Old Testament Law:

Introduction: The Old Testament Law takes up a major portion of the Pentateuch, and was an axis upon which the rest of the OT narrative played itself out. It was the basis on which the nation of Israel was to receive God’s blessing and protection. Failure to live up to the law resulted in the deportation of God’s people and removal from the land.

Many Christians know that Jesus came to fulfill the law. They are aware that aspects of the sacrificial system proscribed in the law prefigured the work of Christ on the cross. They often are at least marginally familiar with the 10 commandments, but beyond that are largely unaware of the rich content found in this genre, and rarely glean anything of value from these portions of the OT. Although followers of Christ are indeed not bound by the Old Testament, there is a vast array of insight and knowledge to be found in these portions of scripture.

The books included in the law:

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

The purpose of the law:

At the time of the Exodus Israel was a rabble band of ex-slaves. They were bound together loosely, and their knowledge of God and what it would look like to live in right relation to him was virtually non-existent. God gave Moses the law as a way to provide the Israelites with a national identity and to give them a sense that they were to be a people set apart from other nations for Him.

“Their role as a “kingdom” is to serve as God’s priests for the world, and to do so they must bear his likeness.” p.45 (How to read the bible book by book)

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘I am the LORD your God. ‘You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. ‘You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; I am the LORD your God. ‘So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD.’(Lev.18:1-5)

To be His people meant they were to be different from the nations that surrounded them. Some of the laws that seem bizarre to the modern mind, such as a prohibition against planting different seeds together and certain dietary laws were no doubt due to the association of these things with the cultic religious practices of neighboring countries.

The law also revealed to Israel the very nature of God. “What God required was what he himself was and is. At the heart of every moral command was the theme “I am the Lord” or Be Holy as I am Holy.” (Toward and Old Testament Ethic by Kaiser.) Many of the law passages are book-ended with the statement “I am the Lord your God”. The ethical commands that God gave came from His very nature. Who is the God of Israel? He was holy. Over and over he reminded Israel that they were to be holy “as I am holy. As Walter Kaiser states, “He is the Bureau of weights and measurements.” He is the essence of right and wrong-all true morality comes from Him. God reveals in the law concerning the poor, the widow and the disenfranchised that He is compassionate. ^“If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.” (Ex.22:26-27) The law originated with God and in this way provided for Israel a greater understanding of who their God was. The law therefore was not a burden but a rich inheritance. “What advantage does the Jew have” Paul wrote. The knowledge of the law, as a reflection of God’s character, was in this respect a great advantage.

Additionally, if they kept His law they would be like Him and would demonstrate to those around them what God is like.

“The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. “So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you.” (Deut.28:9-10)

“So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? “Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today? (Deut.4:6-8)

The law served as a contract between God and Israel. God promised to provide and protect the nation if they obeyed the law. If they failed to obey He would remove his provision.

The law was patterned after suzerain treaty where a conqueror made a treaty with the conquered to benefit them and protect and care for them as long as they abided by it.

“The covenant format had six parts to it: preamble, prologue, stipulations, witnesses, sanctions, and document clause. The preamble identified the parties to the agreement (“I am the Lord your God…”) and the prologue gave a brief history of how the parties became connected to one another (“I brought you out of the land of Egypt…”). The stipulations are the individual laws themselves. The witnesses are those who will enforce the covenant (the Lord himself, or sometimes, “heaven and earth,” a way of saying that all of God’s creation is concerned with the covenant being kept---e.g. Deut.4:26; 30:19). The sanctions are the blessings and curses that function as incentives for keeping the covenant (e.g. Lev.26 and Deut.28-33). The document clause is the provision for regular review of the covenant so that it will not be forgotten (e.g. Deut. 17:18-19; 31:9-13). Both the first statement of the Law (at Sinai, Ex.20-Lev.27 with supplementation in Numbers) and the second statement of the Law (just prior to the conquest, as found in Deuteronomy) reflect this six-part format.” (How to read the bible for all its worth p.151)

Although the law served as a contract between God and Israel, it was not to be taken as impersonal and lifeless. On the contrary the law was personal. “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands…” (Lev.26:3) In this sense the law was a further extension of the relationship God had begun with Abraham and the Patriachs.

The law was never given as a basis upon which one could earn right-standing with God or eternal life.

