The Mosaic government, as established in the Hebrew Scriptures, is a theocratic system instituted by God through His servant Moses. This form of governance is foundational to the nation of Israel and is characterized by its divine origin, legal structure, and leadership model. The Mosaic government is not merely a political system but a covenantal relationship between God and His chosen people, Israel.

Divine Origin and Covenant

The Mosaic government finds its origin in the covenant God made with the Israelites at Mount Sinai. This covenant is central to understanding the nature of Israel's governance. In Exodus 19:5-6 , God declares, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." This establishes the Israelites as a people set apart, governed by divine law.

The Law as the Foundation

The core of the Mosaic government is the Law, given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Law, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments and expanded in the subsequent legal codes, serves as the constitution of Israel. It covers moral, civil, and ceremonial aspects of life, ensuring that every facet of society is aligned with God's will. Deuteronomy 4:8 highlights the uniqueness of this legal system: "And what nation is so great as to have such righteous statutes and ordinances as this entire law I set before you today?"

Leadership Under Moses

Moses, as the mediator of the covenant, is the primary leader under this system. His role is multifaceted: he is a prophet, judge, and intercessor. Moses' leadership is marked by direct communication with God, as seen in Exodus 33:11 : "Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend." This intimate relationship with God underscores the divine authority vested in Moses.

Judicial and Administrative Structure

The Mosaic government includes a judicial system designed to maintain justice and order. In Exodus 18, Moses, following the advice of his father-in-law Jethro, appoints capable men as leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to judge the people in ordinary matters, reserving the most difficult cases for himself. This delegation of authority ensures efficient governance and reflects a structured approach to leadership.

Subsequent Leaders and the Continuation of Mosaic Governance

After Moses, leadership transitions to Joshua, who leads the Israelites into the Promised Land. Joshua 1:7 emphasizes the continuity of Mosaic governance: "Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go." This charge underscores the enduring nature of the Mosaic Law as the guiding principle for Israel's leaders.

The period of the Judges follows, where leaders are raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression and guide them back to covenant faithfulness. Judges 2:16 states, "Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of these raiders." These judges, though not kings, serve as divinely appointed leaders who uphold the Mosaic covenant.

Theocratic Principles and Legacy

The Mosaic government is inherently theocratic, with God as the ultimate ruler. This principle is evident throughout the history of Israel, where adherence to the Law and covenant determines the nation's prosperity and security. The legacy of the Mosaic government is its emphasis on justice, righteousness, and the centrality of God's law in the life of the nation.Exodus 3:16,18
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
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Exodus 4:29-31
And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:
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Exodus 12:21
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
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Exodus 17:5,6
And the LORD said to Moses, Go on before the people, and take with you of the elders of Israel; and your rod, with which you smote the river, take in your hand, and go.
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Exodus 18:12
And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
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Exodus 19:7,8
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
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Exodus 24:1,14
And he said to Moses, Come up to the LORD, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship you afar off.
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Leviticus 4:15
And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.
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Leviticus 9:1
And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
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Numbers 11:16-18,30
And the LORD said to Moses, Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with you.
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Numbers 16:25
And Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
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Deuteronomy 1:13-15
Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
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Deuteronomy 5:23
And it came to pass, when you heard the voice out of the middle of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;
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Deuteronomy 27:1
And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.
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Deuteronomy 29:10-15
You stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel,
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Deuteronomy 31:9,28
And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, which bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
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Joshua 7:6
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust on their heads.
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Joshua 8:10,32,33
And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
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Joshua 23:2,3,6
And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them, I am old and stricken in age:
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Joshua 24:1,24,25
And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
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Judges 21:16-25
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
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Acts 5:17,18,21-41
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
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Footnotes
... splendid eloquence, the amiable system of morality which is still associated with
his ... presented to Binning was not, De concursu, &c, but one closely allied to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... reviling his ignoble pedigree:"'You closely disdain my ... had been connected with the
government, because, with ... meaning of part of the Mosaic dispensation is ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

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