Topical Bible: The Law of Moses: Given: After the Exodus

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Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
The Law of Moses, also known as the Mosaic Law, is a foundational component of the Hebrew Bible and a central element of the covenantal relationship between God and the people of Israel. Given after the Exodus, it encompasses a comprehensive set of divine instructions, commandments, and ordinances that were delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai. These laws are primarily recorded in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Historical Context:
Following the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, God led them to Mount Sinai. It was here that He established a covenant with them, choosing them as His treasured possession and setting them apart as a holy nation. The Law of Moses was given as part of this covenant, serving as a guide for the Israelites in their relationship with God and with one another.

Content and Structure:
The Law of Moses is traditionally divided into three categories: moral, ceremonial, and civil laws.

1. Moral Law:
The moral law is epitomized by the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), which serve as the ethical foundation for the Israelites. These commandments address fundamental aspects of human conduct, including the worship of God, the sanctity of life, and the principles of justice and truth.

2. Ceremonial Law:
The ceremonial laws pertain to the religious practices and rituals of Israel. They include instructions for sacrifices, festivals, dietary regulations, and the priesthood. These laws were designed to maintain the holiness of the nation and to foreshadow the coming of the Messiah. Leviticus 1-7 details various offerings, while Leviticus 23 outlines the appointed feasts.

3. Civil Law:
The civil laws provided guidelines for the social and judicial aspects of Israelite life. They addressed issues such as property rights, marriage, and criminal justice. These laws were intended to ensure justice and order within the community. For example, Exodus 21-23 contains laws regarding personal injury and property damage.

Purpose and Significance:
The Law of Moses served multiple purposes. It was a means of revealing God's holiness and righteousness, setting a standard for the Israelites to follow. It also functioned as a tutor, leading them to recognize their need for a Savior (Galatians 3:24). The law was a covenantal framework that distinguished Israel from other nations, emphasizing their unique relationship with God.

The Law and the New Testament:
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is seen as the fulfillment of the Law. He stated, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). The apostle Paul further explains that believers are no longer under the law as a means of justification, but under grace (Romans 6:14). However, the moral principles of the law continue to reflect God's character and are upheld in the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

Conclusion:
The Law of Moses remains a vital part of biblical theology and history. It provides insight into God's covenantal dealings with His people and lays the groundwork for understanding the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Through the Law, believers gain a deeper appreciation of God's holiness, justice, and mercy.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 4:45
These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 81:4,5
For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Law Anterior to Moses.
... the better; and has premonished that it should come to pass that, just as "the law
was given through Moses ... [1147] Or, "the Law written for Moses in stone ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter ii the law anterior to.htm

Was Moses "A Literary Fiction"?
... This was not the law, parts of which even some of ... twenty-fourth chapter of Exodus
Moses has given an account ... Moses was called into the immediate presence of God ...
/.../iii was moses a literary.htm

Whether the Old Law was Given through the Angels?
... but that the Old Law should be given to men ... the opinion of the people, who thought
that Moses was speaking ... It is for the sovereign alone to make a law by his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the old law was 3.htm

Authorship of the Pentateuch.
... introduction to the giving of the law; for it ... contains the grand farewell address
of Moses to the ... woven a summary of the precepts already given which concerned ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter ix authorship of the.htm

Exodus
... advice of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, God-fearing ... After six days of preparation,
Moses ascended the ... another source, the commands are given differently, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/exodus.htm

Of the Times of Moses and Joshua the Son of Nun, of the Judges ...
... of God went through the desert, under the leadership of Moses, when the ... of things
to come, and that was after the law had been very terribly given in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 43 of the times of.htm

The Origin and Growth of Law.
... The Hebrew laws given in the Old Testament are ... the different codes were practically
formulated by Moses himself. ... real founder of what is called the Mosaic Law. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study ix the origin and.htm

Monoimus on the Sabbath; Allegorizes the Rod of Moses; Notion ...
... tittle) is Moses' rod, which was given by God ... And with this (rod Moses) smites the
Egyptians, for ... men, nevertheless receive even the entire law after some such ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter vii monoimus on the sabbath.htm

On the Comparison of the Law and the Gospel
... (Hebrews 3:5, 6.) "The law was given by Moses; Grace and ... and announcing the Gospel,
declares, that man has not obeyed the law which was given to him. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 13 on the comparison.htm

Were Christ and the Apostles Mistaken?
... 7:22.) Hence he called the Scriptures "The Law of Moses ... concede that many things
were done by Moses, but not ... of the Jewish nation, which had been given at Sinai ...
/.../concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism/iv were christ and the.htm