Via Christa: Via Christa Life: Appendices: Hebraic Law

Via Christa
» Appendices
» Hebraic Law

Hebraic Law

Hebrew law is the body of ancient laws found in various places in the Old Testament. Similar, apparently earlier ancient Middle Eastern law codes, have been found,—such as the Code of Hammurabi, an 18th–17th-century-B.C. Babylonian king, and the Code of Lipit-Ishtar, a 20th-century-BC king of the Mesopotamian city of Eshnunna. These latter codes are described as having been given by tutelary gods to rulers who could establish justice in their lands.
God gave His laws, the Torah, directly to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Two types of law are noted in the Hebrew law codes: (1) case law, a conditional statement and the punishment to be meted out; and (2) regulations in the form of divine commands (e.g., the Ten Commandments). The law codes in the Old Testament include (1) the Book of the Covenant (the Covenant Code), (2) the Deuteronomic Code, and (3) the Priestly Code.
The Book of the Covenant, one of the oldest collections of law in the Old Testament, is found in Exodus 20:22–23:33. The Covenant Code is divided into (1) a prologue, (2) laws on worship, (3) laws dealing with persons, (4) property laws, (5) laws concerned with the Covenant’s continuance, and (6) an epilogue, with warnings and promises. The Covenant Code contains the lex talionis (the law of retribution)—an "eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"; however, it allowed substitution of financial compensation or a fine for the literal punishment.
The Deuteronomic Code (Deuteronomy 12–26), a revision of Israelite law discovered in the Temple at Jerusalem in 621 BC, attempted to purify the worship of Yahweh from Canaanite and other influences. The most grievous sin was apostasy, which carried the death penalty. The Deuteronomic Code is divided into (1) statutes and ordinances dealing with the Canaanites and worship in the Temple in Jerusalem alone, to the exclusion of the high places; (2) sabbatical laws concerned with the year of release from obligations, especially financial; (3) regulations for leaders; (4) various civil, religious, and ethical laws; and (5) an epilogue of blessings and curses.
The Priestly Code, containing the Code of Holiness (Leviticus 17–26, ceremonial, institutional, and ritualistic practices), is found partly in Exodus, all of Leviticus, and most of Numbers. The Priestly Code is a reinterpretation resulting from the Diaspora in Babylon, and emphasizes purity of worship.–Encyclopedia Britannica

Top ↑

.

Reference

Encyclopaedia Britannica. s.v., "Hebraic law,"Hebraic law. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. July 20, 1998.

Copyright © 2019-2026 by The Society of the Universal Living Christ. All titles published under "The Via Christa" are copyright protected unless otherwise noted. All Rights Reserved. You may not modify, publish, transmit, transfer or sell, reproduce, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, or in any way exploit any of the content, in whole or in part. Exempt content is clearly identified as being in the public domain. No part of any book or paper herein may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from The Via Christa. Created October 15, 2019; modified January 4, 2026.