The law was given AFTER God had already established a relationship with the nation. (It did not tell people how to initiate a relationship with God, but how to live a life that pleased him.) The law did not cause the relationship, but it was the basis on which the relationship would be sustained and enriched. Following the law had everything to do with the quality of life God’s people would experience in the present, not in eternity. Over and over God stresses to his people that keeping his law will greatly effect the quality of their life. “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.” Deut.4:1 Later on in Deut. Moses sums up the importance of keeping or not keeping the law for Israel by saying “See I set before you today life and prosperity , death and destruction.” (Deut.30:15)

Or as Warren Weirsbe states, “God’s promise gave them the land but their obedience made it so they would possess it.” (Be Equipped Deut.)

Exodus: (Ch.19ff) The law is given. The people do not see God but hear his word. They will be a people of the word, not people who worship an image of any kind. The 10 commandments are given. It is important to note that it is easier and shorter to state a moral command in the negative. However, that is not the full extent of the law, otherwise simply doing nothing would be all that is required!

Read Ex.22:16-31 At what point does the tone of the text change? (Notice where God gets personally involved “I will hear” “My anger will be aroused”. What does this passage indicate about the heart of God?

Ch.24:8 the law is sealed with the Blood of the covenant-Jesus established a new covenant sealed with his blood at the last supper.

Ch.25- God gives Moses detailed instructions for the tabernacle “Then have them make a sanctuary for me and I will dwell among them.” It was customary in the case of suzerain treaties that the vassal had to have a copy of the treaty deposited in the national shrine. When the laws were received, Israel quite naturally needed a repository for them, which explains the placement of the tabernacle instructions just after the conclusion of the covenant ceremony.

Ch. 29 Instructions follow on the consecration of the priests and sacrifices that were to be offered according to specific detail. God’s desire in this is to “Dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them, I am the Lord their God.” (29:44)

Ch.31:12-13 the Sabbath law is reiterated-notice this time God adds, “I am the Lord who makes you holy.”

Ch.34 when the law is given a second time notice how God introduces himself and all that he promises to do. (34:6-11)

Ch.35-39 records a repeat of what God formerly commanded. Where as the incident with the golden calf proved the Israelites had not gotten the law the first time, in this section there is an emphasis on them obeying what God had said. Notice the repetition of the statement “just as the Lord commanded”, or that they carried out His law “as the Lord commanded Moses” Ch.39:42 there is a summary statement. “The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.”

Ch.40 Moses finishes the work setting up the tabernacle as the Lord commanded him and then the Glory of the lord filled the tabernacle.

Leviticus: from the Latin meaning “pertaining to the Levites”

The nation of Israel is still at the foot of Mt. Sinai. For this generation who grew up in slavery to become God’s people they need to get two sets of relationships in order; their relationship with God and other people.

The law in this book in large part is about the way sacrifices were to be carried out in the temple. The text does not explain what the various sacrifices are for, (we assume the priests knew that) but gave instruction as to how they were to be carried out. We are not told what they mean but how to do them right. This book includes details about the Day of Atonement…

There are many laws concerning what is clean and unclean. These laws are not primarily concerned about matters of hygiene as much as they are meant to teach that a person needs to be in a right state in order to approach a holy God. God’s desire was to dwell among his people. Since God is Holy, in order for him to dwell in the midst of his people they needed to be concerned about matters of purity. Therefore, for instance, the law stipulates that those who were unclean had to remain outside of the camp.

There are prohibitions against drinking blood. This may have been set against pagan religions where attempts were made to lay hold of the life force of the animal by drinking its blood. It is also possible that the prohibitions against drinking blood were in connection with the substitutionary principle; that in order for sins to be forgiven a life must be lost.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” (Lev.17:11)

“The offering of blood sacrifices was a vivid reminder that the basis of forgiveness and fellowship was the surrendering up of a life.” (Be Equipped Deut. P.149)

The detail concerning religious practices in this book and the other books of the law form a sharp contrast with those of the pagan religions. “All regulations about how to approach god are specific and come from him to remove the idea that people can approach him somehow on their own.” (Survey of OT Introduction) The Canaanites had many shrines but Israel one tabernacle.

