Announcements Questions on exams? Please see me. Questions on exams? Please see me. Open Forum Wednesday evening (7:15-8:15 in J 237) if sufficient interest Open Forum Wednesday evening (7:15-8:15 in J 237) if sufficient interest Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown this evening Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown this evening “May you be written in the book of life” “May you be written in the book of life” Psalm 89:14-15 Psalm 89:14-15

Civil/Social Torah

A Review Question: What were the purposes of civil/social Torah? Set up moral guidelines to curb the excesses of the individual’s will Set up moral guidelines to curb the excesses of the individual’s will Structure societal conduct and provide for the proper administration of justice Structure societal conduct and provide for the proper administration of justice Indicate that all of life is lived in the presence of God Indicate that all of life is lived in the presence of God Create the environment for our approach to a holy God Create the environment for our approach to a holy God

And the answer is…. Set up moral guidelines to curb the excesses of the individual’s will Set up moral guidelines to curb the excesses of the individual’s will Structure societal conduct and provide for the proper administration of justice Structure societal conduct and provide for the proper administration of justice Indicate that all of life is lived in the presence of God Indicate that all of life is lived in the presence of God Create the environment for our approach to a holy God Create the environment for our approach to a holy God

Introductory Comments and Questions Ancient Near East parallels – with a focus on the Code of Hammurabi (CH) Ancient Near East parallels – with a focus on the Code of Hammurabi (CH) What distinctions do we see between the Torah and the CH? What distinctions do we see between the Torah and the CH? What are the noticeable differences between Israelite society and 21 st century western culture What are the noticeable differences between Israelite society and 21 st century western culture What cross-cultural principles apply? What cross-cultural principles apply? Justice must be balanced, properly applied, not perverted Justice must be balanced, properly applied, not perverted Care for the disadvantaged – widows, aliens, orphans Care for the disadvantaged – widows, aliens, orphans Concern for human dignity Concern for human dignity What are some of the challenging issues? What are some of the challenging issues?

Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic : X – Y – Z Hermeneutic (W.J. Webb, 2001) X Y Z [original isolated wordsxultimate culture]in Bible [“frozenxethic in time”]x[reflected xin the spirit our own of the text] our own of the text] culture [if it reflects a better ethic than Y]

The Justice System in Israel Measure-for-measure – to prevent excess and vengeance (Exodus 21:23-25; Lev 24:17-22; Deut 19:22) Measure-for-measure – to prevent excess and vengeance (Exodus 21:23-25; Lev 24:17-22; Deut 19:22) Ministers of justice Ministers of justice Judges in every town Judges in every town The “Supreme Court” – priests ministering before the Lord The “Supreme Court” – priests ministering before the Lord

Factors Affecting the Administration of Justice Intentional vs. unintentional action Intentional vs. unintentional action Gender Gender Freedom for female slaves would remove them from protection in the household Freedom for female slaves would remove them from protection in the household Being sold into slavery often meant marriage into the new household Being sold into slavery often meant marriage into the new household Slave or free Slave or free Slaves as “property” for which an owner has paid Slaves as “property” for which an owner has paid No other ANE code protects slaves against owners’ maltreatment No other ANE code protects slaves against owners’ maltreatment Israelite or foreigner Israelite or foreigner The issue of interest on debts The issue of interest on debts Foreigners were often highly mobile commercial agents Foreigners were often highly mobile commercial agents

Modes of Punishment Death penalty Death penalty Stoning or burning (Lev 20-21) Stoning or burning (Lev 20-21) Body hung on a tree  under God’s curse (Deut 21:23; cf. Galatians 3:13) Body hung on a tree  under God’s curse (Deut 21:23; cf. Galatians 3:13) Flogging or other physical punishment Flogging or other physical punishment Restitution Restitution shalem yishalem shalem yishalem Double, four, or five times depending on whether stolen article is still available and what it was Double, four, or five times depending on whether stolen article is still available and what it was Confined to city of refuge Confined to city of refuge

Types of Cases Interpersonal relationships Interpersonal relationships Personal injury or death Personal injury or death Marriage, divorce, promiscuity, rape Marriage, divorce, promiscuity, rape Family abuse Family abuse Property damage and loss – animals, fields and crops, guarded property Property damage and loss – animals, fields and crops, guarded property Theft Theft Other financial concerns Other financial concerns Wages for employees Wages for employees Debt, slavery, lending money Debt, slavery, lending money Inheritance rights Inheritance rights

Matters of National Interest Obligations of the king (Deut 17:14-20) Obligations of the king (Deut 17:14-20) Going to war (Deut 20) Going to war (Deut 20) Dealing with poverty Dealing with poverty Tithes (Deut 14:28-29) Tithes (Deut 14:28-29) Gleaning (Lev 19:9-10; Deut 24:19-22) Gleaning (Lev 19:9-10; Deut 24:19-22) Seventh year procedures (Deut 15:1-18 and parallels in Exodus) Seventh year procedures (Deut 15:1-18 and parallels in Exodus) Cities of refuge (Deut 19:1-13) Cities of refuge (Deut 19:1-13)

The “unified torah” Relationship of moral torah to civil torah Relationship of moral torah to civil torah Relationship of civil torah to ritual torah Relationship of civil torah to ritual torah