This looks similar to (if not exactly) what Jews practice to this day - what's kosher and what's not? There are many rules, such as:
animals that have a split hoof divided in two and that chew the cud are CLEAN
OK: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep
NOT OK: camel, the rabbit or the coney
sea animals with fins and scales are CLEAN
all birds are CLEAN except the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
All insects are unclean and you can't cook a goat in its mother's milk
Tithes
Give 10% of your field produce back to God. How? (I found this interesting) by eating it in the presence of God so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. Every three years you bring your tithe to store in the town so the Levites can have their fill.
Although there seems to be no yearly requirement to give 10% to support the Levites, it does specifically say in verse 27 "And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own." So I think it is implied that we should still monetarily support our pastors/ministers/etc. ;)
The Year for Canceling Debts
This is tough - every 7 years you must cancel all the debts to and from "brothers" (not foreigners). God clearly says "there should be no poor among you." He warns against sinful thoughts of withholding lending because "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near."
I found this statement powerful:
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Such a good reminder, and something I don't do enough of . . . .
Freeing Servants
If a Hebrew sells himself to you as a servant, you should let him go free after 6 years of service (7th year) and send him with flocks, etc. so he "does not leave emptyhanded." God continually reminds the Israelite they too were once slaves, and this they should understand.
But if a servant wants to stay, then he becomes a servant for life.
Passover
God then gives the Israelites instructions for how to celebrate the Passover, including specific instructions about various feasts to celebrate, and how to celebrate them.
Finally, he tells them to appoint judges to help them arbitrate matters, and most importantly . . .
Do Not Worship Other Gods . . . .