Ch.1 instructions on burnt offerings

Ch.2 grain offerings

Ch.3 fellowship or grain offering-for prosperity-only at Pentecost was such an offering required-laying of hands on it/sprinkle the blood on the alter again

Ch.4 sin offering/vs.35-priest will make atonement and they will be forgiven

Ch.5:1-sin to not testify if you have info/more atonement with sacrifice for sins committed accidentally (touching something unclean)-vs.10 make atonement and the sin will be forgiven-held responsible for sin committed unwittingly

Ch.6-do something against someone must make it right AND bring guilt offering-repeated refrain

“and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt.”(6:7)

Ch.7 guilt offering-no fat and no blood

Ch.8 ordination of Aaron and sons-consecrate and made atonement for them

Ch.9 Aaron sacrifices-at the end a fire comes out from the presence of the lord and burns up what is on the alter

Ch.10 Aaron’s sons killed by coming before the Lord not according to God’s design

Ch.11 clean and unclean animals-I am the Lord your God-consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy-vs.43 I am the God who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God

Ch.12 purification after childbirth-no good explanation for why longer unclean if have a girl???????

Ch.13 infectious disease-the priest examines over and over to see if clean or unclean

“As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ “He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.(13:45-46)-pretty rough stuff

ch.14-diseased person is to be examined by priest outside the camp-VERY involved ritual to go through for the one who has been cleansed

^{Ch.15: 31}“Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated from their uncleanness, so that they will not die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them.”

Ch.16 Day of Atonement

Ch.17: no longer offer sacrifices to the goat god-vs.11-can’t eat blood because the blood makes atonement

Ch.18 sex-I am the lord your God-no incest-I am the lord-do not give your kids to Moloch-I am the lord your God-do not defile yourself in any way like the nations I am driving out have vs.24-this was how the land became defiled-I am the lord your God

Ch.19 various laws-don’t reap everything-vs. 9-vs. 17-do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.-18 love your neighbor as yourself-34 love the alien like yourself

Ch.20 punishment for sin-kill someone who gives their kids to Moloch or anyone who turns to mediums etc

20:7 I am the lord who makes you holy vs.20 21 they will die childless (kids not have same privileges as other kids in Israel)-you must not do what other countries did because I am the lord your God who has set you apart from the nations-26 I have set you apart to be my own-

ch.21 no son of Aaron who has a defect should go near the alter

ch.22:31 “So you shall keep My commandments, and do them; I am the LORD.

³²“You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the LORD who sanctifies you, ³³who brought you out from the land of Egypt, to be your God; I am the LORD.”

Ch.23 appointed feasts:

Ch.24:22 you are to have the same law for the native born and the alien

Ch 25 jubilee year-do not take advantage of a brother in a business transaction-fear the lord-if sold land it will be returned during the year of jubilee

treat brother in need justly because I am the lord your god who brought you up out of Egypt 37

have a slave for life but not a fellow Jew

release their slaves jubilee year because I brought you out of Egypt vs. 54

Ch.26-if they don’t obey they will be deported and the land will have its Sabbath year vs.35

When field is released in jubilee becomes devoted to the lord

Assignment: Lev.19:9-18 –what parts of this law do we find repeated in the NT-in principal and/or more or less verbatim

Numbers:

Ch.1 set up an army-1:54the Israelites did all this just as the lord commanded Moses.

Ch.3:11 the Levites were the Lord’s in place of all the first born sons of the Israelites

Ch.5 purity in the camp

5:6 when a person wrongs another and is unfaithful to the Lord

5:11 test for unfaithful wife-all was to pressure her into a confession if she was unfaithful-not as bad as some of the other cultures dealing with suspicion of adultery

ch.6 Nazirite-dedicate themselves to the lord not to go near a dead body even if it is a parent-like the guy who tells Jesus he needs to go bury his dad-not sufficient dedication

6:22 priestly blessing-The lord bless you and keep you, make his face shine upon you….

Ch.8 Aaron is to present the Levites as a wave offering before the lord

The Levites are God’s because when he struck down the first born in Egypt they became his

Ch.9 celebrate the Passover-allowed to celebrate it even if unclean-cloud and fire lead the Jews

Ch.10:29 mosses begs his father-in-law to go with them because he knows where they should camp-and yet the cloud and fire were to lead them-reconcile them by saying the cloud was general-mosses father-in-law specific

Ch.11 people complained and God sent fire-vs. 10 Moses whines at God because he has to deal with the people

Ch12 Miriam and Aaron challenge Moses authority-Miriam punished because she led the rebellion? Her name is mentioned first

Ch.15 priest makes atonement for the whole community that sins unintentionally, and individuals have to bring individual sacrifices for sins that are unintentional-first comes atonement than comes forgiveness

