In last week’s parashah (Shoftim), Moses defined a system of justice for the Israelites and pointed to the coming Mashiach who would be the rightful King of Israel. In this week’s portion, he returns to the temporal concern of the conquest of the Promised Land by providing a number of specific instructions regarding civil life in Israel. The parashah opens:
When you go out to war against your enemies... (Deut 21:10a)
Seventy-four of the Torah's 613 commandments are given in Parashah Ki Teitzei, covering a wide assortment of rules related to ethical warfare, family life, burial of the deceased, property laws, the humane treatment of animals, fair labor practices, and proper economic transactions. A general outline of the parashah follows:
The Beautiful Captive. The parashah begins with a discussion of what has been called eshet yefat-to’ar, a woman of “beautiful form.” If an Israelite captured a female prisoner of war whom he found attractive, he was forbidden to marry her immediately, but was to have her head shaved, her nails cut, her clothes changed, and then must observe her mourning for a month, so that she might become unappealing to him. If, after this period, the man still wanted to marry her, she was brought before the Bet Din (law court) and the judges would ask her if she was willing to convert and obey the Torah. If she agreed, then he was allowed to marry her; otherwise, he must release her from captivity.
Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn. The first born son (haBen habechor) is to inherit a double portion from his father, regardless of the status of the mother.
Stubborn and Rebellious Son. A stubborn and rebellious son (ben soreir u’moreh) who does not heed his father or mother and does not obey them even after they discipline him is to be stoned to death.
A Man Hanged on a Tree Is Cursed. The Law of Moses allowed that someone who was to be executed could be hung (or impaled) and exposed, presumably as a warning others. According to the Mishnah (Sanhedrin 6:4), a pole with a horizontal beam was erected and the dead man’s hands were bound and slung over the beam, leaving the body suspended. The LXX (Septuagint) inverts the word order and translates this as “hang him on wood so that he dies,” which later was used to justify the Roman practice of crucifixion (see Y. Yadim, Megillat Hamikdash). The exposed body must not last beyond the day of execution, but must be buried before sundown.
Besides the shame and degradation of this manner of death, the one so executed would be unable to fall to their knees as a final act of repentance before God, thereby implying that they were under the irrevocable curse of God.
In this connection, we should note that Yeshua was initially charged with blasphemy by the Jewish leaders of His day (Matt. 26:65; Mark 14:64; John 10:33) - an offence that was punishable by stoning (Lev. 24:11-16). However, the provision made in the Law for an offender to be “hung on a tree” was used to justify the sentence of death by Roman crucifixion (Matt. 27:31; Mark 15:13-4; Luke 23:21; John 19:6, 15).
The followers of Yeshua understood the connection between this provision in the Torah and the salvation of the LORD. Paul wrote, "Mashiach redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" (Gal. 3:13). The Apostle Peter also had this in mind when he wrote: "The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree" (Acts 5:30; cp. Acts 10:39-40); and, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).
Miscellaneous Instructions. One should return all lost articles to their rightful owners, thus loving your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18; 34). To promote safety, one should build a railing around his roof. Sha'atnez is any fabric made of wool mixed with linen, and is prohibited to be worn. A Jew should also wear Tzitzit on the four corners of his garments.
Laws regarding Sexual Immorality. A man who falsely accuses his bride of being unfaithful to him before their marriage is to receive lashes and a fine. If the charges prove correct, however, the wife is to be stoned. If a woman commits adultery, both she and the man involved are to be killed. One should not marry his father's wife, or a member of Ammon or Moab.
Various Additional Laws. Moses gives a number of additional lawsthat are to be observed as part of the new Jewish society, including rules about maintaining the purity of the military camp; prohibitions about returning an escaped slave; the duty to pay a worker on time; the proper treatment of a debtor and the prohibition against charging interest on a loan; the laws of divorce; the penalty of 39 lashes for transgression of a Torah prohibition; and the procedures for yibbum ("levirate marriage") of the wife of a deceased childless brother. The degrading chalitzah ceremony ("removing of the shoe") is explained for the case of a brother-in-law who is unwilling to marry the wife of his deceased brother.
Remembering Amalek. The parashah ends with the people being instructed to remember the deeds of Amalek, who attacked the Jews when they were weak. They are told that they must “blot out the remembrance of Amalek from the earth.” To this day, a sofer (scribe) will test his quill by writing the word "Amalek" and then crossing out the word with one bold stroke and then vigorously scraping both the stroke and the offending name from the parchment:
Haftarah Reading Snapshot:
The Haftarah of Ki Teitzei is called the fifth of the "Haftarot of Consolation," offering encouragement to Israel even in the face of exile.
In this beautiful and poignant reading, the LORD compares the children of Israel to a wife who has long been barren. According to the chaz’l, God tells the "Wife of His youth" to sing out with joy, for soon she will have a hard time keeping track of all her children! Many will return by means of a mighty wave of repentance that will sweep over the world when Jerusalem is finally redeemed and the Mashiach reigns in Israel.
Though the LORD hardened Israel for a season (Rom. 11:25-29), His love for her is sure, and all His promises will be established:
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
- Isaiah 54:10
Brit Chadashah Snapshot:
The two passages from the Brit Chadashah show that both the LORD Yeshua and the Apostles reaffirmed the teachings of the Torah regarding sexual immorality. Adultery and a lustful heart seriously endanger the soul and can lead one to eternal perdition.
