DEUT1031 Do not work or plant the land where city elders break a heifer’s neck after a murder. Key concept: So that everyone who passes by will be reminded that because a Jew was murdered, a heifer was killed to publicize the tragedy. Everyone will see that the land where the heifer was killed has remained desolate, and so it shall remain forever, just as our hearts should be forever desolate, for a Jew’s life was tragically cut short. The land’s desolation will serve to cause the nation to be repulsed by the idea of murder, so no Jew will ever think to wantonly take another person's life. This is the main idea of the entire procedure--to make us abhor murder and to detest its evil.

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DEUT1040 Carry out the laws of a non-Jewish woman taken captive in war. Our Sages teach, “Only in recognition of the evil inclination does the Torah permit marriage to the beautiful woman taken captive in war.” That is, because a soldier's state of mind during wartime is slightly crazed, if the Torah would forbid such marriages, the soldiers would ignore the prohibition and take such women anyway. The Torah therefore requires that first the man take her to his home, where for thirty days she mourns her parents and does other things that will make her much less appealing to him. Hopefully, by the time the month passes, she will appear disgusting in his eyes, and no longer will he be attracted to her. His passion for her will die down and no longer will he want her as a wife.

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DEUT1045 Do not sell such a woman [i.e. a non-Jewish woman taken captive in war]. Key concept: To teach decency, as well as all other positive traits, so that we cultivate these traits and thereby make ourselves worthy of Heaven's blessings. Hashem, Who wants to bestow good upon us, desires that we be free of negative character traits, so that we will be worthy of His blessing. Without question, it is coarse and ugly to sell a woman into slavery after having had relations with her.

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DEUT1047 Do not treat such a woman as your slave. See Deuteronomy 21:14 sell CHINUCH 345.

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DEUT1070 Publicly hang the corpse of certain sinners. Key concept: Publicize the seriousness of these two transgressions. Also the whole process of setting up the post and tying the corpse to it strikes fear into all who see.

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DEUT1072 Bury such a person, like all the dead, on the day of his death. When people see the executed person’s corpse hanging on the post, they will say that such is his punishment for having cursed the Holy One’s Name. When they utter these words, however, they remind themselves that such a sin as possible, and simply by speaking of the sin they do damage to their souls. Therefore, wanting only good for His creations, the Holy One requires that the corpse be taken down and buried on the same day that the person was executed. As a result, there is less opportunity for people to do self-inflicted damage to their souls.

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DEUT1115 Reload a fallen burden. See [[EXOD801]] Exodus 23:5 burden CHINUCH 53-4

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DEUT1124 Females may not dress as males. Key concept: Distance from the Holy Nation any immodest practice. As Hashem distances us from the worst and ugliest forms of immorality, He keeps us from anything that even hints of these sins, for immodesty easily can lead a person off of the correct path and onto the path of evil. This is an area that can completely change a person's thoughts from being good to being bad and foolish. Without question, if women were to wear the same clothing as men, the sexes would intermingle constantly and the world would be filled with promiscuity. Another reason for the mitzvah is to distance us from idol worship, for it was the way of idol worshippers to have women dress in men’s clothing.

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DEUT1135 Send away the mother bird from her nest. Key concept is to call to our minds that Divine Providence over mankind extends to each individual, while it extends to the animal kingdom only in a general way, for the sake of preserving each species. That is, Hashem desires the survival of each different species of the lower creatures, so He watches over the animal kingdom to guard that no species completely disappears. When a person reflects upon the concept of Divine Providence over the animal kingdom, it calls to mind that Hashem watches over mankind as well. One realizes that with regard to people, the Almighty watches over each individual, and will help and preserve all who keep His commandments, purify their hearts and improve their ways to try to get close to Him. He will give such people long life in this world, and their souls will live forever in the World to Come. As a result of sending away the mother bird, such thoughts fill a person's mind. He acknowledges that the preservation of each animal species is beneficial for the world at large, and he recalls that the entire matter is supervised and managed by Hashem. Having performed this mitzvah, acknowledged its truths and put them to his heart, then measure for measure, he merits that Hashem turns His protective Eye upon him as well, with a special blessing that he, as an individual, survive and flourish. Our Sages warn us that we should not think that this mercy is a manifestation of Hashem's Attribute of Mercy. Rather, the mitzvah is decree from before Him. It is a Divine commandment that He gives us in order that we will earn merit when we fulfill it. The Ramban compares this mitzvah to the commandment not to slaughter a mother animal and its child on the same day. Mother animals experience great worry and anxiety when they see their offspring suffering. Like people, animals become distraught at such a sight, for a mother's love for her offspring does not spring from powers of the intellect. Even lower creatures are capable of such feelings.

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DEUT1147 Do not leave or create hazards. See [[DEUT1153]] Deuteronomy 22:8 fence CHINUCH 351-2

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