17:1
Back in Genesis 4 we read about the offerings of Cain and Abel. Abel’s offering was from the firstborn of his flock, Cain offered “in the course of time” some of the “fruits of the soil” (Gen 4:3,4). The key difference seems to be that Abel offered his first fruits, his best, Cain’s offering was more of an afterthought. This command encapsulates the same sentiment. Any animal offered was to be without blemish or defect.
17:2-5
Deuteronomy is the second giving of the Law. When the Law was first given the people were in the wilderness. The Law in Deuteronomy is the same, but it is adapted or explained in the context of the situation in which they will find themselves once in the Promised Land. So it might transpire that there is a person in a town who is violating the covenant. Worshipping idols is given as a specific example. If this situation arose it was to be investigated thoroughly. Things were not to be taken purely on hearsay. If guilty the person was to be stoned to death. If we take the Law as painting a picture of the ideal kingdom, this does not mean that stoning is part of life in the ideal kingdom, but that there would be no one in the kingdom who disobeyed God. If we look at Revelation this is the picture painted of the new heaven and new earth (Rev 21 & 22).
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