Moses' Teachings in the Book of the Law
Moses' Teachings in the Book of the Law
The Book of the Law, also known as the Torah or the Pentateuch, contains the teachings of Moses, which are foundational to Jewish and Christian traditions. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, the Law of Moses is "the whole body of the Mosaic legislation" [1]. The law was given to the Israelites through Moses as mediator, and it is considered a written code that outlines God's commandments and statutes [2].
The law is described as being given at Mount Sinai, where God delivered it to Moses, who in turn delivered it to the people [7]. The law is characterized as being theocratic, referring to God's commandment as the foundation of all human duty [1]. It is also described as being "pure", "spiritual", "holy", "just", and "good" [6].
Moses wrote the law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who were responsible for teaching the people [4, 8]. The law was considered a sacred text, and its transmission was crucial to the Israelites' understanding of God's will. According to Rashi, a Jewish commentator, Moses was tasked with teaching the transmission of the laws, highlighting the importance of his role [9].
The law is not just a set of rules but is meant to guide the people in their relationship with God. It is described as a "teacher" or "instructor" that guides the people in the right way [5]. The law is also seen as being connected to the Abrahamic covenant, and its purpose is to lead the people to Christ [3, 10].
Different traditions have interpreted the law in various ways. For example, the Patristic tradition sees the law as being fulfilled in Christ, who is considered the ultimate teacher and interpreter of the law [12]. In contrast, the Jewish tradition continues to study and interpret the law as a central part of their faith [9, 14].
The significance of the law is evident in its continued study and reverence throughout history. According to Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, the discovery of the Book of the Law during the reign of Josiah was a significant event that led to a renewed commitment to God's commandments [11]. The law remains an essential part of Jewish and Christian traditions, serving as a foundation for understanding God's will and guiding human behavior.
The law's enduring importance is a testament to its role in shaping the spiritual and moral lives of believers. As Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, notes, the law is a powerful motivator for obedience, with its promises and threats serving as a reminder of God's presence and judgment [13].
Sources
- 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.”
- 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”
- 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”
- Deuteronomy “Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and to all the elders of Israel. -- Deuteronomy 31:9”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Law — The word is properly used, in Scripture as elsewhere, to express a definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority; but when the word is used with the article, and without any words of limitation, it refers to the expressed will to God, and in nine cases out of ten to the Mosaic law, or to the Pentateuch of which it forms the chief portion. The Hebrew word torah (law) lays more stress on its moral authority, as teaching the truth and guiding in the right way; the Greek nomos (law), on its constraining power as imposed and enforced by a recognized auth”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Law of God, The — Is absolute and perpetual -- Mt 5:18. Given To Adam. -- Ge 2:16,17; Ro 5:12-14. To Noah. -- Ge 9:6. To the Israelites. -- Ex 20:2-17; Ps 78:5. Through Moses. -- Ex 31:18; Joh 7:19. Through the ministration of angels. -- Ac 7:53; Ga 3:19; Heb 2:2. Described as Pure. -- Ps 19:8. Spiritual. -- Ro 7:14. Holy, just, and good. -- Ro 7:12. Exceeding broad. -- Ps 119:96. Perfect. -- Ps 19:7; Ro 12:2. Truth. -- Ps 119:142. Not grievous. -- 1Jo 5:3. Requires obedience of the heart -- Ps 51:6; Mt 5:28; 22:37. Requires perfect obedience -- De 27:26; Ga 3:10; Ja”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 5, section 1: . How Moses Ascended Up To Mount Sinai, And Received Laws From God, And Delivered Them To The Hebrews.”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 31:8: And Moses wrote this law,.... The book of Deuteronomy, or the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses, which he had now finished, and which all of them together are sometimes called the law, Gal 4:21, and delivered it unto the priests, the sons of Levi; who were the teachers of the law, as Aben Ezra observes; see Mal 2:7; and therefore it was proper to put it into their hands, to instruct the people in it, and that the people might apply to them in any matter of difficulty, or when they wanted to have any particular law explained to them: which bare the ark of th”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Micah 6:4: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam — Jonathan paraphrases: Moses to teach the transmission of the laws, Aaron to atone for the people, and Miriam to instruct the women.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 7:12: 7:12 the law and the prophets: The teaching of Jesus in 5:21–7:6 is the goal and true expression of the law of Moses. Love is at the core of discipleship (see also Gal 5:13-14, 18).”
- 2 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 22:8: I have found the book of the law - Was this the autograph of Moses? It is very probable that it was, for in the parallel place; Ch2 34:14, it is said to be the book of the law of the Lord by Moses. It is supposed to be that part of Deuteronomy (28, 29, 30, and 31), which contains the renewing of the covenant in the plains of Moab, and which contains the most terrible invectives against the corrupters of God's word and worship. The rabbins say that Ahaz, Manasseh, and Amon endeavored to destroy all the copies of the law, and this only was saved by having been buried”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — HOW CHRIST BECAME A FULFILLER OF THE LAW, AND WHAT PARTS OF IT HE PUT A PERIOD TO, OR CHANGED, OR TRANSFERRED. (part 2): dominion.(4) He did not therefore take away the law from us, but the bonds. For concerning the law Moses says: "Thou shalt meditate on the word which I command thee, sitting in thine house, and rising up, and walking in the way."(5) And David says: "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law will he meditate day and night."(6) For everywhere would he have us subject to His laws, but not transgress”
- Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 11:26: Here Moses concludes his general exhortations to obedience; and his management is very affecting, and such as, one would think, should have engaged them for ever to God, and should have left impressions upon them never to be worn out. I. He sums up all his arguments for obedience in two words, the blessing and the curse (Deu 11:26), that is, the rewards and the punishments, as they stand in the promises and the threatenings, which are the great sanctions of the law, taking hold of hope and fear, those two handles of the soul, by which it is caught, held, and”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Deuteronomy 31:24: AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN MOSES HAD FINISHED WRITING [THE WORDS OF THIS LAW]. The meaning thereof is that, at first, he wrote the Law and delivered it unto the priests as is stated above, 52 Above, Verse 9. but he did not tell them where they were to put it. Afterwards he was commanded concerning this Song — he wrote it and taught it the children of Israel 53 Verse 22. that same day, and thus added it to the Law. And it came to pass, when Moses had finished writing everything in the Book of the Law, then he commanded the priests, Take this Book of the”