Deuteronomy 21:6-7 Comments The Washing of the Hands - The elders of Israel were charged to wash their hands as a outward sign of their innocence. This practice is mentioned a number of times in Scriptures (Psalms 26:6; Psalms 73:13, Matthew 27:24).
Psalms 26:6, “I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:”
Psalms 73:13, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency .”
Matthew 27:24, “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”
Deuteronomy 21:23 “for he that is hanged is accursed of God” Comments - According to Paul, Deuteronomy 21:23 was ultimately fulfilled when Christ hung upon the tree and died for our sins. Paul quotes this verse in his epistle to the Galatians.
Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree :”
Deuteronomy 21:23 “that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance” Scripture References - Note similar verses:
Leviticus 18:24-25, “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled : therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.”
Numbers 35:34, “Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 Comments The Punishment of Hanging - There are a number of occasions in the Scriptures when men were punished by hanging.
Joshua 8:29, “And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.”
Joshua 10:26, “And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.”
John 19:31, “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”
Copyright Statement These files are copyrighted by the author, Gary Everett. Used by Permission. No distribution beyond personal use without permission.
Bibliographical Information Everett, Gary H. "Commentary on Deuteronomy 21". Everett's Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures. https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ghe/deuteronomy-21.html. 2013.
Verses 1-23
Deuteronomy 21:6-7 Comments The Washing of the Hands - The elders of Israel were charged to wash their hands as a outward sign of their innocence. This practice is mentioned a number of times in Scriptures (Psalms 26:6; Psalms 73:13, Matthew 27:24).
Psalms 26:6, “I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:”
Psalms 73:13, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency .”
Matthew 27:24, “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”
Deuteronomy 21:23 “for he that is hanged is accursed of God” Comments - According to Paul, Deuteronomy 21:23 was ultimately fulfilled when Christ hung upon the tree and died for our sins. Paul quotes this verse in his epistle to the Galatians.
Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree :”
Deuteronomy 21:23 “that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance” Scripture References - Note similar verses:
Leviticus 18:24-25, “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled : therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.”
Numbers 35:34, “Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 Comments The Punishment of Hanging - There are a number of occasions in the Scriptures when men were punished by hanging.
Joshua 8:29, “And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.”
Joshua 10:26, “And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.”
John 19:31, “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”