15:30 the one who sins defiantly (or with an uplifted hand) will not be forgiven-unforgiveable sin

Ch.18:20 god says he is the livites share

Ch.19 laws about clean and unclean

Ch.20 water from the rock-not Moses anger that barred him from the land but not trusting God

Ch.27:17 Moses asks god to appoint a leader for the people after he dies so they will not be like sheep without a Shepard

Ch.28 various offerings-28:31…be sure these animals are without defect

Ch.29 different feasts days

Ch.30 vows

Ch.35 cities of refuge-vs.34 do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelities

Deuteronomy: (comes from the Latin meaning 2^nd law)

Ch. 1-11 catalogs all that God had for Israel up to that point

Notice the importance of hearing and obeying

Notice the number of times “covenant” comes up

Notice the importance of loving God from the heart-(40 xs mentioned in Moses speech)-read Deut.30:2,6, 10 for a sample ******

Deut.29:18 what sin is associated with “bitter Poison”? Why did god have such a serious view of this particular sin? (This sin is central to Israel choosing life or death)

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. “But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” (Deut.30:15-20)

“Israel’s greatest danger wasn’t so much the armies around them so much as the appetites within them.” (Be equipped p.195)

ch.1 they were at Kadesh Barnea and Moses wanted them to go in and posses the land and the people said no let’s send in spies

3:3 so the lord our God gave into our hand Og…he was huge-bed more 13 feet long

ch.4:1-hear and obey that you may live and posses the land

4:5-8 law is a witness to the surrounding nations that the God of Israel is not far off but near and is real 4:18-20they heard the lord but saw nothing-idolatry forbidden-instead focus on the fact the Lord brought them out of the iron smelting pot 4:25-if they make an idol they will leave the land-not go to hell or stop being his people 4:29 if they repent they will find him 4:31 he is a merciful god-and he made an oath to their forefathers 4:40-keep commands that it may go well with you and your children

ch.5 ten commandments-starts with I am the lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt 5:15 remember that god brought you out of Egypt-so keep the Sabbath 5:29 god wishes their hearts were inclined toward him 5:33-do them so that you may live in the land

ch.6:2-so you may enjoy long life 6:4 love him with all your heart….they are to be upon you heart 6:18 do all that he commanded so you may take the land that god promised on oath to your forefathers and again vs.23 6:25 “and if we are careful to obey all this law before the lord our god, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! could this mean in terms of their witness to other nations?

7:6 after told to destroy false gods reminds them that they alone are chosen to be his treasured possession 7:8 took them out of Egypt because he loved them and he swore an oath to their forefathers- 7:12 if they keep his decrees he will be careful to keep his covenant of love with them-7:16 do not serve their gods for that will be a snare to you-7:26-utterly abhor and detest the idol stuff

8:1 careful and follow every command posses land which I swore to your forethathers-8:5 know that God disciplines his son-8:14 warning to guard their hearts from becoming proud after god blesses and increases them,

if you forget god and go after other gods you will be destroyed

9:4 because of the wickedness of the nations that God is driving them out, not Israel’s goodness-4-6 makes the point not about their own inherent righteousness 3x-9:25-moses appeals to god that they are his inheritance and threat that He will be mocked if He does not bring them to the promised land- he brought them out with an outstretched arm

ch.10 Moses has to repeat the tablets and the build a box to put them in-10:12 tells them to follow the lord with their heart, to love him for their own good-12:16 circumcise your hearts

11:13 if you obey and love and serve with all your heart-11:18 fix these words of mine in your heart and mind-11:22 if you are careful to observe all these commands…to love and to hold fast to him,

12:9 THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU-12:13 be careful not to offer burnt offerings anywhere you please-12:16 don’t eat the blood

ch.13:3-reject the false prophet even if what he predicts is true-the lord is testing you to find out whether you love him-stone the idolater to death-burn an idolatrous town down completely and do not rebuild it

ch.14 clean and unclean-starts (only ch. Starts this way) you are the children of the lord your god-14:21 don’t eat anything dead but you can give it to a foreigner???? You are a people holy to god-14:22 eat their tithe in the place god sets apart and don’t forget the Levite-14:28 at the end of every three years all the tithes of everything and store it in the city so Levites, aliens fatherless widows can come and be satisfied

