Topical Bible: The Jews: Prohibited From: Following Practices of Others

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Jewish people, as God's chosen nation, were given specific commandments and laws to set them apart from other nations. These laws were intended to maintain their distinct identity and to prevent them from adopting the idolatrous and immoral practices of surrounding peoples. The prohibition against following the practices of others is a recurring theme in the Hebrew Scriptures, emphasizing the importance of holiness and obedience to God's commands.

Biblical Foundation

1. Leviticus 18:3-4 : "You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs. You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God."

In this passage, God explicitly instructs the Israelites not to adopt the customs of the Egyptians or the Canaanites. The emphasis is on adhering to God's statutes and judgments, which are distinct from the practices of other nations.

2. Deuteronomy 12:29-31 : "When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations you are entering to dispossess, and you drive them out and live in their land, be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, 'How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.' You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates."

Here, the Israelites are warned against being ensnared by the religious practices of the nations they conquer. The text highlights the danger of adopting abominable practices that are detestable to God.

3. Jeremiah 10:2 : "This is what the LORD says: 'Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.'"

The prophet Jeremiah reiterates the command to avoid the ways of the nations, particularly their superstitions and fear of celestial phenomena, which were often linked to idolatrous worship.

Theological Implications

The prohibition against following the practices of other nations underscores the call to holiness and separation for the Jewish people. This separation was not merely cultural but deeply spiritual, intended to preserve the purity of worship and devotion to Yahweh. The distinctiveness of Israel was a testimony to the surrounding nations of the one true God and His righteous standards.

Historical Context

Throughout their history, the Israelites struggled with the temptation to assimilate into the cultures around them. This often led to periods of idolatry and moral decline, resulting in divine judgment. The biblical narrative records numerous instances where the Israelites adopted foreign practices, leading to consequences such as exile and oppression.

Application for Today

For contemporary believers, the principle of not conforming to the practices of the world remains relevant. Christians are called to live in a manner that reflects their identity in Christ, avoiding the moral and spiritual pitfalls of secular culture. The call to holiness and distinctiveness continues to be a defining characteristic of God's people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 12:29-31
When the LORD your God shall cut off the nations from before you, where you go to possess them, and you succeed them, and dwell in their land;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 18:9-14
When you are come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Appendix xvi. On the Jewish views About Demons' and the Demonised ...
... the practice of magic was strictly prohibited to Israelites ... Christianity had widely
spread among the Jews, and R ... killed by arrows.' Lastly, the following may be ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvi on the jewish.htm

Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters Purely ...
... particular commands to the Jews, and practices following upon them ... that Gamaliel
proposed to the Jews, to wit ... cursed policy of Mahomet, who prohibited all reason ...
/.../proposition xiv concerning the power.htm

Letter xxix. (AD 395. )
... distinguish Christians from the obdurate Jews, that they ... myself could not refrain
from following their example ... down what ought to have been earlier prohibited.". ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xxix a d 395.htm

Of Evil-Speaking in General.
... and to show why they are prohibited because those ... of charity imposed anciently even
upon the Jews; much more ... direction) we are in the following cases obliged ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/of evil-speaking in general.htm

Book ii.
... kindred, they do it on one of the following accounts; I ... none but women, during their
courses, were prohibited to pass through it; all the Jews went into ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/book ii.htm

"The House of Israel"
... At the same time the Jews were, by their sins ... those husbandmen?" The priests had
been following the narrative ... the gospel in its purity was prohibited, and the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 59 the house of.htm

Letter xv. To Turribius, Bishop of Asturia , Upon the Errors of ...
... of what was not a reality, following the views ... of the Scriptures, and their apocryphal
books prohibited. ... also had announced, saying to the Jews, "destroy this ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter xv to turribius bishop.htm

Jewish Homes
... conceived in the same spirit of carefulness, prohibited open wells ... of which was made
by the Jews, when they ... it (Matthew 15:4-6). The following quotation from ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 6 jewish homes.htm

Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of ...
... the death of Jaddua, we have the following list: [6329 ... on which fasting and mourning
were prohibited (the 13th ... had already appeared in the ranks of the Jews. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix iv an abstract of.htm

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... For, although the expression Jews' in the fourth Gospel ... in practice, will appear
from the following quotation, to ... the Sadducees seem to have prohibited the use ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm