Judging Others According to the Law of Moses
The "Law of Moses," also known as the Mosaic Law or simply "the Law" (Hebrew: Torah), refers to the entire body of legislation given to ancient Israel through Moses [5]. This law is considered the law of God [8] and is fundamentally theocratic, meaning it establishes God's commandments as the basis for all human duty [5].
Initially, Moses himself served as the sole judge for the Israelite people, hearing and determining disputes and providing instruction on matters pertaining to God's will [1, 16]. Josephus notes that people would come to Moses believing they would only obtain justice if he arbitrated their differences [6]. This practice was time-consuming, with Moses sitting from morning until evening to judge the people [1, 16].
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro (Raguel), observed this burden and advised Moses to delegate judicial responsibilities [6, 9]. He suggested establishing a hierarchy of judges: rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens [6, 9]. These appointed judges would handle "small matters," while more difficult or "great matters" would be brought to Moses [2, 9, 17]. This system allowed for justice to be done among the Hebrews and freed Moses to focus on his role as a mediator with God [9]. These courts of justice were established in all cities, often held at the gates, and their decisions were considered conclusive [7].
The Law of Moses was given to the Jews after the Exodus, specifically at Mount Sinai and Horeb, and was not given to any other nation [8]. It was delivered through Moses as a mediator and by the disposition of angels [8]. Josephus emphasizes that the legislator (Moses) could not have a right mind without contemplating the Divine nature, and that the laws were meant to promote virtue by teaching that God is the Father and Lord of all things [3].
In later Christian theological understanding, the Mosaic Law is often viewed in relation to the Abrahamic covenant [4]. While the Law required obedience to every regulation for those seeking righteousness through it [13], the New Testament emphasizes that Gentile Christians become children of Abraham by faith, not by keeping the Law of Moses [12]. The concept of "the law of Christ" is presented as fulfilling the Mosaic Law through love for one's neighbor [10, 15]. Carrying one another's burdens is seen as fulfilling this law of Christ [11]. The blessing promised to Abraham, which includes receiving the Holy Spirit, is extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus [14].
Sources
- Exodus “On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening. -- Exodus 18:13”
- Exodus “Exodus 18:26 (Rotherham) — And they shall judge the people, at any time,—the hard matters, shall they bring in unto Moses, but all the small matters, shall, they themselves, judge.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Law Of Moses — It will be the object of this article to give a brief analysis of the substance of this law, to point out its main principles, and to explain the position which it occupies in the progress of divine revelation. In order to do this the more clearly, it seems best to speak of the law, 1st. In relation to the past; 2d. In its own intrinsic character. + (a) In reference to the past, it is all-important, for the proper understanding of the law, to remember its entire dependence on the Abrahamic covenant. See (Galatians 3:17-24) That covenant had a twofold ch”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses — Is the whole body of the Mosaic legislation (1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 23:25; Ezra 3:2). It is called by way of eminence simply "the Law" (Heb. Torah, Deut. 1:5; 4:8, 44; 17:18, 19; 27:3, 8). As a written code it is called the "book of the law of Moses" (2 Kings 14:6; Isa. 8:20), the "book of the law of God" (Josh. 24:26). The great leading principle of the Mosaic law is that it is essentially theocratic; i.e., it refers at once to the commandment of God as the foundation of all human duty.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 4, section 1: . How Raguel Suggested To Moses To Set His People In Order, Under Their Rulers Of Thousands, And Rulers Of Hundreds, Who Lived Without Order Before; And How Moses Complied In All Things With His Father-In-Law's Admonition. 1. The next day, as Raguel saw Moses in the middle of a crowd of business for he determined the differences of those that referred them to him, every one still going to him, and supposing that they should then only obtain justice, if he were the arbitrator; and those that lost their causes thought it no harm, w”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Courts of Justice — Have authority from God -- Ro 13:1-5. Superior court Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness. -- Ex 18:13-20. Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites. -- De 17:9; Mal 2:7. Presided over by the governor or the high priest. -- De 17:12; Jdj 4:4,5. Held at the seat of government. -- De 17:8. Decided on all appeals and difficult cases. -- Ex 18:26; De 1:17; 17:8,9. Decisions of, conclusive. -- De 17:10,11. Inferior court In all cities. -- De 16:18; 2Ch 19:5-7. Held at the gates. -- Ge 34:20; De 16:18; 21:19; Job 5:4. Judges of, appointed by ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Law of Moses, The — Is the law of God -- Le 26:46. Given In the desert. -- Eze 20:10,11. At Horeb. -- De 4:10,15; 5:2. From the Mount Sinai. -- Ex 19:11,20. By disposition of angels. -- Ac 7:53. Through Moses as mediator. -- De 5:5,27,28; Joh 1:17; Ga 3:19. To the Jews. -- Le 26:46; Ps 78:5. After the exodus. -- De 4:45; Ps 81:4,5. To no other nation. -- De 4:8; Ps 147:20. None to approach the Mount while God gave -- Ex 19:13,21-24; Heb 12:20. Remarkable phenomena connected with, at giving of -- Ex 19:16-19. Terror of Israel at receiving -- Ex 19:16; 20:18-20; De 5:5”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 4, section 2: But if any great cause arise, let them bring the cognizance of it before the rulers of a higher dignity; but if any great difficulty arise that is too hard for even their determination, let them send it to thee. By these means two advantages will be gained; the Hebrews will have justice done them, and thou wilt be able to attend constantly on God, and procure him to be more favorable to the people." 2. This was the admonition of Raguel; and Moses received his advice very kindly, and acted according to his suggestion. Nor did he c”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:14: 5:14 the whole law can be summed up (or the whole law is fulfilled): Christ’s followers fulfill the law by exercising love toward every neighbor (Lev 19:18; see Matt 7:12; Luke 6:27-36; 10:25-37; John 13:34-35; 15:9-17; Rom 13:8-10).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 6:2: 6:2 Carrying each other’s burdens (6:1) fulfills the law of Christ to love one another (5:13-14; see also Lev 19:18; Matt 22:36-40; John 13:34; 15:12; 1 Jn 3:23).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 3:7: 3:7 Gentile Christians—including the Galatians—are among the real children of Abraham, not by keeping the law of Moses, but by faith in God (see Rom 4:9-17, 23-25; cp. Matt 12:48-50).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:3: 5:3 Those who seek righteousness through the law must obey every regulation of it (see 2:15-16; cp. Jas 2:10).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 3:14: 3:14 Christ Jesus has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing . . . promised to Abraham, as described in 3:6-13. Paul equates this blessing with receiving the promised Holy Spirit (3:2-6; see also Rom 8:1-17, 23; Eph 1:13-14).”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 5:14: all the law--Greek, "the whole law," namely, the Mosaic law. Love to God is presupposed as the root from which love to our neighbor springs; and it is in this tense the latter precept (so "word" means here) is said to be the fulfilling of "all the law" (Lev 19:18). Love is "the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2; Mat 7:12; Mat 22:39-40; Rom 13:9-10). is fulfilled--Not as received text "is being fulfilled," but as the oldest manuscripts read, "has been fulfilled"; and so "receives its full perfection," as rudimentary teachings are fulfilled by the more perfec”
- Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 18:13: To judge the people - To hear and determine controversies between man and man, and to give them instruction in things appertaining to God. From the morning unto the evening - Moses was obliged to sit all day, and the people were continually coming and going.”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 18:21: And let them judge the people at all times,.... In their several districts, whenever a matter of difference between man and man arises, and the case is brought before them, let them judge impartially between them, and determine what is right and wrong, and execute judgment and justice truly; which would take off a great deal of business from the hands of Moses: and it shall be that every great matter they shall bring to thee; any affair of great importance, and difficult of determination, and about which the judges may have some doubt in their minds, and they are n”