15:1 end of every 7 years must cancel debt of a brother but not a foreigner though there should be no debt in the land-15:8 give the poor brother what ever he needs-don’t be tight fisted-15:12 you must let Israelite slave go free in the 7^th year, and do not send him away empty handed-15:18 do not consider it hardship to set him free-lord your god will bless you in every thing you do

16 Passover-unleaven bread is the bread of affliction-supposed to celebrate the feasts with the fatherless, widow and aliens

17:7 you must purge the evil from among you-17:14 when you decide you want a king make sure and appoint the one the lord appoints-no horses, wealth, wives-17:18 he is to write for himself a copy of the law-with him and he is to read it all the days of his life-not consider himself better than his brothers

18:1 the lord is the inheritance of the Levites-give them your first fruits-18:15 implies god will raise up prophets and not speak to the people directly because that is what they want-prophet has to speak the truth

ch.19 3 cities of refuge-when someone kills someone accidentally, the family doesn’t impulsively avenge the murder-check the principle of blood avenger-if the land is increased add 3 more cities-need 2 or 3 witnesses when someone is accused-19:21 show no pity-eye for eye etc…in order that people will see and not commit crimes-part of purging the evil from among you

Ch.20:5 not go to war if new house, wife or vineyard- It was deemed a great hardship to leave a house unfinished, a new property half cultivated, and a recently contracted marriage; and the exemptions allowed in these cases were founded on the principle that a man’s heart being deeply engrossed by something at a distance, he would not be very enthusiastic in the public service. -allowed to make a treaty with the nations far away-if nearby they were to destroy

Ch.21-marrying a captured girl huge improvement on what used to exist for captures who were seen a booty to the one who captured them-rebellious son-purge of evil-all of Israel will hear and be afraid

Ch.22 some odd laws-not mix seed –etc. don’t wear opposite gender clothes

Rules about marriage, virginity and rape

Ch.23 exclusions from the assembly-eunuchs-associated with pagan rites

Ch.24:5 guy not go to war if first married for 1 year-long enough to have a kid so wife not left totally in need-do not harvest every last thing but leave things for the alien, widow and the fatherless because you were slaves in Egypt and I brought you out

Ch.25:5 is the kinsman redeemer-25:11 & 12 ????

Ch.26:16 follow the laws with all your heart

Ch.27 when they cross over write the law down again on stones and put them on mt. ebal-the curses-27:19 cursed is the man who withholds justice

27:26 cursed is the man who does not carry out this law

Ch.28 the blessings 28:9 he will establish you as his holy people if you keep his commands and walk in his ways (imply not just following the letter of the law but the intent and heart of it) 28:32 curses-kids will be taken from you wear out your eyes watching for them and you will be powerless to lift a hand-28:36 lord will drive you to other lands-28:45 all these curses come upon you…47 because you did not serve the lord joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity-28:53 because they will be attacked and their city laid siege, they will eat the fruit of the womb-28:64 then the lord will scatter you-you will be anxious constantly

Ch.29 renewal of the covenant-reminds them they have seen god at work

29:18 warning about idolatry and calls it a root of bitter poison-ultimate cursing of Israel and the land is due to idolatry (idolatry implies a wholesale rejection of the rest of god’s laws-what they kept at that point would be superficisical and meaningless)

“Idolatry begins with a proud and selfish heart that loves the gifts more than it loves the Giver, and it ends by losing both the giver and the gifts.” (Weirsbe Be Equipped Deut. P. 169)

Ch.30 Moses says …and when you take them to heart-return to him and obey with all heart and soul he will restore to the land-30:4 he will gather you and bring you back-30:6 “The Lord your god will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul and live.”-30:9 the lord will again delight in you-30:11 f offers them life or death-now choose life-the lord is your life

Ch.31:6 be strong and courageous-he will never leave you or forsake you

31:10 every 7 years you shall read the law to the people-31:17 will forsake them when they go with other gods-taught them a song that foretold of Israel’s betrayal

Ch.32:15 song Moses sang-talked about gods people getting fat and then forgetting god and going after other gods the Rock his savior-32:36 the lord will judge his people and have compassion on them-32:37 mentions the “rock” they took refuge in (false gods) who were no refuge at all-32:43 he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people-32:47 obey because these are not just idol words for you they are your life

Assignment: read Deut. 15:12-14 what moral principles underlie this law? What can we see of god’s character reflected in this law?

