© Cambridge University Press 2014 DISCUSSION What is “law”? What is its purpose or function? What are the various perspectives about law in our culture?

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH INSTRUCTION The Torah is a blend of narrative and law. The Hebrew word torah more accurately means “instruction” or “direction,” The ancient Israelites had a great appreciation for the Torah’s instruction. They saw the law as God’s gift providing everything necessary for a good life, so they celebrated the law.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH INSTRUCTION Jewish rabbis have counted 613 commandments given to Moses. Most of these have nothing to do with what we today call law. Instead most regulate relationships between humans and God (theology) or describe acceptable behavior between humans (ethics).

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH LAW PORTIONS 1) Ten Commandments (aka Decalogue) Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21 Generally stated principles that provide the context for the more specific laws that follow 2) The Book of the Covenant Exodus Casuistic Laws (“if …then…”) This collection if the written version of the covenant at Mount Sinai. The laws reflect life in the promised land rather than in the wilderness.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH LAW PORTIONS 3) Instructions for the Tabernacle Exodus and The Tabernacle consisted of three parts: 1.an outer court yard 2.the holy place 3.the “most holy place” The instructions also included plans for the ark of the covenant and other furnishings, the priestly garments and a priestly consecration service.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE WILDERNESS TABERNACLE Art Resource; image reference: ART ; photo credit: “©Balage Balogh / Art Resource, NY”

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH LAW PORTIONS 4) Sacrificial Laws Leviticus 1-7 The sacrifices prescribed are a means to express gratitude ensure right relationship with Yahweh provide for atonement (i.e. reconciliation) purge offenders cleanse the Tabernacle and its sacrificial altar

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH LAW PORTIONS 5) Purification Laws Leviticus This set of laws is concerned with purity or impurity in everyday life. It culminates in the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - an annual ritual for cleansing the Tabernacle and the people. This ritual is the heart of the Torah. It is the center of Leviticus, which is the center of the Torah.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH LAW PORTIONS 6) Holiness Legislation Leviticus This portion is punctuated by frequent calls to become holy as Yahweh is holy. These laws touch on just about every topic of everyday life. 7) Collection of Priestly Laws Numbers 5-6, 8-10, 15, 18-19, Many of these laws return to previously introduced topics, but they add new details or develop the topic in a more complete fashion.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH INSTRUCTION The majority of these “laws” are religious in nature. Only about 10% of the commandments establish rights and duties between individuals (governing things like marriage, inheritance, property, contracts, crime, etc.) The rest regulate relations between humans and God, such as instructions related to the tabernacle, the priesthood and sacrifices. Others encourage ethical behavior.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 TORAH INSTRUCTION The OT laws are not prescriptive; they do not comprehensively deal with all the behavorial conduct. Rather, the OT laws are descriptive, listing customs and practices that were in force in ancient Israel and believed to be helpful. The OT laws are also revelatory; they reflect Yahweh’s nature.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE TEN WORDS The ideal moral vision of the law is perhaps best captured by the Ten Commandments or Decalogue These words are the first portion of legal material in the Torah, recur several times and were written by the very finger of God on stone tablets. These ten instructions establish a moral arc or trajectory for the rest of the Old Testament.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE TEN WORDS Ancient Near Eastern law codes typically use casuistic laws: “when/if/whoever” X “then” Y By contrast, the Ten Commandments drop the first clause and simply establish the principle that should (or should not) be done. They are not specific to any particular circumstance, but are prescribed for all circumstances.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE TEN WORDS The Ten Commandments have a literary and logical progression and must be taken as a whole. The list has two sections: A.Governs Israel’s relationship with Yahweh 1.Demands exclusive loyalty 2.Bans representative idols 3.Respect Yahweh’ name 4.Keep Sabbath

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE TEN WORDS B. Governs Israel’s relationships with each other; they maintain a safe and healthy community 5) Honors parents 6) Prohibits murder 7) Prohibits adultery 8) Prohibits stealing 9) Prohibits false testimony 10) Prohibits coveting

© Cambridge University Press 2014 DISCUSSION What do these ten laws reveal about Yahweh’s nature and character?

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE TEN WORDS They are not a universal moral code. Rather they establish a bare minimum standard. One reader has observed that most of the Ten Commandments “could be kept by staying in bed all day and avoiding any human contact.” But taken with the Torah Story, the Torah as a whole reveals Yahweh’s ethical ideal

© Cambridge University Press 2014 ISRAEL’S WORSHIP The Torah Instruction has more verses on the Tabernacle worship than any other single topic. The Tabernacle: create a new world for Israel to live in over which Yahweh rules as sovereign in which Yahweh dwells in the midst of Israel

© Cambridge University Press 2014 ISRAEL’S WORSHIP This new world is countercultural Its vision of space, time and status mirrors Genesis 1 At creation, God established boundaries between the holy and the common Likewise, the Tabernacle divides and organizes space into graduated zones of holiness from the common to the Most Holy Place

© Cambridge University Press 2014 SANCTUARY FROM ARAD BiblePlaces.com; image reference: tb ; photo credit: “Todd Bolen / BiblePlaces.com”

© Cambridge University Press 2014 ISRAEL’S WORSHIP The need for graduated zones is required by the very nature of Yahweh His essence is transcendent otherness – “I am holy” (Lev 11:44) His presence will go with the Israelites from Mount Sinai to the promised land. The Tabernacle is a portable Sinai.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 LAW “CODE,” WRITING & MONOTHEISM The seven portions of Torah instruction were originally part of four independent law codes: 1)Covenant Code – Exodus 20:22-23:19 1)Priestly Code – This code was comprised of laws related to the Tabernacle, sacrifices, priesthood and purity. This code made up a large portion of the Priestly source.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 LAW “CODE,” WRITING & MONOTHEISM 3) Holiness Code – Leviticus ) Deuteronomic Code – Deuteronomy These law codes have close parallels in the ANE They also have affinities with later Greek developments in their use of the narrative framework to nuance and define the role of law.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 CODE OF HAMMURABI Art Resource; image reference: ART 37065; photo credit: “Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY”

© Cambridge University Press 2014 LAW “CODE,” WRITING & MONOTHEISM There are numerous references to writing in the Torah. Writing itself has ben linked with the new law- based religion of Moses. The written Torah marks a turn from preliterate ancestral religion to literate Mosaic faith.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 LAW “CODE,” WRITING & MONOTHEISM Writing and monotheism may have a reciprocal relationship. The Ten Commandments prohibit idols The tablets become the new sacred symbol Writing replaces the physical representation of God, who is invisibly transcendent. The tablets were stored in the Ark Yahweh’s words are preserved in a sacred text. This feature of Mosaic religion will continue in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.