 7 22. How were the Israelites treated while in Egypt? After all that Joseph had done to save Egypt during the great famine faded from the Egyptians memory, the Israelites were enslaved and treated harshly. (Exodus 2:23-25) The Egyptians oppressed them with hard labor. 23. So we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and he heard us and saw our humiliation, toil and oppressions. 24. With what did God bring Israel out of Egypt? With strength and power, and with signs and wonders. 25. From the depths of abject slavery God brought Israel to a land flowing with milk and honey. 26. The worshiper was to ask God to look at the firstfruits he had brought and to see that the will of the Lord was being done.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 8 27. The offering was then to be set down before the Lord their God and they were to worship him. 28. Following the offerings of firstfruits, the worshiper was to celebrate all the good things the Lord had given him and his family, along with the Levites and the resident foreigner among them. 29. Clarke wrote, God intends that his followers shall be happy; that they shall eat their bread with gladness and singleness of heart. 30. Clarke further wrote, They were to share God s bounties among those who were dependent on them. 31. The third year tithes were to be given to the priests who were dependent on the offerings of the people, and to the unfortunate such as resident foreigners, widows and orphans who were in need. 32. The tithes of the third year were to be kept in the towns where they were given and shared with the local needy. 33. The Pulpit Commentary reads, As each week ended with a Sabbath, so a sabbatical year ended with cycle or week of years; the year of tithing would be given in the third and sixth year in each septennial period. 34. What three things were the worshipers third year offering, tithe to declare? That the worshiper had: 1) given the required portion to the needy; 2) not designated the sacred tithe
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 9 by violating any law of God pertaining to how it was handled, 3) carried out the letter of the law. 35. How did Smith say this third year tithe service was to conclude? The worship concluded by asking the Lord to look down from heaven and bless Israel in their newly acquired land. 36. For what was the third year tithe to be used? The tithe was given as a gift to the Levites, the poor and the needy so that they may be adequately fed in their local community. 37. The Pulpit Commentary states the worshiper makes a solemn declaration to the effect that he had honorably and conscientiously discharged all the obligations the law had laid upon him regarding this tithe offering.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 10 38. Can we also say, I have not violated or forgotten your commandments? 39. The person who represents his tithe must prepare himself, be living in keeping with the will of God, and be pure in heart. This is true today of all who would worship God. 40. What was involved in making offerings to the dead? Offerings to the dead were pagan rituals in which food and drink were left at the grave of the deceased or offered to an idol or pagan god such as Baal. 41. Under what circumstances was it wrong for Israelites to eat anything while in mourning? The time of mourning refers to the times the worshiper was ceremonially unclean or used a portion of the tithe to defray funeral costs of the deceased person. 42. In the Old Testament ceremonial cleanness was required of those who offered the three year tithe.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 11 43. I have obeyed you and have done everything you have commanded me. Can you honestly say this? If not, why not? Answers may vary from one individual to another. 44. The worshiper was to be both ritually and spiritually pure. 45. The Israelite who had offered the third year tithe prayed, Look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us, just as you promised our ancestors a land flowing with milk and honey. 46. Why should God bless America? (Write your country s name in the blank and write your answer on the following lines.) He will bless our country as long as we faithfully follow his precepts. As our society moves further away from God our nation will forfeit his blessings and bring destruction on itself. (Isaiah 1:4; 59:2; 13-15; Daniel 9:11)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 12 47. God s commands must be obeyed. Simply obeying God s commands is not enough. God s commands must be obeyed with all our heart and soul. 48. This is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. 49. Israel had declared the Lord to be their God, and that they would walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commandments and ordinances, and obey him. 50. On these conditions, God declared Israel to be his special people and promised to elevate them above all the nations. Israel would consequently receive praise, fame and honor. 51. Hall concluded, The only thing that prevented Israel s being blessed was their disobedience. 52. As long as Israel obeyed the Lord, they would be blessed. When Israel forsook God, they would be contemptable. 53. We must never forget how bountifully God has blessed us? List some of the ways God has blessed you. Good health; a wonderful family, the fellowship with a loving, caring church; the opportunity to do God s work; the blessings of the basics we so often take for granted, food, shelter, clothing, transportation, the ability to freely worship our Lord.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 13 54. When we come before God to worship, we must: A) Give our first and best in the Lord, B) Worship in compliance with God s instructions, C) Humbly prepare ourselves in heart and soul to worship God, D) Be forever grateful for all God s blessings, E) Be concerned for the welfare of those in need, F) Faithfully obey all God s commands. 55. We are to be a light unto to the world!