List out the requirements for the king listed in Deut.17:14-20

What precautions are built into the requirements? Why did God forbid a king acquiring a great many horses, silver and gold? What specific reason is given as to why they should not acquire a large number of wives? What were kings told TO do in order to lead the nation well? Why did God stress this?

Read Deut.28-32 what does Moses emphasize? Notice the importance of responding to God from the heart. What are the people told is at stake in the choices they make to obey or disregard God?

Some ways in which the law of Israel was different from those of neighboring countries:

It was revealed to Israel by God. Moses and the Patriarchs did not compile a moral code and pass it on to the people. God spoke to Moses and revealed the law to him.

It did not recognize class or social rank when it came to meeting out justice.

“If a man hits a manservant or maidservant in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth. (Ex.21:26,27)

In the law of Hammurabi., there was one penalty for murder of a peasant and for murder of a person of high social standing. Not so in Israel. “You shall not murder.” Period. Women and slaves were treated like property in other moral codes. In neighboring cultures the death penalty could be assigned for crimes concerning property. Not in Israel. Life and not things was sacred. However, when a murder took place the death penalty was fiercely enforced. No payment of a fee or substitution of any kind was allowed because of the serious nature of the crime. An image bearer of God himself had had their life taken away. The death penalty was the only punishment fitting the crime. “A person who murders another does violence to God himself because the person murdered was made in God’s image.” (Toward an Old Testament ethic by Kaiser) Hammurabi allowed a nobleman to force his daughter to be put to death for a death he had committed. This was not so in the OT. Likewise in the code of Hammurabi a thief was to pay for his crime with his life. However, Ex. 20:3 allows for a thief who cannot make restitution to be sold to pay for his theft.

Things to remember when reading the law

The law reflects a high premium placed on respecting parents, because parents were representative of God. Strong measures were in place for the child that rejected their authority.

The notion of “an eye for an eye” which is associated with the law of Israel was not meant to promote violence and vengeance. Rather it was meant to limit vengeance. The most common response to being hurt or wronged is not to respond in kind but to repay with greater fury and greater damage. The OT law sought to limit that response.

Public punishment was meant to deter further crime. The repugnance of a crime was undeniable when one was confronted by a corpse hanging on a tree.

In the laws about gleaning after a field had been harvested, God made provision for the poor without penalizing the rich. In this way God would provide for the poor and the generous farmer. The year of the Jubilee was intended to level the field to a large extent economically for Israel.

There are two types of law in the law literature. Apodictic law are those laws which begin with “do” or do not”. They are direct commands to the people of Israel, which set a standard by an example rather than mentioning every possible circumstance. It is a guide with general applicability. Lev.19:14 states, “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.” The correct interpretation of this law would be “don’t mistreat the handicapped”, not it is wrong to harm the deaf or blind, but o.k. to hurt the mentally disabled. In this way these laws act more like the constitution than a state’s legal code. They may be limited in wording but are very comprehensive in spirit. (Deut.28:9 seems to acknowledge the importance of the spirit as well as the letter of the law. “The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord you God and walk in his ways.”)

The second type of law is casuistic. These laws are conditional, case-by-case at it were. None of these are renewed in the New Covenant. Though these laws do not apply to those living in the New Covenant, there are things we can learn about God and his character by looking closely at these laws and some of the principles underlying them. (See above Deut.15:12-17 on slavery-p.158 How to read bible for all it’s worth)

The Law was given in a context of grace. Before God gives Moses the 10 commandments He reminds him, “ You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself….” Ex. 19:4 Before He describes the details of the treaty with Israel He focuses their attention on His faithfulness and provision. At the end of Deut. God once again makes provision for Israel, looking to the future and their failure to keep the law. He promises to take them back, to restore them to the land when they turn to Him.

From how to read bible for all it’s worth p.163-4

1. Do see as the law as God’s fully inspired word for you, but not his direct command to you.

2. Do see the law as the basis for OC and for Israel’s history, but not binding on Christians except where renewed in NC.

3. Do see God’s justice and love and high standards revealed in OT law. Don’t forget his mercy is equal to the severity of his standards.

4. Don’t see the OT law as complete. Do see it as a paradigm providing examples of expected behavior.

5. Don’t expect the OT law to be cited frequently by the prophets or the NT. Do remember that the essence of the law (loving God and loving others) is repeated by both.

6. Do see the OT law as a generous gift to Israel bringing, much blessing when obeyed. Don’t see it as a grouping of arbitrary annoying regulations limiting people’s freedom.